Thursday, 18 March 2010 01:34

Lent - Day 30

It is zeal for your house that has consumed me...

 

MORNING READING - Psalm 69:1-20

 

To the leader: according to Lilies. Of David.
1Save me, O God,
for the waters have come up to my neck.
2I sink in deep mire,
where there is no foothold;
I have come into deep waters,
and the flood sweeps over me.
3I am weary with my crying;
my throat is parched.
My eyes grow dim
with waiting for my God.


4More in number than the hairs of my head
are those who hate me without cause;
many are those who would destroy me,
my enemies who accuse me falsely.
What I did not steal
must I now restore?
5O God, you know my folly;
the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.


6Do not let those who hope in you be put to shame because of me,
O Lord God of hosts;
do not let those who seek you be dishonoured because of me,
O God of Israel.
7It is for your sake that I have borne reproach,
that shame has covered my face.
8I have become a stranger to my kindred,
an alien to my mother’s children.


9It is zeal for your house that has consumed me;
the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.
10When I humbled my soul with fasting,*
they insulted me for doing so.
11When I made sackcloth my clothing,
I became a byword to them.
12I am the subject of gossip for those who sit in the gate,
and the drunkards make songs about me.


13But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord.
At an acceptable time, O God,
in the abundance of your steadfast love, answer me.
With your faithful help 14rescue me
from sinking in the mire;
let me be delivered from my enemies
and from the deep waters.
15Do not let the flood sweep over me,
or the deep swallow me up,
or the Pit close its mouth over me.


16Answer me, O Lord, for your steadfast love is good;
according to your abundant mercy, turn to me.
17Do not hide your face from your servant,
for I am in distress—make haste to answer me.
18Draw near to me, redeem me,
set me free because of my enemies.


19You know the insults I receive,
and my shame and dishonour;
my foes are all known to you.
20Insults have broken my heart,
so that I am in despair.
I looked for pity, but there was none;
and for comforters, but I found none.

 

MORNING REFLECTION

 

READY: As you read the psalm written by David think of Jesus and His ministry.

 

READ: Read through the psalm. Note the emotions, the attacks, the need for God’s deliverance.

 

REFLECT: As you read David’s words meditate on how they could refer to Jesus and His earthly ministry. Think of the many attacks and hardships that you are facing now. Reflect on how your Savior became like you in every way except for sin so that He could sympathize with you in your weakness.

 

REPENT: There are many difficult pictures in this psalm, being over come by a flood, drowning, weariness from crying, being attacked with gossip and reproach, and sinking in mire or a pit. As one who is in Jesus, you too have known these kind of attacks. Give Jesus the difficult emotions of the attacks you are experiencing.

 

REJOICE: The psalmist appeals in v.16 to God’s steadfast love and abundant mercy. Praise God for His love & mercy.

 

EVENING READING Mark 8:27- 9:1

 

The Death of John the Baptist

27 Jesus went on with his disciples to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say that I am?’ 28And they answered him, ‘John the Baptist; and others, Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.’ 29He asked them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Peter answered him, ‘You are the Messiah.’* 30And he sternly ordered them not to tell anyone about him.

31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’

34 He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel,* will save it. 36For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 37Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 38Those who are ashamed of me and of my words* in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’ 91And he said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see that the kingdom of God has come with* power.’

*

EVENING REFLECTION

 

READY: Jesus asked His disciples, ‘but who do you say that I am?’ As you ready yourself for this passage ask yourself the same question Jesus asked His disciples.

 

READ: Read the passage twice focusing on the what Jesus says it means to follow Him.

 

REFLECT: Reflect on Jesus teaching on what it means to become His follower. What does it mean for us as disciples to take up our cross and follow Jesus. “For those who want to save their life will

lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will save it.”

 

REPENT: Jesus says, ‘For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life. ‘ Use this verse to frame a time of repentance.

 

REJOICE: Thank God for the privilege of being a follower of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Social sharing
More in this category: « [Lent - Day 29 Lent - Day 31 »
back to top