Advent - Week 2 - Psalm 33 and 1 Thessalonians 5:12–28

PSALM 33

¹   Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous.
          Praise befits the upright. 
²   Praise the LORD with the lyre; 
          make melody to him with the harp of ten strings. 
³   Sing to him a new song; 
          play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

⁴   For the word of the LORD is upright, 
          and all his work is done in faithfulness. 
⁵   He loves righteousness and justice; 
          the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.

⁶   By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, 
          and all their host by the breath of his mouth. 
⁷   He gathered the waters of the sea as in a bottle; 
          he put the deeps in storehouses.

⁸   Let all the earth fear the LORD; 
          let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. 
⁹   For he spoke, and it came to be; 
          he commanded, and it stood firm.

¹⁰  The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; 
          he frustrates the plans of the peoples. 
¹¹  The counsel of the LORD stands forever, 
          the thoughts of his heart to all generations. 
¹²   Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD, 
          the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.

¹³  The LORD looks down from heaven; 
          he sees all humankind. 
¹⁴  From where he sits enthroned he watches 
          all the inhabitants of the earth — 
¹⁵  he who fashions the hearts of them all, 
          and observes all their deeds. 
¹⁶  A king is not saved by his great army;
          a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. 
¹⁷  The war horse is a vain hope for victory, 
          and by its great might it cannot save.

¹⁸  Truly the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, 
          on those who hope in his steadfast love, 
¹⁹  to deliver their soul from death, 
          and to keep them alive in famine.

²⁰  Our soul waits for the LORD; 
          he is our help and shield. 
²¹  Our heart is glad in him, 
          because we trust in his holy name.
²²  Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, 
          even as we hope in you.

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I THESSALONIANS 5:12–28

¹²But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labor among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you; ¹³esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.¹⁴And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the faint hearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. ¹⁵See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. ¹⁶Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray without ceasing, ¹⁸give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ¹⁹Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰Do not despise the words of prophets, ²¹but test everything; hold fast to what is good;²²abstain from every form of evil.

 

²³May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.²⁴The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.

 

²⁵Beloved, pray for us.

 

²⁶Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss. ²⁷I solemnly command you by the Lord that this letter be read to all of them.

 

²⁸The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Advent - Week 2 - Psalm 67 and Psalm 122

PSALM 67

¹ May God be gracious to us and bless us 
and make his face to shine upon us, Selah
²that your way may be known upon earth, 
your saving power among all nations. 
³Let the peoples praise you, O God; 
let all the peoples praise you.

⁴Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, 
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth. Selah
⁵Let the peoples praise you, O God; 
let all the peoples praise you.

⁶The earth has yielded its increase; 
God, our God, has blessed us.
⁷May God continue to bless us; 
let all the ends of the earth revere him.

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PSALM 122

¹   I was glad when they said to me, 
          “Let us go to the house of the LORD!” 
²   Our feet are standing 
          within your gates, O Jerusalem.

³   Jerusalem — built as a city 
          that is bound firmly together. 
⁴   To it the tribes go up, 
          the tribes of the LORD, 
     as was decreed for Israel, 
          to give thanks to the name of the LORD. 
⁵   For there the thrones for judgment were set up, 
          the thrones of the house of David.

⁶   Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 
          “May they prosper who love you. 
⁷   Peace be within your walls, 
          and security within your towers.” 
⁸   For the sake of my relatives and friends 
          I will say, “Peace be within you.” 
⁹   For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, 
          I will seek your good.

Advent - Week 1 - Luke 20:41–21:4 and Psalm 130

LUKE 20:41–21:4

⁴¹Then he said to them, "How can they say that the Messiah is David's son? ⁴²For David himself says in the book of Psalms, 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at my right hand, ⁴³until I make your enemies your footstool."' ⁴⁴David thus calls him Lord; so how can he be his son?"

 

⁴⁵In the hearing of all the people he said to the disciples, ⁴⁶"Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honor at banquets. ⁴⁷They devour widows' houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation."

 

¹He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; ²he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. ³He said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; ⁴for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on."

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PSALM 130

¹   Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD. 
²       Lord, hear my voice! 
     Let your ears be attentive 
          to the voice of my supplications!

³   If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, 
          Lord, who could stand? 
⁴   But there is forgiveness with you, 
          so that you may be revered.

⁵   I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, 
          and in his word I hope; 
⁶   my soul waits for the Lord 
          more than those who watch for the morning, 
          more than those who watch for the morning.

⁷   O Israel, hope in the LORD! 
          For with the LORD there is steadfast love, 
          and with him is great power to redeem. 
⁸   It is he who will redeem Israel 
          from all its iniquities.

Advent - Week 1 - Psalm 18:1-20 and Luke 20:27–40

PSALM 18:1–20

¹I love you, O LORD, my strength.

²The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer,

my God, my rock in whom I take refuge,

my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

³I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised,

so I shall be saved from my enemies.

⁴The cords of death encompassed me;

the torrents of perdition assailed me;

⁵the cords of Sheol entangled me;

the snares of death confronted me.

