Morning Prayer, Saturday, 07 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.

“O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is gracious,
and his mercy endures for ever.
Let those whom the LORD has redeemed give thanks,
whom he has delivered from the hand of the enemy.”
(Psalm 107:1-2)

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 107) – Rachel Cohen

The New Cloverdale Psalter (2019 Update of 1535 Original) 

“Psalm 107”

1 O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is gracious, *
and his mercy endures for ever.
2 Let those whom the LORD has redeemed give thanks, *
whom he has delivered from the hand of the enemy,
3 And gathered them out of the lands, from the east and from the west, *
from the north and from the south.

4 They went astray in the wilderness, even in the desert, *
and found no city to dwell in;
5 They were hungry and thirsty, *
and their soul fainted within them.
6 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, *
and he delivered them from their distress.
7 He led them forth by a straight path *
until they came to a city where they might dwell.
8 Oh, that they would therefore praise the LORD for his goodness *
and declare the wonders that he does for the children of men!
9 For he satisfies the empty soul *
and fills the hungry soul with goodness.

10 Some sat in darkness, and in the shadow of death, *
being bound fast in misery and iron,
11 Because they rebelled against the words of God *
and lightly regarded the counsel of the Most High.
12 He also brought down their heart with heaviness; *
they fell down, and there was none to help them.
13 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, *
and he delivered them out of their distress.
14 For he brought them out of darkness, and out of the shadow of death, *
and broke their bonds asunder.
15 Oh, that they would therefore praise the LORD for his goodness *
and declare the wonders that he does for the children of men!
16 For he has broken the gates of brass *
and shattered the bars of iron asunder.

17 The foolish were plagued for their offense *
and because of their wickedness.
18 Their soul abhorred all manner of food, *
and they were even close to death’s door.
19 So when they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, *
he delivered them out of their distress.
20 He sent his word and healed them, *
and they were saved from destruction.
21 Oh, that they would therefore praise the LORD for his goodness *
and declare the wonders that he does for the children of men!
22 That they would offer unto him the sacrifice of thanksgiving *
and tell of his works with gladness!

23 Those who go down to the sea in ships, *
who carry out their business in great waters,
24 They behold the works of the LORD *
and his wonders in the deep.
25 For at his word the stormy wind arises, *
which lifts up the waves.
26 They are carried up to heaven and down again to the deep; *
their soul melts away because of the trouble.
27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, *
and are at their wits’ end.
28 So when they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, *
he delivers them out of their distress.
29 For he makes the storm to cease, *
so that the waves are still.
30 Then they are glad, because they are at rest, *
and so he brings them into the haven where they desire to be.
31 Oh, that they would therefore praise the LORD for his goodness *
and declare the wonders that he does for the children of men!
32 That they would exalt him also in the congregation of the people *
and praise him in the seat of the elders!

33 He turns rivers into a wilderness *
and water-springs into thirsty ground,
34 A fruitful land he makes barren, *
because of the wickedness of those who dwell there.
35 Again, he makes the wilderness into pools of water *
and dry ground into water-springs;
36 And there he sets the hungry *
that they may build a city to dwell in,
37 That they may sow their land and plant vineyards *
to yield the fruits of increase.
38 He blesses them, so that they multiply exceedingly, *
and does not allow their cattle to decrease.

39 And again, when they are diminished and brought low, *
through oppression, through any plague or trouble,
40 Though he pours contempt on princes *
and lets them wander in the pathless wilderness,
41 Yet he helps the poor out of misery *
and increases their households like a flock of sheep.
42 The righteous will consider this and rejoice, *
and the mouth of all wickedness shall be stopped.
43 Whoever is wise will ponder these things, *
and shall understand the loving-kindness of the LORD.

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Proverbs (07)  (Warning about Immoral Women)

7 Follow my advice, my son;
always treasure my commands.
2 Obey my commands and live!
Guard my instructions as you guard your own eyes.
3 Tie them on your fingers as a reminder.
Write them deep within your heart.

4 Love wisdom like a sister;
make insight a beloved member of your family.
5 Let them protect you from an affair with an immoral woman,
from listening to the flattery of a promiscuous woman.

__________

House Of The Rising Sun – Joan Baez (1960)

There is a house in New Orleans
They call the Rising Sun
It has been the ruin of many a poor girl
And me, oh, God, I’m one

If I had listened to what my mother said,
I`d have been at home today,
But I was young and foolish, oh, God
Let a rambler lead me astray

Go tell my baby sisters
Don’t do what I have done
To shun that house in New Orleans
They call the rising sun

I’m going back to New Orleans
My race is almost run
I’m going back to spend my life
Beneath that rising sun

__________

Consider:

“O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is gracious,
and his mercy endures for ever.
Let those whom the LORD has redeemed give thanks,
whom he has delivered from the hand of the enemy.”
(Psalm 107:1-2)

Give thanks for God is good!

• The LORD is good by nature, and essence, and proven to be good in all the acts of his eternity. Compared with him there is none good, no, not one: but he is essentially, perpetually, superlatively, infinitely good. We are the perpetual recipients of his goodness, and therefore ought above all his creatures to magnify his name.
• The LORD’s mercy had no beginning, and shall never know an end. Our sin required that goodness should display itself to us in the form of mercy, and it has done so, and will do so evermore.

__ Spurgeon

Let the redeemed give thanks!

• Christ is the author of our redemption; we are redeemed, not by ourselves, nor by any creature, but by the Lord….
• Christ has redeemed us from the hand of the enemy; i.e. from all our sins which war against our souls; from Satan our implacable adversary, who is stronger than us; from the law, which curses and threatens us with damnation and death; from death itself, the last enemy, and indeed from the hand of all our enemies, be they who they may.

__ John Gill

Satan is the enemy of the Redeemed.

Q: Do you number yourself among the redeemed?

Q: How has Satan influenced and affected your life?

Q: From what have you been redeemed?

__ from a life of wandering and emptiness….
__ from life of trouble and distress….
__ from a life of darkness and misery….
__ from a life of rebellion and foolishness….
__ from a life of bondage and addiction….
__ from a life of sickness and disease….
__ from a life of terror and fear….
__ from a life of poverty and sorrow….
__ from something else….

Q: Have you told others your story?

__________

Prayer

+ Good and Merciful God: Look with pity on the sorrows of your servants. Remember them, O Lord, in mercy; nourish their souls with patience; comfort them with an awareness of your goodness; lift up your countenance upon them; and give them peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+ Good and Merciful God: Let your fatherly goodness be upon all whom you have made. Remember in pity all those who are this day destitute, homeless, elderly, infirm, forgotten, or poor. Though they be troubled on every side, shield them from distress; though they are perplexed, save them from despair. Grant this, O Lord, for the love of him who for our sakes became poor, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ.

+ Good and Merciful God: Look with compassion upon those who through addiction have lost their health and freedom. Restore to them the assurance of your unfailing mercy; remove from them the fears that beset them; strengthen them in the work of their recovery; and to those who minister to them, give patient understanding and persevering love; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

+ Good and Merciful God: Have mercy on the unrepentant and those who do not believe. Awaken in them, by your Word and Holy Spirit, a deep sense of their sinfulness and peril. Take from them all ignorance, hardness of heart, and contempt of your Word. Grant them to know and feel that there is no other Name under heaven given among men by which they must be saved, but only the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And so bring them home and number them among your children, that they may be yours for ever; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

+ Good and Merciful God: Hasten 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.

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Tribes and Tongues | Psalm 107 – Zambia Messianic Fellowship

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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.