ESV: Book of Common Prayer Daily Office Lectionary

October 10 (Proper 22): Ps. 140, 142; Ps. 141, 143:1-11(12); Micah 3:9-4:5; Acts 24:24-25:12; Luke 8:1-15 (ESV)

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 00:01:00 -0400

Psalm 140 (Listen)

Deliver Me, O LORD, from Evil Men

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

140:1 Deliver me, O LORD, from evil men;
  preserve me from violent men,
who plan evil things in their heart
  and stir up wars continually.
They make their tongue sharp as a serpent's,
  and under their lips is the venom of asps.     Selah

Guard me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked;
  preserve me from violent men,
  who have planned to trip up my feet.
The arrogant have hidden a trap for me,
  and with cords they have spread a net;
  beside the way they have set snares for me.     Selah

I say to the LORD, You are my God;
  give ear to the voice of my pleas for mercy, O LORD!
O LORD, my Lord, the strength of my salvation,
  you have covered my head in the day of battle.
Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked;
  do not further their evil plot, or they will be exalted!     Selah

As for the head of those who surround me,
  let the mischief of their lips overwhelm them!
Let burning coals fall upon them!
  Let them be cast into fire,
  into miry pits, no more to rise!
Let not the slanderer be established in the land;
  let evil hunt down the violent man speedily!

I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted,
and will execute justice for the needy.
Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name;
the upright shall dwell in your presence.

Psalm 142 (Listen)

You Are My Refuge

A Maskil of David, when he was in the cave. A Prayer.

142:1 With my voice I cry out to the LORD;
with my voice I plead for mercy to the LORD.
I pour out my complaint before him;
I tell my trouble before him.

When my spirit faints within me,
  you know my way!
In the path where I walk
  they have hidden a trap for me.
Look to the right and see:
  there is none who takes notice of me;
no refuge remains to me;
  no one cares for my soul.

I cry to you, O LORD;
  I say, “You are my refuge,
  my portion in the land of the living.”
Attend to my cry,
  for I am brought very low!
Deliver me from my persecutors,
  for they are too strong for me!
Bring me out of prison,
  that I may give thanks to your name!
The righteous will surround me,
  for you will deal bountifully with me.

Psalm 141 (Listen)

Give Ear to My Voice

A Psalm of David.

141:1 O LORD, I call upon you; hasten to me!
Give ear to my voice when I call to you!
Let my prayer be counted as incense before you,
and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!

Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth;
  keep watch over the door of my lips!
Do not let my heart incline to any evil,
  to busy myself with wicked deeds
in company with men who work iniquity,
  and let me not eat of their delicacies!

Let a righteous man strike me—it is a kindness;
  let him rebuke me—it is oil for my head;
  let my head not refuse it.
Yet my prayer is continually against their evil deeds.
When their judges are thrown over the cliff,
  then they shall hear my words, for they are pleasant.
As when one plows and breaks up the earth,
  so shall our bones be scattered at the mouth of Sheol.

But my eyes are toward you, O GOD, my Lord;
  in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!
Keep me from the trap that they have laid for me
  and from the snares of evildoers!
Let the wicked fall into their own nets,
  while I pass by safely.

Psalm 143:1-11 (Listen)

My Soul Thirsts for You

A Psalm of David.

143:1 Hear my prayer, O LORD;
  give ear to my pleas for mercy!
  In your faithfulness answer me, in your righteousness!
Enter not into judgment with your servant,
  for no one living is righteous before you.

For the enemy has pursued my soul;
  he has crushed my life to the ground;
  he has made me sit in darkness like those long dead.
Therefore my spirit faints within me;
  my heart within me is appalled.

I remember the days of old;
  I meditate on all that you have done;
  I ponder the work of your hands.
I stretch out my hands to you;
  my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.     Selah

Answer me quickly, O LORD!
  My spirit fails!
Hide not your face from me,
  lest I be like those who go down to the pit.
Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love,
  for in you I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
  for to you I lift up my soul.

Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD!
  I have fled to you for refuge!
Teach me to do your will,
  for you are my God!
Let your good Spirit lead me
  on level ground!

For your name's sake, O LORD, preserve my life!
In your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!

Psalm 143:12 (Listen)

And in your steadfast love you will cut off my enemies,
and you will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,
for I am your servant.

Micah 3:9-4:5 (Listen)

Hear this, you heads of the house of Jacob
  and rulers of the house of Israel,
who detest justice
  and make crooked all that is straight,
who build Zion with blood
  and Jerusalem with iniquity.
Its heads give judgment for a bribe;
  its priests teach for a price;
  its prophets practice divination for money;
yet they lean on the LORD and say,
  “Is not the LORD in the midst of us?
  No disaster shall come upon us.”
Therefore because of you
  Zion shall be plowed as a field;
Jerusalem shall become a heap of ruins,
  and the mountain of the house a wooded height.

The Mountain of the LORD

4:1 It shall come to pass in the latter days
  that the mountain of the house of the LORD
shall be established as the highest of the mountains,
  and it shall be lifted up above the hills;
and peoples shall flow to it,
  and many nations 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 the law,
  and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between many peoples,
  and shall decide for strong nations far away;
and 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 anymore;
but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree,
  and no one shall make them afraid,
  for the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken.
For all the peoples walk
  each in the name of its god,
but we will walk in the name of the LORD our God
  forever and ever.

Acts 24:24-25:12 (Listen)

After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.” At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him. When two years had elapsed, Felix was succeeded by Porcius Festus. And desiring to do the Jews a favor, Felix left Paul in prison.

Paul Appeals to Caesar

25:1 Now three days after Festus had arrived in the province, he went up to Jerusalem from Caesarea. And the chief priests and the principal men of the Jews laid out their case against Paul, and they urged him, asking as a favor against Paul that he summon him to Jerusalem—because they were planning an ambush to kill him on the way. Festus replied that Paul was being kept at Caesarea and that he himself intended to go there shortly. “So,” said he, “let the men of authority among you go down with me, and if there is anything wrong about the man, let them bring charges against him.”

After he stayed among them not more than eight or ten days, he went down to Caesarea. And the next day he took his seat on the tribunal and ordered Paul to be brought. When he had arrived, the Jews who had come down from Jerusalem stood around him, bringing many and serious charges against him that they could not prove. Paul argued in his defense, “Neither against the law of the Jews, nor against the temple, nor against Caesar have I committed any offense.” But Festus, wishing to do the Jews a favor, said to Paul, “Do you wish to go up to Jerusalem and there be tried on these charges before me?” But Paul said, “I am standing before Caesar's tribunal, where I ought to be tried. To the Jews I have done no wrong, as you yourself know very well. If then I am a wrongdoer and have committed anything for which I deserve to die, I do not seek to escape death. But if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one can give me up to them. I appeal to Caesar.” Then Festus, when he had conferred with his council, answered, “To Caesar you have appealed; to Caesar you shall go.”

Luke 8:1-15 (Listen)

Women Accompanying Jesus

8:1 Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod's household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.

The Parable of the Sower

And when a great crowd was gathering and people from town after town came to him, he said in a parable: “A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell along the path and was trampled underfoot, and the birds of the air devoured it. And some fell on the rock, and as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up with it and choked it. And some fell into good soil and grew and yielded a hundredfold.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

The Purpose of the Parables

And when his disciples asked him what this parable meant, he said, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of God, but for others they are in parables, so that ‘seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.’ Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

Footnotes

[1] 140:5 Or they have spread cords as a net
[2] 140:8 Hebrew his
[3] 142:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term
[4] 141:6 Or When their judges fall into the hands of the Rock
[5] 141:7 The meaning of the Hebrew in verses 6, 7 is uncertain
[6] 141:8 Hebrew refuge; do not pour out my life!
[7] 143:9 One Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint; most Hebrew manuscripts To you I have covered
[8] 4:2 Or teaching
[9] 25:3 Greek him
[10] 8:3 Some manuscripts him

This reading plan is adapted from the Daily Office Lectionary found in The Book of Common Prayer.

October 9 (Proper 22): Ps. 131, 132, [133]; Ps. 134, 135; Micah 3:1-8; Acts 24:1-23; Luke 7:36-50 (ESV)

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 00:01:00 -0400

Psalm 131 (Listen)

I Have Calmed and Quieted My Soul

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

131:1 O LORD, my heart is not lifted up;
  my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
  too great and too marvelous for me.
But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
  like a weaned child with its mother;
  like a weaned child is my soul within me.

O Israel, hope in the LORD
from this time forth and forevermore.

Psalm 132 (Listen)

The LORD Has Chosen Zion

A Song of Ascents.

132:1 Remember, O LORD, in David's favor,
  all the hardships he endured,
how he swore to the LORD
  and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob,
“I will not enter my house
  or get into my bed,
I will not give sleep to my eyes
  or slumber to my eyelids,
until I find a place for the LORD,
  a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah;
we found it in the fields of Jaar.
“Let us go to his dwelling place;
let us worship at his footstool!”

Arise, O LORD, and go to your resting place,
  you and the ark of your might.
Let your priests be clothed with righteousness,
  and let your saints shout for joy.
For the sake of your servant David,
  do not turn away the face of your anointed one.

The LORD swore to David a sure oath
  from which he will not turn back:
“One of the sons of your body
  I will set on your throne.
If your sons keep my covenant
  and my testimonies that I shall teach them,
their sons also forever
  shall sit on your throne.”

For the LORD has chosen Zion;
  he has desired it for his dwelling place:
“This is my resting place forever;
  here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
I will abundantly bless her provisions;
  I will satisfy her poor with bread.
Her priests I will clothe with salvation,
  and her saints will shout for joy.
There I will make a horn to sprout for David;
  I have prepared a lamp for my anointed.
His enemies I will clothe with shame,
  but on him his crown will shine.”

Psalm 133 (Listen)

When Brothers Dwell in Unity

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

133:1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is
  when brothers dwell in unity!
It is like the precious oil on the head,
  running down on the beard,
on the beard of Aaron,
  running down on the collar of his robes!
It is like the dew of Hermon,
  which falls on the mountains of Zion!
For there the LORD has commanded the blessing,
  life forevermore.

Psalm 134 (Listen)

Come, Bless the LORD

A Song of Ascents.

134:1 Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD,
who stand by night in the house of the LORD!
Lift up your hands to the holy place
and bless the LORD!

May the LORD bless you from Zion,
he who made heaven and earth!

Psalm 135 (Listen)

Your Name, O LORD, Endures Forever

135:1 Praise the LORD!
Praise the name of the LORD,
  give praise, O servants of the LORD,
who stand in the house of the LORD,
  in the courts of the house of our God!
Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good;
  sing to his name, for it is pleasant!
For the LORD has chosen Jacob for himself,
  Israel as his own possession.

For I know that the LORD is great,
  and that our Lord is above all gods.
Whatever the LORD pleases, he does,
  in heaven and on earth,
  in the seas and all deeps.
He it is who makes the clouds rise at the end of the earth,
  who makes lightnings for the rain
  and brings forth the wind from his storehouses.

He it was who struck down the firstborn of Egypt,
  both of man and of beast;
who in your midst, O Egypt,
  sent signs and wonders
  against Pharaoh and all his servants;
who struck down many nations
  and killed mighty kings,
Sihon, king of the Amorites,
  and Og, king of Bashan,
  and all the kingdoms of Canaan,
and gave their land as a heritage,
  a heritage to his people Israel.

