Bless God
PRAYER FOR THE ASSEMBLY
From the Lutheran Book of Prayer
Lord God, revealed to Moses in a burning bush, to Israel in a cloudy pillar, to Isaiah on a lofty throne: help us in our worship to stand before you as on holy ground, seek the company of your grace, hear and obey the voice of your Word. Remove from us all hindrances to proper confession and forgiveness, to attentive hearing and obedience, to sincere praise and thanksgiving, that we may go forth with your benediction; through Christ, our Lord. Amen.
REFLECTION
New City Catechism Question 6
Q: How can we glorify God?
A: We glorify God by enjoying him, loving him, trusting him, and by obeying his will, commands, and law.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Psalm 34:1-10
[1] I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.
[2] I will boast in the Lord;
the humble will hear and be glad.
[3] Proclaim the Lord’s greatness with me;
let us exalt his name together.
[4] I sought the Lord, and he answered me
and rescued me from all my fears.
[5] Those who look to him are radiant with joy;
their faces will never be ashamed.
[6] This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him
and saved him from all his troubles.
[7] The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear him, and rescues them.
[8] Taste and see that the Lord is good.
How happy is the person who takes refuge in him!
[9] You who are his holy ones, fear the Lord,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
[10] Young lions lack food and go hungry,
but those who seek the Lord
will not lack any good thing.
WORSHIP IN SONG
"I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God while I live." Psalm 104:33
THE WORD PREACHED
Haggai 2:10-23
[10] On the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month, in the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, [11] “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Ask the priests about the law: [12] ‘If someone carries holy meat in the fold of his garment and touches with his fold bread or stew or wine or oil or any kind of food, does it become holy?’” The priests answered and said, “No.” [13] Then Haggai said, “If someone who is unclean by contact with a dead body touches any of these, does it become unclean?” The priests answered and said, “It does become unclean.” [14] Then Haggai answered and said, “So is it with this people, and with this nation before me, declares the Lord, and so with every work of their hands. And what they offer there is unclean. [15] Now then, consider from this day onward. Before stone was placed upon stone in the temple of the Lord, [16] how did you fare? When one came to a heap of twenty measures, there were but ten. When one came to the wine vat to draw fifty measures, there were but twenty. [17] I struck you and all the products of your toil with blight and with mildew and with hail, yet you did not turn to me, declares the Lord. [18] Consider from this day onward, from the twenty-fourth day of the ninth month. Since the day that the foundation of the Lord's temple was laid, consider: [19] Is the seed yet in the barn? Indeed, the vine, the fig tree, the pomegranate, and the olive tree have yielded nothing. But from this day on I will bless you.”
[20] The word of the Lord came a second time to Haggai on the twenty-fourth day of the month, [21] “Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, I am about to shake the heavens and the earth, [22] and to overthrow the throne of kingdoms. I am about to destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the nations, and overthrow the chariots and their riders. And the horses and their riders shall go down, every one by the sword of his brother. [23] On that day, declares the Lord of hosts, I will take you, O Zerubbabel my servant, the son of Shealtiel, declares the Lord, and make you like a signet ring, for I have chosen you, declares the Lord of hosts.”
RESPONSE TO THE WORD
Response in Song