Sunday
2 Corinthians:

Such trust have we through Christ toward God: not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the Spirit: for the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life. But if the ministra tion of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: how shall not the ministration of the Spirit be rather glorious? For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

 

Prayer:  O Gentle Light of the holy glory of the immortal, heavenly, holy, blessed Father, O Jesus Christ: Having come to the setting of the sun, having beheld the evening light, we praise the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit: God. Meet it is for Thee at all times to be hymned with reverent voices, O Son of God, Giver of life. Wherefore, the world doth glorify Thee.
*Eastern Vesper Hymn

Monday
*Practical Commentary  1/2 Kings

DAVID seeing that he could no longer live in safety near Saul, fled to the mountains of Juda. Even there death threatened him on every side, but his courage never forsook him. He consoled himself with the thought that he who places himself under the protection of God, is in safety everywhere, and has nothing to fear. His trust in God was rewarded.

Now the men of Ziph came to Saul and said: “Behold, David is hid in the hill which is over against the wilderness.” Immediately Saul arose, having with him three thousand chosen men, and encamped in the way of the wilderness. As soon as David had heard that Saul had come after him, he sent out spies to see where the king had pitched his tents. David, on learning where Saul was, arose and came secretly to the camp of his enemy.

And David said to his followers: “Who will go down with me into the camp of Saul?” Abisai answered: “I will go with thee.” So David and Abisai came upon the tents by night, and found Saul sleeping on his couch, and his spear fixed in the ground near his head. Moreover all the soldiers were sleeping about. And Abisai said to David: “Now then, I will run thy enemy through with my spear, and there shall be no need of a second time.” But David answered: “Kill him not; for who shall put forth his hand against the Lord’s anointed, and remain guiltless? But now take the spear which is at his head, and the cup of water, and let us go.”

So they took the spear and the cup of water and went away. And no man knew it, or saw it, or awoke; for a deep sleep from the Lord was fallen upon them. They both went on till they came to the other side, and stood on a hill afar off. Then David called aloud to Abner, the captain of Saul’s army, and said: “Wilt thou not answer, Abner? Art thou not a man? Why then hast thou not kept thy lord the king? And now where is the king’s spear, and the cup of water which was at his head?”

Prayer:  Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God thrust into hell Satan and all the evil spirits who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.

Tuesday

Cont. from Monday

At these words Saul awoke from his sleep and cried out: “Is this thy voice, my son David?” And David answered: “It is my voice, my lord the king. Wherefore doth my lord persecute his servant? What have I done?” Saul, feeling his own injustice, exclaimed: “I have sinned; return, my son David, for I will no more do thee harm, because my life has been precious in thy eyes this day. Blessed art thou, my son David.” Then they parted in peace.

A short time after this there was a battle fought between the Israelites and the Philistines on Mount Gelboe. A great number of the Israelites were slain, and amongst them the three sons of Saul. At last the whole weight of the fight turned upon Saul; the archers overtook him and grievously wounded him.

Seeing himself surrounded by the enemy, who wished to take him alive, he drew his sword and fell upon it. David was thus delivered from his mortal enemy; yet so far from rejoicing at his death, when he heard the sad news he wept, and forgetting all the injuries he had received, he remembered only the good qualities of the king.

Filled with sorrow, he even rent his garments and wept, and cursed the mountain of Gelboe whereon the king and his three sons had met their death. Then he lamented and made a dirge over Saul and Jonathan: “How are the valiant fallen! Tell it not in Geth; publish it not in the streets of Ascalon. They were swifter than eagles, stronger than lions. I grieve for thee, my brother Jonathan, exceeding amiable. As the mother loveth her only son, so I did love thee.”

 

Prayer:  Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: have mercy upon us. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world: have mercy upon us. Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, grant us peace.
*Agnus Dei

Wednesday

On Saul’s taking his own life:

Suicide was Saul’s crowning sin. He saw that the enemy was pressing on him in overwhelming numbers, and that he could not escape; therefore, so as not to fall into the hands of the Philistines, he killed himself. This was a terrible sin, for on no account may a man take away his own life, as he did not give it to himself. God is Lord of life and death, and he who kills himself robs the divine Majesty of His rights. But it might be argued, Saul could not anyhow have had long to live, for most likely the Philistines would have killed him on the field of battle. True, but if Saul had, by God’s permission, been killed by his enemies, he would have died the death of a hero, in defence of his religion, his people and his country. Very likely, however, the Philistines would not have killed him at once, but would have taken him prisoner, and would later have put him to death. Saul would in this way have had to endure humiliations and tortures, but he would have had time to repent of his many sins, and if he had offered his sufferings to God in the spirit of true penance, his soul would have been saved, and he would have died the death of a martyr to faith in the one true God. By his suicide he not only killed his body, but also his soul; for his last act on earth was one of mortal sin, and the very nature of the act made repentance impossible. Every voluntary suicide is a suicide of the soul which can in no way be expiated; and it is in this that lies the horror of this sin. Cowardice, moreover, lies at the root of every suicide, as we have seen was the case with Saul. He shrank from humiliation and degradation, and to avoid them put an end to his life. The suicide is too cowardly to endure such temporal evils as poverty, sickness, or shame, and therefore puts an end to his life, never considering that he thereby subjects himself to the everlasting torments of hell. Suicide is the most foolish of all sins and crimes; for in order to escape a passing evil he who commits it exposes himself to eternal suffering.

