The Daily Bible Readings for Thursday, December 29, 2022

 

The Daily Bible Readings
Thursday, December 29, 2022
Psalm 20; Jeremiah 31:15-22; Luke 19:41-44
(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.”

Jeremiah 31:15-22
(Weeping in Ramah)

31:15 This is what the Lord says:

   “A voice is heard in Ramah,
      mourning and great weeping,
   Rachel weeping for her children
      and refusing to be comforted,
      because they are no more.”

16 This is what the Lord says:

   “Restrain your voice from weeping
      and your eyes from tears,
   for your work will be rewarded,”
      declares the Lord.
    “They will return from the land of the enemy.
17 So there is hope for your descendants,”
      declares the Lord.
    “Your children will return to their own land.

18 “I have surely heard Ephraim’s moaning:
      ‘You disciplined me like an unruly calf,
      and I have been disciplined.
   Restore me, and I will return,
      because you are the Lord my God.
19 After I strayed,
      I repented;
   after I came to understand,
      I beat my breast.
   I was ashamed and humiliated
      because I bore the disgrace of my youth.’
20 Is not Ephraim my dear son,
      the child in whom I delight?
   Though I often speak against him,
      I still remember him.
   Therefore my heart yearns for him;
      I have great compassion for him,”
        declares the Lord.

21 “Set up road signs;
      put up guideposts.
   Take note of the highway,
      the road that you take.
   Return, Virgin Israel,
      return to your towns.
22 How long will you wander,
      unfaithful Daughter Israel?
   The Lord will create a new thing on earth—
      the woman will return to the man.”

Luke 19:41-44
(Jesus weeps over Jerusalem)

19:41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”

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 Thursday, December 29, 2022
Psalm 20; Jeremiah 31:15-22; Luke 19:41-44