Thursday Morning Devotion

Psalm 105:1-7

Give thanks unto the Lord, and call upon his Name *

 tell the people what things he hath done.

  O let your songs be of him, and praise him *

 and let your talking be of all his wondrous works.

  Rejoice in his holy Name *

 let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.

  Seek the Lord and his strength *

 seek his face evermore.

  Remember the marvellous works that he hath done *

 his wonders, and the judgements of his mouth,

  O ye seed of Abraham his servant *

 ye children of Jacob his chosen.

  He is the Lord our God *

 his judgements are in all the world.

(Translation: Coverdale)

A Reading

(2 Kings 18:28-37)

Then Rabshakeh stood and cried with a loud voice in the Jews’ language, and spake, saying, Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria:

Thus saith the king, Let not Hezekiah deceive you: for he shall not be able to deliver you out of his hand:

Neither let Hezekiah make you trust in the Lord, saying, The Lord will surely deliver us, and this city shall not be delivered into the hand of the king of Assyria.

Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me, and then eat ye every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his cistern:

Until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of corn and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of oil olive and of honey, that ye may live, and not die: and hearken not unto Hezekiah, when he persuadeth you, saying, The Lord will deliver us.

Hath any of the gods of the nations delivered at all his land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

Where are the gods of Hamath, and of Arpad? where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivah? have they delivered Samaria out of mine hand?

Who are they among all the gods of the countries, that have delivered their country out of mine hand, that the Lord should deliver Jerusalem out of mine hand?

But the people held their peace, and answered him not a word: for the king’s commandment was, saying, Answer him not.

Then came Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, which was over the household, and Shebna the scribe, and Joah the son of Asaph the recorder, to Hezekiah with their clothes rent, and told him the words of Rabshakeh.

(Translation: Authorized Version)

A period of silence may follow.

Canticle

Cantemus Domino 

Exodus 15:1-6, 11-13, 17-18 

I will sing unto the Lord,
for he hath triumphed gloriously; *
    the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.
The Lord is my strength and song, *
    and he is become my salvation:
He is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; *
    my father's God and I will exalt him.
The Lord is a man of war: *
    the Lord is his name.
Pharaoh's chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: *
    his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red Sea.
The depths have covered them: *
    they sank into the bottom as a stone.
Thy right hand, O Lord, is become glorious in power: *
    thy right hand, O Lord, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.
Who is like unto thee, O Lord, among the gods? *
    who is like thee, glorious in holiness,
    fearful in praises, doing wonders?
Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, *
    the earth swallowed them.
Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people
which thou hast redeemed: *
    thou hast guided them in thy strength
    unto thy holy habitation.
Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them *
    in the mountain of thine inheritance,
In the place, O Lord, which thou hast
made for thee to dwell in; *
    in the sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established.
The Lord shall reign *
    for ever and ever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, *
    and to the Holy Ghost:
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, *
    world without end. Amen. 

(Source: Anglican Service Book)

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty,

    maker of heaven and earth;

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord;

    who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,

    born of the Virgin Mary,

    suffered under Pontius Pilate,

    was crucified, dead, and buried.

    He descended into hell.

    The third day he rose again from the dead.

    He ascended into heaven,

    and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty.

    From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost,

    the holy catholic Church,

    the communion of saints,

    the forgiveness of sins,

    the resurrection of the body,

    and the life everlasting. Amen.

Prayers for Ourselves and Neighbors

Almighty and everliving God, I pray unto Thee for thy Universal Church and all her members, past, present and yet to come:

Silence or add individual intentions here

Christ, the ruler of all the nations, I pray for the health and well-being of my nation and all the nations and leaders of the earth:

Silence or add individual intentions here

God, the Holy Ghost, I pray Thee to be poured out upon all who are sick and suffering in body, mind, or spirit, that Thy healing grace may be infused in them and in myself:

Silence or add individual intentions here

Heavenly Father, I commend unto Thee those who are departed, that they may be judged with magnanimity and see Thy Heavenly Kingdom:

Silence or add individual intentions here

And now, I gather my all prayers in the words Thy Son hath taught us:

Our Father, who art in heaven,

    hallowed be thy Name,

    thy kingdom come,

    thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses,

    as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation,

    but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory,

    for ever and ever. Amen.

A Collect for Guidance

O heavenly Father, in whom we live and move and have our being: We humbly pray thee so to guide and govern us by thy Holy Spirit, that in all the cares and occupations of our life we may not forget thee, but may remember that we are ever walking in thy sight; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.