Lessons for November 4, 2007 – Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost The first lesson Isaiah 1:10-18 Listen to the Lord, you leaders of Israel! Listen to the law of our God, people of Israel. You act just like the rulers and people of Sodom and Gomorrah. [11] "I am sick of your sacrifices," says the Lord. "Don't bring me any more burnt offerings! I don't want the fat from your rams or other animals. I don't want to see the blood from your offerings of bulls and rams and goats. [12] Why do you keep parading through my courts with your worthless sacrifices? [13] The incense you bring me is a stench in my nostrils! Your celebrations of the new moon and the Sabbath day, and your special days for fasting—even your most pious meetings—are all sinful and false. I want nothing more to do with them. [14] I hate all your festivals and sacrifices. I cannot stand the sight of them! [15] From now on, when you lift up your hands in prayer, I will refuse to look. Even though you offer many prayers, I will not listen. For your hands are covered with the blood of your innocent victims. [16] Wash yourselves and be clean! Let me no longer see your evil deeds. Give up your wicked ways. [17] Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the orphan. Fight for the rights of widows. [18] "Come now, let us argue this out," says the Lord. "No matter how deep the stain of your sins, I can remove it. I can make you as clean as freshly fallen snow. Even if you are stained as red as crimson, I can make you as white as wool. (NLT) Psalm 32:1-7 L. Oh, what joy for those whose rebellion is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! C. Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin, L. whose lives are lived in complete honesty! C. When I refused to confess my sin, L. I was weak and miserable, and I groaned all day long. C. Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. L. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat. C. Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. L. I said to myself, "I will confess my rebellion to the Lord." C. And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. L. Therefore, let all the godly confess their rebellion to you while there is time, C. that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment. L. For you are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. C. You surround me with songs of victory. (NLT) The second lesson 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12 This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy. It is written to the church in Thessalonica, you who belong to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. [2] May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. [3] Dear brothers and sisters, we always thank God for you, as is right, for we are thankful that your faith is flourishing and you are all growing in love for each other. [4] We proudly tell God's other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering. [11] And so we keep on praying for you, that our God will make you worthy of the life to which he called you. And we pray that God, by his power, will fulfill all your good intentions and faithful deeds. [12] Then everyone will give honor to the name of our Lord Jesus because of you, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the undeserved favor of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ. (NLT) The Gospel Lesson Luke 19:1-10 Jesus entered Jericho and made his way through the town. [2] There was a man there named Zacchaeus. He was one of the most influential Jews in the Roman tax-collecting business, and he had become very rich. [3] He tried to get a look at Jesus, but he was too short to see over the crowds. [4] So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree beside the road, so he could watch from there. [5] When Jesus came by, he looked up at Zacchaeus and called him by name. "Zacchaeus!" he said. "Quick, come down! For I must be a guest in your home today." [6] Zacchaeus quickly climbed down and took Jesus to his house in great excitement and joy. [7] But the crowds were displeased. "He has gone to be the guest of a notorious sinner," they grumbled. [8] Meanwhile, Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, "I will give half my wealth to the poor, Lord, and if I have overcharged people on their taxes, I will give them back four times as much!" [9] Jesus responded, "Salvation has come to this home today, for this man has shown himself to be a son of Abraham. [10] And I, the Son of Man, have come to seek and save those like him who are lost." (NLT)