When Our Soul Is Full of Troubles--July 30, 2010

I. Readings
Psalms 88, 148, 6, 20
Judges 5:1-18
Acts 2:1-21
Matthew 28:1-10

II. Selections
Psalm 88:3
For my soul is full of troubles,
      and my life draws near to Sheol.

Judges 5:2
“When locks are long in Israel,
      when the people offer themselves willingly—
      bless the LORD! … ” [The Song of Deborah and Barak]

Acts 2:17
“…‘In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
      and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
      and your old men shall dream dreams. …’ ”
[Peter, quoting Joel]

Matthew 28:5-6
But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. … ”

III. Meditation

When our soul is full of troubles
and our life draws near to Sheol,
recall to us your promises
and your saving acts;

then take away our fear,
that willingly we may
offer ourselves to you
and bless your name.

Pour out your Spirit upon us;
remind us we are not too old
to dream dreams, any more than
we are too young to see visions.

Forbid that we should look
for the living among the dead;
and teach us to worship you,
O Christ, our risen Lord.