Is. 51:12–23
51:12 “I, I am the one who consoles you.
Why are you afraid of mortal men,
of mere human beings who are as short-lived as grass?
13Why do you forget the Lord, who made you,
who stretched out the sky
and founded the earth?
Why do you constantly tremble all day long
at the anger of the oppressor,
when he makes plans to destroy?
Where is the anger of the oppressor?
14The one who suffers will soon be released;
he will not die in prison,
he will not go hungry.
15I am the Lord your God,
who churns up the sea so that its waves surge.
The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is his name!
16“I commission you as my spokesman;
I cover you with the palm of my hand
to establish the sky and to found the earth,
to say to Zion, ‘You are my people.’”
17Wake up! Wake up!
Get up, O Jerusalem!
You drank from the cup the Lord passed to you,
which was full of his anger.
You drained dry
the goblet full of intoxicating wine.
18There was no one to lead her
among all the children she bore;
there was no one to take her by the hand
among all the children she raised.
19These double disasters confronted you.
But who feels sorry for you?
Destruction and devastation,
famine and sword.
But who consoles you?
20Your children faint;
they lie at the head of every street
like an antelope in a snare.
They are left in a stupor by the Lord’s anger,
by the battle cry of your God.
21So listen to this, oppressed one,
who is drunk, but not from wine.
22This is what your Sovereign Lord, even your God who judges his people says:
“Look, I have removed from your hand
the cup of intoxicating wine,
the goblet full of my anger.
You will no longer have to drink it.
23I will put it into the hand of your tormentors
who said to you, ‘Lie down, so we can walk over you.’
You made your back like the ground
and like the street for those who walked over you.”
(NET Bible)Ps. 37:23–40
37:23 The Lord grants success to the one
whose behavior he finds commendable.
24Even if he trips, he will not fall headlong,
for the Lord holds his hand.
25I was once young, now I am old.
I have never seen the godly abandoned,
or their children forced to search for food.
26All day long they show compassion and lend to others,
and their children are blessed.
27Turn away from evil. Do what is right.
Then you will enjoy lasting security.
28For the Lord promotes justice,
and never abandons his faithful followers.
They are permanently secure,
but the children of the wicked are wiped out.
29The godly will possess the land
and will dwell in it permanently.
30The godly speak wise words
and promote justice.
31The law of their God controls their thinking;
their feet do not slip.
32The wicked set an ambush for the godly
and try to kill them.
33But the Lord does not surrender the godly,
or allow them to be condemned in a court of law.
34Rely on the Lord. Obey his commands.
Then he will permit you to possess the land;
you will see the demise of the wicked.
35I have seen ruthless, wicked people
growing in influence, like a green tree grows in its native soil.
36But then one passes by, and suddenly they have disappeared.
I looked for them, but they could not be found.
37Take note of the one who has integrity. Observe the upright.
For the one who promotes peace has a future.
38Sinful rebels are totally destroyed;
the wicked have no future.
39But the Lord delivers the godly;
he protects them in times of trouble.
40The Lord helps them and rescues them;
he rescues them from the wicked and delivers them,
for they seek his protection.
(NET Bible)John 16:25–33
16:25 “I have told you these things in obscure figures of speech; a time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in obscure figures, but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26At that time you will ask in my name, and I do not say that I will ask the Father on your behalf. 27For the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28I came from the Father and entered into the world, but in turn, I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.”
29His disciples said, “Look, now you are speaking plainly and not in obscure figures of speech! 30Now we know that you know everything and do not need anyone to ask you anything. Because of this we believe that you have come from God.”
31Jesus replied, “Do you now believe? 32Look, a time is coming—and has come—when you will be scattered, each one to his own home, and I will be left alone. Yet I am not alone because my Father is with me. 33I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble and suffering, but take courage—I have conquered the world.”
(NET Bible)
In general, there is evident in the sermons [of Luther] preached before the posting of the Theses, as far as they have been preserved, a strong emphasis on the Word as the Means of Grace. In the sermon of October 5, 1516, even this sentence is found, “faith surrenders itself captive to the Word of Christ”—surely a strong emphasis on the authority of Scripture. (15)
–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.