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Lectionary
EIGHTH WEEK BEFORE CHRISTMAS: 2 – 8 NOVEMBER, 2008
THEME: ‘SPRING, WHOSE WATER NEVER FAILS.’
SUGGESTED
READING: ISAIAH 58: 9B – 12.
In most of African
countries, governance of water and sanitation services have
been passed to international private companies whose major
focus is profit. The African situation is similar to that of
Judah when she was under the rule of Babylon. The Jews had to
pay to Babylon for water they drank and the wood they used for
cooking (see Lamentations). When foreigners are in charge of a
nation’s natural resources they care little about
environmental degradation, climate change and water
management. Judah’s severe suffering was because of her
disobedience. The hope for her was to call on God and confess
her sins. If she did that, God would protect her during her
captivity (Lam. 3:21-30), and would ultimately restore her as
a nation.
Justice and happiness have not been enjoyed
by the African young people because the African elders failed
to use their wisdom after Independence, and now the forest,
the water, good agriculture and mineral land is largely owned
and controlled by foreigners. If we want our natural resources
to be restored to us, we first need to repent and cry to God
that we be restored to the blessings of God’s covenant of
joint stewardship to care for the environment. Secondly, we
must elect leaders at local and national governmental levels
who understand this covenant relationship with God and who, as
a result will establish legislations that ensure people’s
basic human rights, such as the right to land, safe water and
sanitation, are protected and are met.
Submitted by
Rev. Lawrence Temfwe
PRAYER
We thank you Lord for
creating water that so quickly and completely quenches our
thirst. Those of us who have abundance of it sometimes take it
for granted and waste it. But we remember now the millions of
people in our African continent without pipe-borne or running
water. We pray that the world’s resources will be equitably
shared and that none would be in want of the very essential
commodities that you have provided plentifully. Grant this
dear God, for Christ’s sake, Amen
READINGS FOR THE
WEEK
Lamentation 1; Lamentation 2; Lamentation 3;
Lamentation 4; Lamentation 5; Isaiah 58; Isaiah 65: 17‐25
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