psalm 124

Psalm 124: 1-8 – The snare is broken and we have escaped

/ Lil Smith / Leave a comment

Psalm 124:1-8

1If it had not been the LORD who was on our side
— let Israel now say —
2if it had not been the LORD who was on our side,
when our enemies attacked us,
3then they would have swallowed us up alive,
when their anger was kindled against us;
4then the flood would have swept us away,
the torrent would have gone over us;
5then over us would have gone
the raging waters.
6Blessed be the LORD,
who has not given us
as prey to their teeth.
7We have escaped like a bird
from the snare of the fowlers;
the snare is broken,
and we have escaped.
8Our help is in the name of the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.

  • Light a candle to remember Christ’s presence with you.
  • Sit five to fifteen minutes in silent meditation paying close attention to the deep breath.
  • Who is the enemy for you today?
  • What traps and snares have been set for you?
  • Where will you encounter these traps and snares?
  • With God’s help, you can escape these places and these traps.
  • Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
  • Call upon the name of the LORD.
  • The LORD is on your side.
  • Be aware of traps and snares in your day.  When you encounter them, turn toward the LORD and call upon the name of the LORD.
  • Who is the enemy for the world today?
  • What traps and snares have been set for the world?
  • Where will we encounter these traps and snares?
  • With God’s help, we can escape these places and these traps.
  • Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
  • Call upon the name of the LORD.
  • Notice who is calling with you.
  • The LORD is on our side.
  • Be aware of traps and snares in your day.  When you encounter them, turn toward the LORD and call upon the name of the LORD.
  • What message do you hear from the LORD?
  • Give thanks to God for this time in prayer and for any new insights you have received.
  • Share as you feel led in the reply box below.

Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, September 30, 2018, the Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

Esther 7:1-6, 9-10, 9:20-22
Psalm 124:1-8
James 5:13-20
Mark 9:38-50

If you use these prayers in other groups, please give credit to author. Permission to use in not-for-profit settings. (c) 2018 The Rev. Dr. Lil Smith, DASD

Esther 7 – What is your petition?

/ Lil Smith / Leave a comment

Esther 7:1-6, 9-10, 9:20-22

1So the king and Haman went in to feast with Queen Esther. 2On the second day, as they were drinking wine, the king again said to Esther, “What is your petition, Queen Esther? It shall be granted you. And what is your request? Even to the half of my kingdom, it shall be fulfilled.” 3Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have won your favor, O king, and if it pleases the king, let my life be given me — that is my petition — and the lives of my people — that is my request. 4For we have been sold, I and my people, to be destroyed, to be killed, and to be annihilated. If we had been sold merely as slaves, men and women, I would have held my peace; but no enemy can compensate for this damage to the king.” 5Then King Ahasuerus said to Queen Esther, “Who is he, and where is he, who has presumed to do this?” 6Esther said, “A foe and enemy, this wicked Haman!” Then Haman was terrified before the king and the queen.

9Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs in attendance on the king, said, “Look, the very gallows that Haman has prepared for Mordecai, whose word saved the king, stands at Haman’s house, fifty cubits high.” And the king said, “Hang him on that.” 10So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the anger of the king abated.

9:20 Mordecai recorded these things, and sent letters to all the Jews who were in all the provinces of King Ahasuerus, both near and far, 21enjoining them that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar and also the fifteenth day of the same month, year by year, 22as the days on which the Jews gained relief from their enemies, and as the month that had been turned for them from sorrow into gladness and from mourning into a holiday; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, days for sending gifts of food to one another and presents to the poor.

  • Light a candle to remember Christ’s presence with you.
  • Sit five to fifteen minutes in silent meditation paying close attention to the deep breath.
  • What is your petition today?
  • How have you been sold into destruction and death?
  • How have your people been sold into destruction and death?
  • Invite God into the conversation.
  • How does God desire to give you life?
  • How does God desire to give your people life?
  • What do you need to let go to embrace life?
  • What message do you hear from the God?
  • Give thanks to God for this time in prayer and for any new insights you have received.
  • Share as you feel led in the reply box below.

Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, September 30, 2018, the Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

Esther 7:1-6, 9-10, 9:20-22
Psalm 124:1-8
James 5:13-20
Mark 9:38-50

If you use these prayers in other groups, please give credit to author. Permission to use in not-for-profit settings. (c) 2018 The Rev. Dr. Lil Smith, DASD

Psalm 124: 1-8 – The snare is broken and we have escaped

/ Lil Smith / Leave a comment

Psalm 124:1-8

1If it had not been the LORD who was on our side
— let Israel now say —
2if it had not been the LORD who was on our side,
when our enemies attacked us,
3then they would have swallowed us up alive,
when their anger was kindled against us;
4then the flood would have swept us away,
the torrent would have gone over us;
5then over us would have gone
the raging waters.
6Blessed be the LORD,
who has not given us
as prey to their teeth.
7We have escaped like a bird
from the snare of the fowlers;
the snare is broken,
and we have escaped.
8Our help is in the name of the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.

  • Light a candle to remember Christ’s presence with you.
  • Sit five to fifteen minutes in silent meditation paying close attention to the deep breath.
  • Who is the enemy for you today?
  • What traps and snares have been set for you?
  • Where will you encounter these traps and snares?
  • With God’s help, you can escape these places and these traps.
  • Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
  • Call upon the name of the LORD.
  • The LORD is on your side.
  • Be aware of traps and snares in your day.  When you encounter them, turn toward the LORD and call upon the name of the LORD.
  • Who is the enemy for the world today?
  • What traps and snares have been set for the world?
  • Where will we encounter these traps and snares?
  • With God’s help, we can escape these places and these traps.
  • Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
  • Call upon the name of the LORD.
  • Notice who is calling with you.
  • The LORD is on our side.
  • Be aware of traps and snares in your day.  When you encounter them, turn toward the LORD and call upon the name of the LORD.
  • What message do you hear from the LORD?
  • Give thanks to God for this time in prayer and for any new insights you have received.
  • Share as you feel led in the reply box below.

Revised Common Lectionary Readings for Sunday, September 30, 2012, the Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

Esther 7:1-6, 9-10, 9:20-22
Psalm 124:1-8
James 5:13-20
Mark 9:38-50

If you use these prayers in other groups, please give credit to author. Permission to use in not-for-profit settings The Rev. Lil Smith, M.Div., DASD