Thursday in Lent — Open Word

FIRST READING

Isaiah 53:10-12

Verse 10. Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush Him and to cause Him to suffer; and when His soul is made a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, and the good pleasure of the LORD will prosper in His hand. Verse 11. After the anguish of His soul, He will see the light of life and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant will justify many, and He will bear their iniquities. Verse 12. Therefore I will allot Him a portion with the great, and He will divide the spoils with the strong, because He has poured out His life unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors. Yet He bore the sin of many and made intercession for the transgressors.

PSALM

Psalm 31:9-16

Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in distress; my eyes fail from sorrow, my soul and body as well.

For my life is consumed with grief and my years with groaning; my iniquity has drained my strength, and my bones are wasting away.

Among all my enemies I am a disgrace, and among my neighbors even more. I am dreaded by my friends — they flee when they see me on the street.

I am forgotten like a dead man, out of mind. I am like a broken vessel.

For I hear the slander of many; there is terror on every side. They conspire against me and plot to take my life.

But I trust in You, O LORD; I say, “You are my God.”

My times are in Your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.

Make Your face shine on Your servant; save me by Your loving devotion.

SECOND READING

Hebrews 2:1-9

Verse 1. We must pay closer attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. Verse 2. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every transgression and disobedience received its just punishment, Verse 3. how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, Verse 4. and was affirmed by God through signs, wonders, various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will. Verse 5. For it is not to angels that He has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. Verse 6. But somewhere it is testified in these words: “What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You care for him? Verse 7. You made him a little lower than the angels; You crowned him with glory and honor Verse 8. and placed everything under his feet.” When God subjected all things to him, He left nothing outside of his control. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. Verse 9. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.