Daily Lectionary in Poetry Thursday 29th January 2015

Psalm 111

Praise for God’s Wonderful Works
1 Praise the Lord!
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
    in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
2 Great are the works of the Lord,
    studied by all who delight in them.
3 Full of honor and majesty is his work,
    and his righteousness endures forever.
4 He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds;
    the Lord is gracious and merciful.
5 He provides food for those who fear him;
    he is ever mindful of his covenant.
6 He has shown his people the power of his works,
    in giving them the heritage of the nations.
7 The works of his hands are faithful and just;
    all his precepts are trustworthy.
8 They are established forever and ever,
    to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
9 He sent redemption to his people;
    he has commanded his covenant forever.
    Holy and awesome is his name.
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
    all those who practice it[a] have a good understanding.
    His praise endures forever.
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Praise the Lord
I give thanks to you
With all of my heart

Praise the Lord
Your works are great
Full of righteousness

Praise the Lord
He does wonderful deeds
He is gracious and merciful

Praise the Lord
He feeds the hungry
He cares for the needy

Praise the Lord
His works are faithful
Holy and awesome is His name
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Deuteronomy 3:23-29

Moses Views Canaan from Pisgah
23 At that time, too, I entreated the Lord, saying: 24 “O Lord God, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your might; what god in heaven or on earth can perform deeds and mighty acts like yours! 25 Let me cross over to see the good land beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and the Lebanon.” 26 But the Lord was angry with me on your account and would not heed me. The Lord said to me, “Enough from you! Never speak to me of this matter again! 27 Go up to the top of Pisgah and look around you to the west, to the north, to the south, and to the east. Look well, for you shall not cross over this Jordan. 28 But charge Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, because it is he who shall cross over at the head of this people and who shall secure their possession of the land that you will see.” 29 So we remained in the valley opposite Beth-peor.

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Moses spoke to the Lord
You have only just begun
To show your greatness and might
What God in heaven acts like you?
Let me see the land of Jordan
The goodness of the land

But God was angry
He would not listen to him
Enough from you, He said
Never speak of this again
Go up the mountain
And look all around

You will never see Jordan
God told Moses
You will instead encourage Joshua
Strengthen him and make him ready
He shall cross to Jordan
He will secure the land

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Romans 9:6-18

6 It is not as though the word of God had failed. For not all Israelites truly belong to Israel, 7 and not all of Abraham’s children are his true descendants; but “It is through Isaac that descendants shall be named for you.” 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as descendants. 9 For this is what the promise said, “About this time I will return and Sarah shall have a son.” 10 Nor is that all; something similar happened to Rebecca when she had conceived children by one husband, our ancestor Isaac. 11 Even before they had been born or had done anything good or bad (so that God’s purpose of election might continue, 12 not by works but by his call) she was told, “The elder shall serve the younger.” 13 As it is written,

“I have loved Jacob,
    but I have hated Esau.”
14 What then are we to say? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses,

“I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,
    and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”
16 So it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God who shows mercy. 17 For the scripture says to Pharaoh, “I have raised you up for the very purpose of showing my power in you, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he chooses, and he hardens the heart of whomever he chooses.

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It is not children of flesh
Who are the children of God
It is children of the promise
Who will be the true descendants

God has mercy on those he chooses
It is faith that matters most
Follow the Lord God always
For this He has raised us up 

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