Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries of Saint Louis, Missouri, United States "Unto You" by Reverend Wayne Palmer for Sunday, December 27, 2015

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries of Saint Louis, Missouri, United States "Unto You" by Reverend Wayne Palmer for Sunday, December 27, 2015
Read Luke 2:11 This very day, in the town of David, there was born for you a Deliverer who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 Here is how you will know: you will find a baby wrapped in cloth and lying in a feeding trough.”. TEXT: For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11).

The angel's good news begins with the words, "Unto you." Stop a minute and let that sink in: "Unto you." We may not realize it, but those words had special meaning to the shepherds. Throughout history shepherding was never a highly respected occupation (see Genesis 46:31-34). Shepherds were often held in contempt by the movers and shakers in society.
The lowly shepherds must have been amazed that God sent an angel to them. By doing so, God made it clear that no one is too lowly or despised for His favor, no matter what human society says or thinks.
After all, shepherds always had a special place in God's heart. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were all shepherds. God chose a young shepherd named David and made him king over the nation of Israel. In the 23rd Psalm, David describes God Himself as a "Shepherd," which title Jesus will gladly take to Himself when He says, "I am the Good Shepherd. ..." (John 10:11a).
It's easy to feel small and unimportant in this world, especially when people treat you as if you are insignificant. But the angel's words ring across the centuries to you and me. "Fear not ... for unto YOU is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."
That's right. Jesus Christ was born for you.
THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus Christ, thank You for coming into this world for me. Remind me that You lived and died not only for me, but for all people, that I may pass along this exceptional good news. Amen.
Through the Bible in a Year
Today Read:
Nehemiah 7:1 After the wall had been rebuilt, and I had set up its doors, and the gatekeepers, singers and L’vi’im had been appointed, 2 I put my kinsman Hanani in charge of Yerushalayim, along with Hananyah the commander of the citadel. For he was a faithful man, and he feared God more than most. 3 I said to them, “The gates of Yerushalayim are not to be opened until the sun is hot; and while the gatekeepers are still on duty, have them shut the doors; and you, put up the bars. Appoint watchmen from among those living in Yerushalayim; assign each one his time to guard, and have each one serving near his own house.”

4 The city was large and spacious, but there were few people in it, and the houses had not been rebuilt. 5 My God put it in my heart to assemble the nobles, the leaders and the people, so that they could be registered according to their genealogies. I located the record of the genealogies of those who had come up at the beginning and found written in it:

6 “Here is a list of the people of the province who had been exiled, carried off to Bavel by N’vukhadnetzar king of Bavel, but who later returned from exile and went up to Yerushalayim and Y’hudah, each to his own city; 7 they went with Z’rubavel, Yeshua, Nechemyah, ‘Azaryah, Ra‘amyah, Nachmani, Mordekhai, Bilshan, Misperet, Bigvai, N’chum and Ba‘anah.

“The number of men from the people of Isra’el:

8 descendants of Par‘osh 2,172

9 descendants of Sh’fatyah 372

10 descendants of Arach 652

11 descendants of Pachat-Mo’av,

from the descendants of Yeshua and Yo’av 2,818

12 descendants of ‘Eilam 1,254

13 descendants of Zatu 845

14 descendants of Zakkai 760

15 descendants of Binui 648

16 descendants of B’vai 628

17 descendants of ‘Azgad 2,322

18 descendants of Adonikam 667

19 descendants of Bigvai 2,067

20 descendants of ‘Adin 655

21 descendants of Ater, of Y’chizkiyah 98

22 descendants of Hashum 328

23 descendants of Betzai 324

24 descendants of Harif 112

25 descendants of Giv‘on 95

26 people of Beit-Lechem and N’tofah 188

27 people of ‘Anatot 128

28 people of Beit-‘Azmavet 42

29 people of Kiryat-Ye‘arim, K’firah and Be’erot 743

30 people of Ramah and Geva 621

31 people of Mikhmas 122

32 people of Beit-El and ‘Ai 123

33 people from the other N’vo 52

34 people from the other ‘Eilam 1,254

35 descendants of Harim 320

36 descendants of Yericho 345

37 descendants of Lod, Hadid and Ono 721

38 descendants of S’na’ah 3,930

39 “The cohanim:

