September 23

Luke 24:28-35

[28] So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, [29] but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. [30] When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. [31] And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. [32] They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” [33] And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, [34] saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” [35] Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Hebrews 12:14-29

[14] Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. [15] See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; [16] that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. [17] For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.

A Kingdom That Cannot Be Shaken

[18] For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest [19] and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. [20] For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” [21] Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” [22] But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, [23] and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, [24] and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

[25] See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. [26] At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” [27] This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. [28] Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, [29] for our God is a consuming fire.

Proverbs 29:15-27

    [15] 

    The rod and reproof give wisdom,

        but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. 

    [16] 

    When the wicked increase, transgression increases,

        but the righteous will look upon their downfall. 

    [17] 

    Discipline your son, and he will give you rest;

        he will give delight to your heart. 

    [18] 

    Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint,

        but blessed is he who keeps the law. 

    [19] 

    By mere words a servant is not disciplined,

        for though he understands, he will not respond. 

    [20] 

    Do you see a man who is hasty in his words?

        There is more hope for a fool than for him. 

    [21] 

    Whoever pampers his servant from childhood

        will in the end find him his heir. 

    [22] 

    A man of wrath stirs up strife,

        and one given to anger causes much transgression. 

    [23] 

    One’s pride will bring him low,

        but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor. 

    [24] 

    The partner of a thief hates his own life;

        he hears the curse, but discloses nothing. 

    [25] 

    The fear of man lays a snare,

        but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe. 

    [26] 

    Many seek the face of a ruler,

        but it is from the LORD that a man gets justice. 

    [27] 

    An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous,

        but one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked.

Isaiah 59

Evil and Oppression

    [1] Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save,

        or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 

    [2] but your iniquities have made a separation

        between you and your God,

    and your sins have hidden his face from you

        so that he does not hear. 

    [3] For your hands are defiled with blood

        and your fingers with iniquity;

    your lips have spoken lies;

        your tongue mutters wickedness. 

    [4] No one enters suit justly;

        no one goes to law honestly;

    they rely on empty pleas, they speak lies,

        they conceive mischief and give birth to iniquity. 

    [5] They hatch adders’ eggs;

        they weave the spider’s web;

    he who eats their eggs dies,

        and from one that is crushed a viper is hatched. 

    [6] Their webs will not serve as clothing;

        men will not cover themselves with what they make.

    Their works are works of iniquity,

        and deeds of violence are in their hands. 

    [7] Their feet run to evil,

        and they are swift to shed innocent blood;

    their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity;

        desolation and destruction are in their highways. 

    [8] The way of peace they do not know,

        and there is no justice in their paths;

    they have made their roads crooked;

        no one who treads on them knows peace.

    [9] Therefore justice is far from us,

        and righteousness does not overtake us;

    we hope for light, and behold, darkness,

        and for brightness, but we walk in gloom. 

    [10] We grope for the wall like the blind;

        we grope like those who have no eyes;

    we stumble at noon as in the twilight,

        among those in full vigor we are like dead men. 

    [11] We all growl like bears;

        we moan and moan like doves;

    we hope for justice, but there is none;

        for salvation, but it is far from us. 

    [12] For our transgressions are multiplied before you,

        and our sins testify against us;

    for our transgressions are with us,

        and we know our iniquities: 

    [13] transgressing, and denying the LORD,

        and turning back from following our God,

    speaking oppression and revolt,

        conceiving and uttering from the heart lying words.

    Judgment and Redemption

    [14] Justice is turned back,

        and righteousness stands far away;

    for truth has stumbled in the public squares,

        and uprightness cannot enter. 

    [15] Truth is lacking,

        and he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.

    The LORD saw it, and it displeased him

        that there was no justice. 

    [16] He saw that there was no man,

        and wondered that there was no one to intercede;

    then his own arm brought him salvation,

        and his righteousness upheld him. 

    [17] He put on righteousness as a breastplate,

        and a helmet of salvation on his head;

    he put on garments of vengeance for clothing,

        and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak. 

    [18] According to their deeds, so will he repay,

        wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies;

        to the coastlands he will render repayment. 

    [19] So they shall fear the name of the LORD from the west,

        and his glory from the rising of the sun;

    for he will come like a rushing stream,

        which the wind of the LORD drives.

    [20] “And a Redeemer will come to Zion,

        to those in Jacob who turn from transgression,” declares the LORD.

    [21] “And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children’s offspring,” says the LORD, “from this time forth and forevermore.”

Isaiah 60

The Future Glory of Israel

    [1] Arise, shine, for your light has come,

        and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. 

