Tuesday Morning Devotion

Psalm 45:8-18

Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity *

 wherefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

  All thy garments smell of myrrh, aloes, and cassia *

 out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.

  Kings’ daughters were among thy honourable women *

 upon thy right hand did stand the queen in a vesture of gold, wrought about with divers colours.

  Hearken, O daughter, and consider, incline thine ear *

 forget also thine own people, and thy father’s house.

  So shall the King have pleasure in thy beauty *

 for he is thy Lord God, and worship thou him.

  And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift *

 like as the rich also among the people shall make their supplication before thee.

  The King’s daughter is all glorious within *

 her clothing is of wrought gold.

  She shall be brought unto the King in raiment of needle-work *

 the virgins that be her fellows shall bear her company, and shall be brought unto thee.

  With joy and gladness shall they be brought *

 and shall enter into the King’s palace.

  Instead of thy fathers thou shalt have children *

 whom thou mayest make princes in all lands.

  I will remember thy Name from one generation to another *

 therefore shall the people give thanks unto thee, world without end.

(Translation: Coverdale)

A Reading

(Ezra 5:1-17)

Then the prophets, Haggai the prophet, and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied unto the Jews that were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, even unto them.

Then rose up Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and began to build the house of God which is at Jerusalem: and with them were the prophets of God helping them.

At the same time came to them Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai and their companions, and said thus unto them, Who hath commanded you to build this house, and to make up this wall?

Then said we unto them after this manner, What are the names of the men that make this building?

But the eye of their God was upon the elders of the Jews, that they could not cause them to cease, till the matter came to Darius: and then they returned answer by letter concerning this matter.

The copy of the letter that Tatnai, governor on this side the river, and Shetharboznai and his companions the Apharsachites, which were on this side the river, sent unto Darius the king:

They sent a letter unto him, wherein was written thus; Unto Darius the king, all peace.

Be it known unto the king, that we went into the province of Judea, to the house of the great God, which is builded with great stones, and timber is laid in the walls, and this work goeth fast on, and prospereth in their hands.

Then asked we those elders, and said unto them thus, Who commanded you to build this house, and to make up these walls?

We asked their names also, to certify thee, that we might write the names of the men that were the chief of them.

And thus they returned us answer, saying, We are the servants of the God of heaven and earth, and build the house that was builded these many years ago, which a great king of Israel builded and set up.

But after that our fathers had provoked the God of heaven unto wrath, he gave them into the hand of Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, the Chaldean, who destroyed this house, and carried the people away into Babylon.

But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.

And the vessels also of gold and silver of the house of God, which Nebuchadnezzar took out of the temple that was in Jerusalem, and brought them into the temple of Babylon, those did Cyrus the king take out of the temple of Babylon, and they were delivered unto one, whose name was Sheshbazzar, whom he had made governor;

And said unto him, Take these vessels, go, carry them into the temple that is in Jerusalem, and let the house of God be builded in his place.

Then came the same Sheshbazzar, and laid the foundation of the house of God which is in Jerusalem: and since that time even until now hath it been in building, and yet it is not finished.

Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king’s treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.

(Translation: Authorized Version)

A period of silence may follow.

Canticle

Benedictus es, Domine

Song of the Three Young Men, 29-34

Blessed art thou, O Lord God of our fathers; *

    praised and exalted above all for ever.

Blessed art thou for the name of thy Majesty; *

    praised and exalted above all for ever.

Blessed art thou in the temple of thy holiness; *

    praised and exalted above all for ever.

Blessed art thou that beholdest the depths,

and dwellest between the Cherubim; *

    praised and exalted above all for ever.

Blessed art thou on the glorious throne of thy kingdom; *

    praised and exalted above all for ever.

Blessed art thou in the firmament of heaven; *

    praised and exalted above all for ever.

Blessed art thou, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; *

    praised and exalted above all for ever.

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 Peace

O God, who art the author of peace and lover of concord, in knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life, whose service is perfect freedom: Defend us, thy humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in thy defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.