Tag: Proverbs 26

Morning Prayer: Thursday 26 Nov 2020 – Psalms (136: 1, 23-26) and Proverbs (26) ~ Give thanks: God provides!

Morning Prayer: Thursday, 26 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.

“O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is (good) gracious,
for his mercy endures for ever.

The LORD gives food to all flesh….
“O give thanks unto the God of heaven;
for his mercy endures for ever.”
(Psalm 136:1, 25-26)

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.

__________

“Psalm 136” (Give thanks to God) – Pete Crockett Music

__________

The New Cloverdale Psalter (2019 Update of 1535 Original) 

“Psalm 136:1, 23-26”

1 O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is gracious, *
for his mercy endures for ever.

23 Who remembered us when we were in trouble, *
for his mercy endures for ever;
24 And delivered us from our enemies, *
for his mercy endures for ever.
25 Who gives food to all flesh, *
for his mercy endures for ever.
26 O give thanks unto the God of heaven, *
for his mercy endures for ever.
27 O give thanks unto the Lord of lords *
for his mercy endures for ever.

Proverbs 25 (NLT) – more proverbs of Solomon

24 People may cover their hatred with pleasant words,
but they’re deceiving you.
25 They pretend to be kind, but don’t believe them.
Their hearts are full of many evils.
26 While their hatred may be concealed by trickery,
their wrongdoing will be exposed in public.

__________

Consider:

“O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is (good) gracious,
for his mercy endures for ever.

The LORD gives food to all flesh….
“O give thanks unto the God of heaven;
for his mercy endures for ever.”
(Psalm 136:1, 25-26)

 

The LORD gives food to all

  • The very air we breathe in, the bread we eat, our common blessings, be they never so mean, we have them all from grace, and all from the tender mercy of the Lord.
  • It is not only mercy which gives us Christ, and salvation by Christ, and all those glorious deliverances and triumphs over the enemies of the church; but it is mercy which furnishes our tables.

—Thomas Manton.

“For his mercy endures for ever”

Blessed be God, who has provided and made known to us salvation through his Son.

  • May we know and feel his redeeming power, that we may serve him in righteousness all our days.
  • May He who gives food to all flesh, feed our souls unto eternal life, and enliven our love by his grace,
  • Let us trace up all the favors we receive to this true source, and offer praise continually.

__ Matthew Henry

__________

Prayer:

Give thanks to God our Father for all his gifts so freely
bestowed upon us:

  • For the beauty and wonder of your creation, in earth and sky
    and sea,
    _ We thank you, Lord.
  • For our daily food and drink, our homes and families, and our
    friends,
    _ We thank you, Lord.
  • For minds to think, and hearts to love, and hands to serve,
    _ We thank you, Lord.
  • For health and strength to work, and time to rest and worship,
    _ We thank you, Lord.
  • For all who are patient in suffering and faithful in adversity,
    _ We thank you, Lord.
  • For all who earnestly seek after truth, and all who labor for justice,
    _ We thank you, Lord.
  • For all that is good and gracious in the lives of men and women,
    revealing the image of Christ,
    _ We thank you, Lord.
  • For the communion of saints, in all times and places,
    _ We thank you, Lord.

Above all, we give you thanks for the great mercies and promises given to us in Christ Jesus our Lord; To him be praise and glory, with you, O Father, and the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen
__________

Give Thanks – Don Moen

___________

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: Monday 26 Oct 2020 – Psalms (95) and Proverbs (26) ~ worship the Lord your Maker

Morning Prayer, Monday, 26 Oct 2020

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

Opening:

Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the prayers of your people, and in our time grant us your peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

O come, let us worship and fall down, and kneel before the LORD our Maker.
For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.
Today, if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
(Psalm 95:6-8)

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.

__________

Psalm 95 – Come let us Sing: Experience God Everyday

__________

The New Cloverdale Psalter (2019 Update of 1535 Original) 

“Psalm 95”

1 O come, let us sing unto the LORD; *
let us heartily rejoice in the strength of our salvation.
2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving *
and show ourselves glad in him with psalms.
3 For the LORD is a great God *
and a great King above all gods.
4 In his hand are all the depths of the earth, *
and the heights of the hills are his also.
5 The sea is his, for he made it, *
and his hands prepared the dry land.

6 O come, let us worship and fall down, *
and kneel before the LORD our Maker.
7 For he is our God, *
and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.

8 Today, if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts *
as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness,
9 When your fathers tested me, *
and put me to the proof, though they had seen my works.
10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation and said, *
“It is a people that err in their hearts, for they have not known my ways,”
11 Of whom I swore in my wrath *
that they should not enter into my rest.

__________

Consider:

O come, let us worship and fall down, and kneel before the LORD our Maker.
For he is our God, and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand.
Today, if you will hear his voice, harden not your hearts.
(Psalm 95:6-8)

Worship the Lord our Maker

  • As suppliants must we come; joyful, but not presumptuous; familiar as children before a father, yet reverential as creatures before their maker.

__ Spurgeon

He is our God

  • As he belongs to us, so do we belong to him. We are his, even as sheep belong to the shepherd, and his hand is our rule, our guidance, our government, our support, our source of supply.

__ Spurgeon

Harden not your hearts

Here in this text the heart is put for the whole soul, even for mind, will, and affections. For blindness of mind, stubbornness of will, and stupidity of affections go together.

—William Gouge.

