Lessons for December 9, 2008 – Second Sunday of Advent

The first lesson

Isaiah 11:1-10
 
    Out of the stump of David's family will grow a shoot—yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root. [2] And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. [3] He will delight in obeying the Lord. He will never judge by appearance, false evidence, or hearsay. [4] He will defend the poor and the exploited. He will rule against the wicked and destroy them with the breath of his mouth. [5] He will be clothed with fairness and truth. [6] In that day the wolf and the lamb will live together; the leopard and the goat will be at peace. Calves and yearlings will be safe among lions, and a little child will lead them all. [7] The cattle will graze among bears. Cubs and calves will lie down together. And lions will eat grass as the livestock do. [8] Babies will crawl safely among poisonous snakes. Yes, a little child will put its hand in a nest of deadly snakes and pull it out unharmed. [9] Nothing will hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain. And as the waters fill the sea, so the earth will be filled with people who know the Lord. 
[10] In that day the heir to David's throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world. The nations will rally to him, for the land where he lives will be a glorious place. (NLT)

Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19

L.  Give justice to the king, O God, and righteousness to the king's son. 
C.  Help him judge your people in the right way; let the poor always be treated fairly. 
L.  May the mountains yield prosperity for all, 
C.  and may the hills be fruitful, because the king does what is right. 
L.  Help him to defend the poor,
C.  to rescue the children of the needy, and to crush their oppressors. 
L.  May he live as long as the sun shines, as long as the moon continues in the skies.
C.  Yes, forever! 
L.  May his reign be as refreshing as the springtime rains—like the showers that water the earth. 
C.  May all the godly flourish during his reign.
L.  May there be abundant prosperity until the end of time.
C.  Bless the Lord God, the God of Israel, who alone does such wonderful things. 
L,  Bless his glorious name forever!
C.  Let the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and amen!  (NLT)
 
The second lesson

Romans 15:4-13
 
    Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. They give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God's promises.  [5] May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other—each with the attitude of Christ Jesus toward the other. [6] Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
[7] So accept each other just as Christ has accepted you; then God will be glorified. [8] Remember that Christ came as a servant to the Jews to show that God is true to the promises he made to their ancestors. [9] And he came so the Gentiles might also give glory to God for his mercies to them. That is what the psalmist meant when he wrote:

    "I will praise you among the Gentiles;
        I will sing praises to your name."
 
[10] And in another place it is written,

    "Rejoice, O you Gentiles,
        along with his people, the Jews."
 
[11] And yet again,

    "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;
        praise him, all you people of the earth."
 
[12] And the prophet Isaiah said,

    "The heir to David's throne will come,
        and he will rule over the Gentiles.
        They will place their hopes on him."
 
    [13] So I pray that God, who gives you hope, will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in him. May you overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.  (NLT)
 
The Gospel Lesson

Matthew 3:1-12
 
    In those days John the Baptist began preaching in the Judean wilderness. His message was, [2] "Turn from your sins and turn to God, because the Kingdom of Heaven is near." [3] Isaiah had spoken of John when he said,

    "He is a voice shouting in the wilderness:
    'Prepare a pathway for the Lord's coming!
        Make a straight road for him!' "
 
[4] John's clothes were woven from camel hair, and he wore a leather belt; his food was locusts and wild honey. [5] People from Jerusalem and from every section of Judea and from all over the Jordan Valley went out to the wilderness to hear him preach. [6] And when they confessed their sins, he baptized them in the Jordan River.  [7] But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming to be baptized, he denounced them. "You brood of snakes!" he exclaimed. "Who warned you to flee God's coming judgment? [8] Prove by the way you live that you have really turned from your sins and turned to God. [9] Don't just say, 'We're safe—we're the descendants of Abraham.' That proves nothing. God can change these stones here into children of Abraham. [10] Even now the ax of God's judgment is poised, ready to sever your roots. Yes, every tree that does not produce good fruit will be chopped down and thrown into the fire.  [11] "I baptize with water those who turn from their sins and turn to God. But someone is coming soon who is far greater than I am—so much greater that I am not even worthy to be his slave. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. [12] He is ready to separate the chaff from the grain with his winnowing fork. Then he will clean up the threshing area, storing the grain in his barn but burning the chaff with never-ending fire."  (NLT)