June 30, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 56, 111, 118
1 Samuel 9:15-10:1
Acts 7:30-43
Luke 22:39-51

II. Selections
Psalm 118:13
I was pushed hard, so that I was falling,
but the LORD helped me.

1 Samuel 9:16b
" ...[ The man whom I have sent to you] shall save my people from the hand of the Philistines; for I have seen the suffering of my people, because their outcry has come to me." [ The LORD to Samuel]

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.' ... " [ The LORD to Moses, according to Stephen's account before the Council]

Luke 22:40
When [ Jesus] reached the place [ on the Mount of Olives], he said to [ the disciples], "Pray that you may not come into the time of trial."

III. Meditation: The time of trial

You hear the outcry of your suffering ones,
see their mistreatment, hear their groaning;
and you rescue them.

We pray that we may not come to the time of trial.
When we are pushed hard, so that we are falling,
help us, O LORD.