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New Living Translation (NLT)

Proverbs 26 (The proverbs of Solomon)

24 People may cover their hatred with pleasant words,
but they’re deceiving you.
25 They pretend to be kind, but don’t believe them.
Their hearts are full of many evils.
26 While their hatred may be concealed by trickery,
their wrongdoing will be exposed in public.

__________

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

+ Give me, O Lord, a steadfast heart, which no unworthy thought can drag down; an unconquered heart, which no tribulation can wear out; an upright heart, which no unworthy purpose can tempt aside. Bestow upon me understanding to know you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, and faithfulness that finally may embrace you. Amen.

__________

Psalm 95: ‘Come let us’ – Half a Mile

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: Saturday 26 Sep 2020 – Psalms (43) and Proverbs (26) ~ send out your light and truth

Morning Prayer, Saturday, 26 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

O send out your light and your truth, that they may lead me…
(Psalm 43:3)

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.

__________

The New Cloverdale Psalter (2019 Update of 1535 Original) 

Psalm 43

1 Give judgment for me, O God, and defend my cause against the ungodly people; *
O deliver me from the deceitful and the wicked.
2 For you are the God of my strength; why have you put me far from you? *
And why do I go about with heaviness, while the enemy oppresses me?

3 O send out your light and your truth, that they may lead me, *
and bring me to your holy hill, and to your dwelling;
4 That I may go to the altar of God, even to the God of my joy and gladness; *
and on the harp will I give thanks to you, O God, my God.

5 Why are you so full of heaviness, O my soul, *
and why are you so disquieted within me?
6 O put your trust in God, *
for I will yet give him thanks, who is the help of my countenance, and my God.

__________

“Send Out Your Light” – Sandra McCracken – Live from Brooklyn, NY

__________

Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Proverbs 26

4 Don’t make a fool of yourself
by answering a fool.
5 But if you answer any fools,
show how foolish they are,
so they won’t feel smart.

24 The pleasant talk
of an enemy
hides more evil plans
25 than can be counted—
so don’t believe a word!
26 Everyone will see through
those evil plans.

__________

Consider:

O send out your light and your truth, that they may lead me…
(Psalm 43:3)

“Deliver me from the deceitful and the wicked.”

+ There are ungodly people who, being destitute of religious principle, will not scruple to injure us, when they can thereby gratify their passions or advance their worldly interests.

+ There are deceitful people who will put on the garb of friendship, and acquire our confidence and esteem, and then treacherously cheat us out of our property, or our reputation, or our peace.

+ There are unjust people, who by fraud or by violence, would rob us of our dearest rights and most valuable possessions, and not only reduce our powers and opportunities of doing good, but even diminish our means of comfortable subsistence.

+ And there are oppressors, who taking advantage of our weakness or dependence, and trampling alike on the maxims of equity and humanity, may exact from us unreasonable services, impose upon us heavy burdens and cruel restraints, and ply us with insults, and harassments, and deprivations, from which we can make no escape, and for which we can find no redress.

—Andrew Thomson, D.D. (1826).

Q: Can you put contemporary names and faces on the people described in the above quote?

Q: How are they affecting your peace of mind?

“Send out your light and your truth, that they may lead me.”

Apart from the “Light and Truth” of God we are helplessly and hopelessly lost. The Psalmist prayed for that which God has given us in Christ Jesus.

Jesus said: “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

Q: What has Jesus said or taught that reminds you that he is with you and for you?

Q: What can you do to remind yourself of God’s love, and enter into His presence?

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.

+ For Mercy

Almighty God, you have not dealt with us according to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities; grant that we, who for our evil deeds deserve to be punished, by the might of your grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

+ For Guidence

O God, by whom the meek are guided in judgment, and light rises up in darkness for the godly: Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what you would have us do, that the Spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices; that in your light we may see light, and in your straight path we may not stumble; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

__________

“All the Way Back” – Mark & Sarah Tillman

__________

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: 26 Jun – Proverbs 26:4-5 ~ an exercise in futility?

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 26

+ 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 26:4-5 (NLT)

Exercise-in-Futility-488x325-300x199

Don’t answer the foolish arguments of fools, or you will become as foolish as they are.

Be sure to answer the foolish arguments of fools, or they will become wise in their own estimation.
__________

A reading from the Pastoral Letters

1 Timothy 4:7 (NLT)

Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly.

2 Timothy 2:14 (NLT)

Remind everyone about these things, and command them in God’s presence to stop fighting over words. Such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them.

2 Timothy 2:23 (NLT)

Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights.
__________

Reflection:

Benson Commentary on Proverbs 26:4-5:

These contrary directions are easily reconciled, by considering the difference of persons, times, places, and other circumstances, and of the manner of answering.

Answer him not:

  • Answer him not, when he is incorrigible, or when he is inflamed with wine, or with passion, or when it is not necessary nor likely to do him good.
  • Answer him not, according to his folly — So as to imitate his folly, in such passionate, or reproachful, or foolish speeches as he uses to thee; lest thou be like unto him — Show thyself to be as great a fool as he is.

Answer him:

  • Answer him, when he is capable of receiving good by it, or when it is necessary for the glory of God, for the discharge of a man’s duty, or for the good of others.
  • Answer a fool according to his folly — So as his folly needs and requires, convincing him strongly, reproving him sharply, and exposing him to just shame; lest he be wise in his own conceit — Lest thy silence make him arrogant and presumptuous, as if his words were unanswerable.

__________

__________

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