Oremus for Monday, March 13, 2023

Antiphon https://tinyurl.com/4m8ka32t

I will sing to the Lord who has been bountiful with me,
sing psalms to the name of the Lord Most High. Psalm 13

Eternal God, our judge and redeemer,
we confess that we have tried to hide from you,
for we have done wrong.
We have lived for ourselves,
and apart from you.
We have turned from our neighbors,
and refused to bear the burdens of others.
We have ignored the pain of the world,
and passed by the hungry, the poor, and the oppressed.
In your great mercy forgive our sins
and free us from selfishness,
that we may choose your will
and obey your commandments;
through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen. ^BCW

Music: https://tinyurl.com/ufxekitx

God, come to my assistance.
Lord, make haste to help me.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

HYMN: George W Doane
Tune: St James https://tinyurl.com/3xdwh3zp

1 Thou art the Way: to thee alone
from sin and death we flee;
and he who would the Father seek,
must seek him, Lord, by thee.

2 Thou art the Truth: thy Word alone
true wisdom can impart;
thou only canst inform the mind,
and purify the heart.

3 Thou art the Life: the rending tomb
proclaims thy conquering arm,
and those who put their trust in thee
nor death nor hell shall harm.

4 Thou art the Way, the Truth, the Life:
grant us that Way to know,
that Truth to keep, that Life to win,
whose joys eternal flow.

PSALMS

Psalm 68 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/ybgjjxjc)
1  Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered *
 let them also that hate him flee before him.
2  Like as the smoke vanisheth, so shalt thou drive them away *
 and like as wax melteth at the fire,
so let the ungodly perish at the presence of God.
3  But let the righteous be glad and rejoice before God *
 let them also be merry and joyful.
4  O sing unto God, and sing praises unto his Name *
 magnify him that rideth upon the heavens, as it were upon an horse;
praise him in his Name JAH, and rejoice before him.
5  He is a Father of the fatherless,
and defendeth the cause of the widows *
 even God in his holy habitation.
6  He is the God that maketh men to be of one mind in an house,
and bringeth the prisoners out of captivity *
 but letteth the runagates continue in scarceness.
7  O God, when thou wentest forth before the people *
 when thou wentest through the wilderness,
8  The earth shook, and the heavens dropped at the presence of God *
 even as Sinai also was moved at the presence of God,
who is the God of Israel.
9  Thou, O God, sentest a gracious rain upon thine inheritance *
 and refreshedst it when it was weary.
10  Thy congregation shall dwell therein *
 for thou, O God, hast of thy goodness prepared for the poor.
11  The Lord gave the word *
 great was the company of the preachers.
12  Kings with their armies did flee, and were discomfited *
 and they of the household divided the spoil.
13  Though ye have lien among the pots,
yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove *
 that is covered with silver wings, and her feathers like gold.
14  When the Almighty scattered kings for their sake *
 then were they as white as snow in Salmon.
15  As the hill of Basan, so is God’s hill *
 even an high hill, as the hill of Basan.
16  Why hop ye so, ye high hills? this is God’s hill,
in the which it pleaseth him to dwell *
 yea, the Lord will abide in it for ever.
17  The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels *
 and the Lord is among them, as in the holy place of Sinai.
18  Thou art gone up on high, thou hast led captivity captive,
and received gifts for men *
 yea, even for thine enemies,
that the Lord God might dwell among them.
19  Praised be the Lord daily *
 even the God who helpeth us, and poureth his benefits upon us.
20  He is our God, even the God of whom cometh salvation *
 God is the Lord, by whom we escape death.
21  God shall wound the head of his enemies *
 and the hairy scalp of such a one as goeth on still in his wickedness.
22  The Lord hath said,
I will bring my people again, as I did from Basan *
 mine own will I bring again, as I did sometime from the deep of the sea.
23  That thy foot may be dipped in the blood of thine enemies *
 and that the tongue of thy dogs may be red through the same.
24  It is well seen, O God, how thou goest *
 how thou, my God and King, goest in the sanctuary.
25  The singers go before, the minstrels follow after *
 in the midst are the damsels playing with the timbrels.
26  Give thanks, O Israel, unto God the Lord in the congregations *
 from the ground of the heart.
27  There is little Benjamin their ruler,
and the princes of Judah their counsel *
 the princes of Zabulon, and the princes of Nephthali.
28  Thy God hath sent forth strength for thee *
 stablish the thing, O God, that thou hast wrought in us,
29  For thy temple’s sake at Jerusalem *
 so shall kings bring presents unto thee.
30  When the company of the spear-men,
and multitude of the mighty are scattered abroad
among the beasts of the people,
so that they humbly bring pieces of silver *
 and when he hath scattered the people that delight in war;
31  Then shall the princes come out of Egypt *
 the Morians’ land shall soon stretch out her hands unto God.
32  Sing unto God, O ye kingdoms of the earth *
 O sing praises unto the Lord;
33  Who sitteth in the heavens over all from the beginning *
 lo, he doth send out his voice, yea, and that a mighty voice.
34  Ascribe ye the power to God over Israel *
 his worship, and strength is in the clouds.
35  O God, wonderful art thou in thy holy places *
 even the God of Israel;
he will give strength and power unto his people;
blessed be God.
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.

