Day 13 - Isaiah 42:1-7

The Servant, a Light to the Nations

42Here is my servant, whom I uphold,

   my chosen, in whom my soul delights;

I have put my spirit upon him;

   he will bring forth justice to the nations.

2 He will not cry or lift up his voice,

   or make it heard in the street;

3 a bruised reed he will not break,

   and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;

   he will faithfully bring forth justice.

4 He will not grow faint or be crushed

   until he has established justice in the earth;

   and the coastlands wait for his teaching.

5 Thus says God, the Lord,

   who created the heavens and stretched them out,

   who spread out the earth and what comes from it,

who gives breath to the people upon it

   and spirit to those who walk in it:

6 I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness,

   I have taken you by the hand and kept you;

I have given you as a covenant to the people,

   a light to the nations,

7   to open the eyes that are blind,

to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,

   from the prison those who sit in darkness.

Join me on Mondays at 7:30 p.m. to discuss the previous week's readings!

Day 12 - Isaiah 41:17-20

17 When the poor and needy seek water,

   and there is none,

   and their tongue is parched with thirst,

I the Lord will answer them,

   I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

18 I will open rivers on the bare heights,

   and fountains in the midst of the valleys;

I will make the wilderness a pool of water,

   and the dry land springs of water.

19 I will put in the wilderness the cedar,

   the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive;

I will set in the desert the cypress,

   the plane and the pine together,

20 so that all may see and know,

   all may consider and understand,

that the hand of the Lord has done this,

   the Holy One of Israel has created it.

Join me on Mondays at 7:30 p.m. to discuss the previous week's readings!

Day 11 - Proverbs 2:6-9

⁶ For the Lord gives wisdom;
   from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
⁷ he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
   he is a shield to those who walk blamelessly,
⁸ guarding the paths of justice
   and preserving the way of his faithful ones.
⁹ Then you will understand righteousness and justice
   and equity, every good path;

Join me on Mondays at 7:30 p.m. to discuss the previous week's readings!

Day 10 - Psalm 102:1-17

Prayer to the Eternal King for Help

A prayer of one afflicted, when faint and pleading before the Lord.

1 Hear my prayer, O Lord;

   let my cry come to you.

2 Do not hide your face from me

   on the day of my distress.

Incline your ear to me;

   answer me speedily on the day when I call.

3 For my days pass away like smoke,

   and my bones burn like a furnace.

4 My heart is stricken and withered like grass;

   I am too wasted to eat my bread.

5 Because of my loud groaning

   my bones cling to my skin.

6 I am like an owl of the wilderness,

   like a little owl of the waste places.

7 I lie awake;

   I am like a lonely bird on the housetop.

8 All day long my enemies taunt me;

   those who deride me use my name for a curse.

9 For I eat ashes like bread,

   and mingle tears with my drink,

10 because of your indignation and anger;

   for you have lifted me up and thrown me aside.

11 My days are like an evening shadow;

   I wither away like grass.

12 But you, O Lord, are enthroned for ever;

   your name endures to all generations.

13 You will rise up and have compassion on Zion,

   for it is time to favour it;

   the appointed time has come.

14 For your servants hold its stones dear,

   and have pity on its dust.

15 The nations will fear the name of the Lord,

   and all the kings of the earth your glory.

16 For the Lord will build up Zion;

   he will appear in his glory.

17 He will regard the prayer of the destitute,

   and will not despise their prayer.

Join me on Mondays at 7:30 p.m. to discuss the previous week's readings!

Day 9 - Psalm 72:12-14

12 For he delivers the needy when they call,

   the poor and those who have no helper.

13 He has pity on the weak and the needy,

   and saves the lives of the needy.

14 From oppression and violence he redeems their life;

   and precious is their blood in his sight.

Join me on Mondays at 7:30 p.m. to discuss the previous week's readings!