The Daily Bible Readings for Saturday, December 31, 2022

 

The Daily Bible Readings
Saturday, December 31, 2022
Psalm 20; 1 Kings 3:5-14; John 8:12-19
(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)

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

Psalm 20
Exaudiat te Dominus

Leader: May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble,
People: the Name of the God of Jacob defend you;

Leader: Send you help from his holy place
People: and strengthen you out of Zion;

Leader: Remember all your offerings
People: and accept your burnt sacrifice;

Leader: Grant you your heart’s desire
People: and prosper all your plans.

Leader: We will shout for joy at your victory and triumph in the Name of our God;
People: may the LORD grant all your requests.

Leader: Now I know that the LORD gives victory to his anointed;
People: he will answer him out of his holy heaven, with the victorious strength of his right hand.

Leader: Some put their trust in chariots and some in horses,
People: but we will call upon the Name of the LORD our God.

Leader: They collapse and fall down,
People: but we will arise and stand upright.

Leader: O LORD, give victory to the king
People: and answer us when we call.

O Lord Jesus, risen from the dead and reigning from on high, hear our prayers this day. We praise You for Your mighty deeds in our behalf. We humbly thank You for bearing Your cross for us. Empower us to bear our cross in behalf of others, that we might share the gospel message with them. Fill us with Your Spirit, that others might see Your love for them in the way we live each day. As Christians, we feel honored to bear Your holy name. Help us to bring You honor by the way we treat You and others. And now we pray once again the prayer You taught us:

“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.”

1 Kings 3:5-14
(God grants a discerning mind)

3:5 At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, “Ask for whatever you want me to give you.”

6 Solomon answered, “You have shown great kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him a son to sit on his throne this very day.

7 “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”

10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 13 Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both wealth and honor—so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. 14 And if you walk in obedience to me and keep my decrees and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.”

John 8:12-19
(I am the light)

Dispute Over Jesus’ Testimony

8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

13 The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.”

14 Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. 15 You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. 16 But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. 17 In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. 18 I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me.”

19 Then they asked him, “Where is your father?”

“You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.”

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 Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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 Saturday, December 31, 2022
Psalm 20; 1 Kings 3:5-14; John 8:12-19