When I Fear to Preach Your Word--July 4, 2014

[From July 6, 2012 archive]

When I fall back into fear

about how to preach your word,

and my bones shake over the thought

that I will kindle the anger of my hearers

(who expect me to curse their enemies,

and certainly not to bless them),

then remind me that there

were some who tried

to entrap our Lord

in what he said.

Be gracious to me

when I am languishing,

and fill me with your Spirit to

bear witness we all are your children.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 88; 148; 6; 20

Numb. 24:1-13

Rom. 8:12-17

Matt. 22:15-22

Selected Verses

Ps. 6:2

Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing;
          O LORD, heal me, for my bones are shaking with terror.

Numb. 24:10

Then Balak's anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together.  Balak said to Balaam, "I summoned you to curse my enemies, but instead you have blessed them these three times.  …"

Rom. 8:15-16

For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" it is that very Spirit bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God…

Matt. 22:15

Then the Pharisees went and plotted to entrap [Jesus] in what he said.