Epiphany Season | Monday 29 Jan 2024
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening:
O God, you know that we are set
in the midst of many grave dangers,
and because of the frailty of our nature
we cannot always stand upright:
Grant that your strength and protection
may support us in all dangers
and carry us through every temptation;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
But God said to Balaam, “Don’t go with them!
Don’t curse these people,
because they are blessed.”
(Numbers 22:12)
__________
From Psalms: Psalm 35 – Poor Bishop Hooper
lord oh lord oppose those who oppose me
lord oh lord fight those who fight against me
lord put on your armor lord take up your shield
lord prepare for battle lord lift up your spear
against every pursuer oh lord let me hear
say it to my soul lord say it loud and clear
wont you say
i will give you victory
lord bring shame on those who try to kill me
lord turn back the ones who bring me harm
blow them all away like chaff set in the wind
a wind sent by your angel fast pursuing them
would you say
i will give you victory
lord wrong witnesses rise up against me
asking me things i know nothing of
yes they trade me evil for my honest good
i’m empty in my soul god sickened with despair
oh how long will you lord look on and do nothing
save me from these lions and protect my life
won’t you come and rescue me
so all may say
the lord be magnified the one who takes delight
in full abundant life of his servants
__________
OT Reading: Numbers 22:1-21 (GW)
Balaam Is Hired to Curse Israel
22:1 Then the Israelites moved and set up camp across from Jericho, on the plains of Moab east of the Jordan River.
Balak, son of Zippor, saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites. The Moabites were very afraid because there were so many Israelites. Besides, the Moabites couldn’t stand these people.
So the Moabites said to the leaders of Midian, “All those people will eventually eat up everything around us the same way an ox eats up the grass in a field.”
At that time Balak, son of Zippor, was king of Moab. He sent messengers to summon Balaam, son of Beor, who was at Pethor, on the Euphrates River, in the land where his people lived. Balak’s message was, “A nation has just come here from Egypt. They’ve spread out all over the countryside and are setting up their camp here in front of me. Please come and curse these people for me, because they are too strong for me. Maybe then I’ll be able to defeat them and force them out of the country. I know that whomever you bless is blessed and whomever you curse is cursed.”
The leaders of Moab and Midian left, taking money with them to pay for Balaam’s services. They came to Balaam and told him what Balak had said.
“Spend the night here,” Balaam said to them, “and I’ll report to you what the Lord tells me.” So the princes of Moab stayed with Balaam.
God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?”
Balaam answered, “Balak, son of King Zippor of Moab, sent them with this message: ‘Some people have just come from Egypt and are spreading out all over the countryside. Now come and curse them for me. Maybe I’ll be able to fight them and force them out.’ ”
But God said to Balaam, “Don’t go with them! Don’t curse these people, because they are blessed.”
When Balaam got up in the morning, he said to Balak’s princes, “Go back to your own country, because the Lord has refused to let me go with you.”
So the Moabite princes went back to Balak and said, “Balaam refused to come with us.”
Balak sent a larger group of more highly respected princes. When they came to Balaam, they said to him, “This is what Balak, son of Zippor, says: Don’t let anything keep you from coming to me. I will make sure you are richly rewarded, and I will do whatever you ask. Please, come and curse these people for me.”
But Balaam answered Balak’s servants, “Even if Balak gave me his palace filled with silver and gold, I couldn’t disobey the command of the Lord my God no matter whether the request was important or not. Now, why don’t you stay here tonight, as the others did, and I’ll find out what else the Lord may have to tell me.”
That night God came to Balaam and said, “If these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you.”
Balaam’s Journey to Moab
22:21 When Balaam got up in the morning, he saddled his donkey and left with the Moabite princes.
__________
The Blessing for the People of Israel / Canada Christian College
__________
NT Reading: Acts 21:17-26 (GW)
21:17 When we arrived in Jerusalem, the believers welcomed us warmly.
The next day Paul went with us to visit James. All the spiritual leaders were present. After greeting them, Paul related everything God had done through his work with non-Jewish people.
When the spiritual leaders heard about everything, they praised God. They said to Paul, “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews are now believers, and all of them are deeply committed to Moses’ Teachings. But they have been told that you teach all the Jews living among non-Jewish people to abandon Moses. They claim that you tell them not to circumcise their children or follow Jewish customs. What should we do about this? They will certainly hear that you’re in town. So follow our advice. We have four men who have made a vow to God. Take these men, go through the purification ceremony with them, and pay the expenses to shave their heads. Then everyone will know that what they’ve been told about you isn’t true. Instead, they’ll see that you carefully follow Moses’ Teachings.
⌞To clarify this matter⌟ we have written non-Jewish believers a letter with our decision. We told them that they should not eat food sacrificed to false gods, bloody meat, or the meat of strangled animals. They also should not commit sexual sins.”
The next day, Paul took the men and went through the purification ceremony with them. Then he went into the temple courtyard to announce the time when the purification would be over and the sacrifice would be offered for each of them.
__________
Psalm 51 – English / Hebrew Tehillim 51 – LEV TAHOR | LEVI LIFE MUSIC
https://youtu.be/90-FH1okvF4?si=C_Mh9278QWupnAeb?rel=0
__________
+ O God, our heavenly Father: Pour out your Spirit on your faithful people in the Middle East, that your Son’s life-giving Gospel may be preached to every tribe and nation. Send forth laborers into your harvest; defend them in all dangers and temptations; and hasten the time when the fullness of the Gentiles shall be gathered in, and faithful Israel shall be saved; through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
+ Lord of Heaven’s Armies, we pray for swift and total victory over all evil in the Holy Land. Bring home the hostages, and deliver from bondage every person captivated by the evil death cult terrorizing the Middle East. And finally, grant heavenly wisdom to those guiding Israel militarily, politically, diplomatically, and especially to those who will restore Israel spiritually, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
+ Hasten, O Father, the coming of your kingdom; and grant that we your servants, who now live by faith, may with joy behold your Son at his coming in glorious majesty; even Jesus Christ, our only Mediator and Advocate. Amen.
Closing: FaithandWorship.com | John Birch
May Christ, who sends us to the nations,
give us the power of his Spirit.
+ In the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Peanut Gallery 