Voice: Doreen
Today is Wednesday, 8th of July. We start by praying the Collect for Purity:
Almighty God,
to whom all hearts are open,
all desires known,
and from whom no secrets are hidden:
cleanse the thoughts of our hearts
by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,
that we may perfectly love you,
and worthily magnify your holy name;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
We praise the Lord in the words of Psalm 111
1 Praise the Lord !
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
in the company of the upright, in the congregation.
2Great are the works of the Lord ,
studied by all who delight in them.
3 Full of splendor and majesty is his work,
and his righteousness endures forever.
4He has caused his wondrous works to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and merciful.
5He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever.
6He has shown his people the power of his works,
in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
7The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy;
8they are established forever and ever,
to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.
9He sent redemption to his people;
he has commanded his covenant forever.
Holy and awesome is his name!
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all those who practice it have a good understanding.
His praise endures forever!
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now,
and shall be forever. Amen.
1 Samuel 2:12-19
12Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the Lord. 13The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest’s servant would come, while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged fork in his hand, 14and he would thrust it into the pan or kettle or cauldron or pot. All that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is what they did at Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there. 15Moreover, before the fat was burned, the priest’s servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give meat for the priest to roast, for he will not accept boiled meat from you but only raw.” 16And if the man said to him, “Let them burn the fat first, and then take as much as you wish,” he would say, “No, you must give it now, and if not, I will take it by force.” 17Thus the sin of the young men was very great in the sight of the Lord, for the men treated the offering of the Lord with contempt.
18Samuel was ministering before the Lord, a boy clothed with a linen ephod. 19And his mother used to make for him a little robe and take it to him each year when she went up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. 20Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, and say, “May the Lord give you children by this woman for the petition she asked of the Lord.” So then they would return to their home.
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
Two Brothers and One Boy
The writer of 1 Samuel paints two family scenes side by side.
On one side stand Eli’s sons, Hophni and Phinehas. They are priests by birth, yet Scripture introduces them with shocking words: “They were worthless men. They did not know the Lord.”
This does not mean they were ignorant of religious rituals. They knew the liturgy, the sacrifices and the temple routines. What they lacked was a genuine knowledge of God. They treated worship as a means of personal gain. They took more than what the Law permitted, demanded the choicest portions before they belonged to God, and even resorted to force. In doing so, they did not merely offend worshippers—they “treated the offering of the Lord with contempt.”
On the other side stands a little boy.
“Samuel was ministering before the Lord.”
There is something beautiful about the simplicity of that sentence. Samuel possessed no position of influence, no authority and no impressive achievements. He simply served before the Lord. Every year his mother faithfully brought him a little robe, lovingly sewn for him as he grew. It is a tender reminder that while Samuel was growing physically, he was also growing spiritually in the presence of God.
The contrast could hardly be greater. The priests used ministry to take from others. Samuel understood ministry as offering himself to God.
This passage reminds us that God is never impressed by our outward status. He looks at our hearts. It is possible to be religious without serving the Lord. It is possible to handle holy things while treating the things of the Lord with contempt.
The good news is that even when institutional religion is in decline, God is already raising up another Samuel. Throughout Scripture, whenever one generation proves unfaithful, God quietly prepares another. He is never without His servants.
Even as we sometimes despair if this new generation will grow up knowing the Lord, let us trust the Lord to raise up Samuels for the future.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin
against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and
the glory are yours
now and forever. Amen
“Lead, Kindly Light” is a famous 1833 hymn and poem written by John Henry Newman. It is a poignant prayer for divine guidance during times of spiritual darkness, grief, or uncertainty, best known for the comforting refrain: “Keep Thou my feet; I do not ask to see / The distant scene, — one step enough for me.” Here, we have a version sung by Andrew Assad. Be blessed.
Lead, kindly light, amidst the grey and gloom
The night is long and I am far from home
Here in the dark, I do not ask to see
The path ahead, one step enough for me
Lead on, lead on, kindly light
I was not ever willing to be led
I could have stayed, but I ran instead
In spite of fear, I followed my pride
My eyes could see, but my heart was blind
Lead on, lead on, kindly light
And in the night, when I was afraid
Your feet beside my own on the way
And each stumbling step where other men have trod
Shortens the road leading home to my God
Lead on, lead on
My God, my God
Lead on, lead on, kindly light.
Link to today’s Morning Office
About This Daily Devotion
This weekday devotion is drawn from the Morning Office and is part of a project initiated by Revd Canon Terry Wong, with contributions from clergy and members across various parishes. Each entry includes selected readings from the appointed Psalm and another Scripture passage, accompanied by a reflection and prayer. An audio option is also available, often ending with a hymn or song. We encourage you to both read and listen.
Our aim is to help Anglicans engage more deeply with our rich liturgical tradition, while meeting the devotional needs of today’s believers. This project began on Ash Wednesday 2025 and is offered on weekdays only.
For feedback, please write to us at terrywong@anglican.org.sg
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