It took a year to read the Bible, then almost 9 months to read the Apocrypha. Now, I'm going to try to offer reflections on the Narrative Lectionary. But, I won't be posting daily--at least, for a while.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Daily Prayer, Friday, September 9, 2011

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me.


Morning


Invitatory Psalm  118
O Lord, we give thanks to to you, for you are good;
 your steadfast love endures forever!
….
Out of my distress I called on the Lord;
the Lord answered me and set me in a broad place.
With the Lord on my side I do not fear.
What can mortals do to me?
….
Open to me the gates of righteousness,
that I may enter through them
and give thanks to the Lord.

This is the gate of the Lord;
the righteous shall enter through it.



Psalms 131, 132, 133


Daily Lectionary Reading, Exodus 14:19-21

19 God’s messenger, who had been in front of Israel’s camp, moved and went behind them. The column of cloud moved from the front and took its place behind them. 20 It stood between Egypt’s camp and Israel’s camp. The cloud remained there, and when darkness fell it lit up the night. They didn’t come near each other all night.

21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The LORD pushed the sea back by a strong east wind all night, turning the sea into dry land. The waters were split into two. 22 The Israelites walked into the sea on dry ground. The waters formed a wall for them on their right hand and on their left. 23 The Egyptians chased them and went into the sea after them, all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and cavalry. 24 As morning approached, the LORD looked down on the Egyptian camp from the column of lightning and cloud and threw the Egyptian camp into a panic. 25 The LORD jammed their chariot wheels so that they wouldn’t turn easily. The Egyptians said, “ Let’s get away from the Israelites, because the LORD is fighting for them against Egypt! ”

26 Then the LORD said to Moses, “ Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the water comes back and covers the Egyptians, their chariots, and their cavalry. ” 27 So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. At daybreak, the sea returned to its normal depth. The Egyptians were driving toward it, and the LORD tossed the Egyptians into the sea. 28 The waters returned and covered the chariots and the cavalry, Pharaoh’s entire army that had followed them into the sea. Not one of them remained. 29 The Israelites, however, walked on dry ground through the sea. The waters formed a wall for them on their right hand and on their left.

30 The LORD rescued Israel from the Egyptians that day. Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Israel saw the amazing power of the LORD against the Egyptians. The people were in awe of the LORD , and they believed in the LORD and in his servant Moses.


Today's Prayer: O Lord, open our eyes to recognize your presence among us. You prepare the way for us. Sometimes, we fear the path you have chosen for us. We worry about our own safety. We fear what's new enough that we are willing to return to the life that we know is not good for us. You prepare the way. You show us how to escape entanglements and harm. You give us courage to move on to a new way. You prepare the way. Amen.


Midday Psalm 119:169-176


Evening
Psalms 137, 138, 139

No comments: