TLH = The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941; WS = Worship Supplement 2000; LSB = Lutheran Service Book, 2006
Date | Hymns | Reading | Comments |
2022-01-02 | TLH 409 | Psalm 1 | Success is not about having worldly fame and fortune. It’s about staying in the Word of God, by which we receive God’s promises of forgiveness and salvation, along with perfect guidance for our daily lives. Let’s dedicate ourselves to meditating on God’s Word in the year to come, and throughout our lives. |
2022-01-03 | TLH 339 | Psalm 2 | To this very day, the unbelieving enemies of the Lord join hands against His Anointed, Jesus Christ. The Almighty laughs at such attempts to dethrone His Son, warning them to wise up before it’s too late. The year ahead will be filled with many troubles, yet Jesus still sits on His throne ruling all things for His people. |
2022-01-04 | TLH 519 | Psalm 4 | Many of us have trouble sleeping at night. Some of that lack of sleep may be because of worries and fears racing through our minds. The Psalm encourages us to stop worrying and start praying, promising the Lord will listen to those who believe in Him. Give all your fears to God. Then “lie down in peace, and sleep.” |
2022-01-05 | TLH 522 | Psalm 6 | David knew he deserved his many troubles. Yet, with the confidence in God’s steadfast mercy, he asks the Lord not to rebuke him in anger. Let’s remember that none of us deserves God’s help in anyway. Nevertheless, because of His unfailing love, God will not fail to see us through the coming year and for all our days to come. |
2022-01-06 | TLH 114 | Psalm 8 | On Epiphany Day we remember that Jesus has been revealed to the world as Savior of all. Psalm 8 finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus, whose name is excellent in all the earth. Today, when the unbelieving big shots of this world refuse to give Him glory, the Lord still receives praise from little children and infants. |
2022-01-07 | TLH 369 | Psalm 14 | When the Lord looks down from heaven he doesn’t see anyone who does good, not even one. What this tells us is that every one of us desperately needs a Savior. Only in the Lord does the sinner find a refuge from sin, death, and hell. In His merciful grace we can rejoice, despite our many sins. |
2022-01-09 | TLH 193 | Psalm 16 | This Psalm prophecies Christ’s resurrection from the dead: “My flesh will also rest in hope . . . You will show me the path of life.” Through faith in the Risen Christ, we apply the words of the Psalm to ourselves. One day, with risen and glorified bodies, we will live in God’s presence in fullness of joy! |
2022-01-10 | TLH 15 | Psalm 19 | The natural knowledge of God is what we know about God from creation: “The heavens declare the glory of God.” The revealed knowledge of God is what we know about God from the Bible: “The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.” We marvel over God’s creation, but only His Word can make us wise for salvation through faith in Christ. |
2022-01-11 | TLH 153 | Psalm 22 | Psalm 22 prophecies the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ a thousand years before His birth. The end of the Psalm speaks of how future generations will be told of the suffering and exaltation of our Savior. To this very day people all over the world find joy in the words: “He has done it!” Mission accomplished! Sinners saved! |
2022-01-12 | TLH 436 | Psalm 23 | David’s shepherd psalm is the most beloved of all psalms. With the Lord as our shepherd we lack nothing. With Him by our side we need not fear. His goodness and mercy will follow us through time into eternity. Jesus is that shepherd, so good, that He even laid down His life for His sheep! |
2022-01-13 | TLH 73 | Psalm 24 | “Lift up your heads, O you gates!” The King of Glory, Jesus the Savior, calls to one and all to lift up the gates of their hearts. He is the Lord of hosts, coming in glory through the Gospel, intent on entering our hearts with kingly riches of forgiveness, peace, and salvation. |
2022-01-14 | TLH 371 | Psalm 32 | This Psalm begins with a triple assurance:: Our transgressions are forgiven, our sins are covered, the Lord does not count our sin against us. When burdened with a sense of guilt, don’t hold on to it. Confess it to the Lord right away. He will forgive. How blessed is the sinner who has this confidence in his Savior. |
2022-01-16 | TLH 370 | Psalm 40 | The Old Testament (“the scroll”) wrote of Jesus the Messiah. In verses 7 and 8 we prophetically hear of His ardent desire to do the will of His Father. He would do His Father’s will by keeping the law for us, by preaching the goodness and faithfulness of God, and finally by suffering and dying for us. |
