Invitation — Psalm 103:6
"The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed."
Quiet
Bible Song — Psalm 41:1-3, 13
Blessed are those who have regard for the weak;
the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.
The Lord protects and preserves them —
they are counted among the blessed in the land —
he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.
The Lord sustains them on their sickbed
and restores them from their bed of illness...
Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
Bible Reading — Exodus 5:1-9
Afterward Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh and said, "This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: 'Let my people go, so that they may hold a festival to me in the wilderness.'"
Pharaoh said, "Who is the Lord, that I should obey him and let Israel go? I do not know the Lord and I will not let Israel go."
Then they said, "The God of the Hebrews has met with us. Now let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness to offer sacrifices to the Lord our God, or he may strike us with plagues or with the sword."
But the king of Egypt said, "Moses and Aaron, why are you taking the people away from their labor? Get back to your work!" Then Pharaoh said, "Look, the people of the land are now numerous, and you are stopping them from working."
That same day Pharaoh gave this order to the slave drivers and overseers in charge of the people: "You are no longer to supply the people with straw for making bricks; let them go and gather their own straw. But require them to make the same number of bricks as before; don't reduce the quota. They are lazy; that is why they are crying out, 'Let us go and sacrifice to our God.' Make the work harder for the people so that they keep working and pay no attention to lies."
Quiet
Dwelling
Remind yourself you are in God's presence and read again ... notice how God might be speaking to you through his Word — dwell on a word or phrase that jumps out at you ... let your heart respond to God in prayer ... take refreshment in God's presence.
Free Prayer
- for governments, world leaders, and the needs of our world
- for the continent of Europe
- for those trapped in prostitution and the sex industry
Prayer — WLC 121
Providing God, when my work has the feel of an Egyptian slave driver, help me to remember your Sabbath. Whether I'm dealing with a demanding boss or the inner taskmaster that drives me to work harder and stay longer, I pray that my work will flow out of your rest, the joy that I'm created and saved for. In Jesus' name, amen.
Blessing — Exodus 15:2
"The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him."