When these things were done, the leaders came to me, saying, “The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, with respect to the abominations of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites. For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, so that the holy seed is mixed with the peoples of those lands. Indeed, the hand of the leaders and rulers has been foremost in this trespass.” (Ezra 9:1-2)
Lord Jesus, we confess the guilt of the Episcopal Church: we have taken to ourselves all sorts of strange teachings and practices from the surrounding culture.
So when I heard this thing, I tore my garment and my robe, and plucked out some of the hair of my head and beard, and sat down astonished. (Ezra 9:3)
Holy Spirit, move us as you moved Ezra to prayer and intercession for your church and your people.
Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel assembled to me, because of the transgression of those who had been carried away captive, and I sat astonished until the evening sacrifice. (Ezra 9:4)
Father, we tremble before you because we have not been faithful to you.
At the evening sacrifice I arose from my fasting; and having torn my garment and my robe, I fell on my knees and spread out my hands to the Lord my God. And I said: “O my God, I am too ashamed and humiliated to lift up my face to You, my God; for our iniquities have risen higher than our heads, and our guilt has grown up to the heavens. (Ezra 9:5-6)
Father, we are ashamed and humiliated by the transgressions of the Episcopal Church.
Since the days of our fathers to this day we have been very guilty, and for our iniquities we, our kings, and our priests have been delivered into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity, to plunder, and to humiliation, as it is this day. (Ezra 9:7)
Jesus, you know all our trespasses: have mercy on us.
And now for a little while grace has been shown from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and give us a measure of revival in our bondage. (Ezra 9:8 )
Jesus, help us use this season of grace to return to you and your ways.
For we were slaves. Yet our God did not forsake us in our bondage; but He extended mercy to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to revive us, to repair the house of our God, to rebuild its ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem. (Ezra 9:9)
Lord, you have shown us mercy when we deserved condemnation. Thank you.
And now, O our God, what shall we say after this? For we have forsaken Your commandments, (Ezra 9:10)
Father, we don’t know what to do, but our eyes are upon you. (See 2 Chronicles 20:12)
which You commanded by Your servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land which you are entering to possess is an unclean land, with the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, with their abominations which have filled it from one end to another with their impurity. (Ezra 9:11)
Father, please help us hearken to what your prophets have said to us in your word. Set us free of the abominations and false teachings of the surrounding culture.
Now therefore, do not give your daughters as wives for their sons, nor take their daughters to your sons; and never seek their peace or prosperity, that you may be strong and eat the good of the land, and leave it as an inheritance to your children forever.’ (Ezra 9:12)
Holy Spirit, guide our sons and daughters and our grandchildren and theirs into wise marriages with fellow believers in you.
And after all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and for our great guilt, since You our God have punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and have given us such deliverance as this, should we again break Your commandments, and join in marriage with the people committing these abominations? Would You not be angry with us until You had consumed us, so that there would be no remnant or survivor? (Ezra 9:13-14)
Thank you for your mercy, Jesus.
O Lord God of Israel, You are righteous, for we are left as a remnant, as it is this day. Here we are before You, in our guilt, though no one can stand before You because of this!” (Ezra 9:15)
Jesus, we are called by your name; help us by your Holy Spirit to humble ourselves and pray and seek your face and turn from our wicked ways, so that you will hear from heaven and forgive our sins and heal our land and your church. Thank you. (See 2 Chronicles 7:14)
STUDY GUIDE: SUNDAY SCHOOL LESSON 09, November 7, 2010
Lectionary C, All Saints Day Propers
Theme Verse: “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31
Readings: Luke 6:20-36; Ephesians 1:11-23; Job 19:23-27; Psalm 149
Memory Verse: “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” (Luke 6:31)
Next Week: Luke 21:5-19; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13; Malachi 3:13-4:6; Psalm 98
Gospel: Luke 6:20-36
Verses 20-26: A word received: I can bless you even when you are poor, or hungry, sorrowful, hated, excluded, reviled and cast out as evil. I can meet you in the midst of every grief with my blessing. I can do that because I know every grief. I AM a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Those whose lives are given over to wealth and riches do not know my blessing because they think they have no need of my help. They are poor, blind, and deaf and do not know it. I can call them to repentance but they have to choose to recognize their need of my help.
Verses: 27-36: A word received: I want you to break out of your comfortable patterns of behavior. I want you to reach out to the unloved, to those in need, to those who grieve. Come to me; let me lead you by the hand. I will show you what to do.
Epistle: Ephesians 1:11-23
A word received: Do not cease praying for the saints, that is for one another. Pray that they will receive the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus [i.e., so that you may know him better]. Wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Jesus are desperately needed by my people today. Pray for one another — pray without ceasing.
Old Testament: Job 19:23-27
A word received: Job, in the midst of his griefs (and they were many) and in the face of false accusations by his “comforters” knew the blessing of knowing me. He could say, “I know that my Redeemer lives.” I want you to know (underline know) that as well. I want it to be more than head knowledge — I want it to be heart knowledge, so that with Job you can stand against every accusation and grief with your knowledge of me.
Psalm: Psalm 149
A word received: Come; join with all my holy ones down through the years: rejoice in me. Sing loud praises of me — don’t hold back. I want my people to rejoice in me.
Saturday: 75, 76; * 23, 27; Ezra 9:1-15; Revelation 18:1-14; Luke 14:1-11
Albany Intercessor
