Friday in Advent — Open Word

FIRST READING

Isaiah 42:10-18

Verse 10. Sing to the LORD a new song— His praise from the ends of the earth— you who go down to the sea, and all that is in it, you islands, and all who dwell in them. Verse 11. Let the desert and its cities raise their voices; let the villages of Kedar cry aloud. Let the people of Sela sing for joy; let them cry out from the mountaintops. Verse 12. Let them give glory to the LORD and declare His praise in the islands. Verse 13. The LORD goes forth like a mighty one; He stirs up His zeal like a warrior. He shouts; yes, He roars in triumph over His enemies: Verse 14. “I have kept silent from ages past; I have remained quiet and restrained. But now I will groan like a woman in labor; I will at once gasp and pant. Verse 15. I will lay waste the mountains and hills and dry up all their vegetation. I will turn the rivers into dry land and drain the marshes. Verse 16. I will lead the blind by a way they did not know; I will guide them on unfamiliar paths. I will turn darkness into light before them and rough places into level ground. These things I will do for them, and I will not forsake them. Verse 17. But those who trust in idols and say to molten images, ‘You are our gods!’ will be turned back in utter shame. Verse 18. Listen, you deaf ones; look, you blind ones, that you may see!

PSALM

Psalm 80:1-7

For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Lilies of the Covenant.” A Psalm of Asaph. Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, who leads Joseph like a flock; You who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth

before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh. Rally Your mighty power and come to save us.

Restore us, O God, and cause Your face to shine upon us, that we may be saved.

O LORD God of Hosts, how long will Your anger smolder against the prayers of Your people?

You fed them with the bread of tears and made them drink the full measure of their tears.

You make us contend with our neighbors; our enemies mock us.

Restore us, O God of Hosts, and cause Your face to shine upon us, that we may be saved.

SECOND READING

Hebrews 10:32-39

Verse 32. Remember the early days that you were in the light. In those days, you endured a great conflict in the face of suffering. Verse 33. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to ridicule and persecution; at other times you were partners with those who were so treated. Verse 34. You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, knowing that you yourselves had a better and permanent possession. Verse 35. So do not throw away your confidence; it holds a great reward. Verse 36. You need to persevere, so that after you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised. Verse 37. For, “In just a little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay. Verse 38. But My righteous one will live by faith; and if he shrinks back, I will take no pleasure in him.” Verse 39. But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.