Home > Reading > Daily Reading – April 15, 2020

2 Chron. 25:14–28

25:14 When Amaziah returned from defeating the Edomites, he brought back the gods of the people of Seir and made them his personal gods. He bowed down before them and offered them sacrifices. 15The Lord was angry at Amaziah and sent a prophet to him, who said, “Why are you following these gods that could not deliver their own people from your power?” 16While he was speaking, Amaziah said to him, “Did we appoint you to be a royal counselor? Stop prophesying or else you will be killed!” So the prophet stopped, but added, “I know that God has decided to destroy you because you have done this thing and refused to listen to my advice.”

17After King Amaziah of Judah consulted with his advisers, he sent this message to the king of Israel, Joash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, “Come, face me on the battlefield.” 18King Joash of Israel sent this message back to King Amaziah of Judah, “A thorn bush in Lebanon sent this message to a cedar in Lebanon, ‘Give your daughter to my son as a wife.’ Then a wild animal of Lebanon came by and trampled down the thorn bush. 19You defeated Edom and it has gone to your head. Gloat over your success, but stay in your palace. Why bring calamity on yourself? Why bring down yourself and Judah along with you?”

20But Amaziah did not heed the warning, for God wanted to hand them over to Joash because they followed the gods of Edom. 21So King Joash of Israel attacked. He and King Amaziah of Judah faced each other on the battlefield in Beth Shemesh of Judah. 22Judah was defeated by Israel, and each man ran back home. 23King Joash of Israel captured King Amaziah of Judah, son of Joash son of Jehoahaz, in Beth Shemesh and brought him to Jerusalem. He broke down the wall of Jerusalem from the Gate of Ephraim to the Corner Gate—a distance of about 600 feet. 24He took away all the gold and silver, all the items found in God’s temple that were in the care of Obed-Edom, the riches in the royal palace, and some hostages. Then he went back to Samaria.

25King Amaziah son of Joash of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of King Joash son of Jehoahaz of Israel. 26The rest of the events of Amaziah’s reign, from start to finish, are recorded in the Scroll of the Kings of Judah and Israel. 27From the time Amaziah turned from following the Lord, conspirators plotted against him in Jerusalem, so he fled to Lachish. But they sent assassins after him, and they killed him there. 28His body was carried back by horses, and he was buried with his ancestors in the City of David.

(NET Bible)

Ps. 96

96:1 Sing to the Lord a new song.

Sing to the Lord, all the earth.

2Sing to the Lord. Praise his name.

Announce every day how he delivers.

3Tell the nations about his splendor.

Tell all the nations about his amazing deeds.

4For the Lord is great and certainly worthy of praise;

he is more awesome than all gods.

5For all the gods of the nations are worthless,

but the Lord made the sky.

6Majestic splendor emanates from him;

his sanctuary is firmly established and beautiful.

7Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the nations,

ascribe to the Lord splendor and strength.

8Ascribe to the Lord the splendor he deserves.

Bring an offering and enter his courts.

9Worship the Lord in holy attire.

Tremble before him, all the earth.

10Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!

The world is established; it cannot be moved.

He judges the nations fairly.”

11Let the sky rejoice, and the earth be happy.

Let the sea and everything in it shout.

12Let the fields and everything in them celebrate.

Then let the trees of the forest shout with joy

13before the Lord, for he comes.

For he comes to judge the earth.

He judges the world fairly

and the nations in accordance with his justice.

(NET Bible)

Luke 12:1–12

12:1 Meanwhile, when many thousands of the crowd had gathered so that they were trampling on one another, Jesus began to speak first to his disciples, “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. 2Nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, and nothing is secret that will not be made known. 3So then whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms will be proclaimed from the housetops.

4“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more they can do. 5But I will warn you whom you should fear: Fear the one who, after the killing, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him! 6Aren’t five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. 7In fact, even the hairs on your head are all numbered. Do not be afraid; you are more valuable than many sparrows.

8“I tell you, whoever acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before God’s angels. 9But the one who denies me before men will be denied before God’s angels. 10And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but the person who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. 11But when they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, do not worry about how you should make your defense or what you should say, 12for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that moment what you must say.”

(NET Bible)

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016.

It was only the culmination point of this whole development when on April 18 [Luther] gave his famous answer in Worms: “Unless I am convinced by testimony from Scripture or evident reason (convictus testimoniis Scripturae aut ratione evidente)—for I believe neither the Pope nor the Councils alone, since it is established that they have often erred and contradicted themselves—I am conquered by the writings (i.e., passages from Scripture) cited by me, and my conscience is captive to the Word of God; recant I will and can nothing, since it is neither safe nor honest to do ought against conscience.” This once forever established the Sola Scriptura. (19)

–Johann Michael Reu, Luther on the Scriptures

This daily Bible reading guide, Reading the Word of God, was conceived and prepared as a result of the ongoing discussions between representatives of three church bodies: Lutheran Church—Canada (LCC), The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) and the North American Lutheran Church (NALC). The following individuals have represented their church bodies and approved this introduction and the reading guide: LCC: President Robert Bugbee; NALC: Bishop John Bradosky, Revs. Mark Chavez, James Nestingen, and David Wendel; LCMS: Revs. Albert Collver, Joel Lehenbauer, John Pless, and Larry Vogel.

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