Thursday Morning Devotion

Psalm 83:1-10

Hold not thy tongue, O God, keep not still silence *

 refrain not thyself, O God.

  For lo, thine enemies make a murmuring *

 and they that hate thee have lift up their head.

  They have imagined craftily against thy people *

 and taken counsel against thy secret ones.

  They have said, Come, and let us root them out, that they be no more a people *

 and that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.

  For they have cast their heads together with one consent *

 and are confederate against thee;

  The tabernacles of the Edomites, and the Ismaelites *

 the Moabites, and Hagarens;

  Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek *

 the Philistines, with them that dwell at Tyre.

  Assur also is joined with them *

 and have holpen the children of Lot.

  But do thou to them as unto the Madianites *

 unto Sisera, and unto Jabin at the brook of Kison;

  Who perished at Endor *

 and became as the dung of the earth.

(Translation: Coverdale)

A Reading

(2 Kings 9:1-16)

And Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the prophets, and said unto him, Gird up thy loins, and take this box of oil in thine hand, and go to Ramothgilead:

And when thou comest thither, look out there Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi, and go in, and make him arise up from among his brethren, and carry him to an inner chamber;

Then take the box of oil, and pour it on his head, and say, Thus saith the Lord, I have anointed thee king over Israel. Then open the door, and flee, and tarry not.

So the young man, even the young man the prophet, went to Ramothgilead.

And when he came, behold, the captains of the host were sitting; and he said, I have an errand to thee, O captain. And Jehu said, Unto which of all us? And he said, To thee, O captain.

And he arose, and went into the house; and he poured the oil on his head, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I have anointed thee king over the people of the Lord, even over Israel.

And thou shalt smite the house of Ahab thy master, that I may avenge the blood of my servants the prophets, and the blood of all the servants of the Lord, at the hand of Jezebel.

For the whole house of Ahab shall perish: and I will cut off from Ahab him that pisseth against the wall, and him that is shut up and left in Israel:

And I will make the house of Ahab like the house of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, and like the house of Baasha the son of Ahijah:

And the dogs shall eat Jezebel in the portion of Jezreel, and there shall be none to bury her. And he opened the door, and fled.

Then Jehu came forth to the servants of his lord: and one said unto him, Is all well? wherefore came this mad fellow to thee? And he said unto them, Ye know the man, and his communication.

And they said, It is false; tell us now. And he said, Thus and thus spake he to me, saying, Thus saith the Lord, I have anointed thee king over Israel.

Then they hasted, and took every man his garment, and put it under him on the top of the stairs, and blew with trumpets, saying, Jehu is king.

So Jehu the son of Jehoshaphat the son of Nimshi conspired against Joram. (Now Joram had kept Ramothgilead, he and all Israel, because of Hazael king of Syria.

But king Joram was returned to be healed in Jezreel of the wounds which the Syrians had given him, when he fought with Hazael king of Syria.) And Jehu said, If it be your minds, then let none go forth nor escape out of the city to go to tell it in Jezreel.

So Jehu rode in a chariot, and went to Jezreel; for Joram lay there. And Ahaziah king of Judah was come down to see Joram.

(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.