Nehemiah 11,12

Father we thank you that though we don’t see it, you are inexorably moving history towards the fulfilment of your promises.

We look forward to the day of complete fulfilment when your people will stand before you as your sons and daughters.

We look forward to the day when the first heaven and the first earth will be distant memories and chaos will be removed.

We look forward to the day when we will dwell with you as your people; to the day when you will be our God totally and completely not partially and superficially as we are so often guilty of today.

We long for that day when you will wipe our tears; and when death and pain will be no more.

May we live straining forward, longing for that day, full of mercy, sharing Christ.

We say with all of creation, “Come Lord Jesus come!”

Amen

Abigail and the man named ‘Fool’ - 1 Samuel 25

Father we are filled with folly, filled with desires.
Please forgive our trespasses and sins.
You are the God of the living,
Who judges the wicked and the foolish.
You have raised your king
You have given us a mediator.

Remember us we pray.
Thank you that you have sent Jesus
To grant us peace,
To take our guilt.
In the face of your victory
Thank you that you are a God who brings justice…we need only wait and trust
Amen

The most important thing about your heart is where it is headed - 1 Samuel 18-21

Father may we love your messiah king. May Jonathan be our model and our guide. May we do what he did and be as he was; unaffected by power and personal desire but content with the advancement of your king and his kingdom. Put this love in our hearts we pray. Amen

David and Goliath - 1 Samuel 17

 

Father so many defy the living God.
They hurl their contempt at this people
And scorn the name of the king.
But your king takes this reproach in weakness and humility.
He goes to death.
He brings us life.
In weakness and in scorn he saves his people.
May we worship the king.

1 Samuel 15,16

Father, you are a God who speaks

You have spoken your precious Son

And you desire that we listen to him and obey him

But we listen to every other voice rather than yours.

Forgive us.

Give us hearts that

·     Discern your voice

·     Know it

·     Love it

·     Seek it

·     Desire it

And most especially hear it, not rejecting it.

In Christ’s name we pray

Amen

Is it well? 1 Samuel 12

Father forgive us that we listen to many voices. We succumb to the pressures of what everyone else thinks instead of remembering the righteous deeds that you performed for our fathers.

And so we forget you our Lord and God.

At those times please discipline us and call us back.

We confess to you that we have sinned and we ask that you deliver us out of the hand of our enemies.

You have set a king over us. May we fear you, serve you, obey your voice and submit to your commands.

May we follow your king, so that it goes well with us.

May we not turn aside but instead turn towards you with listening hearts.

For your glory alone.

Amen

1 Samuel 12

We need a king - 1 Samuel 7:1-8:22

Father we stray from you,

And we seek other gods with all our hearts.

We seek fame, comfort, leisure, money, sport, control, happiness and esteem.

May we return to you and serve you alone

·     Run only ever towards you

·     Desire only to listen to you

·     Seek your fame

·     Suffer your death

·     Be spent in the advance of your kingdom

·     And be secure in the shadow of your wings.

We have sinned against your greatness

And so today we cry out to you for your salvation knowing that you are Ebenezer - the LORD who helps us.