“By the discovery of God, … I do not mean anything mysterious, or mystical, or unattainable. I simply mean becoming acquainted with Him as one becomes acquainted with a human friend; that is, finding out what is His nature, and His character, and coming to understand His ways.”
“My own experience has been something like this. My knowledge of God, beginning on a very low plane, and in the midst of greatest darkness and ignorance, advanced slowly through many stages, and with a vast amount of useless conflict and wrestling, to the place where I learned at last that Christ was the ‘express image’ of God, and where I became therefore in measure acquainted with Him, and discovered to my amazement and delight His utter unselfishness, and saw it was safe to trust in Him. And from this time all my doubts and questioning have been slowly disappearing in the blaze of this magnificent knowledge.”[i]
My experience, which may not be universal but seems to me as if it should be, is that our pain or confusion is best sorted in the Divine Presence. The immediacy of His reality puts ourselves into proper perspective, while the intensity of His love for and attitude toward us heals our hurts. We arrive at these moments via study, practice, intentionality, and His sovereignty.
I had the opportunity to pray to God with a good friend listening a few mornings ago. He happened to invite me to pray when I had just been moved in spirit by contemplating a truth about God’s character. I knew that if I began praying in that moment it was going to be very personal—the kind of praying that only happens in my prayer closet and even then is restrained by my (damnable) reluctance to seem (to myself, ironically) as if I am so enchanted by God as to have no thought of dignity—I was reluctant to go there, as I am unaccustomed to anyone else being privy to my personal prayer life with God, and because I care too much about what others might think, but after a few moments of hesitation I went there anyway. In His Presence all thoughts of my friend’s opinions or even attendance were erased, as I was caught up in the recognition of God’s character.
I came away from this experience—of a few moments—a changed man. This is the kind of thing I have in mind, and am trying to capture in my first paragraph.
[i] Hannah Whitall Smith, The Unselfishness of God (New York: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1903), p. 14. as quoted in Hannah Whitall Smith and Melvin Easterday Dieter, The Christian’s Secret of a Holy Life: The Unpublished Personal Writings of Hannah Whitall Smith (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997).
The Lord woke me up an hour and 19 minutes before my alarm. I do believe that it was the Holy Spirit Who woke me up, or an angel, but it was hard to believe while in bed. I realized while stumbling up the steps toward my office that part of the reason is I find it difficult to believe God wants to spend time with me. I know that to be true theoretically; I’m not sure I believe it in my heart.
The verse for today is Hebrews 3:12-13:
Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
Oh the irony.
Lord, forgive me.
…
Actually, I do believe it; that’s why I’m here right now, doing this. I struggle to act on it because I cannot prove it intellectually.
Lord, help me. Help me to learn the grammar of Spirit to spirit communication. Help me to know You heart to heart.
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! Psalm 139:23-24
O MOST holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, three persons and one God,
infinite in power, wisdom and goodness, our Creator, Redeemer, and Sanctifier;
our Owner, Governor, and Father; hear our prayers, and have mercy upon us, miserable sinners. after Richard Baxter
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever. Amen.
Night Has Passed/Morning Has Broken
The Word of God
Let your word be spoken and heard by us as the word of God: Give us attentive, hearing ears,
and opened, believing, understanding hearts, that we may no more refuse your calls,
nor disregard your merciful, outstretched hand, nor slight your counsel and correction;
but be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools.Ecclesiastes 5:1
Psalm 106:1-5
Refrain:The Lord remembered his covenant.
Praise the LORD!
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his loving kindness endures forever.
Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD,
or fully declare all his praise?
Blessed are those who keep justice.
Blessed is one who does what is right at all times.
Remember me, LORD, with the favour that you show to your people.
Visit me with your salvation,
that I may see the prosperity of your chosen,
that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation,
that I may glory with your inheritance. R
Silence may be kept
O Lord God, full of mercy and pity, who did many times deliver your people from their adversity: Remember us O Lord, according to the favour you bear for your people, and visit us with your salvation, that though we have done amiss, and dealt wickedly against you and against your covenant, yet be pleased to help us for your Name sake, and make your power to be known in the mighty deliverance and redemption of us from so great danger and misery. Give us grace to believe your words, to abide your counsels, to walk in your Laws, and to relinquish our own sinful and vain desires. Pity us, and save us according to the multitude of your mercies. Your Name be blessed, O Lord God, everlasting, and world without end, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
Leviticus 23:23-32
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,“Speak to the children of Israel, saying, ‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, there shall be a solemn rest for you, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall do no regular work. You shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD.’ ”
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,“However on the tenth day of this seventh month is the day of atonement. It shall be a holy convocation to you. You shall afflict yourselves and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD. You shall do no kind of work in that same day, for it is a day of atonement, to make atonement for you before the LORD your God. For whoever it is who shall not deny himself in that same day shall be cut off from his people. Whoever does any kind of work in that same day, I will destroy that person from amongst his people. You shall do no kind of work: it is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. It shall be a Sabbath of solemn rest for you, and you shall deny yourselves. In the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall keep your Sabbath.”
