Epiphany

Thursday in Epiphany

Thursday, January 28, 2027

FIRST READING

Deuteronomy 3:23-29

Verse 23. At that time I also pleaded with the LORD: Verse 24. “O Lord GOD, You have begun to show Your greatness and power to Your servant. For what god in heaven or on earth can perform such works and mighty acts as Yours? Verse 25. Please let me cross over and see the good land beyond the Jordan — that pleasant hill country as well as Lebanon!” Verse 26. But the LORD was angry with me on account of you, and He would not listen to me. “That is enough,” the LORD said to me. “Do not speak to Me again about this matter. Verse 27. Go to the top of Pisgah and look to the west and north and south and east. See the land with your own eyes, for you will not cross this Jordan. Verse 28. But commission Joshua, encourage him, and strengthen him, for he will cross over ahead of the people and enable them to inherit the land that you will see.” Verse 29. So we stayed in the valley opposite Beth-peor.

PSALM

Psalm 111

Verse 1. Hallelujah! I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart in the council of the upright and in the assembly.
Verse 2. Great are the works of the LORD; they are pondered by all who delight in them.
Verse 3. Splendid and majestic is His work; His righteousness endures forever.
Verse 4. He has caused His wonders to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and compassionate.
Verse 5. He provides food for those who fear Him; He remembers His covenant forever.
Verse 6. He has shown His people the power of His works by giving them the inheritance of the nations.
Verse 7. The works of His hands are truth and justice; all His precepts are trustworthy.
Verse 8. They are upheld forever and ever, enacted in truth and uprightness.
Verse 9. He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant forever; holy and awesome is His name.
Verse 10. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts gain rich understanding. His praise endures forever!

SECOND READING

Romans 9:6-18

Verse 6. It is not as though God’s word has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. Verse 7. Nor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.” Verse 8. So it is not the children of the flesh who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as offspring. Verse 9. For this is what the promise stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.” Verse 10. Not only that, but Rebecca’s children were conceived by one man, our father Isaac. Verse 11. Yet before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad, in order that God’s plan of election might stand, Verse 12. not by works but by Him who calls, she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” Verse 13. So it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” Verse 14. What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Certainly not! Verse 15. For He says to Moses: “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” Verse 16. So then, it does not depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy. Verse 17. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: “I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” Verse 18. Therefore God has mercy on whom He wants to have mercy, and He hardens whom He wants to harden.