The Daily Lectionary for Friday, July 21, 2023

 

The Daily Lectionary
Friday, July 21, 2023
Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24; Ezekiel 39:21-29; Hebrews 6:13-20
(Revised Common Lectionary Year A)
  (Semi-continuous Reading Plan)

A Psalm and A Prayer
Responsive Readings from the Psalms and Prayers
for Public Worship and Private Devotions
Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24
You have searched me and known me
Domine, probasti

LORD, you have searched me out and known me; *
  you know my sitting down and my rising up;
    you discern my thoughts from afar.

You trace my journeys and my resting-places *
  and are acquainted with all my ways.

Indeed, there is not a word on my lips, *
  but you, O LORD, know it altogether.

You press upon me behind and before *
  and lay your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; *
  it is so high that I cannot attain to it.

Where can I go then from your Spirit? *
  where can I flee from your presence?

If I climb up to heaven, you are there; *
  if I make the grave my bed, you are there also.

If I take the wings of the morning *
  and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

Even there your hand will lead me *
  and your right hand hold me fast.

If I say, “Surely the darkness will cover me, *
  and the light around me turn to night,”

Darkness is not dark to you;
    the night is as bright as the day; *
  darkness and light to you are both alike.

Search me out, O God, and know my heart; *
  try me and know my restless thoughts.

Look well whether there be any wickedness in me *
  and lead me in the way that is everlasting.

Heavenly Father, You created us and watch over us as a loving parent cares for a child. Help us to always walk in Your ways and praise Your name as we pray in the Name of Jesus Christ, who taught us to pray in the power of Your Spirit,

“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.”

Ezekiel 39:21-29
I will restore the fortunes of Jacob

“I will display my glory among the nations, and all the nations will see the punishment I inflict and the hand I lay on them. From that day forward the people of Israel will know that I am the Lord their God. And the nations will know that the people of Israel went into exile for their sin, because they were unfaithful to me. So I hid my face from them and handed them over to their enemies, and they all fell by the sword. I dealt with them according to their uncleanness and their offenses, and I hid my face from them.

“Therefore this is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will now restore the fortunes of Jacob and will have compassion on all the people of Israel, and I will be zealous for my holy name. They will forget their shame and all the unfaithfulness they showed toward me when they lived in safety in their land with no one to make them afraid. When I have brought them back from the nations and have gathered them from the countries of their enemies, I will be proved holy through them in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the Lord their God, for though I sent them into exile among the nations, I will gather them to their own land, not leaving any behind. I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the people of Israel, declares the Sovereign Lord.”

Hebrews 6:13-20
The certainty of God’s promises

When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.

People swear by someone greater than themselves, and the oath confirms what is said and puts an end to all argument. Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath. God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

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. Responsive Readings from the Common Book of Prayer (1789).

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 Lectionary for Friday, July 21, 2023
Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24; Ezekiel 39:21-29; Hebrews 6:13-20