Modern Israel’s Declaration of Independence (illustrated by Henry Szyk, ca. 1949). The primary graphic at the bottom center is clearly based on Exodus 17, although Moses lacks his staff (for artistic reasons) and is supported by Joshua and Aaron, rather than Hur and Aaron. (Full-size)
Prayers
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Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
Amen.
Prayer for This Day
Holy God, I pray in the name of Christ that you will this day increase my faith in the sweet promises of the Gospel. Give me repentance from dead works. Pardon my wanderings, & direct my thoughts unto thyself, the God of my salvation. Teach me how to live in thy fear, labor in thy service, and ever to run in the ways of thy commandments.
Make me always watchful over my heart, that neither the terrors of conscience, the loathing of holy duties, the love of sin, nor an unwillingness to depart this life, may cast me into a spiritual slumber. But daily frame me more and more into the likeness of thy son Jesus Christ, that living in thy fear, and dying in thy favor, I may in thy appointed time attain the resurrection of the just unto eternal life.
Bless my family, friends & kindred; unite us all in praising & glorifying thee in all our works begun, continued, and ended, when we shall come to make our last account before thee blessed Saviour, who hath taught us thus to pray, our Father.
Amen.
~ from a prayer of George Washington
For Understanding Truth
Lord God, let me not put my trust in the words of men, for their minds are weak and their tongues are tainted by the world; but let me test everything having to do with faith against our only true teacher, Jesus Christ, and the true Word of God that was inspired through the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
~ Mason Barge 2014
For Those Who Protect Us
Almighty God, I commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women who put themselves in danger for our protection. Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
by Mason Barge
Meditation
“Here's what you need to keep in mind. You no longer have yesterday. You do not yet have tomorrow. You have only today. This is the day the Lord has made. Live in it.”
~ Max Lucado
Closing Praise
Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever.
Amen.
Office of Prime, Western Breviary 9/4/2014
Think of the day ahead in terms of God with you, and visualize health, strength, guidance, purity, calm confidence, and victory as the gifts of His presence.
If you've never heard “Operator (Get Me Jesus on the Line),” I hope you’ll let this play through the (long) introduction. You have a treat in store!
Lyrics to “Operator (Get Me Jesus on the Line)”
Operator (Get Me Jesus on the Line)
Operator . . . give me . . . information.
Information . . . give me . . . long distance.
Long distance . . . give me . . . Hea. . . ven.
2 3 oh operator, information,
Give me Jesus on the line.
Operator, information
I'd like to speak to a friend of mine.
Prayer is the number and faith is the exchange,
Heaven is the city, Jesus is the name.
Now operator, information,
Give me Jesus on the line.
Operator, information,
Tell me why it’s taking so long;
Operator, information,
Don't try to tell me what number to call.
My mother used this number when I was very small,
And every time she dialed it she always got a call;
Oh operator, information,
Please give me Jesus on the line.
Operator, information,
Please help me if you can.
Operator, information,
Please connect me with the Man.
Don't worry about the money, I will pay the charge,
Just give me a private line I'm calling from the heart.
Operator, information,
Give me Jesus on the line.
Music and Lyrics by Reggie Calloway, Belinda G. Lipscomb, Vincent L. Calloway
Scripture
Proverbs 20:6 (NKJV)
Most men will proclaim each his own goodness,
But who can find a faithful man?
Exodus 17:8-13 (ESV)
Israel Defeats Amalek [1]
hen Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose for us men, and go out and fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand.” So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed, and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses’ hands grew weary, so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side. So his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.
And Joshua overwhelmed Amalek and his people with the sword.
Verses 1-7 described Moses leading the Israelites into the deep desert and, at the point where thirst became a survival issue, striking a rock to bring forth a gushing spring of water. In today’s verses, the fledgling Hebrew army must fight its first real battle — and we see young Joshua, who will become the first “judge” of Israel, begin a promising military career.
Moses (by Tissot)
Amalek had been the grandson of Esau (Gen. 36:12), and his descendants had become a tribe of Bedouin-like bandits, camel-riding desert dwellers who lived by robbing traders and disappearing into the hostile vastness of Sinai. The Amalekites were surely far fewer in number, but superior in skill, experience, aggression and armament. They likely sent scouts to give the Hebrews the choice of surrendering their livestock and valuables without a fight; whatever the reason, the Hebrews have a days’ warning before the attack.