Your name, O LORD, endures forever,
your renown, O LORD, throughout all ages.
For the LORD will vindicate his people
and have compassion on his servants.

The idols of the nations are silver and gold,
  the work of human hands.
They have mouths, but do not speak;
  they have eyes, but do not see;
they have ears, but do not hear,
  nor is there any breath in their mouths.
Those who make them become like them,
  so do all who trust in them!

O house of Israel, bless the LORD!
  O house of Aaron, bless the LORD!
O house of Levi, bless the LORD!
  You who fear the LORD, bless the LORD!
Blessed be the LORD from Zion,
  he who dwells in Jerusalem!
Praise the LORD!

Micah 3:1-8 (Listen)

Rulers and Prophets Denounced

3:1 And I said:
Hear, you heads of Jacob
  and rulers of the house of Israel!
Is it not for you to know justice?—
  you who hate the good and love the evil,
who tear the skin from off my people
  and their flesh from off their bones,
who eat the flesh of my people,
  and flay their skin from off them,
and break their bones in pieces
  and chop them up like meat in a pot,
  like flesh in a cauldron.

Then they will cry to the LORD,
but he will not answer them;
he will hide his face from them at that time,
because they have made their deeds evil.

Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets
  who lead my people astray,
who cry “Peace”
  when they have something to eat,
but declare war against him
  who puts nothing into their mouths.
Therefore it shall be night to you, without vision,
  and darkness to you, without divination.
The sun shall go down on the prophets,
  and the day shall be black over them;
the seers shall be disgraced,
  and the diviners put to shame;
they shall all cover their lips,
  for there is no answer from God.
But as for me, I am filled with power,
  with the Spirit of the LORD,
  and with justice and might,
to declare to Jacob his transgression
  and to Israel his sin.

Acts 24:1-23 (Listen)

Paul Before Felix at Caesarea

24:1 And after five days the high priest Ananias came down with some elders and a spokesman, one Tertullus. They laid before the governor their case against Paul. And when he had been summoned, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying:

“Since through you we enjoy much peace, and since by your foresight, most excellent Felix, reforms are being made for this nation, in every way and everywhere we accept this with all gratitude. But, to detain you no further, I beg you in your kindness to hear us briefly. For we have found this man a plague, one who stirs up riots among all the Jews throughout the world and is a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes. He even tried to profane the temple, but we seized him. By examining him yourself you will be able to find out from him about everything of which we accuse him.”

The Jews also joined in the charge, affirming that all these things were so.

And when the governor had nodded to him to speak, Paul replied:

“Knowing that for many years you have been a judge over this nation, I cheerfully make my defense. You can verify that it is not more than twelve days since I went up to worship in Jerusalem, and they did not find me disputing with anyone or stirring up a crowd, either in the temple or in the synagogues or in the city. Neither can they prove to you what they now bring up against me. But this I confess to you, that according to the Way, which they call a sect, I worship the God of our fathers, believing everything laid down by the Law and written in the Prophets, having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man. Now after several years I came to bring alms to my nation and to present offerings. While I was doing this, they found me purified in the temple, without any crowd or tumult. But some Jews from Asia— they ought to be here before you and to make an accusation, should they have anything against me. Or else let these men themselves say what wrongdoing they found when I stood before the council, other than this one thing that I cried out while standing among them: ‘It is with respect to the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial before you this day.’”

Paul Kept in Custody

But Felix, having a rather accurate knowledge of the Way, put them off, saying, “When Lysias the tribune comes down, I will decide your case.” Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs.

Luke 7:36-50 (Listen)

A Sinful Woman Forgiven

One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and took his place at the table. And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”

“A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Footnotes

[1] 132:11 Hebrew of your fruit of the womb
[2] 133:1 Or dwell together
[3] 135:3 Or for he is beautiful
[4] 135:13 Or remembrance
[5] 3:2 Hebrew from off them
[6] 24:4 Or weary
[7] 24:6 Some manuscripts add and we would have judged him according to our law. 7But the chief captain Lysias came and with great violence took him out of our hands, 8commanding his accusers to come before you.
[8] 7:49 Or to

This reading plan is adapted from the Daily Office Lectionary found in The Book of Common Prayer.