Prayer:  O Lord, save Thy people and bless Thine inheritance. Grant victory over their enemies to Orthodox Christians, and protect Thy people with Thy Cross.

Thursday

2 Kings 5:

AFTER the death of Saul David was chosen king. He established his court in Jerusalem, where he became renowned for his great valour. He defeated the Philistines and many other nations. His reign was glorious, because he governed his people with justice and clemency. As he feared God, he was a just ruler, and never imposed on his people any but just and righteous laws.

The counsellors whom he chose to aid him in the government of his kingdom were not flatterers, but men of wisdom and virtue, whose advice was always founded on reason and justice. The promotion of God’s glory was the primary object of all their plans and views.

Near Jerusalem was Mount Sion, on which David erected a splendid tabernacle for the Ark of the Covenant. When the tabernacle was completed, he caused the Ark to be carried in triumph to Mount Sion. The procession was very grand, comprising all the princes of Israel in purple robes, the priests in their rich vestments, and thirty thousand armed men. The sound of all manner of musical instruments made the procession still more imposing. David himself went before the Ark playing on the harp and singing: “Lord, who shall dwell in Thy tabernacle, and who shall rest in Thy holy hill?”

At every few paces taken by the Levites who carried the Ark, an ox and a ram were sacrificed to the Lord. And when the Ark had been placed in its destined position, a great number of victims were offered. David then divided the priests into 24 classes, who were in turn to officiate in the divine worship. He established a like order amongst the Levites, four thousand of whom were chosen to sing the praises of the Most High.

Prayer:  O my God relying on Thy infinite goodness and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of Thy grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.
*Act of Hope

Friday

On David as king:

Religion, the foundation of all government. David was, therefore, a wise as well as a holy ruler. He knew that a nation cannot be happy and contented, nor rights and laws be respected, unless religion be observed, and God feared. Hence, as far as lay in his power, he furthered religion. He arranged the solemn services of God, and he kindled the hearts of the people and awakened their religious sense by his sacred music and Psalms. Above all, he himself gave them the example of piety and reverence. He did not shrink from openly confessing his faith; he publicly humbled himself before God and danced in front of the Ark of the Covenant, singing and playing on the harp. In reward for David’s care and zeal for His glory God gave him the victory over all his enemies, increased his kingdom and promised him that the Redeemer should be born of his race, and should found and possess an everlasting kingdom.

The First Commandment. David was a shining example to high and low by his zeal for God’s glory. His heart was holy, he had a living faith, firm confidence in God, an interior love for Him, and he expressed all these holy dispositions in his wonderful Psalms. By these Psalms (some of which are sung at Vespers) he not only edified the Israelites of his own time, but he has edified all the faithful for 3000 years, moving them to worship God.

Prayer:  O my God I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all-good and worthy of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life.
*Act of Contrition

Saturday
On Jerusalem:

Religion, the foundation of all government. David was, therefore, a wise as well as a holy ruler. He knew that a nation cannot be happy and contented, nor rights and laws be respected, unless religion be observed, and God feared. Hence, as far as lay in his power, he furthered religion. He arranged the solemn services of God, and he kindled the hearts of the people and awakened their religious sense by his sacred music and Psalms. Above all, he himself gave them the example of piety and reverence. He did not shrink from openly confessing his faith; he publicly humbled himself before God and danced in front of the Ark of the Covenant, singing and playing on the harp. In reward for David’s care and zeal for His glory God gave him the victory over all his enemies, increased his kingdom and promised him that the Redeemer should be born of his race, and should found and possess an everlasting kingdom.

David was a shining example to high and low by his zeal for God’s glory. His heart was holy, he had a living faith, firm confidence in God, an interior love for Him, and he expressed all these holy dispositions in his wonderful Psalms. By these Psalms (some of which are sung at Vespers) he not only edified the Israelites of his own time, but he has edified all the faithful for 3000 years, moving them to worship God.

Prayer:  O my God I love Thee above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because Thou art all-good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of Thee. I forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured. (Act of Charity)