From trinitycamphill.org and sanctus.org:
Daily Readings:
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Complementary series (related to the lessons for the Sunday services)
Psalm 24
Psalm 24
1The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it;
2for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers.
3Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place?
4Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully.
5They will receive blessing from the Lord, and vindication from the God of their salvation.
6Such is the company of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah
7Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in.
8Who is the King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle.
9Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in.
10Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah
Isaiah 60:8-16
Isaiah 60:8-168Who are these that fly like a cloud, and like doves to their windows?
9For the coastlands shall wait for me, the ships of Tarshish first, to bring your children from far away, their silver and gold with them, for the name of the Lord your God, and for the Holy One of Israel, because he has glorified you. 10Foreigners shall build up your walls, and their kings shall minister to you; for in my wrath I struck you down, but in my favor I have had mercy on you. 11Your gates shall always be open; day and night they shall not be shut, so that nations shall bring you their wealth, with their kings led in procession. 12For the nation and kingdom that will not serve you shall perish; those nations shall be utterly laid waste. 13The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the cypress, the plane, and the pine, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will glorify where my feet rest. 14The descendants of those who oppressed you shall come bending low to you, and all who despised you shall bow down at your feet; they shall call you the City of the Lord, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.
15Whereas you have been forsaken and hated, with no one passing through, I will make you majestic forever, a joy from age to age. 16You shall suck the milk of nations, you shall suck the breasts of kings; and you shall know that I, the Lord, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.
Luke 1:1-4
Luke 1:1-4
1Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, 2just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, 3I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed.
Semicontinuous series (related to the lessons for the Saturday service)
Psalm 117
Psalm 117
1Praise the Lord, all you nations! Extol him, all you peoples!
2For great is his steadfast love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!
Jeremiah 31:1-6
Jeremiah 31:1-6
31At that time, says the Lord, I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they shall be my people. 2Thus says the Lord: The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest, 3the Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. 4Again I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin Israel! Again you shall take your tambourines, and go forth in the dance of the merrymakers. 5Again you shall plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria; the planters shall plant, and shall enjoy the fruit. 6For there shall be a day when sentinels will call in the hill country of Ephraim: “Come, let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God.”
Luke 1:1-4
Luke 1:1-4
1Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, 2just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, 3I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed.
Alternate Daily Readings:
November 24th, 2010
[-] [+] Wednesday of Last Sunday
Read today's Higher Things Daily Reflection
November 24, 2010 - Wednesday of the Last Week
Daily Lectionary: Daniel 4:1-37; Revelation 21:1-8
“The commandments…are summed up in this one rule: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”; “I urge…that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone.” (Romans 13:9; I Timothy 2:1 from Table of Duties: To Everyone)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. In case you don’t fit any of the other categories (pastor, hearer, citizen, husband, parent, child, worker of all kinds, youth, etc.) there is still one more for you, and it’s for everyone else as well.
“To Everyone: Love everyone…pray for everyone.” Pretty simple. Basically you have to lift up your eyes. There is more to this world than just you. Love and serve your neighbor and pray for them. That’s what we should be doing. Your sinful nature wants to tell you differently.
Sin looks inward. Sin focuses on itself. Sin looks out for itself. This is what sinners do. You look inward; you focus on yourself; you look out for yourself. There is a Latin term for this: Incurvatus in se. It means “curved in on oneself”. Sin is like a fingernail that you leave uncut. It curls and turns and twists itself until it’s just disgusting.
Do you know what you do with a fingernail like that? You cut it off. It’s hard to do though. It’s hard to straighten yourself out of your sin. It’s hard to do what’s right, even when you know you should. That just proves the point more. You are a sinner. You can’t cut it off.
So, Christ cuts it off for you, and He does so by going to the cross. While you know that you should love your neighbor as yourself, you fail. While you know that you should pray for everyone, you fail as well. There is only one who can do that: Jesus Christ.
Jesus loves you by giving up his life for you. From the cross He prays for you, “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34). Sin looks inward at itself. Christ looks outward at you. In your baptism He has buried your sin in His cross, and He daily cuts off that nasty nail, that you may look outward as well. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
“My guilt, O Father, You have laid On Christ, Your Son, my Savior. Lord Jesus, You my debt have paid and gained for me God’s favor. O Holy Spirit, Fount of grace, The good in me to You I trace; In faith and hope preserve me.” (LSB 568:5)
Collect
O Lord, absolve Your people from their offenses that, from the bonds of our sins which by reason of our frailty we have brought upon ourselves, we may be delivered by Your bountiful goodness; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit , one God, now and forever. Amen.
