Psalm 96 and 1 Samuel 2:1-10

Psalm 96

[1]   O sing to the LORD a new song;   
         sing to the LORD, all the earth.   
[2]   Sing to the LORD, bless his name;   
         tell of his salvation from day to day.   
[3]   Declare his glory among the nations,   
         his marvelous works among all the peoples.   
[4]   For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;   
         he is to be revered above all gods.   
[5]   For all the gods of the peoples are idols,   
         but the LORD made the heavens.   
[6]   Honor and majesty are before him;   
         strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.   
[7]   Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples,   
         ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.   
[8]   Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;   
         bring an offering, and come into his courts.   
[9]   Worship the LORD in holy splendor;   
         tremble before him, all the earth.

[10]  Say among the nations, "The LORD is king!   
         The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved.   
         He will judge the peoples with equity."   
[11]  Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;   
         let the sea roar, and all that fills it;   
[12]       let the field exult, and everything in it.   
    Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy   
[13]       before the LORD; for he is coming,   
         for he is coming to judge the earth.   
    He will judge the world with righteousness,   
         and the peoples with his truth.

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1 Samuel 2:1-10

[1]Hannah prayed and said, "My heart exults in the LORD; my strength is exalted in my God. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in my victory. 

[2]"There is no Holy One like the LORD, no one besides you; there is no Rock like our God. [3]Talk no more so very proudly, let not arrogance come from your mouth; for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed. [4]The bows of the mighty are broken, but the feeble gird on strength. [5]Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread, but those who were hungry are fat with spoil. The barren has borne seven, but she who has many children is forlorn. [6]The LORD kills and brings to life; he brings down to Sheol and raises up. [7]The LORD makes poor and makes rich; he brings low, he also exalts. [8]He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes and inherit a seat of honor. For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and on them he has set the world. 

[9]"He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness; for not by might does one prevail. [10]The LORD! His adversaries shall be shattered; the Most High will thunder in heaven. The LORD will judge the ends of the earth; he will give strength to his king, and exalt the power of his anointed." 

Psalm 47 and Matthew 28:16-20

Psalm 47

[1]   Clap your hands, all you peoples;  

          shout to God with loud songs of joy.  

[2]   For the LORD, the Most High, is awesome,  

          a great king over all the earth.  

[3]   He subdued peoples under us,  

          and nations under our feet.  

[4]   He chose our heritage for us,  

          the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah

[5]   God has gone up with a shout,  

          the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.  

[6]   Sing praises to God, sing praises;  

          sing praises to our King, sing praises.  

[7]   For God is the king of all the earth;  

          sing praises with a psalm.

[8]   God is king over the nations;  

          God sits on his holy throne.  

[9]   The princes of the peoples gather  

          as the people of the God of Abraham.  

     For the shields of the earth belong to God;  

          he is highly exalted.

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Matthew 28:16-20

[16]Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. [17]When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. [18]And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19]Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20]and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." 

Ephesians 1:1-10 and Psalm 147:1-11

Ephesians 1:1-10

[1]Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints who are in Ephesus and are faithful in Christ Jesus:

[2]Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

[3]Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, [4]just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. [5]He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, [6]to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. [7]In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace [8]that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight [9]he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, [10]as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 

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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.

Matthew 13:18-23 and Psalm 66

Matthew 13:18-23

[18]"Hear then the parable of the sower. [19]When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. [20]As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; [21]yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. [22]As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. [23]But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."

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Psalm 66

[1]   Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth;  
[2]        sing the glory of his name;  
          give to him glorious praise.  
[3]   Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds!  
          Because of your great power, your enemies cringe before you.  
[4]   All the earth worships you;  
          they sing praises to you,  
          sing praises to your name. Selah

[5]   Come and see what God has done:  
          he is awesome in his deeds among mortals.  
[6]   He turned the sea into dry land;  
          they passed through the river on foot.  
     There we rejoiced in him,  
[7]        who rules by his might forever,  
     whose eyes keep watch on the nations --  
          let the rebellious not exalt themselves. Selah

[8]   Bless our God, O peoples,  
          let the sound of his praise be heard,  
[9]   who has kept us among the living,  
          and has not let our feet slip.  
[10]  For you, O God, have tested us;  
          you have tried us as silver is tried.  
[11]  You brought us into the net;  
          you laid burdens on our backs;  
[12]  you let people ride over our heads;  
          we went through fire and through water;  
     yet you have brought us out to a spacious place.

[13]  I will come into your house with burnt offerings;  
          I will pay you my vows,  
[14]  those that my lips uttered  
          and my mouth promised when I was in trouble.  
[15]  I will offer to you burnt offerings of fatlings,  
          with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams;  
     I will make an offering of bulls and goats. Selah

[16]  Come and hear, all you who fear God,  
          and I will tell what he has done for me.  
[17]  I cried aloud to him,  
          and he was extolled with my tongue.  
[18]  If I had cherished iniquity in my heart,  
          the Lord would not have listened.  
[19]  But truly God has listened;  
          he has given heed to the words of my prayer.

[20]  Blessed be God,  
          because he has not rejected my prayer  
          or removed his steadfast love from me.