We meet Joshua (Yehoshua, “Yahweh is salvation”) for the first time, a vigorous young man clearly marked for military command. Moses gives him total military control; we can safely assume that there is much unwritten about Joshua’s previous life for such a young man to be given such extraordinary responsibility.
We also meet Hur. Hur will simply disappear from the narrative of Exodus (long before the Israelites enter Canaan), so most Christians have never heard of him, but he is a much more prominent figure in Judaism. Joshua, of course, will become the great general of the Hebrew army in its earliest days, when it first enters the promised land.
The direct symbolism of Moses’ staff is impossible to miss. Israel will triumph against the Amalekites as long as the symbol of God is kept above Moses’ head, and Israel will triumph over all of her enemies as long as God is held in importance above all men. But God demands that Moses — an old man — perform the excruciating physical task of holding a heavy staff over his head for hours. To succeed, Moses needs the help of the priesthood, represented by Aaron, and the government, represented by Hur.
Victory O Lord!, by John Everett Millais (ca. 1871), depicts Aaron and Hur supporting Moses, during the battle against the Amalekites in Exodus 17.
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Today in Daily Prayer
Prayer Group
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Memory Verse
2 Timothy 3:16: All Scripture is inspired by God . . . .
In the Crime and Punishment devotion discussion on 9/6/26, it was written: We will come before Christ at the time of His choosing, and He will judge us for our actions and, hopefully, forgive us for our sins by His grace. I thought when we repent of our sin, we are forgiven and the sin is forgotten. When Jesus comes again, are we judged by the list of our past and forgiven sins? If so, I can't do enough good to out do the sins of my life Scary! Carol
Always always remember the first principals when you read these "stop sinning!" parts of the Bible. Lock this in your brain:
"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9
There is a second point to be made, which is told to us time and time again in Romans. We are saved by God's grace through faith. Here, this is one of our memory verses: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Ephesians 2:8-9
Rejoice in your salvation, for it has been promised to you by God, and in your joy work to obey God's commandments and by prayer and all means possible, try to give up your sins. But again, know first, where we do not succeed, God has PROMISED to forgive us.
Carol and Pete, I am with you. I have run into Christians who live with Christ still on the cross and they are miserable.They make statements that contradict Christ. I'm an Easter Sunday Christian and my Christ has risen and my sins are no more.By His blood, I am redeemed. I am with Him now and will be forever.
I think it hilarious that, According to those who made that statement, we are supposed to remind God of our sins while He has forgotten them.
Carol, that hit me the same way. I ran so far and sinned so much, that statement gave me a cold chill. I trust they will be forgiven and forgotten as far as east is from the west, lest I be doomed.
In the Crime and Punishment devotion discussion on 9/6/26, it was written: We will come before Christ at the time of His choosing, and He will judge us for our actions and, hopefully, forgive us for our sins by His grace. I thought when we repent of our sin, we are forgiven and the sin is forgotten. When Jesus comes again, are we judged by the list of our past and forgiven sins? If so, I can't do enough good to out do the sins of my life Scary ! Carol Salt Lake City, Utah
Thanking both Mason and Jenny today! Mason, I always enjoy your insights into Scripture. And your choices in Art and Music. I especially enjoyed todays music. I miss these songs I heard when I was young. Jenny, today's Daily Inspiration was just what I needed. Sometimes, I don't feel welcomed, but I realize, it may be my own mind that makes me think that. I may always, as long as I'm in this world at least, feel the guilt & shame of my sins, but I know and believe that Jesus Christ, was born on this earth, lived, taught, was crucified and ascended to be back with God the Father. And I believe that by His great sacrifice, He has washed away my sins. Again, thank you both. Sherry in Washington
Stephanie, thank you for sharing your"two cents". I appreciate you doing so. And Cynthia, you are so right. Guilt and shame are the human response to sin. Our loving God says "come to me, and I will give you rest. " Jesus took our sin and through faith in Him replaces the guilt and shame with joy and peace. And, although I can't say that exchange is immediate for me, believing this gives me hope and the desire to start again. Carol Salt Lake City, Utah
Carol, Just a thought on the 9.2 inspiration; I read it as “the trials are given to us” as, they happen to us - and not as God gives them to us….just thought I’d share my 2 cents.. Stephanie, Venice Fl
