In Your Strength, Our Hope and Refuge--May 18, 2021

 

Sovereign God, we rejoice in you.

You rule by your might, but we do not. 

When we exalt ourselves, rebel against you,

when we arrogantly think we are strong,

then we find no peace in our house.

 

But if we take our refuge in your strength,

we can seize the hope you set before us,

a sure, a steadfast anchor of the soul.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 98; 146; 66; 116

Ezek. 7:10-15, 23b-27

Heb. 6:13-20

Luke 10:1-17

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 66:6b-7

There we rejoiced in him,
          who rules by his might forever,
whose eyes keep watch on the nations —
          let the rebellious not exalt themselves.   Selah

 

Ezek. 7:24b-25

I will put an end to the arrogance of the strong,
          and their holy places shall be profaned.
When anguish comes, they will seek peace,
          but there shall be none.

 

Heb. 6:18b-19a

…[so that] we who have taken refuge might be strongly encouraged to seize the hope set before us.  We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul…

 

Luke 10:5-6

“…Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!’  And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you.  …”  [Jesus, to the seventy he sent out in pairs]