October 8 (Proper 22): Ps. 119:145-176; Ps. 128, 129, 130; Micah 2:1-13; Acts 23:23-35; Luke 7:18-35 (ESV)

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:01:00 -0400

Psalm 119:145-176 (Listen)

Qoph

With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O LORD!
  I will keep your statutes.
I call to you; save me,
  that I may observe your testimonies.
I rise before dawn and cry for help;
  I hope in your words.
My eyes are awake before the watches of the night,
  that I may meditate on your promise.
Hear my voice according to your steadfast love;
  O LORD, according to your justice give me life.
They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose;
  they are far from your law.
But you are near, O LORD,
  and all your commandments are true.
Long have I known from your testimonies
  that you have founded them forever.

Resh

Look on my affliction and deliver me,
  for I do not forget your law.
Plead my cause and redeem me;
  give me life according to your promise!
Salvation is far from the wicked,
  for they do not seek your statutes.
Great is your mercy, O LORD;
  give me life according to your rules.
Many are my persecutors and my adversaries,
  but I do not swerve from your testimonies.
I look at the faithless with disgust,
  because they do not keep your commands.
Consider how I love your precepts!
  Give me life according to your steadfast love.
The sum of your word is truth,
  and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.

Sin and Shin

Princes persecute me without cause,
  but my heart stands in awe of your words.
I rejoice at your word
  like one who finds great spoil.
I hate and abhor falsehood,
  but I love your law.
Seven times a day I praise you
  for your righteous rules.
Great peace have those who love your law;
  nothing can make them stumble.
I hope for your salvation, O LORD,
  and I do your commandments.
My soul keeps your testimonies;
  I love them exceedingly.
I keep your precepts and testimonies,
  for all my ways are before you.

Taw

Let my cry come before you, O LORD;
  give me understanding according to your word!
Let my plea come before you;
  deliver me according to your word.
My lips will pour forth praise,
  for you teach me your statutes.
My tongue will sing of your word,
  for all your commandments are right.
Let your hand be ready to help me,
  for I have chosen your precepts.
I long for your salvation, O LORD,
  and your law is my delight.
Let my soul live and praise you,
  and let your rules help me.
I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant,
  for I do not forget your commandments.

Psalm 128 (Listen)

Blessed Is Everyone Who Fears the LORD

A Song of Ascents.

128:1 Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD,
who walks in his ways!
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;
you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.

Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
  within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
  around your table.
Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
  who fears the LORD.

The LORD bless you from Zion!
  May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
  all the days of your life!
May you see your children's children!
  Peace be upon Israel!

Psalm 129 (Listen)

They Have Afflicted Me from My Youth

A Song of Ascents.

129:1 “Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth”—
  let Israel now say—
“Greatly have they afflicted me from my youth,
  yet they have not prevailed against me.
The plowers plowed upon my back;
  they made long their furrows.”
The LORD is righteous;
  he has cut the cords of the wicked.
May all who hate Zion
  be put to shame and turned backward!
Let them be like the grass on the housetops,
  which withers before it grows up,
with which the reaper does not fill his hand
  nor the binder of sheaves his arms,
nor do those who pass by say,
  “The blessing of the LORD be upon you!
  We bless you in the name of the LORD!”

Psalm 130 (Listen)

My Soul Waits for the Lord

A Song of Ascents.

130:1 Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD!
O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive
to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

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

I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
  and in his word I hope;
my soul waits for the Lord
  more than watchmen for the morning,
  more than watchmen for the morning.