⁶In my distress I called upon the LORD;

to my God I cried for help.

From his temple he heard my voice,

and my cry to him reached his ears.

⁷Then the earth reeled and rocked;

the foundations also of the mountains trembled

and quaked, because he was angry.

⁸Smoke went up from his nostrils,

and devouring fire from his mouth;

glowing coals flamed forth from him.

⁹He bowed the heavens, and came down;

thick darkness was under his feet.

¹⁰He rode on a cherub, and flew;

he came swiftly upon the wings of the wind.

¹¹He made darkness his covering around him,

his canopy thick clouds dark with water.

¹²Out of the brightness before him

there broke through his clouds

hailstones and coals of fire.

¹³The LORD also thundered in the heavens,

and the Most High uttered his voice.

¹⁴And he sent out his arrows, and scattered them;

he flashed forth lightnings, and routed them.

¹⁵Then the channels of the sea were seen,

and the foundations of the world were laid bare

at your rebuke, O LORD,

at the blast of the breath of your nostrils.

¹⁶He reached down from on high, he took me;

he drew me out of mighty waters.

¹⁷He delivered me from my strong enemy,

and from those who hated me;

for they were too mighty for me.

¹⁸They confronted me in the day of my calamity;

but the LORD was my support.

¹⁹He brought me out into a broad place;

he delivered me, because he delighted in me.

²⁰The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness;

according to the cleanness of my hands he recompensed me.

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LUKE 20:27–40

²⁷Some Sadducees, those who say there is no resurrection, came to him ²⁸and asked him a question, "Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, leaving a wife but no children, the man shall marry the widow and raise up children for his brother. ²⁹Now there were seven brothers; the first married, and died childless; ³⁰then the second ³¹and the third married her, and so in the same way all seven died childless. ³²Finally the woman also died. ³³In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had married her."

 

³⁴Jesus said to them, "Those who belong to this age marry and are given in marriage; ³⁵but those who are considered worthy of a place in that age and in the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. ³⁶Indeed they cannot die anymore, because they are like angels and are children of God, being children of the resurrection. ³⁷And the fact that the dead are raised Moses himself showed, in the story about the bush, where he speaks of the Lord as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. ³⁸Now he is God not of the dead, but of the living; for to him all of them are alive." ³⁹Then some of the scribes answered, "Teacher, you have spoken well." ⁴⁰For they no longer dared to ask him another question.

Psalm 147:1-11 and Isaiah 2:1–4

PSALM 147:1–11

¹   Praise the Lord! 

          How good it is to sing praises to our God; 
          for he is gracious, and a song of praise is fitting. 
²   The Lord builds up Jerusalem; 
          he gathers the outcasts of Israel. 
³   He heals the brokenhearted, 
          and binds up their wounds. 
⁴   He determines the number of the stars; 
          he gives to all of them their names.
⁵   Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; 
          his understanding is beyond measure. 
⁶   The Lord lifts up the downtrodden; 
          he casts the wicked to the ground.

⁷   Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; 
          make melody to our God on the lyre. 
⁸   He covers the heavens with clouds, 
          prepares rain for the earth, 
          makes grass grow on the hills. 
⁹   He gives to the animals their food, 
          and to the young ravens when they cry. 
¹⁰  His delight is not in the strength of the horse, 
          nor his pleasure in the speed of a runner; 
¹¹  but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, 
          in those who hope in his steadfast love.

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ISAIAH 2:1–4

¹The word that Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

 

²     In days to come 
          the mountain of the LORD's house 
     shall be established as the highest of the mountains, 
          and shall be raised above the hills;
     all the nations shall stream to it. 
³          Many peoples shall come and say, 
     "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, 
          to the house of the God of Jacob; 
     that he may teach us his ways 
          and that we may walk in his paths."
     For out of Zion shall go forth instruction, 
          and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. 
⁴     He shall judge between the nations, 
          and shall arbitrate for many peoples; 
     they shall beat their swords into plowshares, 
          and their spears into pruning hooks; 
     nation shall not lift up sword against nation, 
          neither shall they learn war any more.

Advent - Week 1 - Psalm 33 and Psalm 85

PSALM 33

¹   Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous. 
          Praise befits the upright. 
²   Praise the LORD with the lyre; 
          make melody to him with the harp of ten strings. 
³   Sing to him a new song; 
          play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

⁴   For the word of the LORD is upright, 
          and all his work is done in faithfulness.
⁵   He loves righteousness and justice; 
          the earth is full of the steadfast love of the LORD.

⁶   By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, 
          and all their host by the breath of his mouth. 
⁷   He gathered the waters of the sea as in a bottle; 
          he put the deeps in storehouses.

⁸   Let all the earth fear the LORD; 
          let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. 
⁹   For he spoke, and it came to be; 
          he commanded, and it stood firm.

¹⁰  The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; 
          he frustrates the plans of the peoples. 
¹¹  The counsel of the LORD stands forever, 
          the thoughts of his heart to all generations. 
¹²   Happy is the nation whose God is the LORD, 
          the people whom he has chosen as his heritage.

