TLH = The Lutheran Hymnal, 1941; WS = Worship Supplement 2000; LSB = Lutheran Service Book, 2006
Date Hymns Reading Comments
January 1 TLH 14 / LSB 791 1 Kings 20 Ben-hadad, king of Syria, attacks Samaria. Ahab defeats him twice. The Lord condemns the decision of Ahab to release Ben-hadad.
January 2 TLH 320 / LSB 610 1 Kings 21 Often one sin leads to another, like so many dominoes in a line. The coveting of a vineyard gives way to false witness, murder, and theft. The Lord condemns the sins of Ahab, and Ahab repents.
January 3 LSB 583 1 Kings 22 Ahab listens to the false prophecy of false prophets, but Micaiah, a true prophet of the Lord, prophesies against Ahab. Ahab dies in battle. Jehoshaphat reigns over Judah, and Ahaziah reigns over Israel.
January 5 WS 742 / LSB 793 2 Kings 1 King Ahaziah and his soldiers oppose the Lord and oppose Elijah, the prophet of the Lord. Disaster results.
January 6 TLH 660 / LSB 748 Daniel 1 Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, attacks Jerusalem and brings some of the Israelites, including Daniel, to Babylon. Daniel and his companions refuse to eat the food of the king.
January 7 TLH 522 / LSB 615 Daniel 2 The wise men of Babylon are unable to interpret the dream of Nebuchadnezzar, but the Lord enables Daniel to interpret the dream. Daniel receives a major promotion.
January 8 TLH 17 / LSB 804 Daniel 3 Nebuchadnezzar creates an idol of gold and commands all the people to worship it. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego choose the fiery furnace over false worship. The Lord delivers the three men from harm, and they receive a promotion.
January 9 TLH 36 / LSB 895 Daniel 4 Nebuchadnezzar praises the Lord. Nebuchadnezzar has another dream, and Daniel interprets it. The Lord humbles Nebuchadnezzar.
January 10 TLH 612 Daniel 5 King Belshazzar mocks the Lord by toasting to idols from the sacred vessels of the temple of the Lord. The Lord judges Belshazzar with miraculous handwriting on the wall. Belshazzar dies and Darius succeeds him.
January 12 TLH 428 / LSB 729 Daniel 6 Enemies of Daniel manipulate King Darius into casting Daniel into a den of lions. The Lord delivers Daniel, and Darius praises the Lord.
January 13 TLH 651 / LSB 752 Daniel 8 Daniel records visions of four beasts, of the Ancient of Days seated on His throne, and of the Son of Man receiving dominion. Daniel records the interpretation of his visions.
January 14 TLH 318 / LSB 613 Daniel 9 Daniel intercedes to the Lord on behalf of his fellow Judeans who are living in exile in Babylon. Gabriel brings to Daniel an answer from the Lord, Who holds the future in His hands.
January 15 TLH 254 / LSB 522 Daniel 10 While mourning the fate of his people, Daniel receives a terrifying vision, and an angel strengthens him.
January 16 LSB 751 Daniel 11 The Lord reveals to Daniel a future conflict between Persia and Greece, a future conflict between Egypt and Syria, and the rising of wicked King Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
January 17 TLH 258 / LSB 659 Psalm 79 Asaph (or perhaps a descendant of Asaph) laments the destruction of Israel by Babylon. We, too, cry to the Lord for His help when we suffer persecution.
January 19 WS 764 / LSB 850 Psalm 80 Asaph implores the Lord to restore His people after they have suffered defeat at the hands of foreign armies.
January 20 WS 741 / LSB 807 Psalm 81 The Lord desires from His people not merely outward worship, but true inner repentance. The Lord longs to comfort His people through His Word.
January 21 TLH 568 / LSB 785 Isaiah 36 Sennacherib, king of Assyria, invades Judah. The Rabshakeh threatens the people of Jerusalem with suffering unless they surrender. The people of Jerusalem resist.
January 22 TLH 13 Isaiah 37 King Hezekiah asks the prophet Isaiah for help. Isaiah proclaims that the Lord will deliver Jerusalem. Hezekiah prays to the Lord. Isaiah prophesies that Sennacherib will fall.
January 23 TLH 598 Isaiah 38 Hezekiah prays to the Lord for healing and for forgiveness. The Lord answers.
January 24 TLH 18 Isaiah 39 Isaiah rebukes Hezekiah for his reliance on Babylon. Isaiah prophesies the exile of Judah in Babylon.
January 26 TLH 427 / LSB 728 Isaiah 46 The idols of Babylon are false gods. The Lord is almighty!
January 27 TLH 275 / LSB 934 Isaiah 47 The Lord will humiliate proud Babylon.
January 28 TLH 171 / LSB 453 Isaiah 53 The Lord makes atonement for rebellious transgressors through the sacrifice of His innocent Servant.
January 29 TLH 510 Isaiah 54 The Lord has redeemed His people. As a result of the atoning sacrifice of the Servant, all people may become servants of the Lord.
January 30 WS 743 / LSB 802 Psalm 82 The justice of the Lord will prevail. No believer will suffer injustice forever, but the Lord will restore us.
January 31 TLH 269 Psalm 83 When we feel overwhelmed by the evil schemes of our enemies, physical or spiritual, we join Asaph in his invocation of our faithful Lord, Who answers prayer.