A Song of Jerusalem our Mother
Refrain: Thus says our God, I will comfort you, you shall see and your heart shall rejoice.
‘Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, ♦
all you who love her,’ says the Lord.
‘Rejoice with her in joy, ♦
all you who mourn over her,
‘That you may drink deeply with delight ♦
from her consoling breast.’
For thus says our God, ♦
‘You shall be nursed and carried on her arm.
‘As a mother comforts her children, ♦
so I will comfort you;
‘You shall see and your heart shall rejoice; ♦
you shall flourish like the grass of the fields.’ Isaiah 66.10, 11a, 12a, 12c, 13a, 14a, b
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning is now and shall be for ever. Amen.
Thus says our God, I will comfort you, you shall see and your heart shall rejoice.
2 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John, and brought them up onto a high mountain privately by themselves, and he was changed into another form in front of them. 3 His clothing became glistening, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them. 4 Elijah and Moses appeared to them, and they were talking with Jesus.
5 Peter answered Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let’s make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 6 For he didn’t know what to say, for they were very afraid.
7 A cloud came, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.”
8 Suddenly looking around, they saw no one with them any more, except Jesus only. [2]
Prayers
Prayers may include these concerns:
¶ Our homes, families, friends and all whom we love ¶ Those whose time is spent caring for others ¶ Those who are close to death ¶ Those who have lost hope ¶ The worship of the Church
Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer
Silence may be kept
The Collect of the day or the following is said
O God, the protector of all who trust in you,
without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy:
increase and multiply upon us your mercy;
that with you as our ruler and guide
we may so pass through things temporal
that we lose not our hold on things eternal;
grant this, heavenly Father,
for our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
The Conclusion
The Lord bless us, and preserve us from all evil, and keep us in eternal life. Amen.
O Lord, open our lips, And our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
Eternal, incomprehensible, and invisible God, infinite in power, wisdom and goodness,
dwelling in the light which no man can approach, where a thousand thousands minister unto you,
and ten thousand times ten thousand stand before you, yet dwelling with the humble and contrite,
and taking pleasure in your people: You have consecrated for us a new and living way,
by the blood of Jesus, and have bid us seek you while you may be found:
We come to you at your call, and worship at your footstool.
Behold us in your tender mercies. Despise us not, though unworthy. after Richard Baxter
Variant on Benedictus
Chosen first among the priests
To serve within the temple walls
Zacharias stood in awe
As he heard the angel call
Refrain Benedictus Benedictus Blessed is the Lord Benedictus Benedictus God’s incarnate Word
Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God
Will come to raise salvation’s horn
God Incarnate, Word made flesh
To a virgin shall be born
Refrain
Christ brings light to sin’s dark night
Our Dayspring, Jesus, from on high
Saints and angels sing God’s praise
All the earth and heav’ns reply
Refrain
God’s incarnate Word
Benedictus
Benedictus
The Word of God
Let your word be spoken and heard by us as the word of God: Give us attentive, hearing ears,
and opened, believing, understanding hearts, that we may no more refuse your calls,
nor disregard your merciful, outstretched hand, nor slight your counsel and correction;
but be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools.Ecclesiastes 5:1
Psalm 105:39-45
Refrain:Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
39 He spread a cloud for a covering, fire to give light in the night. 40 They asked, and he brought quails, and satisfied them with the bread of the sky. 41 He opened the rock, and waters gushed out. They ran as a river in the dry places. 42 For he remembered his holy word, and Abraham, his servant. 43 He brought his people out with joy, his chosen with singing. 44 He gave them the lands of the nations. They took the labour of the peoples in possession, 45 that they might keep his statutes, and observe his laws. Praise the LORD!
Silence may be kept
O God Eternal, who is always mindful of your covenant, and who delivered the seed of Abraham from the slavery of Egypt, from the waves of the sea, from the rage of Pharaoh, from the thirst and famine of the wilderness, continue like mercies to all your people; deliver us from the bondage of our sins, and preserve us in the Ark of the Church, that we perish not in the waves of this troublesome world; save us from all our earthly and spiritual enemies, feed us with food from heaven, and give us enough on earth, that we may gladly keep your statutes, observe your Laws, and so imitate your Son. Grant this, we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Leviticus 23:9-22
9 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 10 “Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘When you have come into the land which I give to you, and shall reap its harvest, then you shall bring the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest. 11 He shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you. On the next day after the Sabbath the priest shall wave it. 12 On the day when you wave the sheaf, you shall offer a male lamb without defect a year old for a burnt offering to the LORD. 13 The meal offering with it shall be two tenths of an ephah* of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering made by fire to the LORD for a pleasant aroma; and the drink offering with it shall be of wine, the fourth part of a hin.†14 You must not eat bread, or roasted grain, or fresh grain, until this same day, until you have brought the offering of your God. This is a statute forever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
15 “ ‘You shall count from the next day after the Sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering: seven Sabbaths shall be completed. 16 The next day after the seventh Sabbath you shall count fifty days; and you shall offer a new meal offering to the LORD. 17 You shall bring out of your habitations two loaves of bread for a wave offering made of two tenths of an ephah‡ of fine flour. They shall be baked with yeast, for first fruits to the LORD. 18 You shall present with the bread seven lambs without defect a year old, one young bull, and two rams. They shall be a burnt offering to the LORD, with their meal offering and their drink offerings, even an offering made by fire, of a sweet aroma to the LORD. 19 You shall offer one male goat for a sin offering, and two male lambs a year old for a sacrifice of peace offerings. 20 The priest shall wave them with the bread of the first fruits for a wave offering before the LORD, with the two lambs. They shall be holy to the LORD for the priest. 21 You shall make proclamation on the same day that there shall be a holy convocation to you. You shall do no regular work. This is a statute forever in all your dwellings throughout your generations.
