Monday in Advent — Open Word

FIRST READING

Numbers 17:1-11

Verse 1. And the LORD said to Moses, Verse 2. “Speak to the Israelites and take from them twelve staffs, one from the leader of each tribe. Write each man’s name on his staff, Verse 3. and write Aaron’s name on the staff of Levi, because there must be one staff for the head of each tribe. Verse 4. Place the staffs in the Tent of Meeting in front of the Testimony, where I meet with you. Verse 5. The staff belonging to the man I choose will sprout, and I will rid Myself of the constant grumbling of the Israelites against you.” Verse 6. So Moses spoke to the Israelites, and each of their leaders gave him a staff — one for each of the leaders of their tribes, twelve staffs in all. And Aaron’s staff was among them. Verse 7. Then Moses placed the staffs before the LORD in the Tent of the Testimony. Verse 8. The next day Moses entered the Tent of the Testimony and saw that Aaron’s staff, representing the house of Levi, had sprouted, put forth buds, blossomed, and produced almonds. Verse 9. Then Moses brought out all the staffs from the LORD’s presence to all the Israelites. They saw them, and each man took his own staff. Verse 10. The LORD said to Moses, “Put Aaron’s staff back in front of the Testimony, to be kept as a sign for the rebellious, so that you may put an end to their grumbling against Me, lest they die.” Verse 11. So Moses did as the LORD had commanded him.

PSALM

Psalm 90

A prayer of Moses the man of God. Lord, You have been our dwelling place through all generations.

Before the mountains were born or You brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting You are God.

You return man to dust, saying, “Return, O sons of mortals.”

For in Your sight a thousand years are but a day that passes, or a watch of the night.

You sweep them away in their sleep; they are like the new grass of the morning—

in the morning it springs up new, but by evening it fades and withers.

For we are consumed by Your anger and terrified by Your wrath.

You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your presence.

For all our days decline in Your fury; we finish our years with a sigh.

The length of our days is seventy years — or eighty if we are strong — yet their pride is but labor and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.

Who knows the power of Your anger? Your wrath matches the fear You are due.

So teach us to number our days, that we may present a heart of wisdom.

Return, O LORD! How long will it be? Have compassion on Your servants.

Satisfy us in the morning with Your loving devotion, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.

Make us glad for as many days as You have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen evil.

May Your work be shown to Your servants, and Your splendor to their children.

May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish for us the work of our hands— yes, establish the work of our hands!

SECOND READING

2 Peter 3:1-18

Verse 1. Beloved, this is now my second letter to you. Both of them are reminders to stir you to wholesome thinking Verse 2. by recalling what was foretold by the holy prophets and commanded by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. Verse 3. Most importantly, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. Verse 4. “Where is the promise of His coming?” they will ask. “Ever since our fathers fell asleep, everything continues as it has from the beginning of creation.” Verse 5. But they deliberately overlook the fact that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water, Verse 6. through which the world of that time perished in the flood. Verse 7. And by that same word, the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. Verse 8. Beloved, do not let this one thing escape your notice: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. Verse 9. The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance. Verse 10. But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar, the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and its works will be laid bare. Verse 11. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to conduct yourselves in holiness and godliness Verse 12. as you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will be destroyed by fire and the elements will melt in the heat. Verse 13. But in keeping with God’s promise, we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. Verse 14. Therefore, beloved, as you anticipate these things, make every effort to be found at peace— spotless and blameless in His sight. Verse 15. Consider also that our Lord’s patience brings salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom God gave him. Verse 16. He writes this way in all his letters, speaking in them about such matters. Some parts of his letters are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. Verse 17. Therefore, beloved, since you already know these things, be on your guard so that you will not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure standing. Verse 18. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.