Readings September 15
First Reading: This is the fourth servant song from Isaiah. The fifth servant song
from Isaiah chapter fifty-three is the most familiar. The servant savior will
redeem God’s people. The first reading is from Isaiah chapter fifty verses four
through ten.
Isaiah 50:4–10 (Isaiah urges a bold faith.)
4 The Lord God has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may
know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he
awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught. 5 The Lord God has
opened my ear, and I was not rebellious; I turned not backward. 6 I gave my back
to those who strike, and my cheeks to those who pull out the beard; I hid not my
face from disgrace and spitting. 7 But the Lord God helps me; therefore I have not
been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not
be put to shame. 8 He who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with me? Let
us stand up together. Who is my adversary? Let him come near to me. 9 Behold,
the Lord God helps me; who will declare me guilty? Behold, all of them will wear
out like a garment; the moth will eat them up. 10 Who among you fears the Lord
and obeys the voice of his servant? Let him who walks in darkness and has no
light trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.
Here ends the first reading.
Second Reading:
James tells readers that they should guard their tongues. We would be wise to
heed James’s words. Luther’s Explanation to the eighth commandment also can
guide us. The Second reading is from James chapter three verses one through
twelve.
James 3:1–12 (James warns against an uncontrolled tongue.)
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we
who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many
ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able
also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that
they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also:
though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very
small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small
member, yet it boasts of great things.
How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a
world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the
whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For
every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has
been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a
restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and
with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same
mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12
Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a
salt pond yield fresh water.
Here ends the second reading.