22 “ ‘When you reap the harvest of your land, you must not wholly reap into the corners of your field, and you must not gather the gleanings of your harvest. You must leave them for the poor, and for the foreigner. I am the LORD your God.’ ”
Proverbs 22:24-25
24 Don’t befriend a hot-tempered man,
and don’t associate with one who harbours anger:
25 lest you learn his ways,
and ensnare your soul.
A song may be sung Suggestion: “In Labor All Creation Groans”[1]
In labor all creation groans till fear and hatred cease,
Till human hearts come to believe: In Christ alone is peace.
In labor all creation groans till prejudice shall cease,
Till every race and tribe and tongue in Christ will live in peace.
In labor all creation groans till rape and murder cease,
Till women walk by night unharmed and Christ is this world’s peace.
In labor all creation groans till false divisions cease,
Till enemies are reconciled in Christ who is our peace.
Mark 9:01
1 He said to them, “Most certainly I tell you, there are some standing here who will in no way taste death until they see God’s Kingdom come with power.” [2]
Jesus said, I am the gate for the sheep. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.John 10:7,10b
Prayers
Prayers may include these concerns:
– as your spirit is prompted
Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer
Silence may be kept
The Collect of the day or the following is said
O God, the protector of all who trust in you,
without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy:
increase and multiply upon us your mercy;
that with you as our ruler and guide
we may so pass through things temporal
that we lose not our hold on things eternal;
grant this, heavenly Father,
for our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
The Conclusion
May God kindle in us the fire of love. May those who cause division by perverting the truth be stilled.Rom. 16:17-20[4]
O God, make speed to save us. O Lord, make haste to help us.
Worthy is the Lamb
The veil of heaven opened wide
The scene was clearly set
John saw a scroll writ either side
Where seven seals were met
With booming voice the angel said
To now unseal the scroll
But none was found to meet the task
Not even one lone soul
Refrain Worthy, worthy, worthy is the Lamb
Worthy, worthy is the Lamb who was slain
Convulsed with tears and broken heart
John’s hope was now assailed
“Weep not,” the elder counseled him,
“A Lion has prevailed!”
No lion came to take his claim
No beast of royal reign
Instead there stood a bloodied Lamb
Like one who had been slain
Refrain
Ten thousand times, ten thousand more
The host of heaven cried
All blessing, honor, glory, and pow’r
To Christ, the Lamb that died
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
Teach me to do what pleases you, for you are my God; let your kindly spirit lead me on a level path.Psalm 143:10
The Word of God
Psalm 105:30-38
Refrain:Remember the marvels the Lord has done. 30 Their land swarmed with frogs,
even in the rooms of their kings. 31 He spoke, and swarms of flies came,
and lice in all their borders. 32 He gave them hail for rain,
with lightning in their land. 33 He struck their vines and also their fig trees,
and shattered the trees of their country. 34 He spoke, and the locusts came
with the grasshoppers, without number, 35 ate up every plant in their land,
and ate up the fruit of their ground. 36 He struck also all the firstborn in their land,
the first fruits of all their manhood. 37 He brought them out with silver and gold.
There was not one feeble person amongst his tribes. 38 Egypt was glad when they departed,
for the fear of them had fallen on them.
Silence may be kept
God of our earthly pilgrimage,
feed your people with the bread of heaven,
that we may hunger and thirst for righteousness
until we reach our promised land;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Leviticus 23:1-8
1 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘The set feasts of the LORD, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my set feasts.
3 “ ‘Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation; you shall do no kind of work. It is a Sabbath to the LORD in all your dwellings.
4 “ ‘These are the set feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which you shall proclaim in their appointed season. 5 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month in the evening, is the LORD’s Passover. 6 On the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread to the LORD. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. 7 In the first day you shall have a holy convocation. You shall do no regular work. 8 But you shall offer an offering made by fire to the LORD seven days. In the seventh day is a holy convocation. You shall do no regular work.’ ”
Proverbs 22:22-23
22 Don’t exploit the poor, because he is poor;
and don’t crush the needy in court; 23 for the LORD will plead their case,
and plunder the life of those who plunder them.
Lord bid your servant go in peace
Your word is now fulfilled
These eyes have seen salvation’s dawn,
This child so long foretold
This is the Savior of the world,
The Gentiles promised light
God’s glory dwelling in our midst,
The joy of Israel
Behold this child will pierce your heart
His Word will be a sword
A sign opposed to hearts concealed
And grace for heaven’s adored
Almighty Father, hear our cry
Through Christ the only Son,
Whom in the Spirit we adore
For ages without end
Mark 8:31-38
31He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke to them openly. Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. 33 But he, turning around, and seeing his disciples, rebuked Peter, and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you have in mind not the things of God, but the things of men.”
