Ezekiel 25
Judgment on the Gentile Nations: Ammon
1 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying,†
2 “Son of man, set your face against the children of Ammon and prophesy against them.
3 You shall say to the children of Ammon, ‘Hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord: “Because you rejoiced against My sanctuary when it was desecrated, and against the land of Israel when it was destroyed, and against the house of Judah when they went into captivity;
4 therefore, behold, I shall deliver you over to the children of Kedem as an inheritance. They will dwell among you with their goods and pitch their tents among you. They will eat your fruit and drink your drinks.
5 I shall make the city of Ammon a pasturage for camels, and Rabbah a resting place for sheep. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”
6 For thus says the Lord: “Because you clapped your hands, and applauded with your feet, and rejoiced in your soul against the land of Israel;
7 therefore, I shall stretch out My hand against you and give you as plunder to the nations. I shall utterly destroy you from among the peoples and cause you to perish from the countries. Then you will know that I am the Lord.”
Moab
8 ‘Thus says the Lord: “Because Moab said, ‘Behold, the house of Israel and Judah is like all the nations,’
9 therefore, behold, I shall weaken the shoulder of Moab from its prominent cities—its choice land—as is the house of Beth Jeshimoth, above the spring of the seaside city.
10 I have given these cities, as well as the children of Ammon, as an inheritance to the sons of Kedem, so there may be no memory of the sons of Ammon.
11 Thus I shall take vengeance upon Moab, and they will know that I am the Lord.”
Edom
12 ‘Thus says the Lord: “Because of what Edom did when it took revenge on the house of Judah, and because they remembered wrongs and exacted punishment,”
13 therefore, thus says the Lord: “I shall also stretch out My hand against Edom, and destroy man and cattle from it, and make it a desert. They will be pursued from Teman and fall by the sword.
14 I shall execute My vengeance on Edom by the hand of My people Israel, and they will do in Edom according to My wrath and anger. Then they will know My vengeance,” says the Lord.
Cretans
15 ‘Therefore thus says the Lord: “Because the foreigners exacted vengeance and raised up vengeance, rejoicing in their souls to destroy My people forever,”
16 therefore, thus says the Lord: “Behold, I shall stretch out My hand against the foreigners, and I shall utterly destroy the Cretans. I shall also destroy those who dwell on the seacoast.
17 I shall execute great vengeance, and they will know that I am the Lord, when I bring My vengeance upon them.” ’ ”
Psalms 118
161 Rulers persecuted me without cause, But my heart feared because of Your words.
162 I shall greatly rejoice in Your teachings, Like one finding great spoil.
163 I hate and abhor unrighteousness, But I love Your law.
164 I praise You seven times a day For the judgments of Your righteousness.
165 Great peace have all who love Your law, And it is not an offense to them.
166 I long for Your salvation, O Lord, And I love Your commandments.
167 My soul keeps Your testimonies, And I love them exceedingly.
168 I keep Your commandments and Your testimonies, For all my ways are before You, O Lord.
169 Let my supplication draw near before You, O Lord; Give me understanding according to Your teaching.
170 May my petition come before You; Deliver me according to Your teaching.
171 My lips shall overflow in song When You teach me Your ordinances.
172 My tongue shall speak of Your teaching, For all Your commandments are righteousness.
173 Let Your hand be for saving me, For I chose Your commandments.
174 I long for Your salvation, O Lord, And Your law is my meditation.
175 My soul shall live and praise You, And Your judgments shall help me.
176 I went astray like a lost sheep; Seek Your servant, for I have not forgotten Your commandments.
Proverbs of Solomon 27
6 The wounds of a friend are more trustworthy Than the voluntary kisses of an enemy.†
7 A satiated soul mocks honeycombs, But to a hungry soul, even bitter things appear sweet.
8 As when a bird flies down from its own nest, So is a man enslaved whenever he becomes a fugitive from his own place.
9 The heart delights in perfumes, wines, and incenses, But the soul is broken by mishaps.
10 Do not abandon your friend or the friend of your father, And when you have misfortune, do not go to your brother’s house; A friend nearby is better than a brother far away.
1 John 1
Introduction: The Incarnation
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—†
2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—†
3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.†
4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.†
Walk in the Light: Confession
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.†
6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.†
7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
1 John 2
Keep God’s Commandments of Love
1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
Dear Fr. Alexis,
I was SO EXCITED to hear about your plans for 2022 a couple of days ago!
Being blind, and having only the Masuretic text of the Bible in Braille, I appreciate hearing those other books that are not included.
I’m looking forward to digging in again to read the whole Bible next year, and I love that you’re starting one for kids!
Blessings,
Susan Blandina Jones, Indianapolis, IN