Open Word

FIRST READING

2 Samuel 7:18-29

Verse 18. Then King David went in, sat before the LORD, and said, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far? Verse 19. And as if this was a small thing in Your eyes, O Lord GOD, You have also spoken about the future of the house of Your servant. Is this Your custom with man, O Lord GOD? Verse 20. What more can David say to You? For You know Your servant, O Lord GOD. Verse 21. For the sake of Your word and according to Your own heart, You have accomplished this great thing and revealed it to Your servant. Verse 22. How great You are, O Lord GOD! For there is none like You, and there is no God but You, according to everything we have heard with our own ears. Verse 23. And who is like Your people Israel — the one nation on earth whom God went out to redeem as a people for Himself and to make a name for Himself? You performed great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before Your people, whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt. Verse 24. For You have established Your people Israel as Your very own forever, and You, O LORD, have become their God. Verse 25. And now, O LORD God, confirm forever the word You have spoken concerning Your servant and his house. Do as You have promised, Verse 26. so that Your name will be magnified forever when it is said, ‘The LORD of Hosts is God over Israel.’ And the house of Your servant David will be established before You. Verse 27. For You, O LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant when You said, ‘I will build a house for you.’ Therefore Your servant has found the courage to offer this prayer to You. Verse 28. And now, O Lord GOD, You are God! Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant. Verse 29. Now therefore, may it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You. For You, O Lord GOD, have spoken, and with Your blessing the house of Your servant will be blessed forever.”

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

Revelation 22:12-16

Verse 12. “Behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one according to what he has done. Verse 13. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Verse 14. Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and may enter the city by its gates. Verse 15. But outside are the dogs, the sorcerers, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. Verse 16. “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, the bright Morning Star.”