descendants of Y’da‘yah, of the house of Yeshua 973

40 descendants of Immer 1,052

41 descendants of Pash’chur 1,247

42 descendants of Harim 1,017

43 “The L’vi’im:

descendants of Yeshua, of Kadmi’el,

of the descendants of Hodvah 74

44 “The singers:

descendants of Asaf 148

45 “The gatekeepers:

descendants of Shalum,

descendants of Ater,

descendants of Talmon,

descendants of ‘Akuv,

descendants of Hatita, and

descendants of Shovai 138

46 “The temple servants:

descendants of Tzicha,

descendants of Hasufa,

descendants of Taba‘ot,

47 descendants of Keros,

descendants of Si‘a,

descendants of Padon,

48 descendants of L’vanah,

descendants of Hagava,

descendants of Salmai,

49 descendants of Hanan,

descendants of Giddel,

descendants of Gachar,

50 descendants of Re’ayah,

descendants of Retzin,

descendants of N’koda,

51 descendants of Gazam,

descendants of ‘Uza,

descendants of Paseach,

52 descendants of Besai,

descendants of Me‘unim,

descendants of N’fish’sim,

53 descendants of Bakbuk,

descendants of Hakufa,

descendants of Harhur,

54 descendants of Batzlit,

descendants of M’chida,

descendants of Harsha,

55 descendants of Barkos,

descendants of Sisra,

descendants of Temach,

56 descendants of N’tziach, and

descendants of Hatifa.

57 “The descendants of Shlomo’s servants:

descendants of Sotai,

descendants of Soferet,

descendants of P’rida,

58 descendants of Ya‘lah,

descendants of Darkon,

descendants of Giddel,

59 descendants of Sh’fatyah,

descendants of Hatil,

descendants of Pokheret-Hatzvayim, and

descendants of Amon.

60 “All the temple servants and the

descendants of Shlomo’s servants numbered 392

61 “The following went up from Tel-Melach, Tel-Harsha, K’ruv, Adon and Immer; but they could not state which fathers’ clan they and their children belonged to, [so it was not clear] whether they were from Isra’el:

62 descendants of D’layah,

descendants of Toviyah, and

descendants of N’koda 642

63 and of the cohanim:

descendants of Havayah,

descendants of Hakotz, and

descendants of Barzillai, who took a wife from the

daughters of Barzillai the Gil‘adi and was named after them.

64 “These tried to locate their geneaolgical records, but they weren’t found. Therefore they were considered defiled and were not allowed to serve as cohanim. 65 The Tirshata told them not to eat any of the especially holy food until a cohen appeared who could consult the urim and tumim.

66 “The entire assembly numbered 42,360, 67 not including their male and female slaves, of whom there were 7,337. They also had 245 male and female singers. 68 Their horses numbered 736; their mules, 245; * 69 their camels, 435; and their donkeys, 6,720.

70 “Some from among the heads of fathers’ clans made contributions for the work. The Tirshata contributed to the treasury a thousand gold darkmonim [twenty-one pounds], fifty basins and 530 tunics for the cohanim. 71 Some of the heads of fathers’ clans gave into the treasury for the work 20,000 gold darkmonim [420 pounds] and 2,200 silver manim [one-and-a-third tons]. 72 The rest of the people gave 20,000 gold darkmonim, 2,000 silver manim [about one-and-a-quarter tons] and sixty-seven tunics for the cohanim.

73 “So the cohanim, the L’vi’im, the gatekeepers, the singers, some of the people, the temple servants and all Isra’el lived in their towns.”

(8:1) When the seventh month arrived, after the people of Isra’el had resettled in their towns,

