Thursday Morning Devotion

Psalm 18:10-19

He rode upon the cherubims, and did fly *

 he came flying upon the wings of the wind.

  He made darkness his secret place *

 his pavilion round about him with dark water, and thick clouds to cover him.

  At the brightness of his presence his clouds removed *

 hail-stones, and coals of fire.

  The Lord also thundered out of heaven, and the Highest gave his thunder *

 hail-stones, and coals of fire.

  He sent out his arrows, and scattered them *

 he cast forth lightnings, and destroyed them.

  The springs of waters were seen, and the foundations of the round world were discovered, at thy chiding, O Lord *

 at the blasting of the breath of thy displeasure.

  He shall send down from on high to fetch me *

 and shall take me out of many waters.

  He shall deliver me from my strongest enemy, and from them which hate me *

 for they are too mighty for me.

  They prevented me in the day of my trouble *

 but the Lord was my upholder.

  He brought me forth also into a place of liberty *

 he brought me forth, even because he had a favour unto me.

  He rode upon the cherubims, and did fly *

 he came flying upon the wings of the wind.

(Translation: Coverdale)

A Reading

(Jeremiah 38:1-13)

Then Shephatiah the son of Mattan, and Gedaliah the son of Pashur, and Jucal the son of Shelemiah, and Pashur the son of Malchiah, heard the words that Jeremiah had spoken unto all the people, saying,

Thus saith the Lord, He that remaineth in this city shall die by the sword, by the famine, and by the pestilence: but he that goeth forth to the Chaldeans shall live; for he shall have his life for a prey, and shall live.

Thus saith the Lord, This city shall surely be given into the hand of the king of Babylon’s army, which shall take it.

Therefore the princes said unto the king, We beseech thee, let this man be put to death: for thus he weakeneth the hands of the men of war that remain in this city, and the hands of all the people, in speaking such words unto them: for this man seeketh not the welfare of this people, but the hurt.

Then Zedekiah the king said, Behold, he is in your hand: for the king is not he that can do any thing against you.

Then took they Jeremiah, and cast him into the dungeon of Malchiah the son of Hammelech, that was in the court of the prison: and they let down Jeremiah with cords. And in the dungeon there was no water, but mire: so Jeremiah sunk in the mire.

Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, one of the eunuchs which was in the king’s house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate of Benjamin;

Ebedmelech went forth out of the king’s house, and spake to the king saying,

My lord the king, these men have done evil in all that they have done to Jeremiah the prophet, whom they have cast into the dungeon; and he is like to die for hunger in the place where he is: for there is no more bread in the city.

Then the king commanded Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Take from hence thirty men with thee, and take up Jeremiah the prophet out of the dungeon, before he die.

So Ebedmelech took the men with him, and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took thence old cast clouts and old rotten rags, and let them down by cords into the dungeon to Jeremiah.

And Ebedmelech the Ethiopian said unto Jeremiah, Put now these old cast clouts and rotten rags under thine armholes under the cords. And Jeremiah did so.

So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and took him up out of the dungeon: and Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison.

(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.