Epiphany

Friday in Epiphany

Friday, February 4, 2028

FIRST READING

Numbers 27:12-23

Verse 12. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Go up this mountain of the Abarim range and see the land that I have given the Israelites. Verse 13. After you have seen it, you too will be gathered to your people, as your brother Aaron was; Verse 14. for when the congregation contended in the Wilderness of Zin, both of you rebelled against My command to show My holiness in their sight regarding the waters.” Those were the waters of Meribah in Kadesh, in the Wilderness of Zin. Verse 15. So Moses appealed to the LORD, Verse 16. “May the LORD, the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation Verse 17. who will go out and come in before them, and who will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the LORD will not be like sheep without a shepherd.” Verse 18. And the LORD replied to Moses, “Take Joshua son of Nun, a man with the Spirit in him, and lay your hands on him. Verse 19. Have him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, and commission him in their sight. Verse 20. Confer on him some of your authority, so that the whole congregation of Israel will obey him. Verse 21. He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who will seek counsel for him before the LORD by the judgment of the Urim. At his command, he and all the Israelites with him— the entire congregation— will go out and come in.” Verse 22. Moses did as the LORD had commanded him. He took Joshua, had him stand before Eleazar the priest and the whole congregation, Verse 23. and laid his hands on him and commissioned him, as the LORD had instructed through Moses.

PSALM

Psalm 138

Verse 1. Of David. I give You thanks with all my heart; before the gods I sing Your praises.
Verse 2. I bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your loving devotion and Your faithfulness; You have exalted Your name and Your word above all else.
Verse 3. On the day I called, You answered me; You emboldened me and strengthened my soul.
Verse 4. All the kings of the earth will give You thanks, O LORD, when they hear the words of Your mouth.
Verse 5. They will sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great.
Verse 6. Though the LORD is on high, He attends to the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar.
Verse 7. If I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve me from the anger of my foes; You extend Your hand, and Your right hand saves me.
Verse 8. The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me. O LORD, Your loving devotion endures forever — do not abandon the works of Your hands.

SECOND READING

Acts 9:26-31

Verse 26. When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he was a disciple. Verse 27. Then Barnabas brought him to the apostles and described how Saul had seen the Lord, who had spoken to him on the road to Damascus, and how Saul had spoken boldly in that city in the name of Jesus. Verse 28. So Saul stayed with them, moving about freely in Jerusalem and speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. Verse 29. He talked and debated with the Grecian Jews, but they tried to kill him. Verse 30. When the brothers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus. Verse 31. Then the church throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria experienced a time of peace. It grew in strength and numbers, living in the fear of the Lord and the encouragement of the Holy Spirit.