Weekly Vlog Cast, Daily Readings and the Psalm 119 Prayer Cycle
Each week I’ll post the following:
- vlog cast, notes and thoughts centered on the Scripture readings appointed for each Sunday
- a daily reading schedule for sections of the Old Testament and New Testament
- daily guidance, resources and step by step directions to help you implement the 12 “stations” of the Psalm 119 Prayer Cycle over the course of the week
Video for Advent 2
Sunday Readings – Advent 2
The Scripture readings for Advent 2 are … (click on highlighted links)
Daily Readings for the Week of 12/7
(with references to “The Psalm 119 Prayer Cycle”)
The lectionary readings for the second week of Event are taken from the Book of Isaiah, 1,2 and 3 John and the short book of Jude.
Brief Overview of Isaiah:
Isaiah, the prophet, is the voice of God to a rebellious and unfaithful generation. When confronted with the holiness of God in the temple, he cries out …
“I am a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips.” (Isaiah 6:1-6)
His people (Northern Israel and Southern Judah) have blatantly broken the covenant that God made with them at Sinai. The tribes of Israel and the people of Judah have not loved the Triune God with all of their heart. They have run after other gods.
God’s people have also failed to love the neighbor as themselves. Injustice, extravagance, greed, pride, power, hypocrisy, outward shows of spirituality and indifference to the Word of God are the norm of the day. However, God will not be mocked. Isaiah declares that the invading Assyrians are God’s agents of wrath upon the faithlessness of the Northern Kingdom. The Babylonians will soon follow and carry Judah, the Southern Kingdom, away in exile.
Isaiah, after God cleanses his lips with the burning coal from the altar of sacrifice (Isaiah 6:1-8), preaches the forgiveness of sins and proclaims the coming of Messiah to his people. Even though God’s people are faithful, God Himself will remain true to all of His promises. Though their sins are like scarlet, God Himself will make His people white as snow. (Isaiah 1:18)
Video: The Book of Isaiah … Content and Context
Brief Overview of 1,2 and 3 John and Jude:
Two of the devil’s favorite ploys are deception and division. He hates the Truth (contained in the Scriptures and incarnate in Jesus). He also despises the love that the Church has for one another.
In his three little letters, the Apostle John reveals and warns the little “ekklesias” scattered throughout the world that “false teachers”, “liars and deceivers” and many “antichrists” will and have come. These “children of the devil” slither their way into the community and distort the revelation of the deity of Jesus, the call to repent, the atoning sacrifice of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins and the way of love.
Jude’s short letter echos the same warning … false teaching about Jesus Christ leads to false living in the community and it will be met with the judgment of God. Jude exhorts the faithful “to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” (Jude 3). He also gives one of the most comforting blessings in all of the Scriptures …
To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy–to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen. (Jude 24,25)
Video: 1,2, and 3 John and Jude … Content and Context
Monday (click on highlighted links)
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
- Evening/Morning (Stations 1-5)
- The Christian’s Vocation (Station 12)
- Is 29:15–30:14
- Revelation 1:1-20
The Psalm 119 Prayer Cycle
The links below will direct you to a full version of “The Psalm 119 Prayer Cycle” step by step guide as well as a visual map of the territory.
List of Additional Resources
Here are some additional resources to supplement the readings from the Daily Lectionary:
- Treasury of Daily Prayer
- A Year in the Old Testament: Meditations for Each Day of the Church Year, by Jeffrey Pulse
- A Year in the New Testament: Meditations for Each Day of the Church Year
- A Year with the Church Fathers: Meditations for Each Day of the Church Year
- PrayNow (iPhone App)
- The Daily Lectionary follows the pattern outlined in the Lutheran Service Book
Here are some of the resources I frequently study or reference for each Sunday of the Church Year:
- Postilla: An Explanation of the Sunday and most Important Festival Gospels of the Whole Year, Volumes 1 and 2, by Johann Gerhard
- A Year in the Gospels With Martin Luther, Volumes 1 and 2, by Martin Luther (Author), Paul T. McCain (Editor)
- Christian Year of Grace by Johann Spangenberg (Author), Matthew Carver (Author)
