Proverbs (02) – The Peanut Gallery

Morning Prayer, Monday, 02 Nov 2020

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

Opening:

Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, as we live among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“My song shall be of mercy and judgment; unto you, O LORD, will I sing.
O let me have understanding in the way of godliness.”
(Psalm 101:1-2)

Preparation:

Holy Spirit, breath of God and fire of love, I cannot pray without your aid: Kindle in me the fire of your love, and illumine me with your light; that with a steadfast will and holy thoughts I may approach the Father in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ my Lord, who reigns with you and the Father in eternal union. Amen.

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Psalm 101 Song (I Will) – Jason Silver

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The New Cloverdale Psalter (2019 Update of 1535 Original)

“Psalm 101”

1 My song shall be of mercy and judgment; *
unto you, O LORD, will I sing.
2 O let me have understanding *
in the way of godliness.
3 When will you come to me? *
I will walk in my house with integrity of heart.
4 I will set no wicked thing before my eyes; *
I hate the sins of unfaithfulness; no such thing shall cleave to me.
5 A crooked heart shall depart from me; *
I will not know a wicked person.
6 Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, *
him will I destroy.
7 Whoever has a proud look and an arrogant heart, *
I will not suffer him.

8 My eyes shall look with favor upon the faithful in the land, *
that they may dwell with me.
9 Whoever leads a godly life, *
he shall be my servant.
10 No deceitful person shall dwell in my house; *
the one who tells lies shall not tarry in my sight.
11 I shall soon destroy all the ungodly who are in the land, *
that I may root out all evildoers from the city of the LORD.

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Consider:

“My song shall be of mercy and judgment; unto you, O LORD, will I sing.
O let me have understanding in the way of godliness.”
(Psalm 101:1-2)

sing of mercy and judgement

God’s dealings with us always include both “mercy and judgement” – for these we praise the Lord.

To sing of mercy must be a humble song, for mercy towards a miserable sinner is a melting word; and to sing of judgment must be a humble song, for judgment in every sense is an awful word…. “I will sing, I will sing;” I will sing on earth and I will sing in heaven; I will sing in time and I will sing in eternity.

__ Ralph Erskine.

practice godliness

Piety must begin at home. Our first duties are those within our own home.

It is easier for most men to walk with a perfect heart in the church, or even in the world, than in their own families. How many are as meek as lambs among others, when at home they are wasps or tigers.

—Adam Clarke.

Q: Do you consider yourself a God-fearing person? Does your home life reflect it?

Q: Where do you need wisdom to do what’s right at home?

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Proverbs (02) (The wisdom of Solomon)

2 Tune your ears to wisdom,
and concentrate on understanding.

5 Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord,
and you will gain knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord grants wisdom!

9 Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair,
and you will find the right way to go.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will fill you with joy.

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Prayer

+ 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.

+ Almighty God, our heavenly Father, you set the solitary in families: I commend to your continual care my family. Remove from me every root of bitterness, the desire of vainglory, and the pride of life. Fill me with faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, and true godliness. Knit together my family, and give me the wisdom to do what’s right, that we may be joined to one another with bonds of loving-kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+ O God of peace, who has taught me that in returning and rest I shall be saved, in quietness and in confidence shall be my strength: By the might of your Spirit lift me, I pray, to your presence, where I may be still and know that you are God; through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

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Wisdom Song – Laura Woodley Osman

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.

Morning Prayer, Friday, 02 Oct 2020

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

Opening:

O merciful Lord, grant to your faithful people pardon and peace,
that we may be cleansed from all our sins and serve you with a quiet mind;
through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen.

The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”
(Psalm 53:1)

Preparation:

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The New Cloverdale Psalter (2019 Update of 1535 Original)

Psalm 53

1 The fool has said in his heart, *
“There is no God.”

2 They are corrupt and have become abominable in their wickedness; *
there is none that does good.
3 God looked down from heaven upon the children of men *
to see if there were any who would understand and seek after God.
4 But they have all gone astray; they have altogether become abominable; *
there is none that does good, no, not one.

5 Have they no knowledge, all the workers of evil *
who eat up my people as they would eat bread, and call not upon God?
6 They were afraid where no fear was, *
for God has broken the bones of those who besieged you;
7 You have put them to shame, *
because God has rejected them.

8 Oh, that salvation were given unto Israel out of Zion! *
Oh, that God would deliver his people out of captivity!
9 Then shall Jacob rejoice, *
and Israel shall be glad.

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“Psalms 53” (tune: Garelochside) – St. Peter’s Free Church of Scotland, Dundee.

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New Living Translation (NLT)

Proverbs 02 (The proverbs of Solomon)

2 Tune your ears to wisdom,
and concentrate on understanding.

5 Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord,
and you will gain knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord grants wisdom!
From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.

9 Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair,
and you will find the right way to go.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
and knowledge will fill you with joy.

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Consider:

The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”
(Psalm 53:1)

The atheist is, morally as well as mentally, a fool, a fool in the heart as well as in the head; a fool in morals as well as in philosophy. With the denial of God as a starting point… the fool’s progress is a rapid, riotous, raving, ruinous one. “No God,” being interpreted, means no law, no order, no restraint to lust, no limit to passion. Who but a fool would be of this mind?

Bad principles soon lead to bad lives…. It is the abounding denial and forgetfulness of God among men which is the source of the unrighteousness and crime which we see around us.

— Spurgeon

Jesus made the point that how we behave demonstrates what we believe. (Matthew 7:16)

Q: How are people behaving around you? (God/No God?)

Q: When you consider how you behave (e.g. how you spend your time and money)? (God/No God?)

Prayer

+ For Purity

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.

+ For Grace to Seek God in Every Way (Benedict of Nursia)

Gracious and holy Father, please give me intellect to understand you, reason to discern you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, a spirit to know you, a heart to meditate upon you, ears to hear you, eyes to see you, a tongue to proclaim you, a way of life pleasing to you, patience to wait for you, and perseverance to look for you. Grant me a perfect end, your holy presence, a blessed resurrection, and life everlasting. Amen.

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“Only a Holy God” – Here Be Lions