8:1 all the people gathered with one accord in the open space in front of the Water Gate and asked ‘Ezra the Torah-teacher to bring the scroll of the Torah of Moshe, which Adonai had commanded Isra’el. 2 ‘Ezra the cohen brought the Torah before the assembly, which consisted of men, women and all children old enough to understand. It was the first day of the seventh month. 3 Facing the open space in front of the Water Gate, he read from it to the men, the women and the children who could understand from early morning until noon; and all the people listened attentively to the scroll of the Torah. 4 ‘Ezra the Torah-teacher stood on a wood platform which they had made for the purpose; beside him on his right stood Mattityah, Shema, ‘Anayah, Uriyah, Hilkiyah and Ma‘aseiyah; while on his left were P’dayah, Misha’el, Malkiyah, Hashum, Hashbadanah, Z’kharyah and Meshulam. 5 ‘Ezra opened the scroll where all the people could see him, because he was higher than all the people; when he opened it, all the people rose to their feet. 6 ‘Ezra blessed Adonai, the great God; and all the people answered, “Amen! Amen!” as they lifted up their hands, bowed their heads and fell prostrate before Adonai with their faces to the ground. 7 The L’vi’im Yeshua, Bani, Sherevyah, Yamin, ‘Akuv, Shabtai, Hodiyah, Ma‘aseiyah, K’lita, ‘Azaryah, Yozavad, Hanan and P’layah explained the Torah to the people, while the people remained in their places. 8 They read clearly from the scroll, in the Torah of God, translated it, and enabled them to understand the sense of what was being read.

9 Nechemyah the Tirshata, ‘Ezra the cohen and Torah-teacher and the L’vi’im who taught the people said to all the people, “Today is consecrated to Adonai your God; don’t be mournful, don’t weep.” For all the people had been weeping when they heard the words of the Torah. 10 Then he said to them, “Go, eat rich food, drink sweet drinks, and send portions to those who can’t provide for themselves; for today is consecrated to our Lord. Don’t be sad, because the joy of Adonai is your strength.” 11 In this way the L’vi’im quieted the people, as they said, “Be quiet, for today is holy; don’t be sad.” 12 Then the people went off to eat, drink, send portions and celebrate; because they had understood the words that had been proclaimed to them.

13 On the second day, the heads of fathers’ clans of all the people assembled with the cohanim and L’vi’im before ‘Ezra the Torah-teacher to study the words of the Torah. 14 They found written in the Torah that Adonai had ordered through Moshe that the people of Isra’el were to live in sukkot during the feast of the seventh month; 15 and that they were to announce and pass the word in all their cities and in Yerushalayim, “Go out to the mountains, and collect branches of olives, wild olives, myrtles, palms, and other leafy trees to make sukkot, as prescribed.” 16 So the people went out, brought them and made sukkot for themselves, each one on the roof of his house, also in their courtyards, in the courtyards of the house of God, in the open space by the Water Gate and in the open space by the Efrayim Gate. 17 The entire community of those who had returned from the exile made sukkot and lived in the sukkot, for the people of Isra’el had not done this since the days of Yeshua the son of Nun. So there was very great joy. 18 Also they read every day, from the first day until the last day, in the scroll of the Torah of God. They kept the feast for seven days; then on the eighth day there was a solemn assembly, according to the rule.

9:1 On the twenty-fourth day of this month the people of Isra’el, wearing sackcloth and with dirt on them, assembled for a fast. 2 Those descended from Isra’el separated themselves from all foreigners; then they stood up and confessed their own sins and the iniquities of their ancestors. 3 Standing where they were, they read in the scroll of the Torah of Adonai their God for one-quarter of the day. For another quarter they confessed and prostrated themselves before Adonai their God. 4 On the platform of the L’vi’im stood Yeshua, Bani, Kadmi’el, Sh’vanyah, Buni, Sherevyah, Bani and K’nani; they cried out loudly to Adonai their God. 5 Then the L’vi’im Yeshua, Kadmi’el, Bani, Hashavn’yah, Sherevyah, Hodiyah, Sh’vanyah and P’tachyah said, “Stand up, and bless Adonai your God from everlasting to everlasting; let them say:

“‘Blessed be your glorious name,

exalted above all blessing and praise!

6 “‘You are Adonai, you alone.

You made heaven,

the heaven of heavens, with all their array,

the earth and all the things that are in it,

the seas and all that is in them;

and you preserve them all.

The army of heaven worships you.

7 “‘You are Adonai, the God who chose Avram,

brought him out of Ur-Kasdim

and gave him the name of Avraham.

8 Finding that he was faithful to you,

you made a covenant with him

to give the land of the Kena‘ani,

the Hitti, Emori and P’rizi,

the Y’vusi and the Girgashi,

to give it to his descendants;

and you have done what you promised,

because you are just.