¹³  The LORD looks down from heaven; 
          he sees all humankind. 
¹⁴  From where he sits enthroned he watches
          all the inhabitants of the earth — 
¹⁵  he who fashions the hearts of them all, 
          and observes all their deeds. 
¹⁶  A king is not saved by his great army; 
          a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. 
¹⁷  The war horse is a vain hope for victory, 
          and by its great might it cannot save.

¹⁸  Truly the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, 
          on those who hope in his steadfast love, 
¹⁹  to deliver their soul from death, 
          and to keep them alive in famine.

²⁰  Our soul waits for the LORD; 
          he is our help and shield. 
²¹  Our heart is glad in him, 
          because we trust in his holy name. 
²²  Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, 
          even as we hope in you.

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PSALM 85

¹   LORD, you were favorable to your land; 
          you restored the fortunes of Jacob. 
²   You forgave the iniquity of your people; 
          you pardoned all their sin. Selah 
³   You withdrew all your wrath; 
          you turned from your hot anger.

⁴   Restore us again, O God of our salvation, 
          and put away your indignation toward us. 
⁵   Will you be angry with us forever? 
          Will you prolong your anger to all generations? 
⁶   Will you not revive us again, 
          so that your people may rejoice in you? 
⁷   Show us your steadfast love, O LORD, 
          and grant us your salvation.

⁸   Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, 
          for he will speak peace to his people, 
          to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts. 
⁹   Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him, 
          that his glory may dwell in our land.

¹⁰  Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet; 
          righteousness and peace will kiss each other. 
¹¹  Faithfulness will spring up from the ground, 
          and righteousness will look down from the sky. 
¹²  The LORD will give what is good, 
          and our land will yield its increase. 
¹³  Righteousness will go before him, 
          and will make a path for his steps.

Advent - Week 1 - Isaiah 1:12-20 and Psalm 40

ISAIAH 1:12-20

¹²When you come to appear before me,
     who asked this from your hand?
     Trample my courts no more;
¹³bringing offerings is futile;
     incense is an abomination to me.
New moon and sabbath and calling of convocation —
     I cannot endure solemn assemblies with iniquity.
¹⁴Your new moons and your appointed festivals
     my soul hates;
they have become a burden to me,
     I am weary of bearing them.
¹⁵When you stretch out your hands,
     I will hide my eyes from you;
even though you make many prayers,
     I will not listen;
     your hands are full of blood.
¹⁶Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
     remove the evil of your doings
     from before my eyes;
cease to do evil,
¹⁷  learn to do good;
seek justice,
     rescue the oppressed,
defend the orphan,
     plead for the widow.

¹⁸Come now, let us argue it out,
     says the LORD:
though your sins are like scarlet,
     they shall be like snow;
though they are red like crimson,
     they shall become like wool.
¹⁹If you are willing and obedient,
     you shall eat the good of the land;
²⁰but if you refuse and rebel,
     you shall be devoured by the sword;
     for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

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PSALM 40

1   I waited patiently for the LORD; 

          he inclined to me and heard my cry. 

2   He drew me up from the desolate pit, 

          out of the miry bog, 

     and set my feet upon a rock, 

          making my steps secure. 

3   He put a new song in my mouth, 

          a song of praise to our God. 

     Many will see and fear, 

          and put their trust in the LORD.

4   Happy are those who make 

          the LORD their trust, 

     who do not turn to the proud, 

          to those who go astray after false gods. 

5   You have multiplied, O LORD my God, 

          your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us; 

          none can compare with you. 

     Were I to proclaim and tell of them, 

          they would be more than can be counted.

6   Sacrifice and offering you do not desire, 

          but you have given me an open ear. 

     Burnt offering and sin offering 

          you have not required. 

7   Then I said, “Here I am; 

          in the scroll of the book it is written of me. 

8   I delight to do your will, O my God; 

          your law is within my heart.”

9   I have told the glad news of deliverance 

          in the great congregation; 

     see, I have not restrained my lips, 

          as you know, O LORD. 

10  I have not hidden your saving help within my heart, 

          I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; 

     I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness 

          from the great congregation.

11  Do not, O LORD, withhold 

          your mercy from me; 

     let your steadfast love and your faithfulness 

          keep me safe forever. 

12  For evils have encompassed me 

          without number; 

     my iniquities have overtaken me, 

          until I cannot see; 

     they are more than the hairs of my head, 

          and my heart fails me.

13  Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me; 

          O LORD, make haste to help me. 

14  Let all those be put to shame and confusion 

          who seek to snatch away my life; 

     let those be turned back and brought to dishonor 

          who desire my hurt. 

15  Let those be appalled because of their shame 

          who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”

16  But may all who seek you 

          rejoice and be glad in you; 

     may those who love your salvation 

          say continually, “Great is the LORD!” 

17  As for me, I am poor and needy, 

          but the Lord takes thought for me. 

     You are my help and my deliverer; 

          do not delay, O my God.