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Prayers

Morning
1. Readings
  1. Old Testament: Isaiah 52:7-12
  2. Psalm: 82
2. Prayer: The Lord's Prayer
3. Hymn: Come Thou Fount
Evening
1. Readings
  1. New Testament: John 1:9-14
  2. Psalm: 87
2. Hymn: Abide With Me
3. Prayer: Psalm 138:7-8 (below)

Devotional on Psalm 87
Shelter in place. The order has been coming for awhile now. But in many ways the declaration merely makes official what has happened to our city over the last two weeks. It hit me on St. Patrick's day Eve, more than any other day: we have become a city of ghosts. Sitting in an ancient square outside an empty cathedral on deathly quiet streets made it obvious. Though the buildings were made of brick, for an instant it felt as if the more solid thing was in the past. The energy was gone. The moment was more than real; it was metaphorical.

Scripture teaches us that the longing we feel for our city to return to its previous life, its previous energy, is itself evidence of a deeper longing.This is really a longing for the city of God. Psalm 87 describes a city full of life, full of energy, full of creativity (v.7-8). The city is famous for the life and joy that stream out of it. This is not just a description of Jerusalem ("Zion")... its a description of New Jerusalem, the city of our fathers and the city of our hope.

How do we get that city back. In the near-term, of course it means waiting for the presence of people to return; what a joyous, energetic day that will be. But the city isn't just brought to a recognition of its former glory by the presence of men, but by the presence of Man. The kingdom returns in the presence of the King. As we look forward with longing to the return of life to our city of ghosts, lets prepare ourselves for the descent of the city that, if we have Jesus as our king, is our hometown, our city of origin. Maybe then people would ask, "Wow. You are from there?"

A quote:
"Happiness is not just a hope, but also in some strange way a memory, and we are all kings in exile." - GK Chesterton

For discussion:
1. What do you miss most about the city of Savannah as it was five days ago?
2. Does that longing point to a deeper longing, for another city?
3. When the order is lifted, what would it look like to start making Savannah look more like Zion? Do your longings provide any evidence as to where you might could start?

A prayer for presence, from Psalm 138:

   [7] Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
       you preserve my life;
   you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
       and your right hand delivers me.
   [8] The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me;
       your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever.
       Do not forsake the work of your hands. (ESV)