Mercy, Lord!

Sunday, November 8, 2014

Devotions: Ps 23, 27, 75, 76; Sir 50:1, 11-24; Rev 17:1-18; Lk 13:31-35

YHWH Is my Shepherd, and I shall not be in need. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters; He restores my soul! My God leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Even though I am walking through the valley of death's shadow, I fear no evil—for You Are with me; Your rod and staff comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows! Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my live; and I will live in Your house, Lord, forever. YHWH is my Light and my Savior—so whom should I fear? YHWH is the Stronghold of my life—there's no one I need fear. When evildoers assail me, when mockers slander me, my adversaries and foes will stumble and fall. If a hostile force encamped against me, nevertheless I will remain confident. I continue to seek one thing from my God: that I may dwell in God's house, beholding His beauty, seeking wisdom and holiness in His temple, forever. My God will hide me in His shelter when trouble comes; He will set me high on a rock. I falter, but I will be exalted; I offer God my fealty and faith, my praise and thanks! My voice is His, and Lord, I will speak and sing as You direct and to Your glory. Keep me, God; teach me Your way. Please, Lord! Don't abandon me here! I believe that I will see the goodness of the Lord I the land of the living. So: be strong and take courage; yes, wait for the Lord! He has told us: I will judge with equity in My own time. The earth itself may totter, but I will sustain My own. And so I will sing God's praises forever, and entrust myself to His grace and care. My God is awesome and almighty, terrible in wrath, wonderful in power and mercy. Amen. 

Yeshua ben Sirach wrote: Simon ben Onias was High Priest and pride of his people. He graced God's altar dressed in glorious robes, standing like a cedar of Lebanon among his brothers, the sons of Aaron. He served God with dignity and grace; his piety inspired all present to rededicate themselves to God. The people sought YHWH, God Most High. Then Simon descended and lifted up his hands over the whole congregation of the sons of Israel, and blessed them in the Lord's name, and the people bowed a second time, blessed by the Most High. Now let us also bless the God of all, Doer of great deeds, Master of our lives. May God keep us in His mercy and deliver us in our days. Amen.

A great angel led John the Revelator, to witness the judgment of the great harlot, seated on many waters, with whom the the kings of earth have committed fornication, intoxicated with sin. Carried by the Spirit into the wilderness, John saw a woman sitting on a great beast full of blasphemous names, with seven heads and ten horns. The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, decked with jewels and pearls. And in her hand she held a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her fornication. On her forehead was written: 'Babylon the great, mother of harlots and of earth's abominations. John saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of the saints and of the Christian martyrs. He was dumbfounded. The angel expounded the meaning of what John was witnessing: 'The beast you saw was, is not, and will ascend from the bottomless pit and go to perdition. Those not written in the Book of Life will be mesmerized by the beast. The seven heads are the seven hills on which the city rests, and also seven kings—five already perished; one now reigning; and one yet to come. The beast belongs to these seven, but is an eighth, and is bound for perdition. The ten horns are ten kings not yet reigning; they will receive royal power for a short time, along with the beast—all these will be of one mind and give their power over to the beast. They will make war on the Lamb; and the Lamb will conquer them. For He Is King of kings and Lord of lords; and those with Him are called, chosen, and faithful.' And the angel added this: 'The waters upon which you saw the harlot sitting are the lands and peoples, multitudes, nations and tongues of the earth. The ten horns and the beast will hate the harlot; they will strip her, make her desolate and naked, devour her and burn her with fire—for God has put it in their minds to carry out His purpose by being of one mind and giving over their royal power to the beast until all God's words are fulfilled. The woman is the great city that has dominion over the kings of the earth.' Amen.

Some Pharisees approached Jesus and warned Him to leave the place He was teachingsaying that Herod wanted to kill Jesus. Jesus said to them, 'Tell that fox, “Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish My course. Nevertheless, I must go My way today, tomorrow and the third day—for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.'” Then Jesus lamented: 'O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those God sends to you! How often I wanted to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not! Now I tell you: you will not see Me until you say, 'Blessed is He Who comes in the name of the Lord!'