1 Chron. 17:1–15
17:1 When David had settled into his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Look, I am living in a palace made from cedar, while the ark of the Lord’s covenant is under a tent.” 2Nathan said to David, “You should do whatever you have in mind, for God is with you.”
3That night God told Nathan, 4“Go, tell my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord says: “You must not build me a house in which to live. 5For I have not lived in a house from the time I brought Israel up from Egypt to the present day. I have lived in a tent that has been in various places. 6Wherever I moved throughout Israel, I did not say to any of the leaders whom I appointed to care for my people Israel, ‘Why have you not built me a house made from cedar?’”’
7“So now, say this to my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: “I took you from the pasture and from your work as a shepherd to make you a leader of my people Israel. 8I was with you wherever you went, and I defeated all your enemies before you. Now I will make you as famous as the great men of the earth. 9I will establish a place for my people Israel and settle them there; they will live there and not be disturbed anymore. Violent men will not oppress them again, as they did in the beginning 10and during the time when I appointed judges to lead my people Israel. I will subdue all your enemies.
“‘“I declare to you that the Lord will build a dynastic house for you! 11When the time comes for you to die, I will raise up your descendant, one of your own sons, to succeed you, and I will establish his kingdom. 12He will build me a house, and I will make his dynasty permanent. 13I will become his father, and he will become my son. I will never withhold my loyal love from him, as I withheld it from the one who ruled before you. 14I will put him in permanent charge of my house and my kingdom; his dynasty will be permanent.”’” 15Nathan told David all these words that were revealed to him.
(NET Bible)Ps. 119:33–40
119:33 ה (He)
Teach me, O Lord, the lifestyle prescribed by your statutes
so that I might observe it continually.
34Give me understanding so that I might observe your law
and keep it with all my heart.
35Guide me in the path of your commands,
for I delight to walk in it.
36Give me a desire for your rules,
rather than for wealth gained unjustly.
37Turn my eyes away from what is worthless.
Revive me with your word.
38Confirm to your servant your promise,
which you made to the one who honors you.
39Take away the insults that I dread.
Indeed, your regulations are good.
40Look, I long for your precepts.
Revive me with your deliverance.
(NET Bible)Mark 16:1–20
16:1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought aromatic spices so that they might go and anoint him. 2And very early on the first day of the week, at sunrise, they went to the tomb. 3They had been asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled back. 5Then as they went into the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has been raised! He is not here. Look, there is the place where they laid him. 7But go, tell his disciples, even Peter, that he is going ahead of you into Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you.” 8Then they went out and ran from the tomb, for terror and bewilderment had seized them. And they said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
9[[Early on the first day of the week, after he arose, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had driven out seven demons. 10She went out and told those who were with him, while they were mourning and weeping. 11And when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.
12After this he appeared in a different form to two of them while they were on their way to the country. 13They went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them. 14Then he appeared to the Eleven themselves, while they were eating, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart because they did not believe those who had seen him resurrected. 15He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16The one who believes and is baptized will be saved, but the one who does not believe will be condemned. 17These signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new languages; 18they will pick up snakes with their hands, and whatever poison they drink will not harm them; they will place their hands on the sick and they will be well.” 19After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20They went out and proclaimed everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word through the accompanying signs.]]
(NET Bible)
It was self-evident to Luther that the evangelists gave consideration to the plan according to which they would relate the history of Jesus and, with that in mind, selected and arranged their materials accordingly, abbreviating here and expanding there. In the Church Postil Luther says in the Sermon for the Twenty- fifth Sunday after Trinity (St. Matt. 24:15-28): “In this chapter is described the conclu-sion and end of both kingdoms, that of Judah and that of the whole world. But the two evangelists, Matthew and Mark, mingle the two and do not keep the order that has been preserved in Luke, for they are concerned only about telling and repeating the words without troubling themselves as to the order in which the words were spoken.” “So understand that Matthew here weaves together and combines the end of the Jewish nation and of the world, mixes them into one dish. But if you wish to understand it you must separate it and apply the parts to their respective ends.” (60–61)
–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.