December 24, 2023

December 24: Psalms 45–46; Baruch 4:36-5:9; Galatians 3:23–4:7; Matthew 1:18–25

3 minutes

4 Advent

First Psalm:

Psalms 45–46

Psalms 45–46 (Listen)

Your Throne, O God, Is Forever

To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. A MaskilProbably a musical or liturgical term">1 of the Sons of Korah; a love song.

45   My heart overflows with a pleasing theme;
    I address my verses to the king;
    my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.

2   You are the most handsome of the sons of men;
    grace is poured upon your lips;
    therefore God has blessed you forever.
3   Gird your sword on your thigh, O mighty one,
    in your splendor and majesty!

4   In your majesty ride out victoriously
    for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness;
    let your right hand teach you awesome deeds!
5   Your arrows are sharp
    in the heart of the king’s enemies;
    the peoples fall under you.

6   Your throne, O God, is forever and ever.
    The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;
7     you have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.
  Therefore God, your God, has anointed you
    with the oil of gladness beyond your companions;
8     your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.
  From ivory palaces stringed instruments make you glad;
9     daughters of kings are among your ladies of honor;
    at your right hand stands the queen in gold of Ophir.

10   Hear, O daughter, and consider, and incline your ear:
    forget your people and your father’s house,
11     and the king will desire your beauty.
  Since he is your lord, bow to him.
12     The peopleHebrew daughter">2 of Tyre will seek your favor with gifts,
    the richest of the people.Or The daughter of Tyre is here with gifts, the richest of people seek your favor">3

13   All glorious is the princess in her chamber, with robes interwoven with gold.
14     In many-colored robes she is led to the king,
    with her virgin companions following behind her.
15   With joy and gladness they are led along
    as they enter the palace of the king.

16   In place of your fathers shall be your sons;
    you will make them princes in all the earth.
17   I will cause your name to be remembered in all generations;
    therefore nations will praise you forever and ever.

God Is Our Fortress

To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth.Probably a musical or liturgical term">4 A Song.

46   God is our refuge and strength,
    a very presentOr well proved">5 help in trouble.
2   Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
    though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
3   though its waters roar and foam,
    though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

4   There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy habitation of the Most High.
5   God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
    God will help her when morning dawns.
6   The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
    he utters his voice, the earth melts.
7   The LORD of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

8   Come, behold the works of the LORD,
    how he has brought desolations on the earth.
9   He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
    he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the chariots with fire.
10   “Be still, and know that I am God.
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth!”
11   The LORD of hosts is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

Footnotes

[1] 45:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term

[2] 45:12 Hebrew daughter

[3] 45:12 Or The daughter of Tyre is here with gifts, the richest of people seek your favor

[4] 46:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term

[5] 46:1 Or well proved

(ESV)

Old Testament:

Baruch 4:36-5:9

New Testament:

Galatians 3:23–4:7

Galatians 3:23–4:7 (Listen)

23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slaveFor the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface">1 nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

Sons and Heirs

4 I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from a slave,For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; also verse 7">2 though he is the owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. 3 In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principlesOr elemental spirits; also verse 9">3 of the world. 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

Footnotes

[1] 3:28 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface

[2] 4:1 For the contextual rendering of the Greek word doulos, see Preface; also verse 7

[3] 4:3 Or elemental spirits; also verse 9

(ESV)

Gospel:

Matthew 1:18–25

Matthew 1:18–25 (Listen)

The Birth of Jesus Christ

18 Now the birth of Jesus ChristSome manuscripts of the Christ">1 took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothedThat is, legally pledged to be married">2 to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:

23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall call his name Immanuel”

(which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.

Footnotes

[1] 1:18 Some manuscripts of the Christ

[2] 1:18 That is, legally pledged to be married

(ESV)

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