9 “‘You saw the distress of our ancestors in Egypt

and heard their cry by the Sea of Suf.

10 You performed signs and wonders against Pharaoh,

against all his servants and the people of the land;

for you knew how arrogantly they treated them;

and you won yourself a name which is yours to this day.

11 You divided the sea ahead of them,

so that they could pass through the sea on dry land;

then you hurled their pursuers into the depths,

like a stone into turbulent waters.

12 “‘In a column of cloud you led them by day,

and by night in a column of fire,

so that they would have light ahead of them

on the way that they were to go.

13 “‘You descended on Mount Sinai

and spoke with them from heaven.

You gave them right rulings and true teachings,

good laws and mitzvot.

14 You revealed to them your holy Shabbat

and gave them mitzvot, laws and the Torah

through Moshe your servant.

15 “‘For their hunger you gave them bread from heaven;

for their thirst you brought forth for them water from the rock.

You ordered them to enter and possess the land

you had sworn with your hand to give them.

16 “‘But they and our ancestors were arrogant;

they stiffened their necks and ignored your mitzvot;

17 they refused to listen and paid no attention

to the wonders you had done among them.

No, they stiffened their necks, and in their rebellion

appointed a leader to return them to their slavery.

But because you are a God of forgiveness,

merciful, full of compassion,

slow to grow angry and full of grace,

you did not abandon them.

18 Even when they cast themselves a metal calf,

saying of it, “This is your god

that brought you up from Egypt,”

and committing other gross provocations;

19 still, you, in your great compassion,

did not abandon them in the desert.

The column of cloud did not leave them by day;

it kept leading them along the way.

By night the column of fire

kept showing them light and the path to take.

20 You also gave your good Spirit to teach them,

did not withhold man from their mouths

and provided them water to quench their thirst.

21 Yes, forty years you sustained them in the desert;

they lacked nothing —

their clothes did not wear out;

their feet did not swell up.

22 “‘You gave them kingdoms and peoples;

you even gave them extra land,

so that they took possession of the land of Sichon,

also the land of the king of Heshbon

and the land of ‘Og king of Bashan.

23 You made their children as numerous

as the countless stars in the sky.

“‘Then you brought them into the land

about which you had said to their fathers

that they should go in and take possession of it.

24 So the children went in and possessed the land,

as you subdued ahead of them

the Kena‘ani living in the land,

and handed them over to them,

along with their kings and the peoples of the land,

for them to do with as they wished.

25 They took fortified cities and fertile land,

possessed houses full of all kinds of good things,

dug-out cisterns, vineyards, olive groves,

fruit trees in plenty;

so they ate their fill and grew robust,

luxuriating in your great goodness.

26 “‘Yet they disobeyed and rebelled against you,

throwing your Torah behind their backs.

They killed your prophets for warning them

that they should return to you

and committed other gross provocations.

27 So you handed them over to the power

of their adversaries, who oppressed them.

Yet in the time of their trouble,

when they cried out to you,

you heard from heaven, and in keeping

with your great compassion,

you gave them saviors to save them

from the power of their adversaries.

28 But as soon as they had gotten some relief,

they went back to do evil before you.

So you left them in the power of their enemies,

who came down hard on them.

Yet when they returned and cried out to you,

you heard from heaven many times

and saved them, according to your compassion.

29 You warned them, in order to bring them back

to your Torah; yet they were arrogant.

They paid no attention to your mitzvot,

but sinned against your rulings,

which, if a person does them,

he will have life through them.

However, they stubbornly turned their shoulders,

stiffened their necks and refused to hear.

30 Many years you extended them mercy

and warned them by your Spirit through your prophets;

yet they would not listen.

Therefore you handed them over

to the peoples of the lands.

31 Even so, in your great compassion,

you didn’t completely destroy them;

nor did you abandon them,

for you are a compassionate and merciful God.

32 “‘Now therefore, our God,

great, mighty, fearsome God,

who keeps both covenant and grace:

let not all this suffering seem little to you

that has come on us, our kings, our leaders,

our cohanim, our prophets, our ancestors,

and on all your people,

from the times of the kings of Ashur

until this very day.