34 He called the multitude to himself with his disciples, and said to them, “Whoever wants to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; and whoever will lose his life for my sake and the sake of the Good News will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man, to gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? 37 For what will a man give in exchange for his life? 38 For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man also will be ashamed of him, when he comes in his Father’s glory, with the holy angels.” [3]
Jesus said, I am the gate for the sheep. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.John 10:7,10b
Prayers
Prayers may include these concerns:
– Local government, community leaders – All who provide local services – Those who work with the young and the elderly – Schools, colleges and universities – Emergency and rescue organizations
Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer
Silence may be kept
The Collect of the day or the following is said:
O God, the protector of all who trust in you,
without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy:
increase and multiply upon us your mercy;
that with you as our ruler and guide
we may so pass through things temporal
that we lose not our hold on things eternal;
grant this, heavenly Father,
for our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
The Conclusion
May God kindle in us the fire of love. May those who cause division by perverting the truth be stilled.Rom. 16:17-20
O God, make speed to save us. O Lord, make haste to help us.
Make me to know your ways, O Lord, and teach me your paths.Psalm 25:3
The Lord is full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger and of great kindness.
He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our wickedness.
For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is his mercy upon those who fear him.
Silence is kept for reflection
Holy God,
Holy and strong,
Holy and immortal,
have mercy upon us.
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he set our sins from us.
As a father has compassion on his children, so is the Lord merciful towards those who fear him.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.cf Psalm 103
You, Christ, are the King of glory,
The eternal Son of the Father.
When you took our flesh to set us free
You humbly chose the Virgin’s womb.
You overcame the sting of death
And opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.
You are seated at God’s right hand in glory.[1]
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
The night has passed, and the day lies open before us;
let us pray with one heart and mind.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, My strength and my redeemer.Psalm 19:14
The Word of God
Psalm 105:23-29
Refrain:Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
23 Israel also came into Egypt.
Jacob lived in the land of Ham. 24 He increased his people greatly,
and made them stronger than their adversaries. 25 He turned their heart to hate his people,
to conspire against his servants. R 26 He sent Moses, his servant,
and Aaron, whom he had chosen. 27 They performed miracles amongst them,
and wonders in the land of Ham. 28 He sent darkness, and made it dark.
They didn’t rebel against his words. 29 He turned their waters into blood,
and killed their fish.
Silence may be kept.
O God Eternal, who is always mindful of your covenant, and who delivered the seed of Abraham from the slavery of Egypt, from the waves of the sea, from the rage of Pharaoh, from the thirst and famine of the wilderness, continue like mercies to all your people; deliver us from the bondage of our sins, and preserve us in the Ark of the Church, that we perish not in the waves of this troublesome world; save us from all our earthly and spiritual enemies, feed us with food from heaven, and give us enough on earth, that we may gladly keep your statutes, observe your Laws, and so imitate your Son. Grant this, we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. [2]
Leviticus 21:17-33
17 “Say to Aaron, ‘None of your offspring throughout their generations who has a defect may approach to offer the bread of his God. 18 For whatever man he is that has a defect, he shall not draw near: a blind man, or a lame, or he who has a flat nose, or any deformity, 19 or a man who has an injured foot, or an injured hand, 20 or hunchbacked, or a dwarf, or one who has a defect in his eye, or an itching disease, or scabs, or who has damaged testicles. 21 No man of the offspring of Aaron the priest who has a defect shall come near to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire. Since he has a defect, he shall not come near to offer the bread of his God. 22 He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy. 23 He shall not come near to the veil, nor come near to the altar, because he has a defect; that he may not profane my sanctuaries, for I am the LORD who sanctifies them.’ ”
24 So Moses spoke to Aaron, and to his sons, and to all the children of Israel.
Proverbs 22:20-21
20 Haven’t I written to you thirty excellent things
of counsel and knowledge,
21 To teach you truth, reliable words,
to give sound answers to the ones who sent you?
A song may be sung (“Ghost of a King” | Gray Havens )
Ghost of a King
Met a ghost of a king on the road when I first fell, fire burning
To my knees, to my knees I fell
Met a ghost of a king on a road
Words of fire
He said, “You are a lonely soul
With a heart of stone that rakes against your thirsty bones
Such a lonely soul”
Said, “I can show you what can save you, but we need to go
Where no chariot can take you
Where the river meets the sand
There is water there that can quench your thirsty bones
And make you well, make you well”
So I followed the ghost of a king with every step
I tried to see beyond for a trace of the riverside
But restlessness was my prize
And then we came upon a golden shore
But the voice of fire wasn’t comin’ from a ghost no more
My heart of stone came alive
When my eyes were opened up
And I saw that I had come
Where no chariot can take you
Where the river meets the sand
There is water there that can quench your thirsty bones
And make you well, make you well
So I knelt beside the river and I drank until, I drank until, I drank until I died
There’s something in the water, must have brought me back
It brought me back, it brought me back to life
Where no chariot can take you
Where the river meets the sand
There is water there that can quench your thirsty bones
And make you well, well
Where no chariot can take you
Where the river meets the sand
There is water there that can quench your thirsty bones
And make you well, make you well
Mark 8:27-30
27 Jesus went out, with his disciples, into the villages of Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked his disciples, “Who do men say that I am?” 28 They told him, “John the Baptiser, and others say Elijah, but others: one of the prophets.” 29 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Peter answered, “You are the Christ.” 30 He commanded them that they should tell no one about him. [3]
Today, Father, may your words be always in front of my eyes; may my hands be engaged in the practice of your commands. Psalm 143:8
Prayers
Prayers may include these concerns:
– That which burdens you
Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer
Silence may be kept.
