Invitation — Psalm 135:13
"Your name, Lord, endures forever, your renown, Lord, through all generations."
Quiet
Bible Song — Psalm 58:1-5, 10-11
Do you rulers indeed speak justly?
Do you judge people with equity?
No, in your heart you devise injustice,
and your hands mete out violence on the earth.
Even from birth the wicked go astray;
from the womb they are wayward, spreading lies.
Their venom is like the venom of a snake,
like that of a cobra that has stopped its ears,
that will not heed the tune of the charmer,
however skillful the enchanter may be...
The righteous will be glad when they are avenged,
when they dip their feet in the blood of the wicked.
Then people will say,
"Surely the righteous still are rewarded;
surely there is a God who judges the earth."
Bible Reading — Exodus 40:1-8, 34-35
Then the Lord said to Moses: "Set up the tabernacle, the tent of meeting, on the first day of the first month. Place the ark of the covenant law in it and shield the ark with the curtain. Bring in the table and set out what belongs on it. Then bring in the lampstand and set up its lamps. Place the gold altar of incense in front of the ark of the covenant law and put the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle.
"Place the altar of burnt offering in front of the entrance to the tabernacle, the tent of meeting; place the basin between the tent of meeting and the altar and put water in it. Set up the courtyard around it and put the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard."...
Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. Moses could not enter the tent of meeting because the cloud had settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.
Quiet
Dwelling
Leisurely read again ... is there a word or idea that stirred within you? Linger over it and give it your attention ... is there something about the reading you'd like to ask God about? Pray your life to God ... take a moment to rest in God's presence.
Free Prayer
- for the flourishing of Christ's church everywhere
- for worship that glorifies God and gathers, unites, and blesses his people
- for denominations, agencies, and programs
Prayer — BC 26
God with us, the tabernacle represented the place you lived among your pilgrim people. How can I thank you, Jesus, for becoming the true tabernacle by dwelling among us and providing the way into your holy presence through the blood of your sacrifice? Make my everyday living a place where I and others find heaven on earth. Amen.
Blessing — 2 Thess. 2:16-17
"May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word."