Psalm 68 (LSB Tone K: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-68-LSB.mp3)
1 God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered;*
 and those who hate him shall flee before him!
2 As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away;*
 as wax melts before fire, so the wicked shall perish before God!
3 But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God;*
 they shall be jubilant with joy!
4 Sing to God, sing praises to his name;*
 lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;
 his name is the LORD; exult before him!
5 Father of the fatherless and protector of widows*
 is God in his holy habitation.
6 God settles the solitary in a home;
he leads out the prisoners to prosperity,*
 but the rebellious dwell in a parched land.
7 O God, when you went out before your people,*
 when you marched through the wilderness,
8 the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain,
before God, the One of Sinai,*
 before God, the God of Israel.
9 Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad;*
 you restored your inheritance as it languished;
10 your flock found a dwelling in it;*
 in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.
11 The Lord gives the word;*
 the women who announce the news are a great host:
12 “The kings of the armies— they flee, they flee!”*
 The women at home divide the spoil—
13 though you men lie among the sheepfolds—*
 the wings of a dove covered with silver,
 its pinions with shimmering gold.
14 When the Almighty scatters kings there,*
 let snow fall on Zalmon.
15 O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan;*
 O many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan!
16 Why do you look with hatred, O many-peaked mountain,*
 at the mount that God desired for his abode,
 yes, where the LORD will dwell forever?
17 The chariots of God are twice ten thousand,
thousands upon thousands;*
 the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary.
18 You ascended on high,
leading a host of captives in your train
and receiving gifts among men,*
 even among the rebellious,
 that the LORD God may dwell there.
19 Blessèd be the Lord, who daily bears us up;*
 God is our salvation.
20 Our God is a God of salvation,*
 and to GOD, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.
21 But God will strike the heads of his enemies,*
 the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways.
22 The Lord said, “I will bring them back from Bashan,*
 I will bring them back from the depths of the sea,
23 that you may strike your feet in their blood,*
 that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the foe.”
24 Your procession is seen, O God,*
 the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary—
25 the singers in front, the musicians last,*
 between them virgins playing tambourines:
26 “Bless God in the great congregation,*
 the LORD, O you who are of Israel’s fountain!”
27 There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead,
the princes of Judah in their throng,*
 the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali.
28 Summon your power, O God,*
 the power, O God, by which you have worked for us.
29 Because of your temple at Jerusalem*
 kings shall bear gifts to you.
30 Rebuke the beasts that dwell among the reeds,
the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples.*
 Trample underfoot those who lust after tribute;
 scatter the peoples who delight in war.
31 Nobles shall come from Egypt;*
 Cush shall hasten to stretch out her hands to God.
32 O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God;*
 sing praises to the Lord,
33 to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens;*
 behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.
34 Ascribe power to God,*
 whose majesty is over Israel, and whose power is in the skies.
35 Awesome is God from his sanctuary;*
 the God of Israel—
 he is the one who gives power and strength to his people.
 Blessèd be God!
Glory be to the Father and to the Son*
 and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning,*
 is now, and will be forever. Amen.

PRAYER

God our strong fortress,
do not desert us in old age.
Help us to follow your will
through all our years
and under all circumstances,
that forever we may praise your faithfulness;
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ^BCW

THE WORD OF GOD

Reading: Job 13:3-17,21-27

Job responded: 

Reading: 1 Corinthians 7:25-31

I don’t have a command from the Lord about people who have never been married, but I’ll give you my opinion as someone you can trust because of the Lord’s mercy. So I think this advice is good because of the present crisis: Stay as you are. If you are married, don’t get a divorce. If you are divorced, don’t try to find a spouse. But if you do marry, you haven’t sinned; and if someone who hasn’t been married gets married, they haven’t sinned. But married people will have a hard time, and I’m trying to spare you that. This is what I’m saying, brothers and sisters: The time has drawn short. From now on, those who have wives should be like people who don’t have them. Those who are sad should be like people who aren’t crying. Those who are happy should be like people who aren’t happy. Those who buy something should be like people who don’t have possessions. Those who use the world should be like people who aren’t preoccupied with it, because this world in its present form is passing away.

HYMN: Joseph Hoskins
Tune: Land of Rest https://tinyurl.com/3rhck2br

1 The time is short! the season near,
When death will us remove;
To leave our friends, however dear,
And all we fondly love.