The Collect of the day or the following is said
O Lord our God,
grant us grace to desire you with our whole heart;
that so desiring, we may seek and find you;
and so finding, may love you;
and so loving, may hate those sins from which you have delivered us;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
The Conclusion
I will meditate on your precepts, and fix my eyes on your ways.Psalm 119:15
I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.Psalm 119:32
The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. Amen.Psalm 119:160 [4]
(the pdf of this days prayer may be downloaded here)
[2] after THE PSALTER OF DAVID WITH Titles and Collects according to the matter of each PSALME. OXFORD, Printed by Leonard Lichfield, Printer to the University. 1644.
[3] All Scripture from the World English Bible: British Edition (WEBBE)
[4] N. Andrew Long. The Offerings of Our Lips: Prayer in Community. Nampa, ID: In(habit) Media, 2017.
I thank you, O living and eternal King, for you have graciously given me another day to serve you. You are forever faithful and abounding in compassion! May your kingdom reign this day in my life and my home. I acknowledge you as Lord, and declare myself your servant.
Preparation
O God, make speed to save us. O Lord, make haste to help us.
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in you I trust.Psalm 25:1a
Come, O Lamb of God, to Save
Come, O Lamb of God, to save
Our hearts are chilled with fear
Raise our souls from torpid daze
And send Thy Spirit near
Enflame our spirits by Thy power
Our zeal to persevere
Give life and breath to passive saints
To truth that You hold dear
Refrain We rise to Thee from bended knee To do whate’er You say We give our love, our hearts, our all Your summons to obey
We love Thy law, O precious Lord
It brightens ev’ry path
In it we see Thy perfect rule
Thy mercy and Thy wrath
Refrain
Roar forth, Thou King of Judah’s seed
That we might never fall
Give strength and might
That we may heed
Thy sacred royal call
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
The night has passed, and the day lies open before us;
let us pray with one heart and mind.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, My strength and my redeemer.Psalm 19:14
The Word of God
Psalm 105:16-22
Refrain:Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
16 He called for a famine on the land.
He destroyed the food supplies. 17 He sent a man before them.
Joseph was sold for a slave. 18 They bruised his feet with shackles.
His neck was locked in irons, 19 until the time that his word happened,
and the LORD’s word proved him true. 20 The king sent and freed him,
even the ruler of peoples, and let him go free. 21 He made him lord of his house,
and ruler of all of his possessions, 22 to discipline his princes at his pleasure,
and to teach his elders wisdom. R
Silence may be kept.
O God Eternal, who is always mindful of your covenant, and who delivered the seed of Abraham from the slavery of Egypt, from the waves of the sea, from the rage of Pharaoh, from the thirst and famine of the wilderness, continue like mercies to all your people; deliver us from the bondage of our sins, and preserve us in the Ark of the Church, that we perish not in the waves of this troublesome world; save us from all our earthly and spiritual enemies, feed us with food from heaven, and give us enough on earth, that we may gladly keep your statutes, observe your Laws, and so imitate your Son. Grant this, we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.[2]
Leviticus 21:1-16
1 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “Tell Aaron and his sons to separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, which they make holy to me, and that they not profane my holy name. I am the LORD. 3 “Tell them, ‘If anyone of all your offspring throughout your generations approaches the holy things which the children of Israel make holy to the LORD, having his uncleanness on him, that soul shall be cut off from before me. I am the LORD. 4 “ ‘Whoever of the offspring of Aaron is a leper or has a discharge shall not eat of the holy things until he is clean. Whoever touches anything that is unclean by the dead, or a man who has a seminal emission, 5 or whoever touches any creeping thing whereby he may be made unclean, or a man from whom he may become unclean, whatever uncleanness he has— 6 the person that touches any such shall be unclean until the evening, and shall not eat of the holy things unless he bathes his body in water. 7 When the sun is down, he shall be clean; and afterward he shall eat of the holy things, because it is his bread. 8 He shall not eat that which dies of itself or is torn by animals, defiling himself by it. I am the LORD. 9 “ ‘They shall therefore follow my commandment, lest they bear sin for it and die in it, if they profane it. I am the LORD who sanctifies them. 10 “ ‘No stranger shall eat of the holy thing: a foreigner living with the priests, or a hired servant, shall not eat of the holy thing. 11 But if a priest buys a slave, purchased by his money, he shall eat of it; and those who are born in his house shall eat of his bread. 12 If a priest’s daughter is married to an outsider, she shall not eat of the heave offering of the holy things. 13 But if a priest’s daughter is a widow, or divorced, and has no child, and has returned to her father’s house as in her youth, she may eat of her father’s bread; but no stranger shall eat any of it. 14 “ ‘If a man eats something holy unwittingly, then he shall add the fifth part of its value to it, and shall give the holy thing to the priest. 15 The priests shall not profane the holy things of the children of Israel, which they offer to the LORD, 16 and so cause them to bear the iniquity that brings guilt when they eat their holy things; for I am the LORD who sanctifies them.’ ”
