C-19 Reflection #50: #The show must be paused
C-19 Daily Reflection (#50)
Theme: Blackout Tuesday #The show must be paused
Reflection:
Today the music industry has declared “A day of collective disconnect from work meant to help people reflect and come together in support of the black community.”
The day will be marked variously through pauses, changes and interruptions to the normal ways of producing, delivering and listening to music.
Join your hearts today together with many people around the world, bringing our broken world to God through your prayers for justice, compassion, communication, listening, understanding, healing, wise leadership and peace.
Let’s be challenged and strengthened in our prayer by God’s ancient prophets who themselves were not shy in calling people out for things such as false worship, religious hypocrisy, social injustice, corruption and the lack of concern and care for the most vulnerable. Some of the imagery that the prophets employed fits uncomfortably well today.
And as you pray, also remember that these issues touch us close to home in our communities, our city and our church.
Scripture:
Habakkuk 2:20
The Lord is in his holy temple;
let all the earth be silent before him.
(#Theshowmustbepaused)
Micah 6:8
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God
Amos 5:10-24
There are those who hate the one who upholds justice in court
and detest the one who tells the truth.
11
You levy a straw tax on the poor
and impose a tax on their grain.
Therefore, though you have built stone mansions,
you will not live in them;
though you have planted lush vineyards,
you will not drink their wine.
12
For I know how many are your offenses
and how great your sins.
There are those who oppress the innocent and take bribes
and deprive the poor of justice in the courts.
13
Therefore the prudent keep quiet in such times,
for the times are evil.
14
Seek good, not evil,
that you may live.
Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you,
just as you say he is.
15
Hate evil, love good;
maintain justice in the courts.
Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy
on the remnant of Joseph.
16 Therefore this is what the Lord, the Lord God Almighty, says:
“There will be wailing in all the streets
and cries of anguish in every public square.
The farmers will be summoned to weep
and the mourners to wail.
17
There will be wailing in all the vineyards,
for I will pass through your midst,”
says the Lord.
18
Woe to you who long
for the day of the Lord!
Why do you long for the day of the Lord?
That day will be darkness, not light.
19
It will be as though a man fled from a lion
only to meet a bear,
as though he entered his house
and rested his hand on the wall
only to have a snake bite him.
20
Will not the day of the Lord be darkness, not light—
pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness?
21
“I hate, I despise your religious festivals;
your assemblies are a stench to me.
22
Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings,
I will not accept them.
Though you bring choice fellowship offerings,
I will have no regard for them.
23
Away with the noise of your songs!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.
24
But let justice roll on like a river,
righteousness like a never-failing stream!
Isaiah 1: 7,15-23
7Your country is desolate,
your cities burned with fire;
your fields are being stripped by foreigners
right before you,
laid waste as when overthrown by strangers.
15 When you spread out your hands in prayer,
I hide my eyes from you;
even when you offer many prayers,
I am not listening.
Your hands are full of blood!
16
Wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds out of my sight;
stop doing wrong.
17
Learn to do right; seek justice.
Defend the oppressed.[a]
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
plead the case of the widow.
18
“Come now, let us settle the matter,”
says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.
19
If you are willing and obedient,
you will eat the good things of the land;
20
but if you resist and rebel,
you will be devoured by the sword.”
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
21
See how the faithful city
has become a prostitute!
She once was full of justice;
righteousness used to dwell in her—
but now murderers!
22
Your silver has become dross,
your choice wine is diluted with water.
23
Your rulers are rebels,
partners with thieves;
they all love bribes
and chase after gifts.
They do not defend the cause of the fatherless;
the widow’s case does not come before them.
