Exodus 17:1-16
From the wilderness of Sin the whole congregation of the Israelites journeyed by stages, as the LORD commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. The people quarreled with Moses, and said, "Give us water to drink." Moses said to them, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the LORD?" But the people thirsted there for water; and the people complained against Moses and said, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and livestock with thirst?" So Moses cried out to the LORD, "What shall I do with this people? They are almost ready to stone me." The LORD said to Moses, "Go on ahead of the people, and take some of the elders of Israel with you; take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. I will be standing there in front of you on the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink." Moses did so, in the sight of the elders of Israel. He called the place Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and tested the LORD, saying, "Is the LORD among us or not?" Then Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim. Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some men for us and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the staff of God in my hand." So Joshua did as Moses told him, and fought with Amalek, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; and whenever he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. But Moses' hands grew weary; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; so his hands were steady until the sun set. And Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the sword. Then the LORD said to Moses, "Write this as a reminder in a book and recite it in the hearing of Joshua: I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven." And Moses built an altar and called it, The LORD is my banner. He said, "A hand upon the banner of the LORD The LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation."
1 Peter 4:7-19
The end of all things is near; therefore be serious and discipline yourselves for the sake of your prayers. Above all, maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that is taking place among you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you are sharing Christ's sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the spirit of glory, which is the Spirit of God, is resting on you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, a criminal, or even as a mischief maker. Yet if any of you suffers as a Christian, do not consider it a disgrace, but glorify God because you bear this name. For the time has come for judgment to begin with the household of God; if it begins with us, what will be the end for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And "If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinners?" Therefore, let those suffering in accordance with God's will entrust themselves to a faithful Creator, while continuing to do good.
John 16:16-33
"A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me." Then some of his disciples said to one another, "What does he mean by saying to us, 'A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me' and 'Because I am going to the Father'?" They said, "What does he mean by this 'a little while'? We do not know what he is talking about." Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, "Are you discussing among yourselves what I meant when I said, 'A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me'? Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy. When a woman is in labor, she has pain, because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world. So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. On that day you will ask nothing of me. Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. "I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but will tell you plainly of the Father. On that day you will ask in my name. I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and am going to the Father." His disciples said, "Yes, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure of speech! Now we know that you know all things, and do not need to have anyone question you; by this we believe that you came from God." Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe? The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!"
Morning Psalms
Psalm 20
1 May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble, the Name of the God of Jacob defend you;
2 Send you help from his holy place and strengthen you out of Zion;
3 Remember all your offerings and accept your burnt sacrifice;
4 Grant you your heart's desire and prosper all your plans.
5 We will shout for joy at your victory and triumph in the Name of our God; may the LORD grant all your requests.
6 Now I know that the LORD gives victory to his anointed; he will answer him out of his holy heaven, with the victorious strength of his right hand.
7 Some put their trust in chariots and some in horses, but we will call upon the Name of the LORD our God.
8 They collapse and fall down, but we will arise and stand upright.
9 O LORD, give victory to the king and answer us when we call.
Psalm 21
1 The king rejoices in your strength, O LORD; how greatly he exults in your victory!
2 You have given him his heart's desire; you have not denied him the request of his lips.
3 For you meet him with blessings of prosperity, and set a crown of fine gold upon his head.
4 He asked you for life, and you gave it to him: length of days, for ever and ever.
5 His honor is great, because of your victory; splendor and majesty have you bestowed upon him.
6 For you will give him everlasting felicity and will make him glad with the joy of your presence.
7 For the king puts his trust in the LORD; because of the loving-kindness of the Most High, he will not fall.
8 Your hand will lay hold upon all your enemies; your right hand will seize all those who hate you.
9 You will make them like a fiery furnace at the time of your appearing, O LORD;
10 You will swallow them up in your wrath, and fire shall consume them.
11 You will destroy their offspring from the land and their descendants from among the peoples of the earth.
12 Though they intend evil against you and devise wicked schemes, yet they shall not prevail.
13 For you will put them to flight and aim your arrows at them.
14 Be exalted, O LORD, in your might; we will sing and praise your power.
Evening Psalms
Psalm 110
1 The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool."
2 The LORD will send the scepter of your power out of Zion, saying, "Rule over your enemies round about you.
3 Princely state has been yours from the day of your birth; in the beauty of holiness have I begotten you, like dew from the womb of the morning."
4 The LORD has sworn and he will not recant: "You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek."
5 The Lord who is at your right hand will smite kings in the day of his wrath; he will rule over the nations.
6 He will heap high the corpses; he will smash heads over the wide earth.
7 He will drink from the brook beside the road; therefore he will lift high his head.
Psalm 116
1 I love the LORD, because he has heard the voice of my supplication, because he has inclined his ear to me whenever I called upon him.
2 The cords of death entangled me; the grip of the grave took hold of me; I came to grief and sorrow.
3 Then I called upon the Name of the LORD: "O LORD, I pray you, save my life."
4 Gracious is the LORD and righteous; our God is full of compassion.
5 The LORD watches over the innocent; I was brought very low, and he helped me.
6 Turn again to your rest, O my soul. for the LORD has treated you well.
7 For you have rescued my life from death, my eyes from tears, and my feet from stumbling.
8 I will walk in the presence of the LORD in the land of the living.
9 I believed, even when I said, "I have been brought very low." In my distress I said, "No one can be trusted."
10 How shall I repay the LORD for all the good things he has done for me?
11 I will lift up the cup of salvation and call upon the Name of the LORD.
12 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people.
13 Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his servants.
14 O LORD, I am your servant; I am your servant and the child of your handmaid; you have freed me from my bonds.
15 I will offer you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call upon the Name of the LORD.
16 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD in the presence of all his people,
17 In the courts of the LORD'S house, in the midst of you, O Jerusalem. Hallelujah!
Psalm 117
1 Praise the LORD, all you nations; laud him, all you peoples.
2 For his loving-kindness toward us is great, and the faithfulness of the LORD endures for ever. Hallelujah!
