21 Aug – The Peanut Gallery

Praying the Psalms

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.
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Morning Reading: Psalm 45 (NLT)

Beautiful words stir my heart. I will recite a lovely poem about the king, for my tongue is like the pen of a skillful poet.

You are the most handsome of all. Gracious words stream from your lips. God himself has blessed you forever. Put on your sword, O mighty warrior! You are so glorious, so majestic! In your majesty, ride out to victory, defending truth, humility, and justice. Go forth to perform awe-inspiring deeds! Your arrows are sharp, piercing your enemies’ hearts. The nations fall beneath your feet.

Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a scepter of justice. You love justice and hate evil. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else. Myrrh, aloes, and cassia perfume your robes. In ivory palaces the music of strings entertains you. Kings’ daughters are among your noble women. At your right side stands the queen, wearing jewelry of finest gold from Ophir!

Listen to me, O royal daughter; take to heart what I say. Forget your people and your family far away. For your royal husband delights in your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord. The princess of Tyre will shower you with gifts. The wealthy will beg your favor. The bride, a princess, looks glorious in her golden gown. In her beautiful robes, she is led to the king, accompanied by her bridesmaids. What a joyful and enthusiastic procession as they enter the king’s palace!

Your sons will become kings like their father. You will make them rulers over many lands. I will bring honor to your name in every generation. Therefore, the nations will praise you forever and ever.
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Morning Prayer

O Lord our God: In the words of the psalmist, you foreshadowed the true King of glory – your Son, Jesus Christ, ruler of all nations –

+ Thank you for the excellence of his character – in him all that is true and beautiful and good shines forth in harmony and fullness…
+ Thank you for perfection personified – in him all your fullness was pleased to dwell, unchanging and unchangeable…
+ Thank you for his humility – in him we learn to set aside our prerogatives of position and status for the good of others…
+ Thank you for his loving-kindness – in him we receive mercy instead of judgement…
+ Thank you for his victory over sin and death – in him we are more than conquerors, by the sword of the Spirit and his Word of truth…
+ Thank you for his justice – in him the righteous will be vindicated and the wicked punished…
+ Thank you for his righteous rule and reign – in him we are blessed with joy and peace…
+ Thank you for his everlasting Kingdom – in him we receive an inheritance of a full life, now and for ever…

O Lord our God: you have given us your Son, Jesus Christ, to be King of all kings, the ruler of all. Accept our worship and praise as we glorify your name.
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“Psalm 45 (Fairest Of All)” – Shane and Shane

My heart burst at its banks | Spilling with beauty and goodness
I pour it out as a song to my King | Shaping the rivers into words

What grace pours from your lips | The sound calls the midnight to morning
The melody turns my winter into spring | I echo it now in my worship | I echo it now in my worship

Ten thousand strong | You’re the fairest of all
Fairest in heaven and earth | Of the children of men
You’re the fairest of them | Fairest in heaven and earth

Your heart burst at the seams | Flowing with blood and with water
A song of love pouring out from the tree singing | For the joy set before me | For the joy set before me

Ten thousand strong | You’re the fairest of all
Fairest in heaven and earth | Of the children of men
You’re the fairest of them | Fairest in heaven and earth

You ransomed Your bride | On the day that You died
Ascended to heaven in glory | She stands clothed in white
With her head lifted high singing | “Come and return in Your glory”

You ransomed Your bride | On the day that You died
Ascended to heaven in glory | We stand clothed in white
With our voice lifted high singing | “Come and return in Your glory”

Ten thousand strong | You’re the fairest of all
Fairest in heaven and earth | Of the children of men
You’re the fairest of them | Fairest in heaven and earth
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Blessing – (Northumbrian Community)

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!

Reading, Reflection & Prayer

+ In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Opening – (Northumbria Community)

One thing I have asked of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life; to behold the beauty of the Lord and to seek Him in His temple.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory.

Please Read: Numbers 5-8 (NLT) – click here

Reflection & Prayer

Nazirite Laws

Numbers 6 :2-3 (NLT) – “If any of the people, either men or women, take the special vow of a Nazirite, setting themselves apart to the Lord in a special way, they must give up wine and other alcoholic drinks….”

Numbers 6:5-8 (NLT) – “They must never cut their hair throughout the time of their vow, for they are holy and set apart to the Lord. Until the time of their vow has been fulfilled, they must let their hair grow long. And they must not go near a dead body during the entire period of their vow to the Lord. Even if the dead person is their own father, mother, brother, or sister, they must not defile themselves, for the hair on their head is the symbol of their separation to God. This requirement applies as long as they are set apart to the Lord….”

The Priestly Blessing

Numbers 6:23-27 (NLT) – “Tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing:

‘May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.’

Whenever Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel in my name, I myself will bless them.”

Offerings of Dedication

Numbers 7:1-2 (NLT) – On the day Moses set up the Tabernacle, he anointed it and set it apart as holy. He also anointed and set apart all its furnishings and the altar with its utensils. Then the leaders of Israel—the tribal leaders who had registered the troops—came and brought their offerings….”

Numbers 7:89 (NLT) – Whenever Moses went into the Tabernacle to speak with the Lord, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—that rests on the Ark of the Covenant. The Lord spoke to him from there.

The Levites Dedicated

Numbers 8:6, 9-11 (NLT) – “Now set the Levites apart from the rest of the people of Israel and make them ceremonially clean….. Then assemble the whole community of Israel, and present the Levites at the entrance of the Tabernacle. When you present the Levites before the Lord, the people of Israel must lay their hands on them. Raising his hands, Aaron must then present the Levites to the Lord as a special offering from the people of Israel, thus dedicating them to the Lord’s service….”

Numbers 8:24-26 (NLT) – “This is the rule the Levites must follow: They must begin serving in the Tabernacle at the age of twenty-five, and they must retire at the age of fifty. After retirement they may assist their fellow Levites by serving as guards at the Tabernacle, but they may not officiate in the service. This is how you must assign duties to the Levites.”

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Lord God: You alone are the source of all goodness in our lives; our peace, our prosperity, our children, our security, our property, our happiness, our health – all good things come from You.

+ It’s by Your grace that we receive Your good gifts – thank You Lord.

+ And, it’s by Your grace that we long for that day when we shall see You face-to-face smiling upon us.

Set us apart as a holy people, a people who belong to You, that we might love and serve you, and show others Your goodness to us through Jesus Christ our Savior, who has called us out of darkness into His wonderful light. In His name, we pray. Amen.
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“Aaronic Benediction” – Joshua Aaron & Misha Goetz