"Your Wife Will Be Like a Fruitful Vine..." - 8 May 2022

 


(This illumined version of Psalm 128 comes from Rosemary Buczek at The Gilded Quill).

Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways! You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you (Psalm 128:1-2). Since Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, we pray for the church here and world over, for this congregation, as well as Mt. Lebanon Baptist, Mt. Moriah Baptist, Mt. Olive Baptist, and Mount Triumph Baptist Church. We ask that by his blessing, by the reforming and revitalizing work of your Holy Spirit, by the faithful reading, preaching, and teaching of your Scriptures, and by the right administration of your sacraments, Jesus might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish (Ephesians 5:25-27). And we ask you to be with those in our families and in our congregation who need strength or healing or help (…). Hear our prayer, O Lord, and let our cry come to you (Psalm 102:1)! 

Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Behold, thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD (Psalm 128:3-4). We remember the mothers in our lives today, the hours of often selfless toil, maternal worry, and tender care. We are especially thankful for the godly mothers who also displayed humble, resilient, and affectionate faith! We ask you to draw our mothers closer to you where there is fullness of joy. Give them hope. Strengthen, encourage, and refresh them. Some have sad memories regarding their mothers; please mend that sadness. Some mothers and their children are at serious odds with each other; please effect repentance where either have sinned. And where at all possible, bring reunion and reconciliation. Hear our prayer, O Lord, and let our cry come to you!

 The LORD bless you from Zion! May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life! May you see your children's children! Peace be upon Israel (Psalm 128:5-6)! Look upon our country, our leaders, the citizens, and inhabitants of this land. For the honor of your name, for the sake of your church, for the sake of our nation, and for the sake of all who dwell within our borders, may goodness grow, justice thrive, liberty succeed, godliness prosper, education boom, lawfulness rise, civility spread, the economy turn up, and the job market enlarge. And may peace and prosperity prevail through all the nations of this globe. Hear our prayer, O Lord, and let our cry come to you! And now we pray as we have been taught, saying, Our Father…

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