2 Samuel 23
These are the last words
of David the son of Jesse.
The God of Jacob chose David
and made him a great king.
The Mighty God of Israel
loved him.[a]
When God told him to speak,
David said:
2 The Spirit of the Lord
has told me what to say.
3 Our Mighty Rock,[b]
the God of Jacob, told me,
“A ruler who obeys God
and does right
4 is like the sunrise
on a cloudless day,
or like rain that sparkles
on the grass.”[c]
5 I have ruled this way,
and God will never break
his promise to me.
God’s promise is complete
and unchanging;
he will always help me
and give me what I hope for.
6 But evil people are pulled up
like thornbushes.
They are not dug up by hand,
7 but with a sharp spear
and are burned on the spot.
Psalm 136
12 God used his great strength
and his powerful arm.
God’s love never fails.
13 He split the Red Sea[b] apart.
God’s love never fails.
14 The Lord brought Israel safely
through the sea.
God’s love never fails.
15 He destroyed the Egyptian king
and his army there.
God’s love never fails.
16 The Lord led his people
through the desert.
God’s love never fails.
The Grieving Father, Son and Daughter as They Try to Establish the Kingdom of Heaven
Sun Myung Moon
May 17, 1959
Prayer
Humanity does not yet realize that endless sorrow is rooted in Heaven. We did not know that the history of Heaven has been an eternally painful one, although we have followed and believed in You.
Father, although You have given us words that are difficult to bear and have longed to find worthy people, I feel truly unworthy that You have foretold to us the moment of hope that never came about before. As inadequate people, we cannot help feeling ashamed in bowing our minds and bodies before Heaven and calling on You.
We thought that the path You called us to follow would be a path of joy; yet we realize that it is a path of endless tears, a sad, lonely, difficult road that calls for us to vindicate Heaven and earth. We cannot help experiencing this path through our flesh, which allows those who want to give up their lives to win, but not those who want to live.
Father, please have pity on Your lonely sons and daughters here. Does the heavenly ideology live within their minds? Please allow them to realize that this is not self-centered, but is a historical ideology. Are their hearts moved by that ideology? Please let them know that such a heart does not cease with their generation.
Now that they have received and felt all the blessings there are, please let them understand that the Kingdom of Heaven is not realized or lived in by self-centered individuals. Because You are the beginning of this task, Father, I sincerely pray that we may become people who will be willing to offer everything for You.
When we undertook this path You called us to follow, we already gave up everything for You. We have offered all our possessions and even our hearts to You.
You are looking for those who can be grateful even after offering everything to the Father. Please accept us, although we have become people who are disheartened after our offering. Please allow us to want to give up everything with infinite joy. We know that one with such a heart can own all of You. With a desperate heart toward Heaven, such a person will wind up victorious.
Father, we know that our giving up everything is not to please You but is a providence for You to be able to hand down everything to us. We now know that You had no choice but to look for us, to call us, and to bring us forth because of this. I know we still have self-centered thoughts and feelings. Please allow us to give it all up before You. I sincerely pray that You will fill our minds and bodies with eternally grateful hearts for Your giving us everything that exists in this world.
Please allow us to be grateful when we are saddened for the sake of Your sorrow. Help us become grateful when we can work harder after observing Your endeavors. Please help us be grateful when we see the course of Heavenly Father’s battle, when we are placed in the same circumstances. I sincerely pray that You may take these individuals into Your bosom and raise them.
Father, we have gathered here. Please have pity on us. I pray that this can be a time when everything can be connected to You from the beginning. We have gathered here after overcoming lonely paths. Please receive us, comfort us, guide us, and open the hands of Your blessing upon us to heal all the scars inflicted upon us this last week.
Father, today is a holy day. We know that this is a time when Heaven wants to connect with earth. Please hold onto the millions of saints in heaven and the numerous people of this earth who are striving toward goodness. Help us through the works of goodness to reach every place people have gathered and knelt in front of You. I earnestly pray that You may exercise Your authority upon this land where death storms so that this day may be one when victory is won and Heavenly Father’s glory can be sung.
Heavenly Father, the source of life, please pour down the blessing of glory at this time. Hoping that You will guide everything with direct authority, I pray all these things in the name of the Lord. Amen.