Thursday, June 20, 2019

The Daily Lectionary for FRIDAY, June 21, 2019

The Promise to Abraham

The Daily Lectionary
FRIDAY, June 21, 2019
(Revised Common Lectionary Year C)

Psalm 22:19-28
19 But you, O Lord, do not be far away!
     O my help, come quickly to my aid!
20 Deliver my soul from the sword,
     my life from the power of the dog!
21   Save me from the mouth of the lion!

   From the horns of the wild oxen you have rescued me.
22 I will tell of your name to my brothers and sisters;
     in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:
23 You who fear the Lord, praise him!
     All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him;
     stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!
24 For he did not despise or abhor
     the affliction of the afflicted;
   he did not hide his face from me,
     but heard when I cried to him.

25 From you comes my praise in the great congregation;
     my vows I will pay before those who fear him.
26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied;
     those who seek him shall praise the Lord.
     May your hearts live forever!

27 All the ends of the earth shall remember
     and turn to the Lord;
   and all the families of the nations
     shall worship before him.
28 For dominion belongs to the Lord,
     and he rules over the nations.

Isaiah 57:1-13
Israel’s Futile Idolatry
57:1 The righteous perish,
     and no one takes it to heart;
   the devout are taken away,
     while no one understands.
   For the righteous are taken away from calamity,
2    and they enter into peace;
   those who walk uprightly
     will rest on their couches.
3  But as for you, come here,
     you children of a sorceress,
     you offspring of an adulterer and a whore.
4  Whom are you mocking?
     Against whom do you open your mouth wide
     and stick out your tongue?
   Are you not children of transgression,
     the offspring of deceit—
5  you that burn with lust among the oaks,
     under every green tree;
   you that slaughter your children in the valleys,
     under the clefts of the rocks?
6  Among the smooth stones of the valley is your portion;
     they, they, are your lot;
   to them you have poured out a drink offering,
     you have brought a grain offering.
     Shall I be appeased for these things?
7  Upon a high and lofty mountain
     you have set your bed,
     and there you went up to offer sacrifice.
8  Behind the door and the doorpost
     you have set up your symbol;
   for, in deserting me, you have uncovered your bed,
     you have gone up to it,
     you have made it wide;
   and you have made a bargain for yourself with them,
     you have loved their bed,
     you have gazed on their nakedness.
9  You journeyed to Molech with oil,
     and multiplied your perfumes;
   you sent your envoys far away,
     and sent down even to Sheol.
10 You grew weary from your many wanderings,
     but you did not say, “It is useless.”
   You found your desire rekindled,
     and so you did not weaken.

11 Whom did you dread and fear
     so that you lied,
   and did not remember me
     or give me a thought?
   Have I not kept silent and closed my eyes,
     and so you do not fear me?
12 I will concede your righteousness and your works,
     but they will not help you.
13 When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you!
     The wind will carry them off,
     a breath will take them away.
   But whoever takes refuge in me shall possess the land
     and inherit my holy mountain.

Galatians 3:15-22
The Promise to Abraham
3:15 Brothers and sisters, I give an example from daily life: once a person’s will has been ratified, no one adds to it or annuls it. 16 Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring; it does not say, “And to offsprings,” as of many; but it says, “And to your offspring,” that is, to one person, who is Christ. 17 My point is this: the law, which came four hundred thirty years later, does not annul a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. 18 For if the inheritance comes from the law, it no longer comes from the promise; but God granted it to Abraham through the promise.

The Purpose of the Law
19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring would come to whom the promise had been made; and it was ordained through angels by a mediator. 20 Now a mediator involves more than one party; but God is one.

21 Is the law then opposed to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could make alive, then righteousness would indeed come through the law. 22 But the scripture has imprisoned all things under the power of sin, so that what was promised through faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

Optional parts of the readings are set off in [square brackets.]

The Bible texts of the Old Testament, Epistle and Gospel lessons are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Church of Christ in the USA, and used by permission.

The Daily Lectionary is a three year cyclical lectionary. We are currently in Year C. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2019, we will be in Year A. The year which ended at Advent 2018 was Year B. These readings complement the Sunday and festival readings: Thursday through Saturday readings help prepare the reader for the Sunday ahead; Monday through Wednesday readings help the reader reflect and digest on what they heard in worship. Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org
The Promise to Abraham: Once a person’s will has been ratified, no one adds to it or annuls it.

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