Lam. 2:13–22
2:13 מ (Mem)
With what can I equate you?
To what can I compare you, O Daughter Jerusalem?
To what can I liken you
so that I might comfort you, O Virgin Daughter Zion?
Your wound is as deep as the sea.
Who can heal you?
14נ (Nun)
Your prophets saw visions for you
that were worthless whitewash.
They failed to expose your sin
so as to restore your fortunes.
They saw oracles for you
that were worthless lies.
15ס (Samek)
All who passed by on the road
clapped their hands to mock you.
They sneered and shook their heads
at Daughter Jerusalem.
“Ha! Is this the city they called
‘the perfection of beauty,
the source of joy of the whole earth!’?”
16פ (Pe)
All your enemies
gloated over you.
They sneered and gnashed their teeth;
they said, “We have destroyed her!
Ha! We have waited a long time for this day.
We have lived to see it!”
17ע (Ayin)
The Lord has done what he planned;
he has fulfilled his promise
that he threatened long ago:
He has overthrown you without mercy
and has enabled the enemy to gloat over you;
he has exalted your adversaries’ power.
18צ (Tsade)
Cry out from your heart to the Lord,
O wall of Daughter Zion!
Make your tears flow like a river
all day and all night long!
Do not rest;
do not let your tears stop!
19ק (Qof)
Get up! Cry out in the night
when the night watches start!
Pour out your heart like water
before the face of the Lord!
Lift up your hands to him
for your children’s lives;
they are faintingfrom hunger
at every street corner.
20ר (Resh)
Look, O Lord! Consider!
Whom have you ever afflicted like this?
Should women eat their offspring,
their healthy infants?
Should priest and prophet
be killed in the Lord’s sanctuary?
21ש (Sin/Shin)
The young boys and old men
lie dead on the ground in the streets.
My young women and my young men
have fallen by the sword.
You killed them when you were angry;
you slaughtered them without mercy.
22ת (Tav)
As if it were a feast day, you call
enemies to terrify me on every side.
On the day of the Lord’s anger
no one escaped or survived.
My enemy has finished off
those healthy infants whom I bore and raised.
(NET Bible)Ps. 47
47:1 For the music director, by the Korahites; a psalm.
All you nations, clap your hands.
Shout out to God in celebration.
2For the Lord Most High is awe-inspiring;
he is the great king who rules the whole earth!
3He subdued nations beneath us
and countries under our feet.
4He picked out for us a special land
to be a source of pride for Jacob, whom he loves. (Selah)
5God has ascended his throne amid loud shouts;
the Lord has ascended amid the blaring of ram’s horns.
6Sing to God! Sing!
Sing to our king! Sing!
7For God is king of the whole earth.
Sing a well-written song.
8God reigns over the nations.
God sits on his holy throne.
9The nobles of the nations assemble,
along with the people of the God of Abraham,
for God has authority over the rulers of the earth.
He is highly exalted.
(NET Bible)Phil 4:2–23
4:2 I appeal to Euodia and to Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3Yes, I say also to you, true companion, help them. They have struggled together in the gospel ministry along with me and Clement and my other coworkers, whose names are in the book of life. 4Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice! 5Let everyone see your gentleness. The Lord is near! 6Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. 7And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
8Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things. 9And what you learned and received and heard and saw in me, do these things. And the God of peace will be with you.
10I have great joy in the Lord because now at last you have again expressed your concern for me. (Now I know you were concerned before but had no opportunity to do anything.) 11I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content in any circumstance. 12I have experienced times of need and times of abundance. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of contentment, whether I go satisfied or hungry, have plenty or nothing. 13I am able to do all things through the one who strengthens me. 14Nevertheless, you did well to share with me in my trouble.
15And as you Philippians know, at the beginning of my gospel ministry, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in this matter of giving and receiving except you alone. 16For even in Thessalonica on more than one occasion you sent something for my need. 17I do not say this because I am seeking a gift. Rather, I seek the credit that abounds to your account. 18For I have received everything, and I have plenty. I have all I need because I received from Epaphroditus what you sent—a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, very pleasing to God. 19And my God will supply your every need according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. 20May glory be given to God our Father forever and ever. Amen.
21Give greetings to all the saints in Christ Jesus. The brothers with me here send greetings. 22All the saints greet you, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household. 23The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
(NET Bible)Here (II Samuel 23:2, ‘The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and His word was in my tongue’) it becomes too marvelous and soars too high for me. God grant that I may at least partially attain to it, for he here begins to speak of the Holy Triune essence of the divine Godhead. First he mentions the Holy Ghost; to Him he ascribes all that the prophets foretell. It is these and similar statements to which St. Peter refers in the II Epistle 1:21, ‘For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of men, etc … ’Therefore we sing in the Creed, concerning the Holy Ghost, ‘Who spake by the Prophets.’ So we refer all of Scripture to the Holy Ghost.” In the same way he refers to Dan. 7:13, 14. “So it is the Spirit who speaks through Daniel, for such secret thing no one could know if the Holy Ghost had not revealed it through the prophets as we have frequently said before, that Holy Scripture has been spoken by the Holy Ghost.” (36–37)
–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.