Oremus for Wednesday, March 15, 2023

*The Raising of Lazarus*, Rembrandt, ca. 1630-32

Of you my heart has spoken: Seek his face.
It is your face, O Lord, that I seek;
hide not your face from me. Psalm 27

Gracious God,
our sins are too heavy to carry,
too real to hide,
and too deep to undo.
Forgive what our lips tremble to name,
what our hearts can no longer bear,
and what has become for us
a consuming fire of judgment.
Set us free from a past that we cannot change;
open to us a future in which we can be changed;
and grant us grace
to grow more and more in your likeness and image;
through Jesus Christ, the light of the world. 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: Charles Wesley
Tune: Miles Lane https://tinyurl.com/2knc7zj6

1 Jesus, the Name high over all,
in hell or earth or sky;
angels and mortals prostrate fall,
and devils fear and fly.

2 Jesus, the Name to sinners dear,
the Name to sinners giv’n;
it scatters all their guilty fear,
it turns their hell to heav’n.

3 O that the world might taste and see
the riches of His grace!
The arms of love that compass me
would all the world embrace.

4 Thee I shall constantly proclaim,
though earth and hell oppose;
bold to confess Thy glorious Name
before a world of foes.

5 His only righteousness I show,
His saving truth proclaim;
’tis all my business here below
to cry, “Behold the Lamb!”

6 Happy, if with my latest breath
I may but gasp His Name,
preach Him to all, and cry in death,
“Behold, behold the Lamb!”

PSALMS

Psalm 75 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/w8cy5dn)
1  Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks *
yea, unto thee do we give thanks.
2  Thy Name also is so nigh *
and that do thy wondrous works declare.
3  When I receive the congregation *
I shall judge according unto right.
4  The earth is weak, and all the inhabiters thereof *
I bear up the pillars of it.
5  I said unto the fools, Deal not so madly *
and to the ungodly, Set not up your horn.
6  Set not up your horn on high *
and speak not with a stiff neck.
7  For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west *
nor yet from the south.
8  And why? God is the Judge *
he putteth down one, and setteth up another.
9  For in the hand of the Lord there is a cup, and the wine is red *
it is full mixed, and he poureth out of the same.
10  As for the dregs thereof *
all the ungodly of the earth shall drink them, and suck them out.
11  But I will talk of the God of Jacob *
and praise him for ever.
12  All the horns of the ungodly also will I break *
and the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.
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 76 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/r9ym7fd)
1  In Jewry is God known *
his Name is great in Israel.
2  At Salem is his tabernacle *
and his dwelling in Sion.
3  There brake he the arrows of the bow *
the shield, the sword, and the battle.
4  Thou art of more honour and might *
than the hills of the robbers.
5  The proud are robbed, they have slept their sleep *
and all the men whose hands were mighty have found nothing.
6  At thy rebuke, O God of Jacob *
both the chariot and horse are fallen.
7  Thou, even thou art to be feared *
and who may stand in thy sight when thou art angry?
8  Thou didst cause thy judgement to be heard from heaven *
the earth trembled, and was still,
9  When God arose to judgement *
and to help all the meek upon earth.
10  The fierceness of man shall turn to thy praise *
and the fierceness of them shalt thou refrain.
11  Promise unto the Lord your God, and keep it,
all ye that are round about him *
bring presents unto him that ought to be feared.
12  He shall refrain the spirit of princes *
and is wonderful among the kings of the earth.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost,*
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 77 (Anglican Chant: https://tinyurl.com/vmyxazc)
1  I will cry unto God with my voice *
even unto God will I cry with my voice, and he shall hearken unto me.
2  In the time of my trouble I sought the Lord *
my sore ran, and ceased not in the night-season;
my soul refused comfort.
3  When I am in heaviness, I will think upon God *
when my heart is vexed, I will complain.
4  Thou holdest mine eyes waking *
I am so feeble, that I cannot speak.
5  I have considered the days of old *
and the years that are past.
6  I call to remembrance my song *
and in the night I commune with mine own heart, and search out my spirits.
7  Will the Lord absent himself for ever *
and will he be no more intreated?
8  Is his mercy clean gone for ever *
and is his promise come utterly to an end for evermore?
9  Hath God forgotten to be gracious *
and will he shut up his loving-kindness in displeasure?
10  And I said, It is mine own infirmity *
but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most Highest.
11  I will remember the works of the Lord *
and call to mind thy wonders of old time.
12  I will think also of all thy works *
and my talking shall be of thy doings.
13  Thy way, O God, is holy *
who is so great a God as our God?
14  Thou art the God that doeth wonders *
and hast declared thy power among the people.
15  Thou hast mightily delivered thy people *
even the sons of Jacob and Joseph.
16  The waters saw thee, O God, the waters saw thee, and were afraid *
the depths also were troubled.
17  The clouds poured out water, the air thundered *
and thine arrows went abroad.
18  The voice of thy thunder was heard round about *
the lightnings shone upon the ground;
the earth was moved, and shook withal.
19  Thy way is in the sea, and thy paths in the great waters *
and thy footsteps are not known.
20  Thou leddest thy people like sheep *
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.
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 75 (Plainsong: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-75-1.mp3)
1 We give you thanks, O God, we give you thanks, *
calling upon your Name and declaring all your wonderful deeds.
2 “I will appoint a time,” says God; *
“I will judge with equity.
3 Though the earth and all its inhabitants are quaking, *
I will make its pillars fast.
4 I will say to the boasters, ‘Boast no more,’ *
and to the wicked, ‘Do not toss your horns;
5 Do not toss your horns so high, *
nor speak with a proud neck.’”
6 For judgment is neither from the east nor from the west, *
nor yet from the wilderness or the mountains.
7 It is God who judges; *
he puts down one and lifts up another.
8 For in the LORD’S hand there is a cup,
full of spiced and foaming wine, which he pours out, *
and all the wicked of the earth shall drink and drain the dregs.
9 But I will rejoice for ever; *
I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
10 He shall break off all the horns of the wicked; *
but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted.

