Daily Prayer, Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Sing to the Lord, bless his name;

tell of his salvation from day to day.

Morning

Invitatory Psalm 84

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts!

My soul longs, indeed it faints for the courts of the Lord;

my heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.

Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow for herself

where she may lay her you, at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my Ruler and my God.

Happy are those who live in your house, ever singing your praise.

Psalm 65, 66, 70

Daily Lectionary Reading, 1 Kings 18:20-29

20 Ahab sent the message to all the Israelites. He gathered the prophets at Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah approached all the people and said, “ How long will you hobble back and forth between two opinions? If the LORD [d] is God, follow God. If Baal is God, follow Baal. ” The people gave no answer. 22 Elijah said to the people, “ I am the last of the LORD ’s prophets, but Baal’s prophets number four hundred fifty. 23 Give us two bulls. Let Baal’s prophets choose one. Let them cut it apart and set it on the wood, but don’t add fire. I’ll prepare the other bull, put it on the wood, but won’t add fire. 24 Then all of you will call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The god who answers with fire—that’s the real God! ” All the people answered, “ That’s an excellent idea. ” 25 So Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “ Choose one of these bulls. Prepare it first since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but don’t add fire. ” 26 So they took one of the bulls that had been brought to them. They prepared it and called on Baal’s name from morning to midday. They said, “ Great Baal, answer us! ” But there was no sound or answer. They performed a hopping dance around the altar that had been set up. 27 Around noon, Elijah started making fun of them: “Shout louder! Certainly he’s a god! Perhaps he is lost in thought or wandering or traveling somewhere. [e] Or maybe he is asleep and must wake up!” 28 So the prophets of Baal cried with a louder voice and cut themselves with swords and knives as was their custom. Their blood flowed all over them. 29 As noon passed they went crazy with their ritual until it was time for the evening offering. Still there was no sound or answer, no response whatsoever. [Common English Bible]
_________________________________________________ d The contrast between the LORD ’s divine name ( YHWH ) and Baal’s name is crucial throughout this passage. e Heb uncertain

Prayer for Today: God, keep us from relying on false gods. Keep us directed to you. Amen.

Midday Psalm 119:97-104

Evening

Psalms 102, 103