“But if there is serious injury, you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise.” Exodus 21:23-25 NIV
Anyone who injures their neighbour is to be injured in the same manner: fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. The one who has inflicted the injury must suffer the same injury.” Leviticus 24:19-20 NIV
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also.” Matthew 5:38-39 NIV
Lord God Almighty,
I find these verses difficult to read and am glad I did not live in Old Testament times. Not that I would purposely hurt someone! I cannot think about having to meet out such punishment or watch others do it! But there had to be some sort of justice system that hopefully stopped people acting out their anger physically rather than taking their case to the elders. And there will always be those led by evil – till Jesus comes again in all His glory.
It is often quoted today, an eye for an eye by those who have been hurt or offended. Like it gives them permission to take vengeance or get their own back as is also said.
But for us, who have received Your grace, it is different. We are not rule keepers we are supposed to be changing into the likeness of Jesus. Jesus teaches us that we should not be like those who just deal with the letter of the law. Jesus tells us to forgive, to respond with love and generosity (but not put ourselves in danger). That does not mean we stay to be bullied, abused or degraded. But we can remove ourselves from the danger and situation and pray. There may always be that one person we do not get on with or who seems to want to provoke us. But we don’t need to behave the same as them or be constantly defeated. God knows and is the final judge. It is their problem. Help us bless them, in Jesus name, they have troubles of their own. You, Lord are judge, let Your justice flow like a river and a never ending stream where it needs to (Amos 5:24).
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Suggestions for prayer . . .
Father God,
For our close family. Todays needs and blessings.
For our extended family, friends, neighbours.
For our fellowship, ministers and congregations.
For our king and all those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2). For broken relationships.
For Ukraine. For Gaza, all the Middle East. An end to war, vengeance and hatred.
For all those who are developing cures for eye disease’s. For those who treat them.
For those who set broken limbs and replace joints in surgery.
For those charities who treat children’s eye problems .
For the prophets of today that speak positive words to help us face the future with hope.
For our justice, prison and release and support systems.
For us to see eye to eye with You and receive Your love today. To let you take over judgement of those who have offended us and let go.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
Worship Friday 20th September 2024
This story of this hymn is below the lyrics.
Holy Spirit, living breath of God,
Breathe new life into my willing soul.
Let the presence of the risen Lord,
Come renew my heart and make me whole.
Cause Your Word to come alive in me;
Give me faith for what I cannot see,
Give me passion for Your purity;
Holy Spirit, breathe new life in me.
Holy Spirit, come abide within,
May Your joy be seen in all I do.
Love enough to cover every sin,
In each thought and deed and attitude.
Kindness to the greatest and the least,
Gentleness that sows the path of peace.
Turn my strivings into works of grace;
Breath of God show Christ in all I do.
Holy Spirit, from creation’s birth,
Giving life to all that God has made,
Show Your power once again on earth,
Cause Your church to hunger for your ways.
Let the fragrance of our prayers arise;
Lead us on the road of sacrifice,
That in unity the face of Christ
May be clear for all the world to see.
Words & Music by Keith Getty and Stuart Townend
Here’s what Keith Getty said about the song:
“As in much of our songwriting, we wanted to connect the radical truths of what we believe with everyday life. In this particular song, we desired the hymn to function as a sung prayer about the Holy Spirit’s renewing power.
We divided the hymn into three verses. The first expresses a prayer for inward change, asking the Holy Spirit to transform us from the core of our being. Without such change, all religious attempts are futile. We must daily ask for renewal and the desire to love and treasure God’s word and his ways.
Verse two petitions the Spirit to abide in us so we’re able to bountifully bear His fruit, such as the kindness and gentleness described so beautifully in Galatians 5:22-23. Closing this verse is a prayer “to show Christ is all I do.”
Verse three is a more expansive prayer for the church. During the songwriting process, we kept revisiting this verse as we examined the role of the Holy Spirit throughout the New Testament. In passage after passage, evidence of the Holy Spirit’s power in someone’s life was marked by two characteristics – Christ is magnified, and the individual is led on a path of sacrifice.”
(https://bramcote.church/holy-spirit-living-breath-of-god/)