Lent Daybook, 7: Stubborn
SECOND WEDNESDAY IN LENT
Welcome to a Lent daybook for these 40 days of prayer. You can see all the previous Lent daybook 2019 posts here.
Is this your first time to practice Lent? Here's a simple introduction.
Look: Moses on Mount Sinai, Jean-Leon Gerome
Listen to my entire playlist on Spotify - Lent: Worship & Prayer 2019. Add it to your account by clicking ‘Follow.’
“The Lord is my portion; I promise to keep your words.
I entreat your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.
When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to your testimonies; I hasten and do not delay to keep your commandments.
Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me, I do not forget your law.
At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous rules.
I am a companion of all who fear you, of those who keep your precepts.
The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love; teach me your statutes!”
*
”Furthermore, the Lord said to me, ‘I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stubborn people. Let me alone, that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven. And I will make of you a nation mightier and greater than they.’ So I turned and came down from the mountain, and the mountain was burning with fire. And the two tablets of the covenant were in my two hands. And I looked, and behold, you had sinned against the Lord your God. You had made yourselves a golden calf. You had turned aside quickly from the way that the Lord had commanded you. So I took hold of the two tablets and threw them out of my two hands and broke them before your eyes. Then I lay prostrate before the Lord as before, forty days and forty nights. I neither ate bread nor drank water, because of all the sin that you had committed, in doing what was evil in the sight of the Lord to provoke him to anger. For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure that the Lord bore against you, so that he was ready to destroy you. But the Lord listened to me that time also. And the Lord was so angry with Aaron that he was ready to destroy him. And I prayed for Aaron also at the same time. Then I took the sinful thing, the calf that you had made, and burned it with fire and crushed it, grinding it very small, until it was as fine as dust. And I threw the dust of it into the brook that ran down from the mountain.”
*
”As it is said,
’Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.’
For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.”
*
”Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things? Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.”
Sunday Scripture readings are taken from the Revised Common Lectionary (Year C). Daily Scripture readings are taken from the Book of Common Prayer (Year 1) with the Psalm for the Morning Office.
Pray:
If you’re praying with a friend or family member, one of you can read the first part (the bidding) and one can read the second part (the response).
“God spoke these words and said: I am the Lord your God, you shall have no other gods but me.
Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
You shall not make for yourself any idol.
Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy.
Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
Honor your father and your mother.
Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
You shall not murder.
Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
You shall not commit adultery.
Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
You shall not steal.
Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
Lord, have mercy upon us, and incline our hearts to keep this law.
You shall not covet.
Lord, have mercy upon us, and write all these, your laws, in our hearts, we beseech you.”
Do:
Fast TV / Entertainment this week.
This week, fast from television (or another form of entertainment).
Read some poems or good books instead!
Pray for God to gift you with a rested mind and an enlarged imagination for His good gifts in the world.
(See all Lent daybook posts from 2018 here.)