O Israel, hope in the LORD!
  For with the LORD there is steadfast love,
  and with him is plentiful redemption.
And he will redeem Israel
  from all his iniquities.

Micah 2 (Listen)

Woe to the Oppressors

2:1 Woe to those who devise wickedness
  and work evil on their beds!
When the morning dawns, they perform it,
  because it is in the power of their hand.
They covet fields and seize them,
  and houses, and take them away;
they oppress a man and his house,
  a man and his inheritance.
Therefore thus says the LORD:
behold, against this family I am devising disaster,
  from which you cannot remove your necks,
and you shall not walk haughtily,
  for it will be a time of disaster.
In that day they shall take up a taunt song against you
  and moan bitterly,
and say, “We are utterly ruined;
  he changes the portion of my people;
how he removes it from me!
  To an apostate he allots our fields.”
Therefore you will have none to cast the line by lot
  in the assembly of the LORD.

“Do not preach”—thus they preach—
  “one should not preach of such things;
  disgrace will not overtake us.”
Should this be said, O house of Jacob?
  Has the LORD grown impatient?
  Are these his deeds?
Do not my words do good
  to him who walks uprightly?
But lately my people have risen up as an enemy;
you strip the rich robe from those who pass by trustingly
  with no thought of war.
The women of my people you drive out
  from their delightful houses;
from their young children you take away
  my splendor forever.
Arise and go,
  for this is no place to rest,
because of uncleanness that destroys
  with a grievous destruction.
If a man should go about and utter wind and lies,
  saying, “I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,”
  he would be the preacher for this people!
I will surely assemble all of you, O Jacob;
  I will gather the remnant of Israel;
I will set them together
  like sheep in a fold,
like a flock in its pasture,
  a noisy multitude of men.
He who opens the breach goes up before them;
  they break through and pass the gate,
  going out by it.
Their king passes on before them,
  the LORD at their head.

Acts 23:23-35 (Listen)

Paul Sent to Felix the Governor

Then he called two of the centurions and said, “Get ready two hundred soldiers, with seventy horsemen and two hundred spearmen to go as far as Caesarea at the third hour of the night. Also provide mounts for Paul to ride and bring him safely to Felix the governor.” And he wrote a letter to this effect:

“Claudius Lysias, to his Excellency the governor Felix, greetings. This man was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them when I came upon them with the soldiers and rescued him, having learned that he was a Roman citizen. And desiring to know the charge for which they were accusing him, I brought him down to their council. I found that he was being accused about questions of their law, but charged with nothing deserving death or imprisonment. And when it was disclosed to me that there would be a plot against the man, I sent him to you at once, ordering his accusers also to state before you what they have against him.”

So the soldiers, according to their instructions, took Paul and brought him by night to Antipatris. And on the next day they returned to the barracks, letting the horsemen go on with him. When they had come to Caesarea and delivered the letter to the governor, they presented Paul also before him. On reading the letter, he asked what province he was from. And when he learned that he was from Cilicia, he said, “I will give you a hearing when your accusers arrive.” And he commanded him to be guarded in Herod's praetorium.

Luke 7:18-35 (Listen)

Messengers from John the Baptist

The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John, calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?” And when the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptist has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?’” In that hour he healed many people of diseases and plagues and evil spirits, and on many who were blind he bestowed sight. And he answered them, “Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.”

When John's messengers had gone, Jesus began to speak to the crowds concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? A man dressed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are dressed in splendid clothing and live in luxury are in kings' courts. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is he of whom it is written,

“‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way before you.’

I tell you, among those born of women none is greater than John. Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.” (When all the people heard this, and the tax collectors too, they declared God just, having been baptized with the baptism of John, but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)

“To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another,

“‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’

For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by all her children.”