Proverbs 22:17-19
17 Turn your ear, and listen to the words of the wise.
Apply your heart to my teaching. 18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you,
if all of them are ready on your lips. 19 I teach you today, even you,
So that your trust may be in the LORD.
A song may be sung
Mark 8:22-26
22 He came to Bethsaida. They brought a blind man to him, and begged him to touch him. 23 He took hold of the blind man by the hand, and brought him out of the village. When he had spat on his eyes, and laid his hands on him, he asked him if he saw anything. 24 He looked up, and said, “I see men; for I see them like trees walking.” 25 Then again he laid his hands on his eyes. He looked intently, and was restored, and saw everyone clearly. 26 He sent him away to his house, saying, “Don’t enter into the village, nor tell anyone in the village.” [3]
Speak to my heart of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Cause me to know the way that I should go, for to you I lift up my soul Psalm 143:8
Prayers
Prayers may include these concerns:
– All who are sick in body, mind or spirit – Those in the midst of famine or disaster – Victims of abuse, violence, and prejudice – Those whose are bereaved – All who work in the medical and healing professions
Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer Silence may be kept.
The Collect of the day or the following is said
O God, the protector of all who trust in you,
without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy:
increase and multiply upon us your mercy;
that with you as our ruler and guide
we may so pass through things temporal
that we lose not our hold on things eternal;
grant this, heavenly Father,
for our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
The Conclusion
May Christ our redeemer bring us healing and wholeness. You are the light of the minds that know you,
The joy of the hearts that love you and the strength of the wills that serve you;
Your service is perfect freedom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.after Augustine of Hippo (430)[4]
(The pdf of these prayers may be downloaded here.)
[1] Music by Jeff Lippencott | Words by R.C. Sproul | Album: Glory to the Holy One, “Come, O Lamb of God, to Save”
[2] after THE PSALTER OF DAVID WITH Titles and Collects according to the matter of each PSALME. OXFORD, Printed by Leonard Lichfield, Printer to the University. 1644.
[3] all Scripture from the World English Bible: British Edition (WEBBE)
[4] N. Andrew Long. The Offerings of Our Lips: Prayer in Community. Nampa, ID: In(habit) Media, 2017.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
The night has passed, and the day lies open before us;
let us pray with one heart and mind.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, My strength and my redeemer.Psalm 19:14
The Word of God
Psalm 105:8-15
Refrain:Remember the marvels the Lord has done.
8He has remembered his covenant forever,
the word which he commanded to a thousand generations, 9 the covenant which he made with Abraham,
his oath to Isaac, 10 and confirmed it to Jacob for a statute;
to Israel for an everlasting covenant, 11 saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan,
the lot of your inheritance,” R
12 when they were but a few men in number,
yes, very few, and foreigners in it. 13 They went about from nation to nation,
from one kingdom to another people. 14 He allowed no one to do them wrong.
Yes, he reproved kings for their sakes, 15 “Don’t touch my anointed ones!
Do my prophets no harm!” R
Silence may be kept.
God of our earthly pilgrimage,
feed your people with the bread of heaven,
that we may hunger and thirst for righteousness
until we reach our promised land;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Leviticus 21:10-24
“ ‘He who is the high priest amongst his brothers, upon whose head the anointing oil is poured, and who is consecrated to put on the garments, shall not let the hair of his head hang loose, or tear his clothes. 11 He must not go in to any dead body, or defile himself for his father or for his mother. 12 He shall not go out of the sanctuary, nor profane the sanctuary of his God; for the crown of the anointing oil of his God is upon him. I am the LORD.
13 “ ‘He shall take a wife in her virginity. 14 He shall not marry a widow, or one divorced, or a woman who has been defiled, or a prostitute. He shall take a virgin of his own people as a wife. 15 He shall not profane his offspring amongst his people, for I am the LORD who sanctifies him.’ ”
16 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 17 “Say to Aaron, ‘None of your offspring throughout their generations who has a defect may approach to offer the bread of his God. 18 For whatever man he is that has a defect, he shall not draw near: a blind man, or a lame, or he who has a flat nose, or any deformity, 19 or a man who has an injured foot, or an injured hand, 20 or hunchbacked, or a dwarf, or one who has a defect in his eye, or an itching disease, or scabs, or who has damaged testicles. 21 No man of the offspring of Aaron the priest who has a defect shall come near to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire. Since he has a defect, he shall not come near to offer the bread of his God. 22 He shall eat the bread of his God, both of the most holy, and of the holy. 23 He shall not come near to the veil, nor come near to the altar, because he has a defect; that he may not profane my sanctuaries, for I am the LORD who sanctifies them.’ ”
24 So Moses spoke to Aaron, and to his sons, and to all the children of Israel.
Proverbs 22:14-16
14 The mouth of an adulteress is a deep pit.
He who is under the LORD’s wrath will fall into it.
