December 16

2 Samuel 7:4-5, 12-14a, 16

4 that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, 5 "Go and tell my servant David, 'Thus says the LORD:… 12 When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son… 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.'"

Psalm 51:7-12

7 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones that you have broken rejoice.
9 Hide your face from my sins,
and blot out all my iniquities.
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Psalm 23

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

Grant, Almighty God,
that as Thou hast hitherto so kindly showed
Thyself to be our shepherd, and even our father,
and hast carefully provided for our safety –
O grant that we may not by our ingratitude
deprive ourselves of Thy favors, so as to provoke
Thine extreme vengeance, but on the contrary
suffer ourselves to be gently ruled by Thee,
and render Thee due obedience.
And as Thine only begotten Son has been by Thee
set over us as our only true shepherd,
may we hear His voice, and willingly obey Him,
so that we may be able to triumph with Thy prophet,
that Thy staff is sufficient for us,
so as to enable us to walk without fear
through the valley of the shadow of death,
until we shall at length reach that blessed and
eternal rest, which has been obtained for us
by the blood of Thine only Son. Amen.