First Reading: Dan. 4:1-37
Nebuchadnezzar Praises God
1[a] King Nebuchadnezzar to all(A) peoples, nations, and languages,(B) that dwell in all the earth:(C) Peace be multiplied to you! 2It has seemed good to me to show the(D) signs and wonders that the(E) Most High God has done for me.
3How great are(F) his signs,
how mighty his(G) wonders!His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and his dominion endures from generation to generation.
Nebuchadnezzar’s Second Dream
4[b] I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at ease in my house and prospering in my palace. 5I saw a dream that made me afraid. As I lay in bed the fancies and(H) the visions of my head alarmed me. 6So(I) I made a decree that(J) all the wise men of Babylon should be brought before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. 7Then(K) the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but(L) they could not make known to me its interpretation. 8At last Daniel came in before me—he who was named(M) Belteshazzar after the name of my god, and in whom is(N) the spirit of the holy gods[c]—and I told him the dream, saying, 9"O Belteshazzar,(O) chief of the magicians, because I know that(P) the spirit of the holy gods is in you and that no(Q) mystery is too difficult for you, tell me(R) the visions of my dream that I saw and their interpretation. 10(S) The visions of my head as I lay in bed were these: I saw, and(T) behold, a tree in the midst of the earth, and its height was great. 11(U) The tree grew and became strong, and its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth. 12(V) Its leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in it was food for all.(W) The beasts of the field found shade under it, and the birds of the heavens lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.
13"I saw in(X) the visions of my head as I lay in bed, and behold,(Y) a watcher,(Z) a holy one, came down from heaven. 14He(AA) proclaimed aloud and said thus:(AB) 'Chop down the tree and(AC) lop off its branches, strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the beasts flee from under it and the birds from its branches. 15But leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, amid the tender grass of the field. Let him be wet with the dew of heaven. Let his portion be with the beasts in the grass of the earth. 16Let his mind be changed from a man’s, and let a beast’s mind be given to him;(AD) and let seven periods of time(AE) pass over him. 17The sentence is by the decree of(AF) the watchers, the decision by the word of(AG) the holy ones, to the end that the living may know that the Most High(AH) rules the kingdom of men(AI) and gives it to whom he will and(AJ) sets over it the lowliest of men.' 18This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. And you, O(AK) Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because(AL) all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation, but you are able, for(AM) the spirit of the holy gods is in you."
Daniel Interprets the Second Dream
19Then Daniel, whose name was(AN) Belteshazzar, was(AO) dismayed for a while, and(AP) his thoughts alarmed him. The king answered and said, "Belteshazzar, let not the dream or the interpretation alarm you." Belteshazzar answered and said, "My lord,(AQ) may the dream be for those who hate you and its interpretation for your enemies! 20(AR) The tree you saw, which grew and became strong, so that its top reached to heaven, and it was visible to the end of the whole earth, 21(AS) whose leaves were beautiful and its fruit abundant, and in which was food for all, under which beasts of the field found shade, and in whose branches the birds of the heavens lived— 22(AT) it is you, O king, who have grown and become strong.(AU) Your greatness has grown and reaches to heaven, and your dominion to the ends of the earth. 23And because the king saw(AV) a watcher, a holy one, coming down from heaven and saying,(AW) 'Chop down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump of its roots in the earth, bound with a band of iron and bronze, in the tender grass of the field, and let him be wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with the beasts of the field, till(AX) seven periods of time pass over him,' 24this is the interpretation, O king: It is a decree of the Most High, which has come upon my lord the king, 25(AY) that you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. You shall be made(AZ) to eat grass like an ox, and you shall be wet with the dew of heaven, and(BA) seven periods of time shall pass over you, till(BB) you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will. 26And as it was commanded(BC) to leave the stump of the roots of the tree, your kingdom shall be confirmed for you from the time that you know that Heaven rules. 27Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you: break off your sins by(BD) practicing righteousness,(BE) and your iniquities by showing mercy to the oppressed,(BF) that there may perhaps be a lengthening of your prosperity."
Nebuchadnezzar’s Humiliation
28All this came upon King Nebuchadnezzar. 29At the end of twelve months he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon, 30and the king answered and said,(BG) "Is not this great Babylon, which I have built by(BH) my mighty power as a royal residence and for the glory of my majesty?" 31(BI) While the words were still in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from heaven, "O King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you, 32(BJ) and you shall be driven from among men, and your dwelling shall be with the beasts of the field. And you shall be made to eat grass like an ox, and seven periods of time shall pass over you, until you know that the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will." 33Immediately the word was fulfilled against Nebuchadnezzar.(BK) He was driven from among men and ate grass like an ox, and his body was wet with the dew of heaven till his hair grew as long as eagles’ feathers, and his nails were like birds’ claws.
