Voice: Kae Chee
Today is Tuesday, 8th of September. The night has passed, and the day lies open before us; let us pray with one heart and mind.
As we rejoice in the gift of this new day,
may the light of your presence, O God,
set our hearts on fire with love for you;
now and for ever.
Amen.
Psalm 5
Give ear to my words, O Lord;
consider my groaning.
2 Give attention to the sound of my cry,
my King and my God,
for to you do I pray.
3 O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice;
in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you[a] and watch.
4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
evil may not dwell with you.
5 The boastful shall not stand before your eyes;
you hate all evildoers.
6 You destroy those who speak lies;
the Lord abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
7 But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
will enter your house.
I will bow down toward your holy temple
in the fear of you.
8 Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness
because of my enemies;
make your way straight before me.
9 For there is no truth in their mouth;
their inmost self is destruction;
their throat is an open grave;
they flatter with their tongue.
10 Make them bear their guilt, O God;
let them fall by their own counsels;
because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out,
for they have rebelled against you.
11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
let them ever sing for joy,
and spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may exult in you.
12 For you bless the righteous, O Lord;
you cover him with favor as with a shield.
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 Kings 2:1-4; 2:10
1When David’s time to die drew near, he commanded Solomon his son, saying, 2“I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, 3and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn, 4that the Lord may establish his word that he spoke concerning me, saying, ‘If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’
10Then David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David.
This is the Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God
King David was dying. He knew that the time had come for him to “go the way of all the earth.”
Since time immemorial, every person has lived for a season—and then died. Although David was a great king, he knew that he too was merely mortal.
As the end of his life drew near, he gave these words to his son Solomon:
“Be strong, and show yourself a man.”
We might imagine David saying, “Solomon, be a man. Subdue your enemies. Multiply your riches. Rule with a strong hand and crush every rebellion. Build a mighty army and continue my powerful legacy.”
But David said none of these things.
Instead, he told Solomon:
“Keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies.”
In other words: “Solomon, obey God’s Word.”
David then recalled the promise God had made to him when his kingdom was still being established:
“If your sons pay close attention to their way, to walk before me in faithfulness with all their heart and with all their soul, you shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.”
David had never forgotten that promise. His lasting legacy would not ultimately depend on Solomon’s strength, wealth or political skill. It would depend on his descendants walking faithfully before God.
When David told Solomon to show himself a man, he was not speaking about bulging muscles, a large ego or a commanding voice. True strength would be demonstrated through obedience—a life wholeheartedly devoted to God and shaped by His Word.
Not much has changed.
Whatever responsibilities God has entrusted to us—within our families, workplaces, churches or society—we are called to show ourselves to be men and women who walk faithfully before Him.
Human power eventually fades. Achievements are forgotten, wealth passes into other hands, and even the greatest leaders must “go the way of all the earth.” But a life of wholehearted faithfulness can shape the generations that follow.
Therein lies the secret of a lasting legacy: not simply that others remember us, but that our lives point them towards God.
We end with the collect for today:
Almighty God,
whose only Son has opened for us a new and living way into your presence: give us pure hearts and steadfast wills to worship you in spirit and in truth; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
In closing, be blessed by this song, Sermon On The Mount by April Cheah
Blessed are the poor in spirit
Theirs is the kingdom of God
Blessed are the grieving acquainted with tears
For they will find Him near
Blessed are the meek and gentle
They shall inherit the earth
Blessed are the starving for justice and light
They shall be satisfied
Cause us to seek first Your kingdom
Teach us to carry Your peace
That we’ll be called children of God most high
All those who seek will find
All those who seek will find
Blessed are the mercy givers
They will receive it in turn
Blessed are hearts that are pure
They will see Your risen reality
Stir us to love like You love us
Free us to give what we keep
Knowing our Father sees the secret things
Our treasure is in the King
Our treasure is in the King
Lord speak to my worries and help cut me free
Of this bondage to comfort and vanity
When I see You again on that one final day will You know me
I want to know You
Will You know me
Help me know You
Blessed are the peacemakers
They are Yours for You call and they come
Those blessed to suffer for righteousness’ sake
Your kingdom is theirs to partake
Lead us to walk with the suffering
Restore us to choose the harder road
That we will hear and do the word of Christ
Your way alone leads to life
Your way alone leads to life
Cause us to seek first Your kingdom
Teach us to carry Your peace
That we’ll be called children of God most high
All those who seek will find
Treasures where You are cannot be destroyed
And Your way alone leads to life
Visit this link for more information about the song writer and message behind this song.
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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