Is. 59:16–21
59:16 He sees there is no advocate;
he is shocked that no one intervenes.
So he takes matters into his own hands;
his desire for justice drives him on.
17He wears his desire for justice like body armor,
and his desire to deliver is like a helmet on his head.
He puts on the garments of vengeance
and wears zeal like a robe.
18He repays them for what they have done,
dispensing angry judgment to his adversaries
and punishing his enemies.
He repays the coastlands.
19In the west, people respect the Lord’s reputation;
in the east they recognize his splendor.
For he comes like a rushing stream
driven on by wind sent from the Lord.
20“A protector comes to Zion,
to those in Jacob who repent of their rebellious deeds,” says the Lord.
21“As for me, this is my promise to them,” says the Lord. “My Spirit, who is upon you, and my words, which I have placed in your mouth, will not depart from your mouth or from the mouths of your children and descendants from this time forward,” says the Lord.
(NET Bible)Ps. 47
47:1 For the music director, by the Korahites; a psalm.
All you nations, clap your hands.
Shout out to God in celebration.
2For the Lord Most High is awe-inspiring;
he is the great king who rules the whole earth!
3He subdued nations beneath us
and countries under our feet.
4He picked out for us a special land
to be a source of pride for Jacob, whom he loves. (Selah)
5God has ascended his throne amid loud shouts;
the Lord has ascended amid the blaring of ram’s horns.
6Sing to God! Sing!
Sing to our king! Sing!
7For God is king of the whole earth.
Sing a well-written song.
8God reigns over the nations.
God sits on his holy throne.
9The nobles of the nations assemble,
along with the people of the God of Abraham,
for God has authority over the rulers of the earth.
He is highly exalted.
(NET Bible)John 21:20–25
21:20 Peter turned around and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them. (This was the disciple who had leaned back against Jesus’ chest at the meal and asked, “Lord, who is the one who is going to betray you?”) 21So when Peter saw him, he asked Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” 22Jesus replied, “If I want him to live until I come back, what concern is that of yours? You follow me!” 23So the saying circulated among the brothers and sisters that this disciple was not going to die. But Jesus did not say to him that he was not going to die, but rather, “If I want him to live until I come back, what concern is that of yours?”
24This is the disciple who testifies about these things and has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true. 25There are many other things that Jesus did. If every one of them were written down, I suppose the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
(NET Bible)
In his Acta Augustana, 1518, Luther writes, “One thing should not be concealed from you, that in this disputation nothing is sought but the clear meaning of Scripture.” In a letter to Staupitz dated September 1, 1518, Luther expresses his joy over the fact that the young theologians are filled with zeal for the Holy Scriptures. In a writing, Concerning Freedom of the Sermon, Papal Indulgence, and Grace, June, 1518, we read, “Even though all saintly teachers had maintained this or that, it would mean nothing over against a single statement of Holy Scripture.” (15–16)
–Johann Michael Reu, Luther on the Scriptures
This daily Bible reading guide, Reading the Word of God, was conceived and prepared as a result of the ongoing discussions between representatives of three church bodies: Lutheran Church—Canada (LCC), The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) and the North American Lutheran Church (NALC). The following individuals have represented their church bodies and approved this introduction and the reading guide: LCC: President Robert Bugbee; NALC: Bishop John Bradosky, Revs. Mark Chavez, James Nestingen, and David Wendel; LCMS: Revs. Albert Collver, Joel Lehenbauer, John Pless, and Larry Vogel.