The Wartburg Project

Daily Lectionary

January 3, 2019

January 2, 2019 January 4, 2019

These daily readings from the EHV follow the one-year daily lectionary provided in Christian Worship: Hymnal, the Lutheran Service Book, and the Treasury of Daily Prayer. In this lectionary, two readings of 15-25 verses each are provided for each day. Under this plan, nearly all of the New Testament and approximately one-third of the Old Testament are read each year. These readings fit well within the daily offices of Matins, Vespers, or Compline as daily family devotions.

Isaiah 63:1-14

The Day of Vengeance
The Prophet's Question
631Who is this coming from Edom, with bright red garments?
Who is this coming from Bozrah, clothed majestically,
marching out[] with great strength?
The Servant's Response
It is I, the one who speaks in righteousness.
It is I, the one who is mighty to save.
The Prophet's Question
2Why is your clothing so red?
Why are your garments like those of someone
who has been trampling grapes in a winepress?
The Servant's Response
3I have trodden the winepress alone,
and from the peoples there was no one with me.
So I stomped on them in my anger,
and I trampled them in my wrath,
and their juice splattered on my garments.
I stained all my clothing.
4For the day for vengeance was in my heart,
and the year for my redemption has come.
5I looked intently but there was no helper.
I was shocked that no one supported me.
My arm delivered me,
and my wrath supported me.
6I trampled the peoples in my anger.
I made them drunk in my wrath,
and I will pour out their juice[] onto the ground.
Isaiah's Announcement
7I will tell about the Lord's mercies,
about the praises of the Lord,
about all that the Lord has done for us,
about his great goodness to the house of Israel,
which he performed for them according to his abundant compassion,
and according to his great mercy.
8He said, “Surely they are my people,
children who will not deal falsely,”
so he became their Savior.
9In all their anguish he felt anguish,[]
and the Angel of his Presence saved them.
In his love and in his pity he himself redeemed them,
and he took them up and carried them all the days of old.
10But they rebelled and grieved his Holy Spirit,
so he turned against them and became an enemy.
He himself fought against them.
11Yet he remembered the days of old,
the days of Moses and his people.
Isaiah's Plea
Where is the one who brought them up from the sea,
with the shepherds of his flock?
Where is the one who set his Holy Spirit in their midst,
12who sent his majestic arm to the right hand of Moses,
who divided waters before them
to make an everlasting name for himself,
13who let them walk through the depths?
Like a horse in the wilderness, they did not stumble.
14Like cattle that descend into a valley,
they were given rest by the Lord's Spirit.
This is how you led your people
to make a majestic name for yourself.

Luke 2:21-40

The Presentation in the Temple
21After eight days passed, when the child was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
22When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord. 23(As it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn[] male will be called holy to the Lord.”)[] 24And they came to offer a sacrifice according to what was said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”[]
25Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, waiting for the comfort of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him. 26It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ. 27Moved by the Spirit he went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary according to the law, 28Simeon took him into his arms and praised God. He said,
29Lord, you now dismiss your servant in peace, according to your word,
30because my eyes have seen your salvation,
31which you have prepared before the face of all people,
32a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.
33Joseph[] and the child's[] mother were amazed at the things that were spoken about him. 34Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Listen carefully, this child is appointed for the falling and rising of many in Israel and for a sign that is spoken against, 35so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
36Anna, a prophetess, was there. She was a daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old. She had lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage,[] 37and then she was a widow of eighty-four years. She did not leave the temple complex, since she was worshipping with fasting and prayers night and day. 38Standing nearby at that very hour, she gave thanks to the Lord. She kept speaking about the child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.[]
39When they had accomplished everything according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town, Nazareth. 40The child grew and became strong.[] He was filled with wisdom, and God's favor was on him.