Week
of Prayer for Christian Unity • January 19, 2012.
Readings
from Scripture for Day 2
1
Samuel 1:1-20 Hannah’s trust and patient waiting
1 There was a certain man of Ramatha'im-zo'phim of the hill country
of E'phraim, whose name was Elka'nah the son of Jero'ham, son of Eli'hu,
son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an E'phraimite. 2 He had two wives; the name
of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Penin'nah. And Penin'nah
had children, but Hannah had no children. 3 Now this man used to go up
year by year from his city to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of hosts
at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phin'ehas, were priests
of the LORD. 4 On the day when Elka'nah sacrificed, he would give portions
to Penin'nah his wife and to all her sons and daughters; 5 and, although
he loved Hannah, he would give Hannah only one portion, because the LORD
had closed her womb. 6 And her rival used to provoke her sorely, to irritate
her, because the LORD had closed her womb.7 So it went on year by year;
as often as she went up to the house of the LORD, she used to provoke her.
Therefore Hannah wept and would not eat. 8 And Elka'nah, her husband, said
to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your
heart sad? Am I not more to you than ten sons?" 9 After they had
eaten and drunk in Shiloh, Hannah rose. Now Eli the priest was sitting
on the seat beside the doorpost of the temple of the LORD. 10 She
was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD, and wept bitterly. 11 And
she vowed a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on
the affliction of thy maidservant, and remember me, and not forget
thy maidservant, but wilt give to thy maidservant a son, then I will give
him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his
head." 12 As she continued praying before the LORD, Eli observed her mouth.
13 Hannah was speaking in her heart; only her lips moved, and her voice
was not heard; therefore Eli took her to be a drunken woman. 14 And Eli
said to her, "How long will you be drunken? Put away your wine from you."
15 But Hannah answered, "No, my lord, I am a woman sorely troubled; I have
drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my
soul before the LORD. 16 Do not regard your maidservant as a base woman,
for all along I have been speaking out of my great anxiety and vexation."
17 Then Eli answered, "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition
which you have made to him." 18 And she said, "Let your maidservant find
favor in your eyes." Then the woman went her way and ate, and her countenance
was no longer sad. 19 They rose early in the morning and worshiped before
the LORD; then they went back to their house at Ramah. And Elka'nah knew
Hannah his wife, and the LORD remembered her; 20 and in due time Hannah
conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, for she said,
"I have asked him of the LORD."
Psalms
40 Patient waiting for the Lord
1 I waited patiently for the LORD; he inclined to me and heard my cry.
2 He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my
feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. 3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their
trust in the LORD. 4 Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who
does not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after false gods! 5
Thou hast multiplied, O LORD my God, thy wondrous deeds and thy thoughts
toward us; none can compare with thee! Were I to proclaim and
tell of them, they would be more than can be numbered. 6 Sacrifice and
offering thou dost not desire; but thou hast given me an open ear.
Burnt offering and sin offering thou hast not required. 7 Then I said,
"Lo, I come; in the roll of the book it is written of me; 8 I delight to
do thy will, O my God; thy law is within my heart." 9 I have told the glad
news of deliverance in the great congregation; lo, I have not restrained
my lips, as thou knowest, O LORD. 10 I have not hid thy saving help within
my heart, I have spoken of thy faithfulness and thy salvation; I have not
concealed thy steadfast love and thy faithfulness from the great congregation.
11 Do not thou, O LORD, withhold thy mercy from me, let thy steadfast love
and thy faithfulness ever preserve me! 12 For evils have encompassed
me without number; my iniquities have overtaken me, till I cannot
see; they are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails
me. 13 Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me! O LORD, make haste to help me!
14 Let them be put to shame and confusion altogether who seek to snatch
away my life; let them be turned back and brought to dishonor
who desire my hurt! 15 Let them be appalled because of their shame who
say to me, "Aha, Aha!" 16 But may all who seek thee rejoice and be glad
in thee; may those who love thy salvation say continually, "Great
is the LORD!" 17 As for me, I am poor and needy; but the Lord takes thought
for me. Thou art my help and my deliverer; do not tarry, O
my God!
Hebrews
11:32-34 Through faith they conquered kingdoms, ad-ministered justice
32 And what more shall I say? For
time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David
and Samuel and the prophets -- 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms,
enforced justice, received promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched
raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness,
became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.
Matthew
3:13-17 Let it be so now, for it is proper to fulfill all righteousness
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to
the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented
him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" 15
But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for thus it is fitting for us
to fulfil all righteousness." Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus was
baptized, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens
were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove,
and alighting on him; 17 and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, "This is
my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."
> Return to Prayer and Reflection
for Day 2: Changed
through patient waiting for the Lord
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