Oremus for Friday, March 15, 2024

Colman, Samuel; The Destruction of the Temple, 1830s; Tate; http://www.artuk.org/artworks/the-destruction-of-the-temple-198281

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: Joachim Neander; trans. Robert Bridges
Tune: Michael https://tinyurl.com/yvnfja65

1 All my hope on God is founded;
he doth still my trust renew.
Me through change and chance he guideth,
only good and only true.
God unknown,
he alone
calls my heart to be his own.

2 Human pride and earthly glory,
sword and crown betray his trust;
what with care and toil he buildeth,
tower and temple, fall to dust.
But God’s power,
hour by hour,
is my temple and my tower.

3 God’s great goodness aye endureth,
deep his wisdom, passing thought:
splendour, light, and life attend him,
beauty springeth out of naught.
Evermore
from his store
new-born worlds rise and adore.

4 Daily doth th’ Almighty giver
bounteous gifts on us bestow;
his desire our soul delighteth,
pleasure leads us where we go.
Love doth stand
at his hand;
joy doth wait on his command.

5 Still from earth to God eternal
sacrifice of praise be done,
high above all praises praising
for the gift of Christ his Son.
Christ doth call
one and all:
ye who follow shall not fall.

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

After Babylon’s King Nebuchadnezzar had deported Judah’s King Jeconiah, King Jehoiakim’s son, and the Judean officials, as well as the craftsmen and metalworkers from Jerusalem to Babylon, the Lord showed me two baskets of figs set in front of the Lord’s temple. One basket was filled with fresh and ripe figs; the other basket was filled with rotten figs—too rotten to eat. And the Lord asked me: “What do you see, Jeremiah?” I replied: “Figs! Some good ones and others very bad—so bad that they can’t be eaten.”

Then the Lord said to me: The Lord, the God of Israel, proclaims: Just as with these good figs, I will treat kindly the Judean exiles that I have sent from this place to Babylon. I regard them as good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not pull them down; I will plant them and not dig them up. I will give them a heart to know me, for I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. And just like the rotten figs that are so bad that they can’t be eaten, the Lord says, I will do to Judah’s King Zedekiah and his officials, as well as the remaining few in Jerusalem and those who are living in Egypt. I will make them an object of horror and evil to all the kingdoms of the earth. Wherever I scatter them, they will be disgraced and insulted, mocked and cursed. I will send the sword, famine, and disease against them until they vanish from the fertile land that I gave to their ancestors.

HYMN: Psalm 51; para. Psalter, 1912
Tune: https://tinyurl.com/auwb2abk

1 God, be merciful to me,
on Thy grace I rest my plea;
plenteous in compassion Thou,
blot out my transgressions now;
wash me, make me pure within,
cleanse, O cleanse me from my sin.

2 My transgressions I confess,
grief and guilt my soul oppress;
I have sinned against Thy grace
and provoked Thee to Thy face;
I confess Thy judgment just,
speechless, I Thy mercy trust.

3 I am evil, born in sin;
Thou desirest truth within.
Thou alone my Savior art,
teach Thy wisdom to my heart;
make me pure, Thy grace bestow,
wash me whiter than the snow.

4 Broken, humbled to the dust
by Thy wrath and judgment just,
let my contrite heart rejoice
and in gladness hear Thy voice;
from my sins O hide Thy face,
blot them out in boundless grace.

5 Gracious God, my heart renew,
make my spirit right and true;
cast me not away from Thee,
let Thy Spirit dwell in me;
Thy salvation’s joy impart,
steadfast make my willing heart.

6 Sinners then shall learn from me
and return, O God, to Thee;
Savior, all my guilt remove,
and my tongue shall sing Thy love;
touch my silent lips, O Lord,
and my mouth shall praise accord.

7 Not the formal sacrifice
hath acceptance in Thy eyes;
broken hearts are in Thy sight
more than sacrificial rite;
contrite spirit, pleading cries,
Thou, O God, wilt not despise.

8 Prosper Zion in Thy grace
and her broken walls replace;
then our righteous sacrifice
shall delight Thy holy eyes;
free-will offerings, gladly made,
on Thy altar shall be laid.

Keep loving each other like family. Don’t neglect to open up your homes to guests, because by doing this some have been hosts to angels without knowing it. Remember prisoners as if you were in prison with them, and people who are mistreated as if you were in their place. Marriage must be honored in every respect, with no cheating on the relationship, because God will judge the sexually immoral person and the person who commits adultery. Your way of life should be free from the love of money, and you should be content with what you have. After all, he has said, I will never leave you or abandon you. This is why we can confidently say,

The Lord is my helper,
and I won’t be afraid.
What can people do to me?

Remember your leaders who spoke God’s word to you. Imitate their faith as you consider the way their lives turned out. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever!

Don’t be misled by the many strange teachings out there. It’s a good thing for the heart to be strengthened by grace rather than by food. Food doesn’t help those who live in this context. We have an altar, and those who serve as priests in the meeting tent don’t have the right to eat from it. The blood of the animals is carried into the holy of holies by the high priest as an offering for sin, and their bodies are burned outside the camp. And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy with his own blood.

So now, let’s go to him outside the camp, bearing his shame. We don’t have a permanent city here, but rather we are looking for the city that is still to come.

So let’s continually offer up a sacrifice of praise through him, which is the fruit from our lips that confess his name. Don’t forget to do good and to share what you have because God is pleased with these kinds of sacrifices.

HYMN: Cecil Frances Alexander
Tune: Horsley https://tinyurl.com/mtu42f4n

1 There is a green hill far away,
Outside a city wall,
Where the dear Lord was crucified,
Who died to save us all.

2 We may not know, we cannot tell
What pains He had to bear,
But we believe it was for us
He hung and suffered there.

3 He died that we might be forgiv’n,
He died to make us good,
That we might go at last to heav’n,
Saved by His precious blood.

4 There was no other good enough
To pay the price of sin,
He only could unlock the gate
Of heav’n and let us in.

5 Oh, dearly, dearly has He loved!
And we must love Him too
And trust in His redeeming blood
And try His works to do.

Now Jesus left the temple and was going away. His disciples came to point out to him the temple buildings. He responded, “Do you see all these things? I assure that no stone will be left on another. Everything will be demolished.”

Now while Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately and said, “Tell us, when will these things happen? What will be the sign of your coming and the end of the age?”

Jesus replied, “Watch out that no one deceives you. Many will come in my name, saying, ‘I’m the Christ.’ They will deceive many people. You will hear about wars and reports of wars. Don’t be alarmed. These things must happen, but this isn’t the end yet. Nations and kingdoms will fight against each other, and there will be famines and earthquakes in all sorts of places. But all these things are just the beginning of the sufferings associated with the end. They will arrest you, abuse you, and they will kill you. All nations will hate you on account of my name. At that time many will fall away. They will betray each other and hate each other. Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because disobedience will expand, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be delivered. This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the world as a testimony to all the nations. Then the end will come.”

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.