44.5 Prayer Of Penitent In Distress

(Psalm 143)

LORD, hear my prayer!
In your righteousness listen to my plea;
answer me in your faithfulness!
Don’t put me, your servant, on trial;
no one is innocent in your sight.

My enemy has hunted me down
and completely defeated me.
He has put me in a dark prison,
and I am like those who died long ago.
So I am ready to give up; I am in deep despair.

I remember the days gone by;
I think about all that you have done,
I bring to mind all your deeds.
I lift up my hands to you in prayer;
like dry ground my soul is thirsty for you.

Answer me now, Lord!
I have lost all hope.
Don’t hide yourself from me,
or I will be among those who go down
to the world of the dead.
Remind me each morning of your constant love,
for I put my trust in you.
My prayers go up to you;
show me the way I should go.

I go to you for protection, Lord;
rescue me from my enemies.
You are my God; teach me to do your will.
Be good to me, and guide me on a safe path.

Rescue me, Lord, as you have promised;
in your goodness save me from my troubles!
Because of your love for me,
kill my enemies and destroy all my oppressors,
for I am your servant.

44.4 Our High Priest Can Sympathize With Our Weakness

(Hebrews 4: 14-16)

Let us, then, hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we have a great High Priest who has gone into the very presence of God--Jesus, the Son of God. Our High Priest is not one who cannot feel sympathy for our weaknesses. On the contrary, we have a High Priest who was tempted in every way that we are, but did not sin. Let us be brave, then, and approach God’s throne, where there is grace. There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us just when we need it.

44.3 Moved With Pity, Jesus Brings Son Back To life

(Luke 7:11-17)

Soon afterward Jesus went to a town named Nain accompanied by his disciples and a large crowd. Just as he arrived at the gate of the town, a funeral procession was coming out. The dead man was the only son of a woman who was a widow, and a large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, his heart was filled with pity for her, and he said to her, “Don’t cry.” Then he walked over and touched the coffin, and the men crying it stopped. Jesus said, “Young man! Get up. I tell you!” The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother.

They all were filled with fear and praise God. “A great prophet has appeared among us!” they said; “God has come to save his people!”

This news about Jesus went out through all the country and the surrounding territory.

44.2 Out Of Pity, Jesus Gives Bread

(Mark 8: 1-10)

Not long afterward another large crowd came together. When the people had nothing left to eat, Jesus called the disciples to him and said “I feel sorry for these people, because they have been with me for three days and now have nothing to eat. If I send them home without feeding them, they will faint as they go, because some of them have come a long way.”

His disciples asked him, “Where in this desert can anyone find enough food to feed all these people?”

“How much bread do they have?” Jesus asked. “Seven loaves,” they answered.

He ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground. Then he took the seven loaves, gave thanks to God, broke them, and gave them to his disciples to distribute to the crowd; and the disciples did so. They also had a few small fish. Jesus gave thanks for these and told the disciples to distribute them too. Everybody ate and had enough–there were about four thousand people. Then the disciples took up seven baskets full of pieces left over. Jesus sent the people away and at once got into a boat with his disciples and went to the district of Dalmanutha.

44.1 He Shall Not Break The Bruised Seed

(Isaiah 42:1-4a)

The Lord says,
“Here is my servant, whom I strengthen—
the one I have chosen, with whom I am pleased.
I have filled him with my spirit,
and he will bring justice to every nation.
He will not shout or raise his voice
or make loud speeches in the streets.
He will not break off a bent reed
nor put out a flickering lamp.
He will bring lasting justice to all.
He will not lose hope or courage;
he will establish justice on the earth.