Partner Status: The season of Lent has typically held a special place in the life of the Church. Beginning with Ash Wednesday and culminating in the events of Holy Week, Lent is an invitation to focus on what is central to our faith. It has also become a time for personal and spiritual reflection on who we are as God’s people and on what God has given us so graciously in Christ. In earlier times, Lent was a time to prepare for receiving Baptism. More recently it has become a time to lift up in worship and education the core teachings of our faith or to explore some of the major personalities who surround Jesus on His journey to the cross. This devotional booklet is meant to enhance and enrich our Lenten observance. We have chosen two themes. One is a selection of biblical passages in which God is addressed as the “Great I Am.” The other is a selection of passages in which we are addressed as God’s people, “You are…” It is our hope that, as we reflect on these passages from God’s Word, our faith in God may be strengthened and our commitment to His Word renewed. It is also our prayer that, as we move from Ash Wednesday to Holy Week, we may join the two disciples of Jesus as they cried out, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” (Luke 24:32 ESV). The Rev. Paull Spring, Bishop Emeritus Unless otherwise noted, Scripture is taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Scripture quotations marked (CEV) are from the Contemporary English Version Copyright © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission. Scripture quotations designated NASB or NASB95 are from the New American Standard Bible, © the Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Scripture quotations designated ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version ®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Absalom Murders Amnon 23 After two full years Absalom had sheepshearers at Baal-hazor, which is near Ephraim, and Absalom invited all the king’s sons. 24 And Absalom came to the king and said, “Behold, your servant has sheepshearers. Please let the king and his servants go with your servant.” 25 But the king said to Absalom, “No, my son, let us not all go, lest we be burdensome to you.” He pressed him, but he would not go but gave him his blessing. 26 Then Absalom said, “If not, please let my brother Amnon go with us.” And the king said to him, “Why should he go with you?” 27 But Absalom pressed him until he let Amnon and all the king’s sons go with him. 28 Then Absalom commanded his servants, “Mark when Amnon’s heart is merry with wine, and when I say to you, ‘Strike Amnon,’ then kill him. Do not fear; have I not commanded you? Be courageous and be valiant.” 29 So the servants of Absalom did to Amnon as Absalom had commanded. Then all the king’s sons arose, and each mounted his mule and fled. 30 While they were on the way, news came to David, “Absalom has struck down all the king’s sons, and not one of them is left.” 31 Then the king arose and tore his garments and lay on the earth. And all his servants who were standing by tore their garments. 32 But Jonadab the son of Shimeah, David’s brother, said, “Let not my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men, the king’s sons, for Amnon alone is dead. For by the command of Absalom this has been determined from the day he violated his sister Tamar. 33 Now therefore let not my lord the king so take it to heart as to suppose that all the king’s sons are dead, for Amnon alone is dead.” Absalom Flees to Geshur 34 But Absalom fled. And the young man who kept the watch lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, many people were coming from the road behind him by the side of the mountain. 35 And Jonadab said to the king, “Behold, the king’s sons have come; as your servant said, so it has come about.” 36 And as soon as he had finished speaking, behold, the king’s sons came and lifted up their voice and wept. And the king also and all his servants wept very bitterly. 37 But Absalom fled and went to Talmai the son of Ammihud, king of Geshur. And David mourned for his son day after day. 38 So Absalom fled and went to Geshur, and was there three years. 39 And the spirit of the king longed to go out to Absalom, because he was comforted about Amnon, since he was dead. 36 But they flattered him with their mouths; 37 Their heart was not steadfast toward him; 38 Yet he, being compassionate, 39 He remembered that they were but flesh, 40 How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness 41 They tested God again and again 42 They did not remember his power 43 when he performed his signs in Egypt 44 He turned their rivers to blood, 45 He sent among them swarms of flies, which devoured them, 46 He gave their crops to the destroying locust 47 He destroyed their vines with hail 48 He gave over their cattle to the hail 49 He let loose on them his burning anger, 50 He made a path for his anger; 51 He struck down every firstborn in Egypt, 52 Then he led out his people like sheep 53 He led them in safety, so that they were not afraid, 54 And he brought them to his holy land, 55 He drove out nations before them; 56 Yet they tested and rebelled against the Most High God 57 but turned away and acted treacherously like their fathers; 58 For they provoked him to anger with their high places; 59 When God heard, he was full of wrath, 60 He forsook his dwelling at Shiloh, 61 and delivered his power to captivity, 62 He gave his people over to the sword 63 Fire devoured their young men, 64 Their priests fell by the sword, 65 Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, 66 And he put his adversaries to rout; 67 He rejected the tent of Joseph; 68 but he chose the tribe of Judah, 69 He built his sanctuary like the high heavens, 70 He chose David his servant 71 from following the nursing ewes he brought him 72 With upright heart he shepherded them A Good Soldier of Christ Jesus 2 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. 3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. 5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. 7 Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. 8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, 9 for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! 10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with him, we will also live with him; Scripture is the primum principium; it is [Luther writes] “in itself the most certain, the most accessible, the most readily understandable (book) which interprets itself and approves, judges, and illumines all (words) of all.” It must “reign as queen.” (18) –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.
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The Rev. Dr. Gemechis Buba, Assistant to the Bishop for Missions2 Samuel 13:23–39 (ESV)
Psalm 78:36–72 (ESV)
they lied to him with their tongues.
they were not faithful to his covenant.
atoned for their iniquity
and did not destroy them;
he restrained his anger often
and did not stir up all his wrath.
a wind that passes and comes not again.
and grieved him in the desert!
and provoked the Holy One of Israel.
or the day when he redeemed them from the foe,
and his marvels in the fields of Zoan.
so that they could not drink of their streams.
and frogs, which destroyed them.
and the fruit of their labor to the locust.
and their sycamores with frost.
and their flocks to thunderbolts.
wrath, indignation, and distress,
a company of destroying angels.
he did not spare them from death,
but gave their lives over to the plague.
the firstfruits of their strength in the tents of Ham.
and guided them in the wilderness like a flock.
but the sea overwhelmed their enemies.
to the mountain which his right hand had won.
he apportioned them for a possession
and settled the tribes of Israel in their tents.
and did not keep his testimonies,
they twisted like a deceitful bow.
they moved him to jealousy with their idols.
and he utterly rejected Israel.
the tent where he dwelt among mankind,
his glory to the hand of the foe.
and vented his wrath on his heritage.
and their young women had no marriage song.
and their widows made no lamentation.
like a strong man shouting because of wine.
he put them to everlasting shame.
he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim,
Mount Zion, which he loves.
like the earth, which he has founded forever.
and took him from the sheepfolds;
to shepherd Jacob his people,
Israel his inheritance.
and guided them with his skillful hand. 2 Timothy 2:1–13 (ESV)
12 if we endure, we will also reign with him;
if we deny him, he also will deny us;
13 if we are faithless, he remains faithful—
for he cannot deny himself.