2022-01-17 | TLH 651 | Psalm 42 & 43 | In these psalms there is hope for the depressed. Three times the writer asks: “Why are you cast down, O my soul?” Each time the writer responds: “Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him for the help of His countenance.” Ask yourself, “Why am I so down?” Then, right away, speak God’s promises to yourself. This will help you in times of excessive sorrow. |
2022-01-18 | TLH 266 | Psalm 46 | The city of God – the Holy Christian Church – is planted by the river of God’s precious Word and Sacraments. Built up in God’s grace filled promises, the Church looks confidently to God for refuge and strength. In a chaotic world, the Church knows God is control. He speaks peace to His people, saying: “Be still, and know that I am God.” |
2022-01-19 | TLH 212 | Psalm 47 | Our Savior God is the King of all the earth. The words “God has gone up with a shout” point ahead to Christ’s triumphant ascension and exhaltation. His Gospel now goes out into all lands. In joyful response we clap our hands! We sing praises to God! We sing praises to our King! We sing to Him a psalm of praise! |
2022-01-20 | TLH 342 | Psalm 51 | David expresses his repentance for the sin of adultery. The psalm, however, holds universal truths of God’s grace for all sinners. Though we are sinful from birth, and daily sin much, God speaks joy to our guilty hearts. For Jesus’ sake He blots out our iniquity. In thankful response we pray for a clean heart and a steadfast spirit. |
2022-01-21 | TLH 437 | Psalm 56 | David had enemies. We enemies because we hold to Christ and His Word. In foreign countries many Christians are put to death. In our country Christians are ridiculed for their faith. The hatred of the world will only become more vicious the closer we get to the end, but with David we say: “When I am afraid, I will trust in You.” |
2022-01-23 | TLH 20 | Psalm 67 | The writer prays that the same blessings of grace and peace, which God pronounced upon Israel, will be experienced by all nations. Jesus paid for the sins of all, and wants all to be saved. Let’s pray for the salvation of all, and also pray He opens our mouths to speak of our Savior to those who do not know Him by faith.’ |
2022-01-24 | TLH 629 | Psalm 78 | It is the God-given responsibility of every generation to pass down the faith to their children, “telling to the generation to come the praises of the Lord.” Soon after they are born we bring our children to Jesus through Baptism. We follow that up by teaching them of their Savior’s love from the Bible. We pray that our children remain in the faith to life everlasting! |
2022-01-25 | TLH 2 | Psalm 84 | This Psalm tells of the joy of being in God’s house. “My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord!” It is a true blessing to join our fellow like-minded believers in Gods’ house. There we have opportunity to hear His Word, to be assured of God’s forgiveness, to praise His saving Name, and to encourage one another in our faith. |
2022-01-26 | TLH 329 | Psalm 88 | Is your life full of troubles? Does is maybe even seem like God has abandoned you? “Why do You hide Your face from me?” While the Psalm seems to offer little hope, we latch on to the first verse: “O Lord, God of my salvation.” Since God is our salvation, we can be confident of His help even in the darkest of times. |
2022-01-27 | TLH 123 | Psalm 90 | Our time in this world passes by so quickly. “It is soon cut off, and we fly away.” Soon eternity will dawn. So we pray: “Teach us to number our days.” Help us, dear Lord, to use our time wisely and to your glory; and keep us in our Savior’s grace to life everlasting. |
2022-01-28 | TLH 370 | Psalm 91 | We can be confident that we will find peace and protection in the shelter of the Most High. “He is my refuge and my fortress.” We are further comforted knowing that, “He shall give His angels charge over you.” Finally we are assured that God will bring us safely though death to life eternal. He will show us His salvation! |
2022-01-30 | TLH 14 | Psalm 100 | We have reason to shout for joy! The Lord is our Creator and our Shepherd. So let us “enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.” |
2022-01-31 | TLH 27 | Psalm 103 | We end our Psalm readings this month with a wonderful reminder of our many blessings as God’s children. The Psalm especially focuses our attention on that most wonderful blessing of God’s forgiveness: “As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.” |