Amos 1:1–12
1:1 The following is a record of what Amos prophesied. He was one of the herdsmen from Tekoa. These prophecies about Israel were revealed to him during the time of King Uzziah of Judah and King Jeroboam son of Joash of Israel, two years before the earthquake.
2Amos said:
“The Lord comes roaring out of Zion;
from Jerusalem he comes bellowing!
The shepherds’ pastures wilt;
the summit of Carmel withers.”
3This is what the Lord says:
“Because Damascus has committed three crimes—
make that four!—I will not revoke my
decree of judgment.
They ripped through Gilead like threshing sledges with iron teeth.
4So I will set Hazael’s house on fire;
fire will consume Ben Hadad’s fortresses.
5I will break the bar on the gate of Damascus.
I will remove the ruler from Wicked Valley,
the one who holds the royal scepter from Beth Eden.
The people of Aram will be deported to Kir.”
The Lord has spoken!
6This is what the Lord says:
“Because Gaza has committed three crimes—
make that four!—I will not revoke my decree of judgment.
They deported a whole community and sold them to Edom.
7So I will set Gaza’s city wall on fire;
fire will consume her fortresses.
8I will remove the ruler from Ashdod,
the one who holds the royal scepter from Ashkelon.
I will strike Ekron with my hand;
the rest of the Philistines will also die.”
The Sovereign Lord has spoken!
9This is what the Lord says:
“Because Tyre has committed three crimes—
make that four—I will not revoke my decree of judgment.
They sold a whole community to Edom;
they failed to observe a treaty of brotherhood.
10So I will set fire to Tyre’s city wall;
fire will consume her fortresses.”
11This is what the Lord says:
“Because Edom has committed three crimes—
make that four—I will not revoke my decree of judgment.
He chased his brother with a sword;
he wiped out his allies.
In his anger he tore them apart without stopping to rest;
in his fury he relentlessly attacked them.
12So I will set Teman on fire;
fire will consume Bozrah’s fortresses.”
(NET Bible)Ps. 87
87:1 Written by the Korahites; a psalm, a song.
The Lord’s city is in the holy hills.
2The Lord loves the gates of Zion
more than all the dwelling places of Jacob.
3People say wonderful things about you,
O city of God. (Selah)
4I mention Rahab and Babylon to my followers.
Here are Philistia and Tyre, along with Ethiopia.
It is said of them, “This one was born there.”
5But it is said of Zion’s residents,
“Each one of these was born in her,
and the Most High makes her secure.”
6The Lord writes in the census book of the nations,
“This one was born there.” (Selah)
7As for the singers, as well as the pipers—
all of them sing within your walls.
(NET Bible)Rom. 15:22–33
15:22 This is the reason I was often hindered from coming to you. 23But now there is nothing more to keep me in these regions, and I have for many years desired to come to you 24when I go to Spain. For I hope to visit you when I pass through and that you will help me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while.
25But now I go to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. 26For Macedonia and Achaia are pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27For they were pleased to do this, and indeed they are indebted to the Jerusalem saints. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are obligated also to minister to them in material things. 28Therefore after I have completed this and have safely delivered this bounty to them, I will set out for Spain by way of you, 29and I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of Christ’s blessing.
30Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, through our Lord Jesus Christ and through the love of the Spirit, to join fervently with me in prayer to God on my behalf. 31Pray that I may be rescued from those who are disobedient in Judea and that my ministry in Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. 33Now may the God of peace be with all of you. Amen.
(NET Bible)
In his Exposition of the Prophet Zechariah, of 1527, in the explanation of the passage 11:12 ., Luther raises the question, “Why does Matthew (27:9) attribute the text of the thirty pieces of silver to the prophet Jeremiah when it appears here in Zechariah?” He answers: “It is true, this and similar questions do not mean much to me since they are of no particular profit, and Matthew has done enough when he has cited a genuine text even if he does not have the correct name, just as in other places he cites texts but does not give them in the exact words of Scripture; we can pass that by, and it does no harm that he does not use the exact words, for the sense has been preserved, and so here, what does it matter if he does not give the name exactly, because more depends on the words than on the name. And that is the manner of all apostles who do the same thing, citing the statements of Scripture without such meticulous care concerning the text. Wherefore it would be much harder to question their procedure than to question Matthew here about the name of Jeremiah. Let anyone who loves idle questions ask on. He will find more to question than he can answer.” (49)
–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.