Preface THE following selections of Scripture have been arranged to be read responsively by the minister and people in the church service. No effort has been made to secure progress of thought, this being judged needless and undesirable in a devotional exercise. The selections appear in the order in which they occur in the Bible, excepting an occasional second Psalm in a few numbers and the special selections at the close. It has seemed best, on the whole, that these selections should be arranged verse by verse rather than by unfamiliar divisions, however better adapted as responses these might be. For fixed seasons and appointments nine particular readings have been provided, beginning with No. 101, though there are some others in the series which may be employed fittingly. The text is that of the American Standard Bible, permission for its use having been given by Thomas Nelson and Sons, the owners of the copyright. The lines printed in Roman letter are to be read by the minister. The lines set inward from the margin and printed in black letter are to be read by the congregation. Responsive Readings SELECTION 1 Exodus xx AND God spake all these words, saying, I am Jehovah thy God, Who Thou shalt have no other gods before Thou shalt not make unto thee a that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them; for I Jehovah thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, upon the third and upon the fourth generation of them that hate Me, And showing lovingkindness unto thousands of them that love Me and keep My commandments. Thou shalt not take the Name of Jehovah thy God in vain; for Jehovah will not hold him guiltless that taketh His Name in vain. Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work; But the seventh day is a sabbath unto Jehovah thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maid-servant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days Jehovah made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore Jehovah blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long in the land which Jehovah thy God giveth thee. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor Remember the sabbath day, to his ass, nor anything that is thy keep it holy. neighbor's. SELECTION 2 Psalms 1, XV Responsive Readings BLESSED is the man that walk eth not in the counsel of the wicked, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of scoffers: But his delight is in the law of Jehovah; and on His law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the streams of water, that bringeth forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also doth not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. The wicked are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For Jehovah knoweth the way of the righteous; but the way of the wicked shall perish. Jehovah, who shall sojourn in Thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in Thy holy hill? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh truth in his heart; He that slandereth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his friend, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor; In whose eyes a reprobate is despised, but who honoreth them that fear Jehovah; he that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not; He that putteth not out his money to interest, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved. SELECTION 3 Psalm 11 WHY do the nations rage, and the peoples meditate a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against Jehovah, and against His anointed, saying, Let us break their bonds asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens will laugh: the Lord will have them in derision. Then will He speak unto them in His wrath, and vex them in His sore displeasure: Yet I have set My King upon My holy hill of Zion. I will tell of the decree: Jehovah said unto Me, Thou art My Son; this day have I begotten Thee. Ask of Me, and I will give Thee the nations for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Now therefore be wise, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve Jehovah with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and ye perish in the way, for His wrath will soon be kindled. Blessed are all they that take refuge in Him. |