15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child:
the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
16 Whoever oppresses the poor for his own increase and whoever gives to the rich,
both come to poverty.
Our mouths they were filled, filled with laughter
Our tongues they were loosed, loosed with joy
Restore us, O Lord
Restore us, O Lord
Although we are weeping
Lord, help us keep sowing
The seeds of Your Kingdom
For the day You will reap them
Your sheaves we will carry
Lord, please do not tarry
All those who sow weeping will go out with songs of joy
The nations will say, “He has done great things!”
The nations will sing songs of joy
Restore us, O Lord
Restore us, O Lord
Mark 8:13-21
13 He left them, and again entering into the boat, departed to the other side. 14 They forgot to take bread; and they didn’t have more than one loaf in the boat with them. 15 He warned them, saying, “Take heed: beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.”
16 They reasoned with one another, saying, “It’s because we have no bread.”
17 Jesus, perceiving it, said to them, “Why do you reason that it’s because you have no bread? Don’t you perceive yet, neither understand? Is your heart still hardened? 18 Having eyes, don’t you see? Having ears, don’t you hear? Don’t you remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves amongst the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?”
They told him, “Twelve.”
20 “When the seven loaves fed the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?”
You have set us free to worship you without fear,
holy and righteous in your sight.
Prayers
Prayers may include these concerns:
– The media and the arts – Farming and fishing – Commerce and industry – Those whose work is unfulfilling, stressful or fraught with danger – All who are unemployed
Lord, in your mercy hear our prayer
Silence may be kept.
The Collect of the day or the following is said
O God, the protector of all who trust in you,
without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy:
increase and multiply upon us your mercy;
that with you as our ruler and guide
we may so pass through things temporal
that we lose not our hold on things eternal;
grant this, heavenly Father,
for our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Let us pray with confidence as our Saviour has taught us:
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
The Conclusion
Jesus said, I am the true vine. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit.John 15:1a,8
I worked for a couple months at the beginning of this year to translate Proverbs 31:10-31, because I wasn’t entirely satisfied with any of the existing English translations. The following is the result.
O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love you and keep your commandments, we have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from your commandments and rules. We have not listened to your servants, who spoke in your name to our representatives, our governors, and our fathers, and to all the people of this land.
To you, O Lord, belongs righteousness, but to us open shame, as at this day, to the people of these states, to the inhabitants of our land, and to all Americans, those who recognize you, and those who think they do, because we have committed treachery against you. To us, O LORD, belongs open shame, to our representatives, to our justices – who have savaged justice—and to our fathers, because we have sinned against you.
To you, O LORD, belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against you and have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God by walking in his laws, which you set before us by your servants the prophets, teachers and pastors. All America has transgressed your law and turned aside, refusing to obey your voice. And the curse and oath that are written in your Word have been and will be poured out upon us, because we have sinned against you. Your words will be confirmed, for under the whole heaven there has not been done anything like what we have done against you in this land. O Lord our God, who brought your people out of the land of Egypt with a mighty hand, sent your Son to die for our transgressions, and have made a name for yourself throughout the whole world and all time, we have sinned; we have executed wickedness before you this day.
O LORD, according to all your righteous acts, let your anger and your wrath turn away from our country, because of our sins, and the multiplied iniquities of our people. We have become a byword among all who are watching; we are known for our wickedness and our profligacy. Now therefore, O our God, listen to the prayer of your servant and to our pleas for mercy, and for your own sake, O Lord, make your face to shine upon this land, which is desolate and in rebellion, slaying the innocent and blaspheming your character, twisting your image and practicing hate in the name of love. O my God, incline your ear and hear. Open your eyes and see our devastation, and the people who yet call your name. For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, pay attention and act! Delay not, for your own sake, because your people are called by your name, and they are languishing: some in tears, some in ignorance, and some in rebellion. Heal us, O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Send upon us your Holy Spirit with an anointing to proclaim your word, to live faithfully according to your laws, and in accordance with the covenant you have made with us. Raise up your daughters and your sons, that they each will speak forth your truth without fail, and cast visions of holiness throughout this land. Let all the people of this nation know for certain that God has made Jesus both King and Savior, and move multitudes to repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of our sins, that they might receive the Holy Spirit and honor you as Lord.
Bend the necks of our governors, our magistrates, and our representatives that they may acknowledge you as Sovereign, and lead our nation into repentance. Rise up, O Lord, defend your honor, rescue your people, who are called by your name. For yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Our country is burning; we ought to have this degree of urgency: the home (country) you live in is burning—not smoldering, burning.