Nebuchadnezzar Restored
34(BL) At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and(BM) my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored(BN) him who lives forever,
(BO) for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; 35(BP) all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
and(BQ) he does according to his will among the host of heaven
and among the inhabitants of the earth;(BR) and none can stay his hand
or(BS) say to him, "What have you done?"
36At the same time(BT) my reason returned to me, and for(BU) the glory of my kingdom,(BV) my majesty and splendor returned to me.(BW) My counselors and(BX) my lords sought me, and I was established in my kingdom, and still more greatness was added to me. 37Now I, Nebuchadnezzar,(BY) praise and extol and honor the(BZ) King of heaven,(CA) for all his works are right and his ways are just; and(CB) those who walk in pride he is able to humble.
Footnotes:Daniel 4:1 Ch 3:31 in Aramaic Daniel 4:4 Ch 4:1 in Aramaic Daniel 4:8 Or Spirit of the holy God; also verses 9, 18
Cross references:Daniel 4:1 : Daniel 3:4 Daniel 4:1 : Daniel 6:25 Daniel 4:1 : 1 Pet 1:2; 2 Pet 1:2 Daniel 4:2 : Daniel 6:27; John 4:48 Daniel 4:2 : Daniel 3:26 Daniel 4:3 : Daniel 4:2 Daniel 4:3 : Daniel 2:44 Daniel 4:5 : Daniel 2:28; 7:15 Daniel 4:6 : Daniel 3:10 Daniel 4:6 : Daniel 2:12 Daniel 4:7 : Daniel 2:2 Daniel 4:7 : Daniel 4:18; Daniel 2:27; 5:8, 15 Daniel 4:8 : Daniel 1:7 Daniel 4:8 : Daniel 4:18; Daniel 2:11; 5:11; Gen 41:38; Isa 63:14 Daniel 4:9 : Daniel 5:11; Daniel 2:48 Daniel 4:9 : Daniel 4:8 Daniel 4:9 : Daniel 2:18 Daniel 4:9 : Daniel 4:5 Daniel 4:10 : Daniel 4:5 Daniel 4:10 : Ezek 31:3 Daniel 4:11 : Psalm 37:35 Daniel 4:12 : Ezek 31:7 Daniel 4:12 : Ezek 31:6 Daniel 4:13 : Daniel 4:5 Daniel 4:13 : Daniel 4:23 Daniel 4:13 : Deut 33:2; Zech 14:5; Jude 14 Daniel 4:14 : Daniel 3:4 Daniel 4:14 : Daniel 4:23; Matt 3:10; Luke 3:9 Daniel 4:14 : Ezek 31:12 Daniel 4:16 : Daniel 4:23, 25 Daniel 4:16 : 1 Chr 29:30 Daniel 4:17 : Daniel 4:13 Daniel 4:17 : Daniel 4:13 Daniel 4:17 : Daniel 4:25, 32; Daniel 5:21 Daniel 4:17 : Jer 27:5 Daniel 4:17 : 1 Sam 2:8 Daniel 4:18 : Daniel 1:7 Daniel 4:18 : Daniel 4:7; Daniel 5:8, 15; Gen 41:8 Daniel 4:18 : Daniel 4:8 Daniel 4:19 : Daniel 4:18 Daniel 4:19 : Daniel 3:24 Daniel 4:19 : Daniel 5:6 Daniel 4:19 : 1 Sam 25:26; 2 Sam 18:32 Daniel 4:20 : Daniel 4:10, 11 Daniel 4:21 : Daniel 4:12 Daniel 4:22 : Ezek 31:3 Daniel 4:22 : Jer 27:6-8 Daniel 4:23 : Daniel 4:13 Daniel 4:23 : Daniel 4:14, 15 Daniel 4:23 : Daniel 4:16 Daniel 4:25 : Daniel 4:32, 33; Daniel 5:21 Daniel 4:25 : Psalm 106:20 Daniel 4:25 : Daniel 4:23 Daniel 4:25 : Daniel 4:17, 32 Daniel 4:26 : Daniel 4:15, 23 Daniel 4:27 : Matt 6:1 Daniel 4:27 : Prov 16:6; Matt 25:35, 36; Luke 11:41 Daniel 4:27 : Jer 18:8; Jonah 3:10; Acts 8:22; 2 Tim 2:25 Daniel 4:30 : Daniel 5:20 Daniel 4:30 : Daniel 4:36; Daniel 2:37 Daniel 4:31 : Daniel 5:5; Luke 12:20 Daniel 4:32 : Daniel 4:17, 25; Daniel 5:21 Daniel 4:33 : Daniel 4:32 Daniel 4:34 : Daniel 4:26 Daniel 4:34 : Daniel 4:36 Daniel 4:34 : Daniel 6:26; 12:7; Rev 4:10 Daniel 4:34 : Psalm 10:16; Daniel 2:44 Daniel 4:35 : Isa 40:17 Daniel 4:35 : Psalm 115:3; Heb 1:13, 14 Daniel 4:35 : Isa 14:27 Daniel 4:35 : Job 9:12; Isa 45:9; Rom 9:20 Daniel 4:36 : Daniel 4:34 Daniel 4:36 : Daniel 4:30; Daniel 5:18 Daniel 4:36 : Daniel 3:24; 6:7 Daniel 4:36 : Daniel 5:1; 6:17 Daniel 4:36 : Job 42:12; Matt 6:33 Daniel 4:37 : Daniel 4:34 Daniel 4:37 : Daniel 5:23 Daniel 4:37 : Deut 32:4; Psalm 33:4; Rev 15:3 Daniel 4:37 : Daniel 5:20; Prov 20:23