Footnotes

[1] 129:1 Or Often; also verse 2
[2] 2:3 The same Hebrew word can mean evil or disaster, depending on the context
[3] 2:7 Hebrew Has the spirit of the Lord grown short?
[4] 2:8 Or returning from war
[5] 23:23 That is, 9 p.m.
[6] 7:22 Leprosy was a term for several skin diseases; see Leviticus 13
[7] 7:24 Greek he
[8] 7:29 Greek they justified God

This reading plan is adapted from the Daily Office Lectionary found in The Book of Common Prayer.

October 7 (Proper 22): Ps. [120], 121, 122, 123; Ps. 124, 125, 126, [127]; Micah 1:1-9; Acts 23:12-24; Luke 7:1-17 (ESV)

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:01:00 -0400

Psalm 120 (Listen)

Deliver Me, O LORD

A Song of Ascents.

120:1 In my distress I called to the LORD,
  and he answered me.
Deliver me, O LORD,
  from lying lips,
  from a deceitful tongue.

What shall be given to you,
  and what more shall be done to you,
  you deceitful tongue?
A warrior's sharp arrows,
  with glowing coals of the broom tree!

Woe to me, that I sojourn in Meshech,
  that I dwell among the tents of Kedar!
Too long have I had my dwelling
  among those who hate peace.
I am for peace,
  but when I speak, they are for war!

Psalm 121 (Listen)

My Help Comes from the LORD

A Song of Ascents.

121:1 I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is your keeper;
the LORD is your shade on your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all evil;
  he will keep your life.
The LORD will keep
  your going out and your coming in
  from this time forth and forevermore.

Psalm 122 (Listen)

Let Us Go to the House of the LORD

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

122:1 I was glad when they said to me,
“Let us go to the house of the LORD!”
Our feet have been standing
within your gates, O Jerusalem!

Jerusalem—built as a city
  that is bound firmly together,
to which the tribes go up,
  the tribes of the LORD,
as was decreed for Israel,
  to give thanks to the name of the LORD.
There thrones for judgment were set,
  the thrones of the house of David.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
  “May they be secure who love you!
Peace be within your walls
  and security within your towers!”
For my brothers and companions' sake
  I will say, “Peace be within you!”
For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,
  I will seek your good.

Psalm 123 (Listen)

Our Eyes Look to the LORD Our God

A Song of Ascents.

123:1 To you I lift up my eyes,
  O you who are enthroned in the heavens!
Behold, as the eyes of servants
  look to the hand of their master,
as the eyes of a maidservant
  to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the LORD our God,
  till he has mercy upon us.

Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us,
  for we have had more than enough of contempt.
Our soul has had more than enough
  of the scorn of those who are at ease,
  of the contempt of the proud.

Psalm 124 (Listen)

Our Help Is in the Name of the LORD

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

124:1 If it had not been the LORD who was on our side—
  let Israel now say—
if it had not been the LORD who was on our side
  when people rose up against us,
then they would have swallowed us up alive,
  when their anger was kindled against us;
then the flood would have swept us away,
  the torrent would have gone over us;
then over us would have gone
  the raging waters.

Blessed be the LORD,
  who has not given us
  as prey to their teeth!
We have escaped like a bird
  from the snare of the fowlers;
the snare is broken,
  and we have escaped!

Our help is in the name of the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 125 (Listen)

The LORD Surrounds His People

A Song of Ascents.

125:1 Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,
  which cannot be moved, but abides forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
  so the LORD surrounds his people,
  from this time forth and forevermore.
For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest
  on the land allotted to the righteous,
lest the righteous stretch out
  their hands to do wrong.
Do good, O LORD, to those who are good,
  and to those who are upright in their hearts!
But those who turn aside to their crooked ways
  the LORD will lead away with evildoers!
  Peace be upon Israel!

Psalm 126 (Listen)

Restore Our Fortunes, O LORD

A Song of Ascents.

126:1 When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion,
  we were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
  and our tongue with shouts of joy;
then they said among the nations,
  “The LORD has done great things for them.”
The LORD has done great things for us;
  we are glad.

Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
  like streams in the Negeb!
Those who sow in tears
  shall reap with shouts of joy!
He who goes out weeping,
  bearing the seed for sowing,
shall come home with shouts of joy,
  bringing his sheaves with him.

Psalm 127 (Listen)

Unless the LORD Builds the House

A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.

127:1 Unless the LORD builds the house,
  those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
  the watchman stays awake in vain.
It is in vain that you rise up early
  and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
  for he gives to his beloved sleep.

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
  the fruit of the womb a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
  are the children of one's youth.
Blessed is the man
  who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
  when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

Micah 1:1-9 (Listen)

1:1 The word of the LORD that came to Micah of Moresheth in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, which he saw concerning Samaria and Jerusalem.

The Coming Destruction

Hear, you peoples, all of you;
  pay attention, O earth, and all that is in it,
and let the Lord GOD be a witness against you,
  the Lord from his holy temple.
For behold, the LORD is coming out of his place,
  and will come down and tread upon the high places of the earth.
And the mountains will melt under him,
  and the valleys will split open,
like wax before the fire,
  like waters poured down a steep place.
All this is for the transgression of Jacob
  and for the sins of the house of Israel.
What is the transgression of Jacob?
  Is it not Samaria?
And what is the high place of Judah?
  Is it not Jerusalem?
Therefore I will make Samaria a heap in the open country,
  a place for planting vineyards,
and I will pour down her stones into the valley
  and uncover her foundations.
All her carved images shall be beaten to pieces,
  all her wages shall be burned with fire,
  and all her idols I will lay waste,
for from the fee of a prostitute she gathered them,
  and to the fee of a prostitute they shall return.

For this I will lament and wail;
  I will go stripped and naked;
I will make lamentation like the jackals,
  and mourning like the ostriches.
For her wound is incurable,
  and it has come to Judah;
it has reached to the gate of my people,
  to Jerusalem.

Acts 23:12-24 (Listen)

A Plot to Kill Paul

When it was day, the Jews made a plot and bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they had killed Paul. There were more than forty who made this conspiracy. They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have strictly bound ourselves by an oath to taste no food till we have killed Paul. Now therefore you, along with the council, give notice to the tribune to bring him down to you, as though you were going to determine his case more exactly. And we are ready to kill him before he comes near.”

Now the son of Paul's sister heard of their ambush, so he went and entered the barracks and told Paul. Paul called one of the centurions and said, “Take this young man to the tribune, for he has something to tell him.” So he took him and brought him to the tribune and said, “Paul the prisoner called me and asked me to bring this young man to you, as he has something to say to you.” The tribune took him by the hand, and going aside asked him privately, “What is it that you have to tell me?” And he said, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul down to the council tomorrow, as though they were going to inquire somewhat more closely about him. But do not be persuaded by them, for more than forty of their men are lying in ambush for him, who have bound themselves by an oath neither to eat nor drink till they have killed him. And now they are ready, waiting for your consent.” So the tribune dismissed the young man, charging him, “Tell no one that you have informed me of these things.”

Paul Sent to Felix the Governor

Luke 7:1-17 (Listen)

Jesus Heals a Centurion's Servant

7:1 After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.” And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.

Jesus Raises a Widow's Son

Soon afterward he went to a town called Nain, and his disciples and a great crowd went with him. As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then he came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And he said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.

Footnotes

[1] 122:4 Or as a testimony for
[2] 127:4 Or sons
[3] 127:5 Or They shall not be put to shame when they speak with their enemies in the gate
[4] 1:2 Hebrew all of them
[5] 23:23 That is, 9 p.m.
[6] 7:2 Greek bondservant; also verses 3, 8, 10
[7] 7:3 Greek he
[8] 7:11 Some manuscripts The next day
[9] 7:15 Greek he

This reading plan is adapted from the Daily Office Lectionary found in The Book of Common Prayer.