That the Haughty May Hear—Aug. 16, 2014

[From Aug. 18, 2012 archive] 

Though you are high, you regard the lowly; 

you heard the groaning of your people in Egypt 

and sent Moses to break the chains that bound them. 

Do you hear the millions of poor who are groaning today? 

For the gain of silver, they are bound into poverty; 

what makes the strength of silver so great? 

We believe you are still working today; 

cure us, we who are bound by indifference,  

so the haughty may hear the groans of the poor. 

Lectionary Readings 

Ps. 104; 149; 138; 98 

Judg. 16:1-14 

Acts 7:30-43 

John 5:1-18 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 138:6 

 For though the LORD is high, he regards the lowly;
          but the haughty he perceives from far away. 

Judg. 16:4 

The lords of the Philistines came to [Delilah] and said to her, "Coax him, and find out what makes his strength so great, and how we may overpower him, so that we may bind him in order to subdue him; and we will each give you eleven hundred pieces of silver.” 

Acts 7:34 

"…'…I have surely seen the mistreatment of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their groaning, and I have come down to rescue them.  Come now, I will send you to Egypt.'  …"  [Stephen, quoting words that God spoke to Moses] 

John 5:17 

But Jesus answered [his persecutors], "My Father is still working, and I also am working."