33 There is no question that you are just

in all that has come upon us;

for you have treated us fairly.

It is we who have acted wickedly.

34 Our kings, our leaders, our cohanim and ancestors

did not keep your Torah,

pay attention to your mitzvot

or heed the warnings you gave them.

35 Even when they ruled their own kingdom,

even when you prospered them greatly,

in the great, rich land you gave them,

they did not serve you;

nor did they turn from their wicked deeds.

36 “‘So here we are today, slaves.

Yes, in the land you gave our ancestors,

so that they could eat what it produces

and enjoy its good —

here we are in it, slaves!

37 Its rich yield now goes to the kings

you have set over us because of our sins;

they have power over our bodies,

they can do what they please to our livestock,

and we are in great distress!

Revelation 18:1 After these things, I saw another angel coming down from heaven. He had great authority, the earth was lit up by his splendor. 2 He cried out in a strong voice,

“She has fallen! She has fallen!

Bavel the Great![Revelation 18:2 Isaiah 21:9]

She has become a home for demons,

a prison for every unclean spirit,

a prison for every unclean, hated bird.

3 “For all the nations have drunk of the wine

of God’s fury caused by her whoring —

yes, the kings of the earth went whoring with her,

and from her unrestrained love of luxury

the world’s businessmen have grown rich.”

4 Then I heard another voice out of heaven say:

“My people, come out of her!

so that you will not share in her sins,

so that you will not be infected by her plagues,

5 for her sins are a sticky mass piled up to heaven,

and God has remembered her crimes.

6 “Render to her as she rendered to others!

Pay her back double for what she has done!

Use the cup in which she has brewed

to brew her a double-sized drink!

7 “Give her as much torment and sorrow

as the glory and luxury she gave herself!

For in her heart she says, ‘I sit a queen —

I am not a widow, I will never see sorrow.’

8 “Therefore, her plagues will come in a single day —

death, sorrow and famine;

and she will be burned with fire,

because Adonai, God, her Judge, is mighty”

9 The kings of the earth who went whoring with her and shared her luxury will sob and wail over her when they see the smoke as she burns. 10 Standing at a distance, for fear of her torment, they will say,

“Oh no! The great city!

Bavel, the mighty city!

In a single hour

your judgment has come!”

11 The world’s businessmen weep and mourn over her, because no one is buying their merchandise any more — 12 stocks of gold and silver, gems and pearls, fine linen and purple, silk and scarlet, all rare woods, all ivory goods, all kinds of things made of scented wood, brass, iron and marble; 13 cinnamon, cardamom, incense, myrrh, frankincense, wine, oil, flour, grain, cattle, sheep, horses, chariots — and bodies — and people’s souls.

14 The fruits you lusted for with all your heart have gone!

All the luxury and flashiness have been destroyed, never to return!

15 The sellers of these things, who got rich from her, will stand at a distance, for fear of her torment, weeping and mourning, 16 and saying,

“Oh no! The great city used to wear fine linen, purple and scarlet!

She glittered with gold, precious stones and pearls!

17 Such great wealth —

in a single hour, ruined!”

All the ship masters, passengers, sailors and everyone making his living from the sea stood at a distance 18 and cried out when they saw the smoke as she burned, “What city was like the great city?” 19 And they threw dust on their heads as they wept and mourned, saying,

“Oh no! The great city!

The abundance of her wealth

made all the ship owners rich!

In a single hour she is ruined!”

20 Rejoice over her, heaven!

Rejoice, people of God,

emissaries and prophets!

For in judging her, God has vindicated you.

21 Then a mighty angel picked up a boulder the size of a great millstone, and hurled it into the sea, saying,

“With violence like this

will the great city Bavel

be hurled down,

never to be found again!

22 “The sound of harpists and musicians,

flute-players and trumpeters

    will never again be heard in you.

No worker of any trade

    will ever again be found in you,

the sound of a mill

    will never again be heard in you,

23 the light of a lamp

    will never again shine in you,

the voice of bridegroom and bride

    will never again be heard in you.

“For your businessmen were the most powerful on earth,

all the nations were deceived by your magic spell.

24 “In her was found the blood of prophets and of God’s people,

indeed, of all who have ever been slaughtered on earth!”

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