Magnificent Creator God,
The earth has been refreshed with life giving rain and we are grateful. The celebration of the empty tomb has passed and we are renewed. Spring is leading us to summer and we are expectant. Bless us on this journey, O Lord. Forgive our iniquities and our limited vision. May the clarity we receive from Your love and Christ’s passion embolden us to proclaim and live the Good News. In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN.
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We had a wonderful Service of Resurrection. May the Holy Spirit continue to revive us.
Next weekend we are back on a regular schedule with our Saturday Service of Communion and three Sunday morning services of worship. This is a good time to invite family and friends to worship with us. Mother’s day is May 8th. Senior Sunday is May 15th.
Remember, our daily scripture readings will take us entirely through the New Testament and through most of the major events and personalities of the Old Testament in three years. Today we are in Week 22 of Year A.
The regular scripture reading for yesterday was 2 Samuel 1:1, 7-27:
After the death of Saul, when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag.
David intoned this lamentation over Saul and his son Jonathan.(He ordered that The Song of the Bow be taught to the people of Judah; it is written in the Book of Jashar.) He said: Your glory, O Israel, lies slain upon your high places! How the mighty have fallen! Tell it not in Gath, proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon; or the daughters of the Philistines will rejoice, the daughters of the uncircumcised will exult. You mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew or rain upon you, nor bounteous fields! For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, the shield of Saul, anointed with oil no more. From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan did not turn back, nor the sword of Saul return empty. Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely! In life and in death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions’ daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you with crimson, in luxury, who put ornaments of gold on your apparel. How the mighty have fallen in the midst of the battle! Jonathan lies slain upon your high places. I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan; greatly beloved were you to me; your love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women. How the mighty have fallen, and the weapons of war perished!
The Psalm for this week is Psalm 3:
O LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me;
many are saying to me, “There is no help for you in God.” Selah
But you, O LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts up my head.
I cry aloud to the LORD, and he answers me from his holy hill. Selah
I lie down and sleep; I wake again, for the LORD sustains me.
I am not afraid of ten thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around.
Rise up, O LORD! Deliver me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked.
Deliverance belongs to the LORD; may your blessing be on your people!
The scripture reading for today is 2 Samuel 5:1-12:
Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and said, “Look, we are your bone and flesh. For some time, while Saul was king over us, it was you who led out Israel and brought it in. The LORD said to you: It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over Israel.”So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the LORD, and they anointed David king over Israel. David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.
The king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, who said to David, “You will not come in here, even the blind and the lame will turn you back” —thinking, “David cannot come in here.”Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion, which is now the city of David. David had said on that day, “Whoever would strike down the Jebusites, let him get up the water shaft to attack the lame and the blind, those whom David hates.” Therefore it is said, “The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.”David occupied the stronghold, and named it the city of David. David built the city all around from the Millo inwards. And David became greater and greater, for the LORD, the God of hosts, was with him.
King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar trees, and carpenters and masons who built David a house. David then perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for the sake of his people Israel.
Grace and peace,
John McLemore
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