Monday in Advent — Open Word

FIRST READING

Isaiah 26:7-15

Verse 7. The path of the righteous is level; You clear a straight path for the upright. Verse 8. Yes, we wait for You, O LORD; we walk in the path of Your judgments. Your name and renown are the desire of our souls. Verse 9. My soul longs for You in the night; indeed, my spirit seeks You at dawn. For when Your judgments come upon the earth, the people of the world learn righteousness. Verse 10. Though grace is shown to the wicked man, he does not learn righteousness. In the land of righteousness he acts unjustly and fails to see the majesty of the LORD. Verse 11. O LORD, Your hand is upraised, but they do not see it. They will see Your zeal for Your people and be put to shame. The fire set for Your enemies will consume them! Verse 12. O LORD, You will establish peace for us. For all that we have accomplished, You have done for us. Verse 13. O LORD our God, other lords besides You have ruled over us, but Your name alone do we confess. Verse 14. The dead will not live; the departed spirits will not rise. Therefore You have punished and destroyed them; You have wiped out all memory of them. Verse 15. You have enlarged the nation, O LORD; You have enlarged the nation. You have gained glory for Yourself; You have extended all the borders of the land.

PSALM

Psalm 27

Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— whom shall I dread?

When the wicked came upon me to devour my flesh, my enemies and foes stumbled and fell.

Though an army encamps around me, my heart will not fear; though a war breaks out against me, I will keep my trust.

One thing I have asked of the LORD; this is what I desire: to dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and seek Him in His temple.

For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; He will conceal me under the cover of His tent; He will set me high upon a rock.

Then my head will be held high above my enemies around me. At His tabernacle I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the LORD.

Hear, O LORD, my voice when I call; be merciful and answer me.

My heart said, “Seek His face.” Your face, O LORD, I will seek.

Hide not Your face from me, nor turn away Your servant in anger. You have been my helper; do not leave me or forsake me, O God of my salvation.

Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me.

Teach me Your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path, because of my oppressors.

Do not hand me over to the will of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence.

Still I am certain to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

Wait patiently for the LORD; be strong and courageous. Wait patiently for the LORD!

SECOND READING

Acts 2:37-42

Verse 37. When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and asked Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” Verse 38. Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Verse 39. This promise belongs to you and your children and to all who are far off — to all whom the Lord our God will call to Himself.” Verse 40. With many other words he testified, and he urged them, “Be saved from this corrupt generation.” Verse 41. Those who embraced his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to the believers that day. Verse 42. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.