The Existence of Oppression in the World Makes Human Existence Miserable I looked again, and I saw all the oppression that occurs under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed — no one comforts them! Those who oppress them are powerful— no one can comfort them! 2 So I deemed the dead who have already died more fortunate than the living who are still alive…
+ DAILY PRAYER +
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Hear my prayer, O Lord; give ear to my pleas for mercy!
In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!
Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan,
and he hears my voice.
Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you;
He will never permit the righteous to be moved.
Psalm 16
Psa 16:1 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
Psa 16:2 I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord;
I have no good apart from you.”
Psa 16:3 As for the saints in the land,
they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.
Psa 16:4 The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply;
their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.
Psa 16:5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
Psa 16:6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
Psa 16:7 I bless the LORD who gives me counsel;
in the night also my heart instructs me.
Psa 16:8 I have set the LORD always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
Psa 16:9 Therefore my heart is glad,
and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.
Psa 16:10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.
Psa 16:11 You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Reading for Friday September 26th Eccl 4:1-12
The Existence of Oppression in the World Makes Human Existence Miserable
4 I looked again, and I saw all the oppression that occurs under the sun.
?I saw the tears of the oppressed—
no one comforts them!
Those who oppress them are powerful—
no one can comfort them?!
2 So I deemed the dead who have already died
more fortunate than the living who are still alive.
3 But better off than both of them is the one who has not yet been born
and has not seen the evil deeds that are done under the sun.
People Need Balance in Their Approach to Labor
4 I also realized that all of the toil and all of the skillful work that is done—it is envy between one man and ?another?. This also is vanity and chasing wind!
5 ?The fool refuses to work with his hands,
so he has nothing to eat except his own skin?!
6 Better is one handful with peace
than two fists full with toil and chasing wind.
Wealth without Someone with Which to Enjoy It is Futile
7 I turned again and saw another vanity under the sun. 8 Sometimes a man is all alone with no companion; he also has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his toil, and his eye is not satisfied with wealth. He laments, “For whom am I toiling and depriving ?myself? of pleasure?” This also is vanity—it is an unhappy business!
Friends and Family Can Help One Another in Life
9 Two are better than the one, for they enjoy a better reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will help up his companion. But pity the one who falls and ?there is no one? to help him up. 11 Also if two lie together, ?they can keep each other warm?. But how can one person be warm? 12 ?Although an assailant may overpower one person, two may withstand him?. A threefold cord ?is not easily broken?!
Lord’s Prayer
Daily Prayer
O Lord God, You led Your ancient people through the wilderness and brought them to the promised land. Guide the people of Your Church that following our Savior we may walk through the wilderness of this world toward the glory of the world to come; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
Concluding Prayer
Heavenly Father, send Your Holy Spirit into our hearts to direct and rule us to do Your will, to comfort us in all our afflictions, to defend us from all error, and to lead us into all truth; through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
