Saturday in Christmas

FIRST READING

Genesis 28:10-22

Verse 10. Meanwhile Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran. Verse 11. On reaching a certain place, he spent the night there because the sun had set. And taking one of the stones from that place, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep. Verse 12. And Jacob had a dream about a ladder that rested on the earth with its top reaching up to heaven, and God’s angels were going up and down the ladder. Verse 13. And there at the top the LORD was standing and saying, “I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you now lie. Verse 14. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and east and north and south. All the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. Verse 15. Look, I am with you, and I will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” Verse 16. When Jacob woke up, he said, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was unaware of it.” Verse 17. And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven!” Verse 18. Early the next morning, Jacob took the stone that he had placed under his head, and he set it up as a pillar. He poured oil on top of it, Verse 19. and he called that place Bethel, though previously the city had been named Luz. Verse 20. Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and watch over me on this journey, and if He will provide me with food to eat and clothes to wear, Verse 21. so that I may return safely to my father’s house, then the LORD will be my God. Verse 22. And this stone I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give You a tenth.”

PSALM

Psalm 72

Of Solomon. Endow the king with Your justice, O God, and the son of the king with Your righteousness.

May he judge Your people with righteousness and Your afflicted with justice.

May the mountains bring peace to the people, and the hills bring righteousness.

May he vindicate the afflicted among the people; may he save the children of the needy and crush the oppressor.

May they fear him as long as the sun shines, as long as the moon remains, through all generations.

May he be like rain that falls on freshly cut grass, like spring showers that water the earth.

May the righteous flourish in his days and prosperity abound until the moon is no more.

May he rule from sea to sea, and from the Euphrates to the ends of the earth.

May the nomads bow before him, and his enemies lick the dust.

May the kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.

May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.

For he will deliver the needy who cry out and the afflicted who have no helper.

He will take pity on the poor and needy and save the lives of the oppressed.

He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their blood is precious in his sight.

Long may he live! May gold from Sheba be given him. May people ever pray for him; may they bless him all day long.

May there be an abundance of grain in the land; may it sway atop the hills. May its fruit trees flourish like the forests of Lebanon, the people of its cities like the grass of the field.

May his name endure forever; may his name continue as long as the sun shines. In him may all nations be blessed; may they call him blessed.

Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.

And blessed be His glorious name forever; may all the earth be filled with His glory. Amen and amen.

Thus conclude the prayers of David son of Jesse.

SECOND READING

Hebrews 11:13-22

Verse 13. All these people died in faith, without having received the things they were promised. However, they saw them and welcomed them from afar. And they acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. Verse 14. Now those who say such things show that they are seeking a country of their own. Verse 15. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Verse 16. Instead, they were longing for a better country, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them. Verse 17. By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac on the altar. He who had received the promises was ready to offer his one and only son, Verse 18. even though God had said to him, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.” Verse 19. Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and in a sense, he did receive Isaac back from death. Verse 20. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning the future. Verse 21. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff. Verse 22. By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions about his bones.