The Proud, and Their Strongholds--Dec. 10, 2017

[From Dec. 4, 2005 archive]

O God,

you are good and upright—

you abhor the proud and

destroy their strongholds,

but you lead the humble

in what is right

and teach them your way. 

We are more often proud than humble,

more apt to depend upon our strongholds

to save us than to turn in humility to you. 

Show us your great mercy,

that we may rejoice in you. 

Make us worthy of your call

and fulfill by your power

every good resolve

and work of faith.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 24; 150; 25; 110

Amos 6:1-14

2 Thess. 1:5-12

Luke 1:57-68

Selected Verses

Ps. 25:8-9

Good and upright is the LORD;

            therefore he instructs sinners in the way.

He leads the humble in what is right,

            and teaches the humble his way.

Amos 6:8b

I abhor the pride of Jacob

            and hate his strongholds;

            and I will deliver up the city and all that is in it.

2 Thess. 1:11

To this end we always pray for you, asking that our God will make you worthy of his call and will fulfill by his power every good resolve and work of faith…

Luke 1:58

[Elizabeth’s] neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her, and they rejoiced with her.