Daily Office Readings for Thursday of Proper 8: Year 2
Morning, Psalms 131, 132, [133]; Evening, Psalms 134 and 135;
Numbers 23:11-26; Romans 8:1-11; Matthew 22:1-14:
Psalm 134
1. Behold now, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord,
you that stand by night in the house of the Lord.
2. Lift up your hands in the holy place and bless the Lord;
the Lord who made heaven and earth bless you out of Zion.
Psalm 134 is one of the two shortest Psalms in the Bible. The other is Psalm 117. Both are uplifting. Psalm117 is also all about Praising the Lord and 134 is about blessing the Lord and being blessed by the Lord, and we are.
These are not perhaps the most remembered Psalms but they indeed are short enough to be easily memorized. Psalm 117 is two verses and Psalm 134 for today, is also 2 verses but may be three depending on the Bible translation you use, or the Book of Common Prayer. The point is, they are so short there is no time for wretchedness, or revenge for an enemy, that can be found in longer Psalms. In two or three verses there is only enough time for praising God and being blessed by God.
Many people have committed Psalm 23 (6 verses) to memory and maybe even Psalm 121 ( 8 verses and a personal favorite of mine). I also like Psalm 8 (9 verses). All of these three are around six to nine verses. However, I also like Psalm 90 which has 17 verses. Psalms 117 and 134 are 2 verses each and they work very well as prayers of praise. Let’s pray them now, ok?
Psalm 117
Praise the Lord, all you nations; laud him, all you peoples. For his loving-kindness toward us is great, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures for ever. Hallelujah!
Psalm 134
Behold now, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, you that stand by night in the house of the Lord. Lift up your hands in the holy place and bless the Lord; the Lord who made heaven and earth bless you out of Zion.
Let us continue to keep Ukraine in our daily prayers.
As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
onewhoponders 