and did not let my foes rejoice over me.
Morning
Invitatory Psalm 118
Give thanks to the LORD because he is good,
because his faithful love lasts forever.
2 Let Israel say it:
“ God’s faithful love lasts forever! ”
….
5 In tight circumstances, I cried out to the LORD .
The LORD answered me with wide-open spaces.
6 The LORD is for me —I won’t be afraid.
What can anyone do to me?
….
19 Open the gates of righteousness for me
so I can come in and give thanks to the LORD!
20 This is the LORD’s gate;
those who are righteous enter through it.
21 I thank you because you answered me,
because you were my saving help.
22 The stone rejected by the builders
is now the main foundation stone!
23 This has happened because of the LORD;
it is astounding in our sight!
24 This is the day the LORD acted;
we will rejoice and celebrate in it!
….
28 You are my God—I will give thanks to you!
You are my God—I will lift you up high!
29 Give thanks to the LORD because he is good,
because his faithful love lasts forever.
[Common English Bible]
Psalms 131, 132, 133
Daily Lectionary Reading, 2 Kings 5:1-14
Naaman, a general for the king of Aram, was a great man and highly regarded by his master, because through him the LORD had given victory to Aram. This man was a mighty warrior, but he had a skin disease.j2 Now Aramean raiding parties had gone out and captured a young girl from the land of Israel. She served Naaman’s wife.3 She said to her mistress, “ I wish that my master could come before the prophet who lives in Samaria. He would cure him of his skin disease. ” 4 So Naaman went and told his master what the young girl from the land of Israel had said.
5 Then Aram’s king said, “ Go ahead. I will send a letter to Israel’s king. ”
So Naaman left. He took along ten kikkars of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten changes of clothing. 6 He brought the letter to Israel’s king. It read, “ Along with this letter I’m sending you my servant Naaman so you can cure him of his skin disease. ”
7 When the king of Israel read the letter, he ripped his clothes. He said, “ What? Am I God to hand out death and life? But this king writes me, asking me to cure someone of his skin disease! You must realize that he wants to start a fight with me. ”
8 When Elisha the man of God heard that Israel’s king had ripped his clothes, he sent word to the king: “Why did you rip your clothes? Let the man come to me. Then he’ll know that there’s a prophet in Israel.”
9 Naaman arrived with his horses and chariots. He stopped at the door of Elisha’s house. 10 Elisha sent out a messenger who said, “Go and wash seven times in the Jordan River. Then your skin will be restored and become clean.”
11 But Naaman went away in anger. He said, “I thought for sure that he’d come out, stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the bad spot, and cure the skin disease. 12 Aren’t the rivers in Damascus, the Abanak and the Pharpar, better than all Israel’s waters? Couldn’t I wash in them and get clean?” So he turned away and proceeded to leave in anger.
13 Naaman’s servants came up to him and spoke to him: “Our father, if the prophet had told you to do something difficult, wouldn’t you have done it? All he said to you was, ‘Wash and become clean.’” 14 So Naaman went down and bathed in the Jordan seven times, just as the man of God had said. His skin was restored like that of a young boy, and he became clean.
[Common English Bible]
Prayer for Today: O Lord, open us to hear wisdom that comes from people that we are used to listening to. Prompt us to share what we know that will help people that may not have been that helpful to us in the past. Help us to discern your will. Prompt us to carry out those actions that will come most closely to your plan for our lives. Amen.
Midday Psalm 119:169-176
Evening
Psalm 137, 138, 139
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