September 21

Luke 24:1-12

The Resurrection

[1] But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. [2] And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, [3] but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. [4] While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. [5] And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? [6] He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, [7] that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” [8] And they remembered his words, [9] and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. [10] Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, [11] but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. [12] But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

Hebrews 11:32-40

[32] And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—[33] who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, [34] quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. [35] Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. [36] Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. [37] They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated—[38] of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

[39] And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, [40] since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

Proverbs 28:15-28

    [15] 

    Like a roaring lion or a charging bear

        is a wicked ruler over a poor people. 

    [16] 

    A ruler who lacks understanding is a cruel oppressor,

        but he who hates unjust gain will prolong his days. 

    [17] 

    If one is burdened with the blood of another,

        he will be a fugitive until death;

        let no one help him. 

    [18] 

    Whoever walks in integrity will be delivered,

        but he who is crooked in his ways will suddenly fall. 

    [19] 

    Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread,

        but he who follows worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty. 

    [20] 

    A faithful man will abound with blessings,

        but whoever hastens to be rich will not go unpunished. 

    [21] 

    To show partiality is not good,

        but for a piece of bread a man will do wrong. 

    [22] 

    A stingy man hastens after wealth

        and does not know that poverty will come upon him. 

    [23] 

    Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor

        than he who flatters with his tongue. 

    [24] 

    Whoever robs his father or his mother

        and says, “That is no transgression,”

        is a companion to a man who destroys. 

    [25] 

    A greedy man stirs up strife,

        but the one who trusts in the LORD will be enriched. 

    [26] 

    Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool,

        but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered. 

    [27] 

    Whoever gives to the poor will not want,

        but he who hides his eyes will get many a curse. 

    [28] 

    When the wicked rise, people hide themselves,

        but when they perish, the righteous increase.

Isaiah 54

The Eternal Covenant of Peace

    [1] “Sing, O barren one, who did not bear;

        break forth into singing and cry aloud,

        you who have not been in labor!

    For the children of the desolate one will be more

        than the children of her who is married,” says the LORD. 

    [2] “Enlarge the place of your tent,

        and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out;

    do not hold back; lengthen your cords

        and strengthen your stakes. 

    [3] For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left,

        and your offspring will possess the nations

        and will people the desolate cities.

    [4] “Fear not, for you will not be ashamed;

        be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced;

    for you will forget the shame of your youth,

        and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more. 

    [5] For your Maker is your husband,

        the LORD of hosts is his name;

    and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer,

        the God of the whole earth he is called. 

    [6] For the LORD has called you

        like a wife deserted and grieved in spirit,

    like a wife of youth when she is cast off,

        says your God. 

    [7] For a brief moment I deserted you,

        but with great compassion I will gather you. 

    [8] In overflowing anger for a moment

        I hid my face from you,

    but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,”

        says the LORD, your Redeemer.

    [9] “This is like the days of Noah to me:

        as I swore that the waters of Noah

        should no more go over the earth,

    so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you,

        and will not rebuke you. 

    [10] For the mountains may depart

        and the hills be removed,

    but my steadfast love shall not depart from you,

        and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,”

        says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

    [11] “O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted,

        behold, I will set your stones in antimony,

        and lay your foundations with sapphires. 

    [12] I will make your pinnacles of agate,

        your gates of carbuncles,

        and all your wall of precious stones. 

    [13] All your children shall be taught by the LORD,

        and great shall be the peace of your children. 

    [14] In righteousness you shall be established;

        you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear;

        and from terror, for it shall not come near you. 

    [15] If anyone stirs up strife,

        it is not from me;

    whoever stirs up strife with you

        shall fall because of you. 

    [16] Behold, I have created the smith

        who blows the fire of coals

        and produces a weapon for its purpose.

    I have also created the ravager to destroy; 

    [17]     no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed,

        and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment.

    This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD

        and their vindication from me, declares the LORD.”

Isaiah 55

The Compassion of the LORD

    [1] “Come, everyone who thirsts,

        come to the waters;

    and he who has no money,

        come, buy and eat!

    Come, buy wine and milk

        without money and without price. 

    [2] Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,

        and your labor for that which does not satisfy?

    Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,

        and delight yourselves in rich food. 

    [3] Incline your ear, and come to me;

        hear, that your soul may live;

    and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,

        my steadfast, sure love for David. 

    [4] Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples,

        a leader and commander for the peoples. 

    [5] Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know,

        and a nation that did not know you shall run to you,

    because of the LORD your God, and of the Holy One of Israel,

        for he has glorified you.

    [6] “Seek the LORD while he may be found;

        call upon him while he is near; 

    [7] let the wicked forsake his way,

        and the unrighteous man his thoughts;

    let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him,

        and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. 

    [8] For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

        neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. 

    [9] For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

        so are my ways higher than your ways

        and my thoughts than your thoughts.

    [10] “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven

        and do not return there but water the earth,

    making it bring forth and sprout,

        giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 

    [11] so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;

        it shall not return to me empty,

    but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,

        and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

    [12] “For you shall go out in joy

        and be led forth in peace;

    the mountains and the hills before you

        shall break forth into singing,

        and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 

    [13] Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;

        instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;

    and it shall make a name for the LORD,

        an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”