The Tumult of War--Oct. 9, 2010

I. Readings
Psalms 104,149, 138, 98
Hosea 10:1-15
Acts 25:13-27
Luke 8:16-25

II. Selections
Psalm 104:16-17
The trees of the LORD are watered abundantly,
      the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
In them the birds build their nests;
      the stork has its home in the fir trees.

Hosea 10:13b-14a
Because you have trusted in your power
      and in the multitude of your warriors,
therefore the tumult of war shall rise against your people,
      and all your fortresses shall be destroyed…

Acts 25:27
“…for it seems to me unreasonable to send a prisoner without indicating the charges against him.” [Festus to King Agrippa, regarding Paul]

Luke 8:16
“…No one after lighting a lamp hides it under a jar, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. … ” [Jesus to his disciples]

III. Meditation

You have made your good works obvious,
like a light on a lampstand.

We see the trees in the forest that you have watered
and the birds that nest in them.

You have made clear also your charges against us:
we have trusted in our own power

and in the multitude of our warriors and weapons.
We have hidden the light that you gave us.

Shall then the tumult of war rise against us,
and all our fortresses be destroyed?

Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy.