Sunday, February 6, 2022

The Sunday Bible Readings and Prayers for Sunday, February 6, 2022 — Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

 

The Sunday Bible Readings and Prayers
Sunday, February 6, 2022
Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
Isaiah 6:1-8 [9-13]; Psalm 138; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Luke 5:1-11
with commentaries from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible

Evangelism—Here I Am Lord

Introduction & Theme

Quite often, we feel inadequate to answer the call of God. Just as Jesus is about to call Simon Peter as one of his closest followers, Peter exclaims “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8). Paul confesses in 1 Corinthians 15: “For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God” (v. 9). Similarly, Isaiah cried out to God: “Woe to me! I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lip.” After grace has been given to Isaiah by a seraph, God asks, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” to which Isaiah responds, “Here I am; send me” (Isa 6:5, 8). In this collection of scriptures, we sense that God’s call transcends our past actions and our shame. These texts nudge us to see our calling through the lens of God’s grace.

Opening Prayer
(Isaiah 6, Luke 5, 1 Corinthians 15)

Divine Deliverer of compassion, you call us to follow your voice. “Whom shall I send?” you asked us. With hearts of hope and souls filled with courage, we respond, “Here I am. Send me.” You evaporate our shame, and joyously embrace our authentic selves. May we continue to open ourselves to you, and may we embrace our full humanity as you do. Amen.

Call to Confession
(Luke 5, Isaiah 6)

Too often, we have clung to thoughts that we are too sinful for you. Too often, we have fused our shameful pasts with a closed future. From these beliefs, we condemn ourselves to an outlook without hope. “Go away from me!” we exclaim like Peter. “I am way too lost,” we think like Isaiah. But you have something different in mind. You see us as so much more. You see our divine image, and our creator-bestowed gifts. Save us from our negative self-talk, that we may embrace your calling for our lives. Amen.

Assurance of Pardon
(1 Corinthians 15)

The grace of God has molded us throughout our lives and will continue to do so until our final breath. God’s grace is never in vain. Even as God embraces our past, God moves us into the future—a future filled with hope, and the fulfillment of dreams.

Today’s Verse-of-the-Day:
Proverbs 21:21

Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.
It is possible that these three ideas go together to mean “a more abundant life.” The pursuit of righteousness is its own reward. But added rewards are found in fullness of life, achieving righteousness, and receiving honor. All these things are gifts from the Lord.

Today’s Lectionary Readings:
From the Prophetic Books of Major Prophets
Isaiah 6:1-8 [9-13]
Send Me

6:1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord, high and exalted, seated on a throne; and the train of his robe filled the temple. 2 Above him were seraphim, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. 3 And they were calling to one another:

  “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty;
     the whole earth is full of his glory.”

4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.

5 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”

6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 With it he touched my mouth and said, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for.”

8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

[
9 He said, “Go and tell this people:

   “‘Be ever hearing, but never understanding;
      be ever seeing, but never perceiving.’
10 Make the heart of this people calloused;
      make their ears dull
      and close their eyes.
   Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
      hear with their ears,
      understand with their hearts,
   and turn and be healed.”

11 Then I said, “For how long, Lord?”

And he answered:

   “Until the cities lie ruined
      and without inhabitant,
   until the houses are left deserted
      and the fields ruined and ravaged,
12 until the Lord has sent everyone far away
      and the land is utterly forsaken.
13 And though a tenth remains in the land,
      it will again be laid waste.
   But as the terebinth and oak
      leave stumps when they are cut down,
      so the holy seed will be the stump in the land.”]


Commentary

The vision which Isaiah beheld in the temple (vv. 1-8). The Lord declares the blindness to come upon the Jewish nation, and the destruction which would follow (vv. 9-13).

Verses 1-8: In this figurative vision, the temple is thrown open to view, even to the most holy place. The prophet, standing outside the temple, sees the Divine Presence seated on the mercy-seat, raised over the ark of the covenant, between the cherubim and seraphim, and the Divine glory filled the whole temple. See God upon his throne. This vision is explained, John 12:41, that Isaiah now saw Christ's glory, and spake of Him, which is a full proof that our Savior is God. In Christ Jesus, God is seated on a throne of grace; and through him the way into the holiest is laid open. See God's temple, his church on earth, filled with his glory. His train, the skirts of his robes, filled the temple, the whole world, for it is all God's temple. And yet he dwells in every contrite heart. See the blessed attendants by whom his government is served. Above the throne stood the holy angels, called seraphim, which means "burners;" they burn in love to God, and zeal for his glory against sin. The seraphim showing their faces veiled, declares that they are ready to yield obedience to all God's commands, though they do not understand the secret reasons of his counsels, government, or promises. All vain-glory, ambition, ignorance, and pride, would be done away by one view of Christ in his glory. This awful vision of the Divine Majesty overwhelmed the prophet with a sense of his own vileness. We are undone if there is not a Mediator between us and this holy God. A glimpse of heavenly glory is enough to convince us that all our righteousness are as filthy rags. Nor is there a man that would dare to speak to the Lord, if he saw the justice, holiness, and majesty of God, without discerning his glorious mercy and grace in Jesus Christ. The live coal may denote the assurance given to the prophet, of pardon, and acceptance in his work, through the atonement of Christ. Nothing is powerful to cleanse and comfort the soul, but what is taken from Christ's satisfaction and intercession. The taking away sin is necessary to our speaking with confidence and comfort, either to God in prayer, or from God in preaching; and those shall have their sin taken away who complain of it as a burden, and see themselves in danger of being undone by it. It is great comfort to those whom God sends, that they go for God, and may therefore speak in his name, assured that he will bear them out.

Verses 9-13: God sends Isaiah to foretell the ruin of his people. Many hear the sound of God's word, but do not feel the power of it. God sometimes, in righteous judgment, gives men up to blindness of mind, because they will not receive the truth in the love of it. But no humble inquirer after Christ, need to fear this awful doom, which is a spiritual judgment on those who will still hold fast their sins. Let every one pray for the enlightening of the Holy Spirit, that he may perceive how precious are the Divine mercies, by which alone we are secured against this dreadful danger. Yet the Lord would preserve a remnant, like the tenth, holy to him. And blessed be God, he still preserves his church; however professors or visible churches may be lopped off as unfruitful, the holy seed will shoot forth, from whom all the numerous branches of righteousness shall arise.


From the Psalter
Psalm 138
I Will Bow Toward Your Holy Temple

1 I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
     before the “gods” I will sing your praise.
2 I will bow down toward your holy temple
     and will praise your name
     for your unfailing love and your faithfulness,
  for you have so exalted your solemn decree
     that it surpasses your fame.
3 When I called, you answered me;
     you greatly emboldened me.

4 May all the kings of the earth praise you, Lord,
     when they hear what you have decreed.
5 May they sing of the ways of the Lord,
     for the glory of the Lord is great.

6 Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly;
     though lofty, he sees them from afar.
7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
     you preserve my life.
  You stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes;
     with your right hand you save me.
8 The Lord will vindicate me;
     your love, Lord, endures forever—
     do not abandon the works of your hands.


Commentary

The psalmist praises God for answering prayer (vv. 1-5). The Lord's dealing with the humble and the proud (vv. 6-8).

Verses 1-5: When we can praise God with our whole heart, we need not be unwilling for the whole world to witness our gratitude and joy in him. Those who rely on his loving-kindness and truth through Jesus Christ, will ever find him faithful to his word. If he spared not his own Son, how shall he not with him freely give us all things? If God gives us strength in our souls, to bear the burdens, resist the temptations, and to do the duties of an afflicted state, if he strengthens us to keep hold of himself by faith, and to wait with patience for the event, we are bound to be thankful.

Verses 6-8: Though the Lord is high, yet he has respect to every lowly, humbled sinner; but the proud and unbelieving will be banished far from his blissful presence. Divine consolations have enough in them to revive us, even when we walk in the midst of troubles. And God will save his own people that they may be revived by the Holy Spirit, the Giver of life and holiness. If we give to God the glory of his mercy, we may take to ourselves the comfort. This confidence will not do away, but quicken prayer. Whatever good there is in us, it is God works in us both to will and to do. The Lord will perfect the salvation of every true believer, and he will never forsake those whom he has created anew in Christ Jesus unto good works.


From the Epistles
1 Corinthians 15:1-11
I Am the Least of the Apostles

15:1 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. 11 Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed.

Commentary

The apostle proves the resurrection of Christ from the dead.

The word resurrection, usually points out our existence beyond the grave. Of the apostle's doctrine not a trace can be found in all the teaching of philosophers. The doctrine of Christ's death and resurrection, is the foundation of Christianity. Remove this, and all our hopes for eternity sink at once. And it is by holding this truth firm, that Christians stand in the day of trial, and are kept faithful to God. We believe in vain, unless we keep in the faith of the gospel. This truth is confirmed by Old Testament prophecies; and many saw Christ after he was risen. This apostle was highly favored, but he always had a low opinion of himself, and expressed it. When sinners are, by Divine grace, turned into saints, God causes the remembrance of former sins to make them humble, diligent, and faithful. He ascribes to Divine grace all that was valuable in him. True believers, though not ignorant of what the Lord has done for, in, and by them, yet when they look at their whole conduct and their obligations, they are led to feel that none are so worthless as they are. All true Christians believe that Jesus Christ, and him crucified, and then risen from the dead, is the sun and substance of Christianity. All the apostles agreed in this testimony; by this faith they lived, and in this faith they died.


Today’s Gospel Reading
Luke 5:1-11
Jesus Calls the Disciples to Fish For People

Luke 5:1-11

5:1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.

4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.

Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.”
11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Commentary

The miraculous draft of fishes, Peter, James, and John called.

When Christ had done preaching, he told Peter to apply to the business of his calling. Time spent on week days in public exercises of religion, need be but little hindrance in time, and may be great furtherance to us in temper of mind, as to our worldly business. With what cheerfulness may we go about the duties of our calling, when we have been with God, and thus have our worldly employments sanctified to us by the word and prayer! Though they had taken nothing, yet Christ told them to let down their nets again. We must not abruptly quit our callings because we have not the success in them we desire. We are likely to speed well, when we follow the guidance of Christ's word. The draft of fishes was by a miracle. We must all, like Peter, own ourselves to be sinful men, therefore Jesus Christ might justly depart from us. But we must beseech him that he would not depart; for woe unto us if the Savior depart from sinners! Rather let us entreat him to come and dwell in our hearts by faith, that he may transform and cleanse them. These fishermen forsook all, and followed Jesus, when their calling prospered. When riches increase, and we are tempted to set our hearts upon them, then to quit them for Christ is thankworthy.


Here end the Readings

The Nicene Creed

  • We believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible.
  • And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, begotten from the Father before all ages, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made; of the same essence as the Father. Through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven; he became incarnate by the Holy Spirit and the virgin Mary, and was made human. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate; he suffered and was buried. The third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead. His kingdom will never end.
  • And we believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life. He proceeds from the Father and the Son, and with the Father and the Son is worshiped and glorified. He spoke through the prophets. We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church. We affirm one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. We look forward to the resurrection of the dead, and to life in the world to come. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that 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, for ever and ever. Amen.

Holy Communion

A nondenominational serving of bread and wine
Though no video can truly replace the experience of celebrating together in our places of worship, we know that where two or more are gathered, the Lord is present. This table is open to all who recognize Jesus Christ as healer and redeemer. This table is open to all who work to bring God’s Kingdom here on earth. No one is turned away because of life circumstances. No one is barred from this table. No one seeking God’s abundant grace and mercy is turned aside. We see before us the abundance that a life of faith offers as we respond to God’s everlasting mercy in prayer and deed.

Benediction
(Psalm 138, Isaiah 6, Luke 5, 1 Corinthians 15)

Fellow children of God: Go forth, recognizing God’s grace on your journey. Go forth, discerning the Spirit’s calling in your life. Go forth, identifying the Christ as your guide. In this season of light, experience the steadfast love of God and sing the ways of our merciful Creator. Amen.

God is Holy—Isaiah 6:1-3


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

Today’s Lectionary Readings are selected from the Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, a three-year cyclical lectionary. We are currently in Year C. Beginning with the first Sunday of Advent in 2022, we will be in Year A. The year which ended at Advent 2021 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 what they heard in worship. Revised Common Lectionary Daily Readings, copyright © 2005 Consultation on Common Texts. www.commontexts.org. 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. Commentaries from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible.

The Morning Prayer for Sunday, February 6, 2022

 

The Morning Prayer
Sunday, February 6, 2022


I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.
Psalm 31:7, NIV


Dear Father in heaven, we come before your presence with thanksgiving and rejoice that you are with us on earth. Even though we have many struggles and temptations and even though problems crowd in upon us, we know that we are in your hands and that everything must go according to your will. Hold us securely in your hand. Help us to bear all that we find hard, for we know you are in control and you lead everything to a good end. The darker and more difficult it may seem, the more clearly your hand will reveal the victory in those whose lives are founded in eternity, whose lives cannot end in sorrow but will end in your glory. Amen.

Verse of the Day for Sunday, February 6, 2022

 

Verse of the Day
Sunday, February 6, 2022


Proverbs 21:21
Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.
It is possible that these three ideas go together to mean “a more abundant life.” The pursuit of righteousness is its own reward. But added rewards are found in fullness of life, achieving righteousness, and receiving honor. All these things are gifts from the Lord.

Read all of Proverbs Chapter 21

Listen to Proverbs Chapter 21


Scripture from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.

Our Daily Bread — Sweet Sleep

 

Sweet Sleep

When you lie down, you will not be afraid [and] your sleep will be sweet. Proverbs 3:24

READ Proverbs 3:19–24

When my friend Floss lies awake at night, she thinks about the lyrics of the hymn “My Jesus I Love Thee.” She calls it her “middle-of-the-night” song because it helps her to remember God’s promises and the many reasons she loves Him.

Sleep is a necessary—but sometimes elusive—part of life. At times we may sense the voice of the Holy Spirit bringing unconfessed sin to our mind. Or we begin worrying about our job, our relationships, our finances, our health, or our children. Soon a full-scale dystopian future starts running on a loop in our brain. We assume we nodded off for a bit, but when we look at the clock, we realize it’s been only moments since we last checked.

In Proverbs 3:19–24, King Solomon suggested that we can receive sleep benefits when we embrace God’s wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. In fact, he claimed, “They will be life for you . . . . When you lie down, you will not be afraid [and] your sleep will be sweet” (vv. 22, 24).

Maybe we all need a “middle-of-the-night” song, prayer, or Bible verse to softly whisper to help us shift our jumbled-up thoughts to a mind fully focused on God and His character. A clear conscience and a heart full of gratitude for God’s faithfulness and love can bring us sleep that’s sweet.

By Cindy Hess Kasper

REFLECT & PRAY


How might turning to God when you can’t sleep give you peace? What song, prayer, or Scripture can you meditate on to help you focus on God?

Dear God, thank You for loving me. Help me to focus on Your faithfulness instead of the worries of this life.

SCRIPTURE INSIGHT

The Bible uses imagery for creation that can seem strange to modern readers: The Old Testament describes the earth as sitting on foundation pillars (see 1 Samuel 2:8; Job 9:6; 38:4–11; Psalms 18:15–16; 75:3; Proverbs 8:22–29). Today, we might dismiss it as simply metaphorical. But to the original audiences, it showed that Yahweh was the true God.

The ancient world imagined cosmic geography not as planets orbiting the sun, but as a table-like Earth set on massive pillars above unfathomable waters of chaos. Above, a huge dome separated the dry land from those same waters above. And all of it—the earth, the waters, the sky—were the products of warring gods.

Proverbs 3:19–20 proclaims that God alone created the earth. And this same God—whose wisdom is seen in the majesty of creation—provides us with wisdom so we can navigate life in a way that honors Him.

Jed Ostoich