Matthew 13:1-16 and Psalm 115

Matthew 13:1-16

[1]That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. [2]Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. [3]And he told them many things in parables, saying: "Listen! A sower went out to sow. [4]And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. [5]Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. [6]But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. [7]Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. [8]Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. [9]Let anyone with ears listen!" 

[10]Then the disciples came and asked him, "Why do you speak to them in parables?" [11]He answered, "To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. [12]For to those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. [13]The reason I speak to them in parables is that 'seeing they do not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.' [14]With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says: 'You will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but never perceive. [15]For this people's heart has grown dull, and their ears are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with their heart and turn - and I would heal them.' [16]But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear." 

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Psalm 115

[1]   Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory,   
         for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness.   
[2]   Why should the nations say,   
         "Where is their God?"

[3]   Our God is in the heavens;   
         he does whatever he pleases.   
[4]   Their idols are silver and gold,   
         the work of human hands.   
[5]   They have mouths, but do not speak;   
         eyes, but do not see.   
[6]   They have ears, but do not hear;   
         noses, but do not smell.   
[7]   They have hands, but do not feel;   
         feet, but do not walk;   
         they make no sound in their throats.   
[8]   Those who make them are like them;   
         so are all who trust in them.

[9]   O Israel, trust in the LORD!   
         He is their help and their shield.   
[10]  O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD!   
         He is their help and their shield.   
[11]  You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD!   
         He is their help and their shield.

[12]  The LORD has been mindful of us; he will bless us;   
         he will bless the house of Israel;   
         he will bless the house of Aaron;   
[13]  he will bless those who fear the LORD,   
         both small and great.

[14]  May the LORD give you increase,   
         both you and your children.   
[15]  May you be blessed by the LORD,   
         who made heaven and earth.

[16]  The heavens are the Lord's heavens,   
         but the earth he has given to human beings.   
[17]  The dead do not praise the LORD,   
         nor do any that go down into silence.   
[18]  But we will bless the LORD   
         from this time on and forevermore.   
    Praise the LORD!

Matthew 7:1-12 and Psalm 49

Matthew 7:1-12

[1]"Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. [2]For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. [3]Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? [4]Or how can you say to your neighbor, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' while the log is in your own eye? [5]You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye. 

[6]"Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you. 

[7]"Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. [8]For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. [9]Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? [10]Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? [11]If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him! 

[12]"In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets. 

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Psalm 49

[1]   Hear this, all you peoples;   
         give ear, all inhabitants of the world,   
[2]   both low and high,   
         rich and poor together.   
[3]   My mouth shall speak wisdom;   
         the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.   
[4]   I will incline my ear to a proverb;   
         I will solve my riddle to the music of the harp.

[5]   Why should I fear in times of trouble,   
         when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me,   
[6]   those who trust in their wealth   
         and boast of the abundance of their riches?   
[7]   Truly, no ransom avails for one's life,   
         there is no price one can give to God for it.   
[8]   For the ransom of life is costly,   
         and can never suffice,   
[9]   that one should live on forever   
         and never see the grave.

[10]   When we look at the wise, they die;   
         fool and dolt perish together   
         and leave their wealth to others.   
[11]   Their graves are their homes forever,   
         their dwelling places to all generations,   
         though they named lands their own.   
[12]  Mortals cannot abide in their pomp;   
         they are like the animals that perish.

[13]  Such is the fate of the foolhardy,   
         the end of those who are pleased with their lot. Selah   
[14]  Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol;   
         Death shall be their shepherd;   
    straight to the grave they descend,   
         and their form shall waste away;   
         Sheol shall be their home.   
[15]  But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol,   
         for he will receive me. Selah

[16]  Do not be afraid when some become rich,   
         when the wealth of their houses increases.   
[17]  For when they die they will carry nothing away;   
         their wealth will not go down after them.   
[18]  Though in their lifetime they count themselves happy   
         -- for you are praised when you do well for yourself --   
[19]  they will go to the company of their ancestors,   
         who will never again see the light.   
[20]  Mortals cannot abide in their pomp;   
         they are like the animals that perish.

Psalm 47 and Matthew 6:25-34

Psalm 47

[1]   Clap your hands, all you peoples;   
          shout to God with loud songs of joy.   
[2]   For the LORD, the Most High, is awesome,   
          a great king over all the earth.   
[3]   He subdued peoples under us,   
          and nations under our feet.   
[4]   He chose our heritage for us,   
          the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah

[5]   God has gone up with a shout,   
          the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.   
[6]   Sing praises to God, sing praises;   
          sing praises to our King, sing praises.   
[7]   For God is the king of all the earth;   
          sing praises with a psalm.

[8]   God is king over the nations;   
          God sits on his holy throne.   
[9]   The princes of the peoples gather   
          as the people of the God of Abraham.   
     For the shields of the earth belong to God;   
          he is highly exalted.

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Matthew 6:25-34

[25]"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? [26]Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? [27]And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? [28]And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, [29]yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. [30]But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you - you of little faith? [31]Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?' [32]For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. [33]But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

[34]"So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today."