Morning Prayer: Monday 23 Nov 2020 – Psalms (135) and Proverbs (23) ~ Your name, O LORD, endures forever!

Morning Prayer: Monday, 23 Nov 2020

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

Opening:

Stir up, O Lord, the wills of your faithful people, that bringing forth in abundance the fruit of good works, they may be abundantly rewarded when our Savior Jesus Christ comes to restore all things; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

“Your Name, O LORD, endures for ever;
so does your renown, O LORD, from one generation to another.
For the LORD will avenge his people *
and have compassion upon his servants.”
(Psalm 135:13-14)

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.

__________

Polyeleos Psalm 135: O Give Thanks Unto the Lord
(Triple Meter Byzantine Tone 1) – Antiochian Youth Music Ministry

__________

The New Cloverdale Psalter (2019 Update of 1535 Original)

“Psalm 135”

1 O praise the LORD.

Praise the Name of the LORD; *
offer praise, you servants of the LORD,
2 You who stand in the house of the LORD, *
in the courts of the house of our God.

3 O praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; *
sing praises unto his Name, for it is lovely.
4 For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself *
and Israel for his own possession.

5 For I know that the LORD is great, *
and that our LORD is above all gods.
6 Whatsoever the LORD pleases he does, in heaven and on earth, *
in the seas and in all the deep places.
7 He brings forth clouds from the ends of the earth *
and sends forth lightning with the rain, bringing the wind out of his treasuries.

8 It was he who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, *
both of man and beast.
9 He sent signs and wonders into the midst of you, O land of Egypt, *
against Pharaoh and all his servants.
10 He smote many nations, *
and slew mighty kings:
11 Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og the king of Bashan, *
and all the kingdoms of Canaan.
12 And he gave their land to be an inheritance, *
an inheritance for Israel his people.

13 Your Name, O LORD, endures for ever; *
so does your renown, O LORD, from one generation to another.
14 For the LORD will avenge his people *
and have compassion upon his servants.

15 As for the idols of the nations, they are but silver and gold, *
the work of human hands.
16 They have mouths, but they speak not; *
eyes have they, but they see not;
17 They have ears, and yet they hear not, *
neither is there any breath in their mouths.
18 Those who make them are like them, *
and so are all who put their trust in them.

19 Praise the LORD, O house of Israel; *
praise the LORD, O house of Aaron.
20 Praise the LORD, O house of Levi; *
you who fear the LORD, praise the LORD.
21 Praised be the LORD from Zion, *
who dwells in Jerusalem.

Praise the LORD.

__________

Proverbs 23

22 Listen to your father, who gave you life,
and don’t despise your mother when she is old.
23 Get the truth and never sell it;
also get wisdom, discipline, and good judgment.
24 The father of godly children has cause for joy.
What a pleasure to have children who are wise.
25 So give your father and mother joy!
May she who gave you birth be happy.

__________

Consider:

“Your Name, O LORD, endures for ever;
so does your renown, O LORD, from one generation to another.
For the LORD will avenge his people
and have compassion upon his servants.”
(Psalm 135:13-14)

God’s name is eternal, and will never be changed.

His character is immutable; his fame and honor also shall remain to all eternity.

There shall always be life in the name of Jesus, and sweetness and consolation.

Those upon whom the Lord’s name is named in integrity and truth shall be preserved by it, and kept from all evil, world without end.

JEHOVAH is a name which shall outlive the ages, and retain the fulness of its glory and might for ever.

For the LORD will avenge his people

He will exercise personal discipline over them, and not leave it to their foes to maltreat them at pleasure.

When the correction is ended he will arise and avenge them of their oppressors, who for a while were used by him as his rod.

He may seem to forget his people, but it is not so; he will undertake their cause and deliver them.

It is remarkable that the nations by which God has afflicted Israel have all been destroyed as if the tender Father hated the instruments of his children’s correction. The chosen nation is here called, first, “his people,” and then “his servants:” as his people he judges them, as his servants he finds comfort in them, for so the word may be read.

__ Spurgeon

Q: How would you assess your current circumstances? Under discipline or deliverance?

Q: In either circumstance, are you able to “Praise the Name of the LORD?”

Q: Over what, or whom, do you need to speak the life-giving Name of Jesus?

__________

Prayer:

I speak the powerful, life-giving Name of Jesus:

+ over the Church and all professing Christians, especially….

