Open Word

FIRST READING

Exodus 6:2-9

Verse 2. God also told Moses, “I am the LORD. Verse 3. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty, but by My name the LORD I did not make Myself known to them. Verse 4. I also established My covenant with them to give them the land of Canaan, the land where they lived as foreigners. Verse 5. Furthermore, I have heard the groaning of the Israelites, whom the Egyptians are enslaving, and I have remembered My covenant. Verse 6. Therefore tell the Israelites: ‘I am the LORD, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians and deliver you from their bondage. I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. Verse 7. I will take you as My own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. Verse 8. And I will bring you into the land that I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will give it to you as a possession. I am the LORD!’” Verse 9. Moses relayed this message to the Israelites, but on account of their broken spirit and cruel bondage, they did not listen to him.

PSALM

Psalm 2

Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?

The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together, against the LORD and against His Anointed One:

“Let us break Their chains and cast away Their cords.”

The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord taunts them.

Then He rebukes them in His anger, and terrifies them in His fury:

“I have installed My King on Zion, upon My holy mountain.”

I will proclaim the decree spoken to Me by the LORD: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.

Ask Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession.

You will break them with an iron scepter; You will shatter them like pottery. ”

Therefore be wise, O kings; be admonished, O judges of the earth.

Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and you perish in your rebellion, when His wrath ignites in an instant. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.

SECOND READING

Hebrews 8:1-7

Verse 1. The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, Verse 2. and who ministers in the sanctuary and true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man. Verse 3. And since every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, it was necessary for this One also to have something to offer. Verse 4. Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer gifts according to the law. Verse 5. The place where they serve is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” Verse 6. Now, however, Jesus has received a much more excellent ministry, just as the covenant He mediates is better and is founded on better promises. Verse 7. For if that first covenant had been without fault, no place would have been sought for a second.