Second Reading: Rev. 21:1-8
The New Heaven and the New Earth
1Then I saw(A) a new heaven and a new earth, for(B) the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2And I saw(C) the holy city,(D) new Jerusalem,(E) coming down out of heaven from God,(F) prepared(G) as a bride adorned for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold,(H) the dwelling place[a] of God is with man. He will(I) dwell with them, and they will be his people,[b] and God himself will be with them as their God.[c] 4(J) He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and(K) death shall be no more,(L) neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
5And(M) he who was seated on the throne said, "Behold, I(N) am making all things new." Also he said, "Write this down, for(O) these words are trustworthy and true." 6And he said to me,(P) "It is done!(Q) I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.(R) To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. 7(S) The one who conquers will have this heritage, and(T) I will be his God and(U) he will be my son. 8(V) But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars,(W) their portion will be in(X) the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is(Y) the second death."
Footnotes:Revelation 21:3 Or tabernacle Revelation 21:3 Some manuscripts peoples Revelation 21:3 Some manuscripts omit as their God
Cross references:Revelation 21:1 : Isa 65:17; 66:22; 2 Pet 3:13 Revelation 21:1 : Revelation 20:11 Revelation 21:2 : Revelation 11:2; 22:19; Isa 52:1 Revelation 21:2 : Revelation 3:12 Revelation 21:2 : Heb 11:10 Revelation 21:2 : Revelation 19:7; John 14:3 Revelation 21:2 : Isa 61:10 Revelation 21:3 : Lev 26:11, 12 Revelation 21:3 : Revelation 7:15 Revelation 21:4 : Revelation 7:17 Revelation 21:4 : Revelation 20:14; 1 Cor 15:26 Revelation 21:4 : Isa 35:10; 51:11; 65:19 Revelation 21:5 : Revelation 4:2, 9; 5:1; 20:11 Revelation 21:5 : 2 Cor 5:17 Revelation 21:5 : Revelation 22:6; Revelation 3:14; 19:11; 1 Tim 1:15 Revelation 21:6 : Revelation 10:6 Revelation 21:6 : Revelation 1:8; 22:13 Revelation 21:6 : Revelation 22:17; John 4:10; 7:37 Revelation 21:7 : Revelation 2:7 Revelation 21:7 : Revelation 21:3 Revelation 21:7 : 2 Cor 6:18 Revelation 21:8 : Revelation 22:15; 1 Cor 6:9, 10; Gal 5:19-21; Eph 5:5; 1 Tim 1:9; Heb 12:14 Revelation 21:8 : Luke 12:46 Revelation 21:8 : Revelation 19:20 Revelation 21:8 : Revelation 2:11; 20:6, 14
Wednesday Father Reading
"Why does Paul mention that the Cup is that of the New Covenant? Because there was also a cup of the Old Covenant, which contained the libations and the blood of animals. For after sacrificing, the priests used to catch the blood in a chalice and bowl, and then pour it out. But now, instead of the blood of beasts, Christ has introduced His own Blood." [St. Chrysostom. "Homilies on the Epistles of Paul to the Corinthians." 4th Century]
All Scripture Readings: English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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