+ over mine, and every, tribe and nation of the earth, especially….

+ over all who are troubled, afflicted, and distressed, especially….

+ over those who are sick in body, mind, or spirit, especially….

+ over those who are arrogant and godless among us, especially….

+ over those who work evil and sow division among us, especially…

+ over my family, and all parents, children and marriages, especially….

+ over my thoughts, my feelings, and all that I do, especially….

+ over my faithless fears and worldly anxieties, especially….

Your name, O Lord, endures forever; your fame, O Lord, is known to every generation. For the Lord will give justice to his people and have compassion on his servants.

__________

I Speak Jesus – Here Be Lions

___________

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.

__________

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

Morning Prayer: Friday 23 Oct 2020 – Psalms (91) and Proverbs (23) ~ “The LORD is my refuge!”

Morning Prayer, Friday, 23 Oct 2020

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

Opening:

Set us free, loving Father, from the bondage of our sins, and in your goodness and mercy give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

I will say unto the LORD, “You are my refuge and my stronghold,
my God in whom I will trust.”
(Psalm 91:2)

Preparation:

__________

The New Cloverdale Psalter (2019 Update of 1535 Original)

“Psalm 91”

1 Whoever dwells under the defense of the Most High *
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say unto the LORD, “You are my refuge and my stronghold, *
my God in whom I will trust.”
3 For he shall deliver you from the snare of the hunter *
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He shall defend you under his wings, and you shall be safe under his feathers; *
his faithfulness and truth shall be your shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of any terror by night, *
nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6 Of the pestilence that walks in darkness, *
nor of the sickness that destroys at noonday.
7 A thousand shall fall beside you, and ten thousand at your right hand, *
but it shall not come near you.
8 Indeed, with your eyes you shall behold *
and see the reward of the ungodly.

9 Because you have said, “The LORD is my refuge,” *
and have made the Most High your stronghold,
10 There shall no evil happen to you, *
neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.
11 For he shall give his angels charge over you, *
to keep you in all your ways.
12 They shall bear you in their hands, *
that you hurt not your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and adder; *
the young lion and the serpent you shall trample under your feet.

14 “Because he has set his love upon me, therefore I will deliver him; *
I will lift him up, because he has known my Name.
15 He shall call upon me, and I will hear him; *
indeed, I am with him in trouble; I will deliver him and bring him honor.
16 With long life I will satisfy him, *
and show him my salvation.”

__________

Psalm 91 (2003 Classic) | New Creation Worship

[When the severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) outbreak hit Singapore in 2003, the church was encouraged by the teaching on Psalm 91 by Senior Pastor Joseph Prince. By the grace of God, no regular attendee from our church suffered death from the disease as the supernatural protection of God covered the church.

This song, inspired by the truths found in Psalm 91, became a declarative song of God’s protection over our lives. In the season of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 outbreak, this classic song was presented at our English services on Sunday, 23 February 2020 to remind us of Jesus’ faithfulness.]

__________

New Living Translation (NLT)

Proverbs 23 (Sayings of the Wise)

9 Don’t waste your breath on fools,
for they will despise the wisest advice.

17 Don’t envy sinners,
but always continue to fear the Lord.
18 You will be rewarded for this;
your hope will not be disappointed.

__________

Consider:

I will say unto the LORD, “You are my refuge and my stronghold,
my God in whom I will trust.”
(Psalm 91:2)

To take up a general truth and make it our own by personal faith is the highest wisdom. It is but poor comfort to say ‘the Lord is a refuge,’ but to say he is my refuge, is the essence of consolation. Those who believe should also speak—”I will say,” for such bold avowals honor God and lead others to seek the same confidence.

Behold this day the Lord is to us instead of walls and bulwarks! Our ramparts defy the leagured hosts of hell. Foes in flesh, and foes in ghostly guise are alike balked of their prey when the Lord of Hosts stands between us and their fury, and all other evil forces are turned aside. Walls cannot keep out the pestilence, but the Lord can.

We have trusted in God, let us trust him still. He has never failed us, why then should we suspect him? To trust in man is natural to fallen nature, to trust in God should be as natural to regenerated nature. Where there is every reason and warrant for faith, we ought to place our confidence without hesitancy or wavering. Dear reader, pray for grace to say, “In Him will I trust.”

