Morning Prayer, Thursday, 24 Sep 2020
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening:
God most high, your ways are not our ways, for your kindness
is lavished equally upon all. Teach us to welcome your mercy toward others,
even as we hope to receive mercy ourselves. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ,
your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God for ever and ever. Amen
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him…
For evildoers shall be rooted out, but those who wait patiently for the LORD,
they shall inherit the land.
(Psalm 37:7,9)
Preparation:
Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hid: Cleanse the thoughts of my heart by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that I may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy Name; through Christ my Lord. Amen.
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The New Cloverdale Psalter (2019 Update of 1535 Original)
Psalm 37
1 Fret not yourself because of the ungodly, *
neither be envious of those who are evildoers.
2 For they shall soon be dried up like the grass, *
and be withered even as the green herb.
3 Put your trust in the LORD, and do good; *
dwell in the land, and surely you shall be fed.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD, *
and he shall give you your heart’s desire.
5 Commit your way unto the LORD and put your trust in him, *
and he shall bring it to pass.
6 He shall make your righteousness as clear as the light *
and your just dealing as the noonday.
7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; *
do not grieve yourself over the one whose way prospers, over the one who carries out evil counsels.
8 Refrain from wrath, and let go of anger; *
fret not yourself, lest you be moved to do evil.
9 For evildoers shall be rooted out, *
but those who wait patiently for the LORD, they shall inherit the land.
10 Yet a little while, and the ungodly shall be clean gone; *
you shall look for their place, and they shall not be there.
11 But the meek-spirited shall possess the land *
and shall be refreshed with an abundance of peace.
12 The ungodly plot against the just *
and gnash at them with their teeth.
13 The Lord shall laugh at them in scorn, *
for he sees that their day is coming.
14 The ungodly have drawn out the sword and have bent their bow *
to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay those who walk aright.
15 Their sword shall go through their own heart, *
and their bow shall be broken.
16 The little that the righteous has *
is better than great riches of the ungodly.
17 For the arms of the ungodly shall be broken, *
but the LORD upholds the righteous.
18 The LORD knows the days of the godly, *
and their inheritance shall endure for ever.
19 They shall not be confounded in perilous times, *
and in the days of famine they shall have enough.
20 As for the ungodly, they shall perish, and the enemies of the LORD shall be consumed as in a fiery furnace; *
even as smoke shall they vanish away.
21 The ungodly borrow and do not repay, *
but the righteous are merciful and generous.
22 Those who are blessed by God shall possess the land, *
but those who are cursed by him shall be rooted out.
23 The LORD orders a man’s steps; *
he makes his footsteps sure and preserves him on his path.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be cast down, *
for the LORD upholds him with his hand.
25 I have been young, and now I am old, *
yet I never saw the righteous forsaken, nor his children begging bread.
26 The righteous is ever merciful in lending, *
and his seed shall be blessed.
27 Flee from evil, and do that which is good, *
and dwell in the land for ever.
28 For the LORD loves that which is right; *
he forsakes not those who are godly, and they are preserved for ever.
29 The unrighteous shall be punished; *
as for the seed of the ungodly, it shall be rooted out.
30 The righteous shall inherit the land *
and dwell therein for ever.
31 The mouth of the righteous utters wisdom, *
and his tongue talks of judgment.
32 The law of his God is in his heart, *
and his footsteps shall not falter.
33 The ungodly lie in wait for the righteous *
and seek occasion to slay him.
34 The LORD will not leave him in their hand, *
nor allow him to be condemned when he is judged.
35 Hope in the LORD, and keep his way, and he shall exalt you so that you shall possess the land; *
when the ungodly perish, you shall see it.
36 I myself have seen the ungodly in great power, *
and flourishing like a tree in full leaf.
37 I went by, and behold, they were gone; *
I sought them, but their place could nowhere be found.
38 Mark the blameless, and take heed of the upright, *
for there is a future for the peaceable.
39 As for the transgressors, they shall perish together, *
and the end of the ungodly is that they shall be rooted out at the last.
40 But the salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD, *
who is also their strength in the time of trouble.
41 And the LORD shall stand by them and save them; *
he shall deliver them from the ungodly and shall save them, because they put their trust in him.
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Psalm 37 – Wait Patiently
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Contemporary English Version (CEV)
Proverbs 24
10 Don’t give up and be helpless
in times of trouble.
19 Don’t let evil people
worry you
or make you jealous.
20 They will soon be gone
like the flame of a lamp
that burns out.
__________
Consider:
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him…
For evildoers shall be rooted out, but those who wait patiently for the LORD,
they shall inherit the land.
(Psalm 37:7,9)
“Be still before the Lord”
“Hold thee still” (so it may be translated). And this is the hardest precept that is given to man; insomuch that the most difficult precept of action sinks into nothing when compared with this command to inaction.
—Jerome.
“Wait patiently for him”
God is worth waiting for. “He never is before his time, he never is too late.” In a story we wait for the end to clear up the plot; we ought not to prejudge the great drama of life, but stay till the closing scene, and see to what a end the whole arrives.
“For evildoers shall be rooted out”
There is no good, but much evil, in worrying your heart about the present success of graceless plotters: be not enticed into premature judgments—they dishonor God, they weary yourself. Determine, let the wicked succeed as they may, that you will treat the matter with indifference, and never allow a question to be raised as to the righteousness and goodness of the Lord. What if wicked devices succeed and your own plans are defeated! there is more of the love of God in your defeats than in the successes of the wicked.
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Passion, according to Bunyan’s parable, has his good things first, and they are soon over; Patience has his good things last, and they last for ever.
—Spurgeon
Q: Do you find it difficult to do nothing – to be still before God?
Q: What hinders you? What helps you?
America is in turmoil over a Nomination to the Supreme Court, and the upcoming elections.
Q: What do you expect to happen between now and when it all ends?
Q: Can you trust God for the final outcome?
Q: What can you do to wait patiently in the meantime?
Prayer:
+ For Our nation
Almighty God, who has given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly pray that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of your favor and glad to do your will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure conduct. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought here from out of many kindreds and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom, in your Name, we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace
at home, and that, through obedience to your law, we may show forth your praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, sustain our trust in you; all of which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
+ For Our President and Members of Congress
O Lord our Governor, whose glory fills all the world: We commend this Nation to your merciful care, that we may be guided by your providence, and dwell secure in your peace. Grant to President Trump and Members of Congress the wisdom and strength to know and to do your will. Fill them with the love of truth and righteousness, and make them continually mindful of their calling to serve this people in reverent obedience to you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.
+ For Courts of Justice
Almighty God, you sit on your throne giving righteous judgment: We humbly ask you to bless all courts of justice and all magistrates in this land; give them a spirit of wisdom and understanding, that fearing no power but yours alone, they may discern the truth and impartially administer the law; through him who shall come to be our Judge, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
+ For an Election
Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers and privileges: Guide and direct, we humbly pray, the minds of all those who are called to elect fit persons to serve as US President and Members of Congress. Grant that in the exercise of our choice we may promote your glory, and the welfare of this nation. This we ask for the sake of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
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“Be Still” – the Hillsong Worship
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Blessing:
May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you, wherever He may send you.
May He guide you through the wilderness, protect you through the storm.
May He bring you home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown you.
May He bring you home rejoicing once again into our doors.
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+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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