    [2] For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,

        and thick darkness the peoples;

    but the LORD will arise upon you,

        and his glory will be seen upon you. 

    [3] And nations shall come to your light,

        and kings to the brightness of your rising.

    [4] Lift up your eyes all around, and see;

        they all gather together, they come to you;

    your sons shall come from afar,

        and your daughters shall be carried on the hip. 

    [5] Then you shall see and be radiant;

        your heart shall thrill and exult,

    because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you,

        the wealth of the nations shall come to you. 

    [6] A multitude of camels shall cover you,

        the young camels of Midian and Ephah;

        all those from Sheba shall come.

    They shall bring gold and frankincense,

        and shall bring good news, the praises of the LORD. 

    [7] All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered to you;

        the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you;

    they shall come up with acceptance on my altar,

        and I will beautify my beautiful house.

    [8] Who are these that fly like a cloud,

        and like doves to their windows? 

    [9] For the coastlands shall hope for me,

        the ships of Tarshish first,

    to bring your children from afar,

        their silver and gold with them,

    for the name of the LORD your God,

        and for the Holy One of Israel,

        because he has made you beautiful.

    [10] Foreigners shall build up your walls,

        and their kings shall minister to you;

    for in my wrath I struck you,

        but in my favor I have had mercy on you. 

    [11] Your gates shall be open continually;

        day and night they shall not be shut,

    that people may bring to you the wealth of the nations,

        with their kings led in procession. 

    [12] For the nation and kingdom

        that will not serve you shall perish;

        those nations shall be utterly laid waste. 

    [13] The glory of Lebanon shall come to you,

        the cypress, the plane, and the pine,

    to beautify the place of my sanctuary,

        and I will make the place of my feet glorious. 

    [14] The sons of those who afflicted 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.

    [15] Whereas you have been forsaken and hated,

        with no one passing through,

    I will make you majestic forever,

        a joy from age to age. 

    [16] You shall suck the milk of nations;

        you shall nurse at the breast of kings;

    and you shall know that I, the LORD, am your Savior

        and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.

    [17] Instead of bronze I will bring gold,

        and instead of iron I will bring silver;

    instead of wood, bronze,

        instead of stones, iron.

    I will make your overseers peace

        and your taskmasters righteousness. 

    [18] Violence shall no more be heard in your land,

        devastation or destruction within your borders;

    you shall call your walls Salvation,

        and your gates Praise.

    [19] The sun shall be no more

        your light by day,

    nor for brightness shall the moon

        give you light;

    but the LORD will be your everlasting light,

        and your God will be your glory. 

    [20] Your sun shall no more go down,

        nor your moon withdraw itself;

    for the LORD will be your everlasting light,

        and your days of mourning shall be ended. 

    [21] Your people shall all be righteous;

        they shall possess the land forever,

    the branch of my planting, the work of my hands,

        that I might be glorified. 

    [22] The least one shall become a clan,

        and the smallest one a mighty nation;

    I am the LORD;

        in its time I will hasten it.

Isaiah 61

The Year of the LORD’s Favor

    [1] The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,

        because the LORD has anointed me

    to bring good news to the poor;

        he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,

    to proclaim liberty to the captives,

        and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; 

    [2] to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor,

        and the day of vengeance of our God;

        to comfort all who mourn; 

    [3] to grant to those who mourn in Zion—

        to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,

    the oil of gladness instead of mourning,

        the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;

    that they may be called oaks of righteousness,

        the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified. 

    [4] They shall build up the ancient ruins;

        they shall raise up the former devastations;

    they shall repair the ruined cities,

        the devastations of many generations.

    [5] Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks;

        foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers; 

    [6] but you shall be called the priests of the LORD;

        they shall speak of you as the ministers of our God;

    you shall eat the wealth of the nations,

        and in their glory you shall boast. 

    [7] Instead of your shame there shall be a double portion;

        instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their lot;

    therefore in their land they shall possess a double portion;

        they shall have everlasting joy.

    [8] For I the LORD love justice;

        I hate robbery and wrong;

    I will faithfully give them their recompense,

        and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. 

    [9] Their offspring shall be known among the nations,

        and their descendants in the midst of the peoples;

    all who see them shall acknowledge them,

        that they are an offspring the LORD has blessed.

    [10] I will greatly rejoice in the LORD;

        my soul shall exult in my God,

    for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;

        he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,

    as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,

        and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 

    [11] For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,

        and as a garden causes what is sown in it to sprout up,

    so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise

        to sprout up before all the nations.