Sermon

A song for going up to worship. When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, it was as if we were dreaming. Then our mouths were filled with laughter and our tongues with joyful songs. Then the nations said, "The LORD has done spectacular things for them." The LORD has done spectacular things for us. We are overjoyed. Restore our fortunes, O LORD, as you restore streams to dry riverbeds in the Negev. Those who cry while they plant will joyfully sing while they harvest. The person who goes out weeping, carrying his bag of seed, will come home singing, carrying his bundles of grain.

Elijah found Elisha, son of Shaphat. Elisha was plowing behind 12 pairs of oxen. He was using the twelfth pair. Elijah took off his coat and put it on Elisha. So Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, "Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye. Then I will follow you." "Go back," Elijah answered him. "I'm not stopping you." Elisha left him, took two oxen, and butchered them. He boiled the meat, using the oxen's yoke for firewood. He gave the meat to the people to eat. Then he left to follow and assist Elijah.

A psalm by David; a maskil.
Blessed is the person whose disobedience is forgiven and whose sin is pardoned. Blessed is the person whom the LORD no longer accuses of sin and who has no deceitful thoughts. When I kept silent about my sins, my bones began to weaken because of my groaning all day long. Day and night your hand lay heavily on me. My strength shriveled in the summer heat. Selah
I made my sins known to you, and I did not cover up my guilt. I decided to confess them to you, O LORD. Then you forgave all my sins.

On the fifth day of the fourth month in the thirtieth year, while I was living among the exiles by the Chebar River, the sky opened, and I saw visions from God. On the fifth day of the month, during the fifth year of the exile of King Jehoiakin, the LORD spoke his word to the priest Ezekiel, son of Buzi, in Babylon by the Chebar River. The power of the LORD came over Ezekiel. As I looked, I saw a storm coming from the north. There was an immense cloud with flashing lightning surrounded by a bright light. The middle of the lightning looked like glowing metal. In the center of the cloud I saw what looked like four living creatures.

For the choir director; a psalm by Korah's descendants. You favored your land, O LORD. You restored the fortunes of Jacob. You removed your people's guilt. You pardoned all their sins. Selah You laid aside all your fury. You turned away from your burning anger. Restore us, O God, our savior. Put an end to your anger against us. Will you be angry with us forever? Will you ever let go of your anger in the generations to come? Won't you restore our lives again so that your people may find joy in you? Show us your mercy, O LORD, by giving us your salvation.

The LORD spoke his word to me, "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you. Before you were born, I set you apart for my holy purpose. I appointed you to be a prophet to the nations." I, Jeremiah, said, "Almighty LORD, I do not know how to speak. I am only a boy!" But the LORD said to me, "Don't say that you are only a boy. You will go wherever I send you. You will say whatever I command you to say. Don't be afraid of people. I am with you, and I will rescue you," declares the LORD. Then the LORD stretched out his hand and touched my mouth. The LORD said to me, "Now I have put my words in your mouth.

Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness. You have freed me from my troubles. Have pity on me, and hear my prayer! You important people, how long are you going to insult my honor? How long are you going to love what is empty and seek what is a lie? Selah Know that the LORD singles out godly people for himself. The LORD hears me when I call to him. Tremble and do not sin. Think about this on your bed and remain quiet. Selah Offer the sacrifices of righteousness by trusting the LORD. Many are saying, "Who can show us anything good?" Let the light of your presence shine on us, O LORD.

In the year King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a high and lofty throne. The bottom of his robe filled the temple. Angels were standing above him. Each had six wings: With two they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. They called to each other and said, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Armies! The whole earth is filled with his glory." Their voices shook the foundations of the doorposts, and the temple filled with smoke. So I said, "Oh, no! I'm doomed. Every word that passes through my lips is sinful. I live among people with sinful lips.

If any of you are having trouble, pray. If you are happy, sing psalms. If you are sick, call for the church leaders. Have them pray for you and anoint you with olive oil in the name of the Lord. (Prayers offered in faith will save those who are sick, and the Lord will cure them.) If you have sinned, you will be forgiven. So admit your sins to each other, and pray for each other so that you will be healed. Prayers offered by those who have God’s approval are effective. Elijah was human like us.

Whoever lives under the shelter of the Most High will remain in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, "You are my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust." He is the one who will rescue you from hunters' traps and from deadly plagues. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge. His truth is your shield and armor. You do not need to fear terrors of the night, arrows that fly during the day, plagues that roam the dark, epidemics that strike at noon. They will not come near you, even though a thousand may fall dead beside you or ten thousand at your right side.