Psalm 76 (Acoustic Psalms; https://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-76.mp3)
In Judah God is known;
    his name is great in Israel.
His abode has been established in Salem,
    his dwelling place in Zion.
There he broke the flashing arrows,
    the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. Selah

Glorious are you, more majestic
    than the mountains full of prey.
The stouthearted were stripped of their spoil;
    they sank into sleep;
all the men of war
    were unable to use their hands.
At your rebuke, O God of Jacob,
    both rider and horse lay stunned.

But you, you are to be feared!
    Who can stand before you
    when once your anger is roused?
From the heavens you uttered judgment;
    the earth feared and was still,
when God arose to establish judgment,
    to save all the humble of the earth. Selah

Surely the wrath of man shall praise you;
    the remnant of wrath you will put on like a belt.
Make your vows to the Lord your God and perform them;
    let all around him bring gifts
    to him who is to be feared,
who cuts off the spirit of princes,
    who is to be feared by the kings of the earth.

Psalm 77 (Karl Kohlhase: http://oremus.org/chant/Psalm-77-KH.mp3)
My voice rises to God, I will cry aloud;
my voice rises to God, he will hear me.

In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord;
in the night my hand stretched without fainting;
My soul refused to be comforted.
Yes, my soul refused to be comforted.
I’m disturbed when I remember God;
when I sigh my spirit faints.
You have held my eyelids open;
so troubled I can’t even speak.
I considered the days of old,
and all those years long ago;
I remember my song in the night;
my heart meditates and spirit ponders:
Will the Lord reject forever?
Will he never again show favor?
Has his kindness ceased for all time?
Has his promise come to an end?
Has God forgotten to be gracious,
or in anger withdrawn his compassion?
Then I said, “It is surely my grief,
the right hand of the Most High has changed.”

My voice rises to God, I will cry aloud;
my voice rises to God, he will hear me.

I’ll remember the deeds of the LORD;
I’ll recall your wonders of old.
On all your works I’ll meditate,
and will muse upon your deeds
Your way, O God, is holy;
what god is great like our God?
You are the God of wonders;
your strength is known through the lands.
You save your people with power,
the sons of Jacob and Joseph.
The waters then saw you, O God;
the waters then saw you, O God,
Then they were in anguish;
the depths started to quake.
The clouds then poured down water;
the skies gave forth a sound;

My voice rises to God, I will cry aloud;
my voice rises to God, he will hear me.

Your arrows flashed here and there.
The sound of your thunder in a whirlwind;
your lightnings lit up the world;
the earth then trembled and shook.
Your paths through sea and water;
your footprints may not be known.
Like a flock you led your people forth,
by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

My voice rises to God, I will cry aloud;
my voice rises to God, he will hear me. (repeat)

PRAYER

Sovereign God,
you subdue the arrogant
and raise the humble;
you feed the hungry
and reveal the poverty of wealth.
Help us to praise your name in all times and places,
that we may be faithful servants
of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ^BCW

WORD OF GOD

Reading: Job 16:16-22,17:1,13-16

Job said:

My face is red from crying,
and dark gloom hangs on my eyelids.
But there is no violence in my hands,
and my prayer is pure.

Earth, don’t cover my blood;
    let my outcry never cease.
Surely now my witness stands in heaven;
    my advocate is on high;
    my go-between, my friend.
While my eyes drip tears to God,
    let him plead with God for a human being,
    like a person pleads for a friend.
A number of years will surely pass,
    and then I’ll walk a path that I won’t return.

My spirit is broken,
my days extinguished,
the grave, mine.

