The Wartburg Project

Daily Lectionary

August 30, 2024

August 29, 2024 August 31, 2024

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.

1 Kings 12:20-13:5, 33-34

Jeroboam Becomes King of Israel
20When all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they summoned him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. No tribe was left which followed the house of David, except the tribe of Judah alone.
(2 Chronicles 11:1-4)
21When Rehoboam returned to Jerusalem, he assembled the whole house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, one hundred eighty thousand specially chosen soldiers, to fight against the house of Israel and to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam, the son of Solomon.
22But the word of God came to Shemaiah, the man of God: 23“Say the following to Rehoboam son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin and to the rest of the people. 24This is what the Lord says. Do not attack and do not fight against your brothers, the people of Israel. Go home, every one of you, for this turn of events is from me.”
So they listened to the word of the Lord, and they returned home, just as the Lord said. 25But Jeroboam fortified Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, and he lived there. From there he also went out and fortified Penuel.[]
The Sin of Jeroboam Son of Nebat
26But Jeroboam said in his heart, “Now the kingship will go back to the house of David. 27If this people goes up to offer sacrifices at the House of the Lord in Jerusalem, then the hearts of the people will return to their master, Rehoboam king of Judah. Then they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah.”
28After the king sought advice, he made two golden calves and said to the people, “Going up to Jerusalem is too much trouble for you. Here are your gods, Israel, who brought you up from the land of Egypt!” 29He set up one in Bethel and the other one in Dan.
30This sin took hold, and the people traveled as far as Dan to worship. 31Jeroboam also made shrines[] on the high places,[] and he appointed priests from all kinds of people, even though they were not Levites. 32Jeroboam instituted a festival in the eighth month, on the fifteenth day of the month, like the festival[] that is held in Judah. He offered sacrifices on the altar. He did this in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves he had made. He appointed priests in Bethel for the high places he had made. 33He instituted sacrifices on the altar which he had made in Bethel, on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a month which he chose on his own. He instituted a festival for the people of Israel. He went up to the altar to send offerings up in smoke.
The Prophet From Judah Testifies Against Jeroboam
131At that moment, by the word of the Lord, a man of God came from Judah to Bethel while Jeroboam was standing in front of the altar to send offerings up in smoke. 2He cried out against the altar by the word of Lord, “Altar! Altar! This is what the Lord says. Listen! A son will be born to the house of David. Josiah will be his name. On you he will slaughter the priests of the high places, who are burning offerings on you, and human bones will be burned on you.”
3On that day he gave them a sign: “This is the sign which the Lord announces: This very altar will be torn apart, and the ashes on it will be poured out.”
4When King Jeroboam heard this message that the man of God had proclaimed against the altar at Bethel, he pointed at him from the altar and cried, “Seize him!” But the hand that the king pointed at the man withered, and he could not pull it back. 5Then the altar was torn apart, and the ashes poured out from the altar in fulfillment of the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the Lord.
33Even after this, Jeroboam did not turn from his evil way, but he continued to appoint all kinds of people as priests for the high places. He ordained anyone who wanted to be a priest for the high places. 34This was the sin of the house of Jeroboam, which erased and exterminated it from the face of the earth.

2 Corinthians 8:1-24

Finish the Collection
81Now brothers,[] we want you to know about the grace of God that was given in the churches of Macedonia: 2In a severe test of trouble, their overflowing joy and their deep poverty overflowed into an abundance of their generosity.[] 3I testify that of their own free will they gave according to their ability, and even beyond their ability, 4pleading with us with an urgent request for the gracious privilege of joining in this service to the saints. 5And they did this not as we had expected, but in keeping with God's will they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us. 6As a result we urged Titus, since he had already made a beginning, to bring to completion this gracious gift on your part. 7But just as you overflow in every way—in faith, in word, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us[]—see that you also overflow in this gracious gift.
8I do not say this as a command, but to test how genuine your love is, by comparing it with the eagerness of others. 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that although he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that through his poverty you might become rich.
10And I am giving advice in this matter because it is going to be helpful for you. Last year, you were not only the first to take action, but also the first to be willing. 11Now bring the work to completion too, so that your eagerness to start may be matched by your completing it with what you have. 12For if the eagerness is there, a gift is acceptable according to what someone has, not according to what he does not have.
13Certainly, our goal is not that others take it easy while you are burdened, but that there may be equality. 14At the present time, your abundance will provide what they lack, in order that their abundance will also provide what you lack—in this way there will be equality. 15As it is written, “The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.”[]
16Thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same concern I have for you, 17because he accepted our encouragement and went to you eagerly, of his own free will. 18We sent along with him the brother who is recognized by all the churches for his preaching of the gospel. 19Not only that—but also he was elected[] by the churches to be our traveling companion, as we administer this gracious gift to the glory of the Lord and to show our eagerness to help. 20We are trying to avoid any criticism of the way we are administering this lavish gift. 21To be sure, we are taking into consideration what is proper, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of other people.
22We sent along with them our brother who has often proved to us in many tests that he is eager, and now is even more eager, because of the great confidence he has in you.
23As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. Our brothers, messengers sent by the churches, are the glory of Christ. 24So then, show the evidence of your love in the sight of the churches, and demonstrate why we boasted to them about you.