If you don’t think so, read this article from the New York Times: Bigotry, the Bible and the Lessons of Indiana. Note these frightening words, “…church leaders must be made to take homosexuality off the sin list.” Did you catch that? Not ‘must be persuaded,’ but “must be made.” Compelled. Forced. Your children are already being labeled bigots; not will be some day—are now being ostracized and the society prepared to marginalize and eradicate them in the near future.
And it’s not as if this article is alone, nor even rare…this is the growing consensus—even amongst a rapidly growing number of Christians (and so-called Christians).
What must we do? First, we must recognize where we are, and just as importantly, how we got here. To that end, please read this article by Douglas Wilson: “Our Transgressive Daisy Chain.”
That article is a desperately needed call to clarity and to action. So what do we do? I believe the best plan of action I’ve yet seen can be digested in the following series of articles (also a book) by Joel McDurmon: “Restoring American One County at a Time.”
The above should coalesce all faithful believers around this common cause. Listen! God will raise up either a Nehemiah or a Noah. Would you not rather see the walls rebuilt than the place destroyed?
Finally, note these words from the NYT article, “Then there’s the 2014 book “God and the Gay Christian” [sic] by Matthew Vines, who has garnered significant attention and drawn large audiences for his eloquent take on what the New Testament —which is what evangelicals draw on and point to — really communicates.”
Did you catch that? What is the real origin of the Church’s failure? The bifurcation of the Bible, and only by Recovering the Unity of the Bible will we be able to lay a foundation capable of bearing the load of the walls in such desperate need of repair.
How did the repair of Jerusalem’s walls begin? Nehemiah received a message similar to the one you’ve just read. “The remnant…is in great trouble and shame. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates are destroyed by fire.”
May we respond like Nehemiah:
“As soon as I heard these words I sat down and wept and mourned for days, and I continued fasting and praying…”O LORD GOD of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments… let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name, and give success to your servant today, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.”
Nehemiah wept, mourned, prayed, and then took action. I have shown you a mirror, do not walk away and forget what you saw, but be a doer of the Word, not a hearer only.
I have often opined about the importance of Christians understanding the inter-dependence of love and law, or love and virtue, or gospel and grace…however you think about it, these are essentially the same ideas. Unfortunately, in our day many Christians have been convinced that Law and Gospel or Law and Grace, or Spirit and Law are opposed. This belief is detrimental to the process of sanctification in our day to day lives.
Will Armstrong recently posted to his blog a quote on this topic, and I replied with a favorite quote from evangelical Anglican J.I. Packer:
“Law needs love as its drive, else we get the Pharisaism that puts principles before people and says one can be perfectly good without actually loving one’s neighbor…. And love needs law as its eyes, for love … is blind. To want to love someone Christianly does not of itself tell you how to do it. Only as we observe the limits set by God’s law can we really do people good.” [1]
But what I really wanted to comment on in this post is my delight in the weekly Collects from the Anglican liturgy. What is a “collect” you ask? Well, I’m glad you asked! A collect (pronounced like “call-ect”) is a prayer that gathers up the prayers of a group. It can be prayed in unison as is often the case with the Collect of Purity (sometimes called Prayer of Preparation), or it can be prayed by one individual on behalf of the group, who subsequently indicate their agreement by speaking Hebrew in response and saying, “Amen” (so be it). This is the standard practice of the weekly Collect.
Our practice at All Saints Anglican was to send the forthcoming Sunday’s Collect out via email during the preceding week so that congregants could be mulling it over and be prepared to wholeheartedly agree in prayer rather than be exposed to it for the first time during the service. For life-long Anglicans the Collects may have become familiar but since the majority of our congregation are newly Anglican this is more than typically important.
I have been increasingly delighted by the wide range of significant doctrinal truths mentioned in the weekly collects. But when I noted the collect for this coming week, it returned to mind the content of this past week’s, and I was newly pleased to see the two parallel truths of the continuing significance and required interrelation between law and love displayed in the Collects for two sequential Sundays.
Here is the Collect for last week, note how it prays through the theological and practical importance of God’s commands to the believer’s life.
The Collect for First Sunday After Trinity – Proper 5
O God,
the strength of all those who put their trust in you,
mercifully accept our prayers
and, because through the weakness of our mortal nature
we can do no good thing without you,
grant us the help of your grace,
that in the keeping of your commandments
we may please you both in will and deed;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
And now lest we forget that love is blind without law, and that law without love is legalistic, this coming week’s text:
The Collect for Second Sunday After Trinity – Proper 6
Lord, you have taught us
that all our doings without love are nothing worth:
send your Holy Spirit
and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of love,
the true bond of peace and of all virtues,
without which whoever lives is counted dead before you.
Grant this for your only Son Jesus Christ’s sake,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
It tickles me to see this reminder that those saints who have gone before often safegaurd us from the errors of contemporary life, if we will only heed the lessons of their experience.
A few months ago I attempted to convey God’s design for this interplay between Word and Spirt or law and love in a homily titled The Two Helpers.
_______________________________________________
[1] J. I. Packer, Growing in Christ, Originally Published: I Want to Be a Christian. Wheaton, Ill. : Tyndale House Publishers, c1977.; Includes Index. (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 1996, c1994), 232.
