The Daily Bible Readings for Friday, December 16, 2022

The Daily Bible Readings

Friday, December 16, 2022

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; 2 Samuel 7:18-22; Galatians 4:1-7

(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions

Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19
Qui regis Israel

Leader: Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph like a flock;
People: shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the cherubim.

Leader: In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh,
People: stir up your strength and come to help us.

Leader: Restore us, O God of hosts;
People: show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

Leader: O LORD God of hosts,
People: how long will you be angered despite the prayers of your people?

Leader: You have fed them with the bread of tears;
People: you have given them bowls of tears to drink.

Leader: You have made us the derision of our neighbors,
People: and our enemies laugh us to scorn.

Leader: Restore us, O God of hosts;
People: show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

Leader: And so will we never turn away from you;
People: give us life, that we may call upon your Name.

Leader: Restore us, O LORD God of hosts;
People: show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

Heavenly Father, we live in troubling times, and we do not know what tomorrow will bring. You have told us not to worry, but to live one day at a time. You have told us to trust in You as we pray for our daily needs. Even so, You showed Joseph how to prepare and save for the future, so we pray that You would show us what to do as well. Increase our faith in Jesus Christ and the future He has promised, even as we pray in His name:

“Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.”

2 Samuel 7:18-22

(David prays for God’s faithfulness toward Israel)

David’s Prayer
7:18 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? 19 And yet this was a small thing in your eyes, O Lord God; you have spoken also of your servant’s house for a great while to come. May this be instruction for the people, O Lord God! 20 And what more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Lord God! 21 Because of your promise, and according to your own heart, you have wrought all this greatness, so that your servant may know it. 22 Therefore you are great, O Lord God; for there is no one like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

Galatians 4:1-7

(God’s Son sent in the fullness of time)

4:1 My point is this: heirs, as long as they are minors, are no better than slaves, though they are the owners of all the property; 2 but they remain under guardians and trustees until the date set by the father. 3 So with us; while we were minors, we were enslaved to the elemental spirits of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 in order to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. 6 And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave but a child, and if a child then also an heir, through God.

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 A. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2023, we will be in Year B. The year which ended at Advent 2022 was Year A. 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 Daily Bible Readings for Friday, December 16, 2022
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; 2 Samuel 7:18-22; Galatians 4:1-7