2 The time is short! sinners beware,
Nor trifle time away;
The word of great salvation hear,
While it is call’d to-day.

3 The time is short! ye rebels, now
To Christ the Lord submit;
To mercy’s golden sceptre bow,
And fall at Jesus’ feet.

4 The time is short! ye saints rejoice–
The Lord will quickly come:
Soon shall you hear the Bridegroom’s voice,
To call you to your home.

5 The time is short! it swiftly flies–
The hour is just at hand,
When we shall mount above the skies,
And reach the wish’ed-for land.

6 The time is sort–the moment near,
When we shall dwell above;
And be forever happy there,
With Jesus, whom we love.

Reading: John 11:1-16

A certain man, Lazarus, was ill. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. (This was the Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped his feet with her hair. Her brother Lazarus was ill.) So the sisters sent word to Jesus, saying, “Lord, the one whom you love is ill.”

When he heard this, Jesus said, “This illness isn’t fatal. It’s for the glory of God so that God’s Son can be glorified through it.” Jesus loved Martha, her sister, and Lazarus. When he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed where he was. After two days, he said to his disciples, “Let’s return to Judea again.”

The disciples replied, “Rabbi, the Jewish opposition wants to stone you, but you want to go back?” Jesus answered, “Aren’t there twelve hours in the day? Whoever walks in the day doesn’t stumble because they see the light of the world. But whoever walks in the night does stumble because the light isn’t in them.”

He continued, “Our friend Lazarus is sleeping, but I am going in order to wake him up.” The disciples said, “Lord, if he’s sleeping, he will get well.” They thought Jesus meant that Lazarus was in a deep sleep, but Jesus had spoken about Lazarus’ death. Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus has died. For your sakes, I’m glad I wasn’t there so that you can believe. Let’s go to him.” Then Thomas (the one called Didymus) said to the other disciples, “Let us go too so that we may die with Jesus.”

CANTICLE Isaiah 55:6-11
(Setting by Gregory Wilbur: https://tinyurl.com/yawmg8fp)

Seek ye the Lord while he may be found,
Call ye upon him while He is near.
Let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts:

And let him return unto the Lord,
and he will have mercy upon him;
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.
As the heavens are higher than the earth,
My ways and thoughts are higher than yours.

And let him return unto the Lord,
and he will have mercy upon him;
and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.

For as the rain cometh down, and snow from heaven,
And maketh it bring forth and bud that it may give seed to sow,
that it may give bread to eat.

So shall my world be that goeth forth out of my mouth:
It shall not return unto me void,
but it shall accomplish that which I please it shall prosper
in the thing whereunto I sent it.

THE PRAYERS ^BCW

In penitence and faith let us make our prayer to the Father
and ask for his mercy and grace.

For your holy people,
that they may triumph over evil and grow in grace:
We pray to you, O Lord.

For candidates for baptism and confirmation,
that they may live by every word that proceeds from your mouth:
We pray to you, O Lord.

For the leaders of the nations,
that you will guide them in the ways of mercy and truth:
We pray to you, O Lord.

For the needy,
that they may not be forgotten,
nor the hope of the poor be taken away:
We pray to you, O Lord.

For the sick in body, mind and spirit,
that they may know your power to heal:
We pray to you, O Lord.

For the poor in spirit,
that they may inherit the kingdom of heaven
and see you face to face: :
We pray to you, O Lord.

Let us commend the world, for which Christ suffered,
to the mercy and protection of God. Amen.

Setting by Eric Wyse:²

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your Name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread;
and forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,
now and for ever. Amen.

Almighty God,
your Son came into the world
to free us all from sin and death.
Breathe upon us with the power of your Spirit,
that we may be raised to new life in Christ,
and serve you in holiness and righteousness all our days;
through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, forever and ever. Amen. ^BCW

Music: https://tinyurl.com/y9efvwm5
Let us bless the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with us all. Amen. 2 Cor. 13:14

---

^BCW Book of Common Worship, Presbyterian Church U.S.A., 1993.

The three main scripture readings are from the The New Revised Standard Version, Anglicised Edition, The New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

The traditional language psalms are from The Book of Common Prayer (1662). The modern language version of Psalm 68 is in the version used in Lutheran Service Book: Pew Edition Concordia Publishing House, and is from the Next to the Word of God YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkVRYL-MRebncw584Ql2xfg.

Musical links are usually either to artists’ albums posted on Spotify or to recordings made available at smallchurchmusic.com. Audio stripped from YouTube videos is footnoted accordingly above.

Compilation © 2023 Stephen T. Benner. All links worked at the time they were created, but I cannot accept responsibility for their content or any damage resulting from their use. The linked content is under the control of the respective content creators and is subject to change at any time. Any copyright texts included in this compilation are provided for non-commercial purposes related to study or worship. Please contact the respective copyright holders for permission to use the texts in other contexts.