__ Spurgeon

Prayer:

Lord God, you are my refuge and my stronghold:
my God in whom I will trust.

+ I trust you – to save me from hidden dangers…

+ I trust you – to save me from deadly diseases…

+ I trust you – to protect me from nightly fears…

+ I trust you – to protect me from daily assaults…

+ I trust you – to protect my family…

+ I trust you – to protect my home…

+ I trust you – to protect my church…

+ I trust you – to protect my country…

Lord God: you surround me with loving-kindness;
my life is in your hands. In you I trust.

__________

“Psalm 91” – Renew Collective

Blessing

__________

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

Morning Prayer: 23 Jun – Proverbs 23:4-5 ~ on storing treasure

Peanut Gallery: During the month of June we are reading through the Book of Proverbs, one chapter per day. “Growing in Character” is the theme; each day we will look for practical advice on living a wise and godly life in this present age.

I recommend that you begin by reading through the entire chapter for the day yourself (a link will be included, see below.) There is something for everyone in the Book of Proverbs. I will focus on what speaks to me in the chapter and follow that theme for the day. But the verse that speaks to me, on any particular day, may be different from the wisdom God has for you… and you don’t want to miss out.

Growing in Character: Proverbs 23

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

Opening sentence and prayer

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.
_____

Open my eyes, Lord, to see the wonderful truths in your instructions. Psalm 119:18 (NLT)
__________

A reading from Proverbs: Proverbs 23:4-5 (NLT)

Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich. Be wise enough to know when to quit. In the blink of an eye wealth disappears, for it will sprout wings and fly away like an eagle.
__________

A reading from the Gospels: Matthew 6:19-21 (NLT)

“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”
__________

A reading from the Letters: 1 Timothy 6:18-19 (NLT)

Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.
__________

Reflection:

Excerpts from – Theology of Work Project – full article here

“Store your treasure in heaven, not on earth” (Matthew 6:19-34)

“Treasures in heaven” are things of worth in God’s coming kingdom, such as justice, opportunity for everyone to be productive, provision for everyone’s needs, and respect for the dignity of every person. The implication is that we would do better to invest our money in activities that transform the world, than in securities that protect our accumulated surplus.

Is it wrong, then, to have a retirement portfolio or even to care about the material things of this world for ourselves or for others? The answer is again both no and yes. The no comes from the fact that this passage is not the only one in the Bible speaking to questions of wealth and provision for those who are dependent on us. Other passages counsel prudence and forethought, such as, “Those who gather little by little will increase [wealth]” (Proverbs 13:11b), and, “The good leave an inheritance to their children’s children” (Proverbs 13:22)… And Jesus speaks favorably in the Parable of the Talents (Matt. 25:14-30, which will be discussed later) of investing money. In light of the rest of Scripture, Matthew 6:19-34 cannot be a blanket prohibition.

But the yes part of the answer is a warning, summed up beautifully in verse 21, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” We might expect this sentence to run the other way, “Where your heart is, there your treasure will be also.” But Jesus’ actual words are more profound. Money changes the heart more than the heart decides how to handle money. Jesus’ point is… “The possessions you own will change you so that you care more about them than about other things.” Choose carefully what you own, for you will inevitably begin to value and protect it, to the potential detriment of everything else.

We may call this the “Treasure Principle,” namely, that treasure transforms. Those who invest their deepest treasure in the things of this world will find they are no longer serving God but money… leading to anxiety and uncertainty.

The question, then, is what kind of attention you should pay to material needs and the accumulation of resources. If you pay anxious attention, you are foolish. If you let them displace your trust in God, you are becoming unfaithful. If you pay excessive attention to them, you will become greedy. If you acquire them at the expense of other people, you are becoming the kind of oppressor against whom God’s kingdom is pitched.

How are we to discern the line between appropriate and inappropriate attention to wealth? Jesus answers, “Strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you” (Matt. 6:33). First things first. Despite our large capacity for self-deception, this question can help us observe carefully where our treasure has put us. That will tell us something about our hearts.
__________

__________

Canticle

Christ, as a light illumine and guide me. Christ, as a shield overshadow me. Christ under me; Christ over me; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful. Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me. This day be within and without me, lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.

Christ as a light; Christ as a shield; Christ beside me on my left and my right.

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.

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