If I hope for the underworld as my dwelling,
    lay out my bed in darkness,
    I’ve called corruption “my father,”
    the worm, “my mother and sister.”
    Where then is my hope?
        My hope—who can see it?
Will they go down with me to the underworld;
    will we descend together to the dust?

HYMN: Philip Doddridge
Tune: Federal Street https://tinyurl.com/2e7kyzjb

1 Behold the path which mortals tread
Down to the regions of the dead!
Nor will the fleeting moments stay,
Nor can we measure back our way.

2 Our kindred and our friends are gone;
Know, O my soul, this doom thy own.
Feeble as theirs thy mortal frame,
The same thy way, thy home the same.

3 From vital air, from cheerful light,
To the cold grave’s perpetual night,—
From scenes of duty, means of grace,
Must I to God’s tribunal pass!

4 Awake, my soul! thy way prepare,
And lose in this each meaner care;
With steady feet that path be trod,
Which, thro’ the grave, conducts to God.

5 Father! to thee my all I trust;
And, if my flesh return to dust,
‘Tis thy decree, I bless thy hand,
And die resign’d to thy command.

Reading: 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Now concerning meat that has been sacrificed to a false god: We know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes people arrogant, but love builds people up. If anyone thinks they know something, they don’t yet know as much as they should know. But if someone loves God, then they are known by God.

So concerning the actual food involved in these sacrifices to false gods, we know that a false god isn’t anything in this world, and that there is no God except for the one God. Granted, there are so-called “gods,” in heaven and on the earth, as there are many gods and many lords. However, for us believers,

There is one God the Father.
All things come from him, and we belong to him.
And there is one Lord Jesus Christ.
All things exist through him, and we live through him.

But not everybody knows this. Some are eating this food as though it really is food sacrificed to a real idol, because they were used to idol worship until now. Their conscience is weak because it has been damaged. Food won’t bring us close to God. We’re not missing out if we don’t eat, and we don’t have any advantage if we do eat. But watch out or else this freedom of yours might be a problem for those who are weak. Suppose someone sees you (the person who has knowledge) eating in an idol’s temple. Won’t the person with a weak conscience be encouraged to eat the meat sacrificed to false gods? The weak brother or sister for whom Christ died is destroyed by your knowledge. You sin against Christ if you sin against your brothers and sisters and hurt their weak consciences this way. This is why, if food causes the downfall of my brother or sister, I won’t eat meat ever again, or else I may cause my brother or sister to fall.

HYMN: Columba of Iona; trans. Duncan MacGregor ©
Tune: Durrow https://tinyurl.com/2vp4y5kw

1 O God, thou art the Father
of all that have believed:
from whom all hosts of angels
have life and power received.
O God, thou art the maker
of all created things,
the righteous Judge of judges,
the almighty King of kings.

2 High in the heavenly Zion
thou reignest God adored;
and in the coming glory
thou shalt be Sovereign Lord.
Beyond our ken thou shinest,
the everlasting Light;
ineffable in loving,
unthinkable in might.

3 Thou to the meek and lowly
thy secrets dost unfold;
O God, thou doest all things,
all things both new and old.
I walk secure and blessèd
in every clime or coast,
in name of God the Father,
and Son, and Holy Ghost.

Reading: John 11:32-44

When Mary arrived where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.” When Jesus saw her crying and the Jews who had come with her crying also, he was deeply disturbed and troubled. He asked, “Where have you laid him?” They replied, “Lord, come and see.”

Jesus began to cry. The Jews said, “See how much he loved him!” But some of them said, “He healed the eyes of the man born blind. Couldn’t he have kept Lazarus from dying?” Jesus was deeply disturbed again when he came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone covered the entrance. Jesus said, “Remove the stone.”

Martha, the sister of the dead man, said, “Lord, the smell will be awful! He’s been dead four days.” Jesus replied, “Didn’t I tell you that if you believe, you will see God’s glory?” So they removed the stone. Jesus looked up and said, “Father, thank you for hearing me. I know you always hear me. I say this for the benefit of the crowd standing here so that they will believe that you sent me.” Having said this, Jesus shouted with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his feet bound and his hands tied, and his face covered with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.”

CANTICLE Isaiah 12:2-6
(Uptown Worship Band: https://tinyurl.com/y8q877og)

Refrain:
Surely, it is God who saves;
I will and not be afraid.
For the Lord is my sure defense,
and he will be my Savior.

Therefore you shall draw water
and rejoice from the salvation spring.
On that day you shall say,
give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name. Refrain

Make his deeds known among the people;
they remember his Name on high.
Sing praise to the Lord, for he has done great things,
and this is known in all the world. Refrain

Cry aloud, O Zion, ring out your joy,
for the great one in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.
Glory to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit: *
as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

LITANY OF CONFESSION ^CW:TS

We pray to the Lord for courage to give up other things
and to give ourselves to him this Lent.

Give your Church the courage
to give up her preoccupation with herself
and to give more time to your mission in the world.