MON, JULY 15
Psalm 119:10–18 (ESV)10 With our whole heart we seek you; let us not wander from your commandments! 11 We have stored up your word in our hearts, that we might not sin against you. 12 Blessed are you, O Lord; teach us your statutes! 13 With our lips we declare all the rules of your mouth. 14 In the way of your testimonies we delight as much as in all riches. 15 We will meditate on your precepts and fix our eyes on your ways. 16 We will delight in your statutes; we will not forget your word. 17 Deal bountifully with your servants, that we may live and keep your word. 18 Open our eyes, that we may behold wondrous things out of your law.
Lectio Divina (Divine Reading):
1. Read
2. Reflect
3. Respond
4. Rest
Scripture Reading: Psalm 41 (English Standard Version)
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. 1 Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him; 2 the Lord protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; you do not give him up to the will of his enemies. 3 The Lord sustains him on his sickbed; in his illness you restore him to full health. 4 As for me, I said, “O Lord, be gracious to me; heal me, for I have sinned against you!” 5 My enemies say of me in malice, “When will he die, and his name perish?” 6 And when one comes to see me, he utters empty words, while his heart gathers iniquity; when he goes out, he tells it abroad. 7 All who hate me whisper together about me; they imagine the worst for me. 8 They say, “A deadly thing is poured out on him; he will not rise again from where he lies.” 9 Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me. 10 But you, O Lord, be gracious to me, and raise me up, that I may repay them! 11 By this I know that you delight in me: my enemy will not shout in triumph over me. 12 But you have upheld me because of my integrity, and set me in your presence forever. 13 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting! Amen and Amen.
Reflect
Scripture Reading: Psalm 41 (New Jerusalem Bible)
For the choirmaster Psalm Of David 1 Blessed is anyone who cares for the poor and the weak; in time of trouble Yahweh rescues him. 2 Yahweh protects him, gives him life and happiness on earth. Do not abandon him to his enemies’ pleasure! 3 Yahweh sustains him on his bed of sickness; you transform altogether the bed where he lies sick. 4 For my part I said, ‘Yahweh, take pity on me! Cure me for I have sinned against you.’ 5 My enemies speak to me only of disaster, ‘When will he die and his name disappear?’ 6 When people come to see me their talk is hollow, when they get out they spread the news with spite in their hearts. 7 All who hate me whisper together about me and reckon I deserve the misery I suffer. 8 ‘A fatal sickness has a grip on him; now that he is down, he will never get up again.’ 9 Even my trusted friend on whom I relied, who shared my table, takes advantage of me. 10 But you, Yahweh, take pity on me! Put me on my feet and I will give them their due. 11 This will convince me that you delight in me, if my enemy no longer exults over me. 12 Then you will keep me unscathed, and set me in your presence for ever. 13 Blessed be Yahweh, the God of Israel, from eternity to eternity. Amen, Amen.
Reflect
Scripture Reading: Psalm 41 (New Living Translation)
For the choir director: A psalm of David. 1 Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor! The Lord rescues them when they are in trouble. 2 The Lord protects them and keeps them alive. He gives them prosperity in the land and rescues them from their enemies. 3 The Lord nurses them when they are sick and restores them to health. 4 “O Lord,” I prayed, “have mercy on me. Heal me, for I have sinned against you.” 5 But my enemies say nothing but evil about me. “How soon will he die and be forgotten?” they ask. 6 They visit me as if they were my friends, but all the while they gather gossip, and when they leave, they spread it everywhere. 7 All who hate me whisper about me, imagining the worst. 8 “He has some fatal disease,” they say. “He will never get out of that bed!” 9 Even my best friend, the one I trusted completely, the one who shared my food, has turned against me. 10 Lord, have mercy on me. Make me well again, so I can pay them back! 11 I know you are pleased with me, for you have not let my enemies triumph over me. 12 You have preserved my life because I am innocent; you have brought me into your presence forever. 13 Praise the Lord, the God of Israel, who lives from everlasting to everlasting. Amen and amen!
Respond
Portion of Prayer from Sheltering Mercy (Smith/Wilt)
"You See the Poor"
Inspired by Psalm 41
Intercessory Prayer
Lord’s Prayer (Pray the words that Jesus taught us to pray)
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name;
your kingdom come;
your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For yours is the kingdom, and the power,
and the glory, forever. Amen.