AME Zion Universal Reading June 19th 2022

Sunday School Zoom Link

Isaiah 49:18–26 (NLT):

18 Look around you and see,

for all your children will come back to you.

As surely as I live,” says the Lord,

“they will be like jewels or bridal ornaments for you to display.

19 “Even the most desolate parts of your abandoned land

will soon be crowded with your people.

Your enemies who enslaved you

will be far away.

20 The generations born in exile will return and say,

‘We need more room! It’s crowded here!’

21 Then you will think to yourself,

‘Who has given me all these descendants?

For most of my children were killed,

and the rest were carried away into exile.

I was left here all alone.

Where did all these people come from?

Who bore these children?

Who raised them for me?’ ”

22 This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

“See, I will give a signal to the godless nations.

They will carry your little sons back to you in their arms;

they will bring your daughters on their shoulders.

23 Kings and queens will serve you

and care for all your needs.

They will bow to the earth before you

and lick the dust from your feet.

Then you will know that I am the Lord.

Those who trust in me will never be put to shame.”

24 Who can snatch the plunder of war from the hands of a warrior?

Who can demand that a tyrant let his captives go?

25 But the Lord says,

“The captives of warriors will be released,

and the plunder of tyrants will be retrieved.

For I will fight those who fight you,

and I will save your children.

26 I will feed your enemies with their own flesh.

They will be drunk with rivers of their own blood.

All the world will know that I, the Lord,

am your Savior and your Redeemer,

the Mighty One of Israel.”

Monday

Psalm 75 (NLT):

1 We thank you, O God!

We give thanks because you are near.

People everywhere tell of your wonderful deeds.

2 God says, “At the time I have planned,

I will bring justice against the wicked.

3 When the earth quakes and its people live in turmoil,

I am the one who keeps its foundations firm.

Interlude

4 “I warned the proud, ‘Stop your boasting!’

I told the wicked, ‘Don’t raise your fists!

5 Don’t raise your fists in defiance at the heavens

or speak with such arrogance.’ ”

6 For no one on earth—from east or west,

or even from the wilderness—

should raise a defiant fist.

7 It is God alone who judges;

he decides who will rise and who will fall.

8 For the Lord holds a cup in his hand

that is full of foaming wine mixed with spices.

He pours out the wine in judgment,

and all the wicked must drink it,

draining it to the dregs.

9 But as for me, I will always proclaim what God has done;

I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

10 For God says, “I will break the strength of the wicked,

but I will increase the power of the godly.”

Tuesday

Leviticus 26:3–13 (NLT):

3 “If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, 4 I will send you the seasonal rains. The land will then yield its crops, and the trees of the field will produce their fruit. 5 Your threshing season will overlap with the grape harvest, and your grape harvest will overlap with the season of planting grain. You will eat your fill and live securely in your own land.

6 “I will give you peace in the land, and you will be able to sleep with no cause for fear. I will rid the land of wild animals and keep your enemies out of your land. 7 In fact, you will chase down your enemies and slaughter them with your swords. 8 Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand! All your enemies will fall beneath your sword.

9 “I will look favorably upon you, making you fertile and multiplying your people. And I will fulfill my covenant with you. 10 You will have such a surplus of crops that you will need to clear out the old grain to make room for the new harvest! 11 I will live among you, and I will not despise you. 12 I will walk among you; I will be your God, and you will be my people. 13 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt so you would no longer be their slaves. I broke the yoke of slavery from your neck so you can walk with your heads held high.

Wednesday

Luke 6:20–26 (NLT):

20 Then Jesus turned to his disciples and said,

“God blesses you who are poor,

for the Kingdom of God is yours.

21 God blesses you who are hungry now,

for you will be satisfied.

God blesses you who weep now,

for in due time you will laugh.

22 What blessings await you when people hate you and exclude you and mock you and curse you as evil because you follow the Son of Man. 23 When that happens, be happy! Yes, leap for joy! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, their ancestors treated the ancient prophets that same way.

Sorrows Foretold

24 “What sorrow awaits you who are rich,

for you have your only happiness now.

25 What sorrow awaits you who are fat and prosperous now,

for a time of awful hunger awaits you.

What sorrow awaits you who laugh now,

for your laughing will turn to mourning and sorrow.

26 What sorrow awaits you who are praised by the crowds,

for their ancestors also praised false prophets.

Thursday

Psalm 30 (NLT):  

I will exalt you, Lord, for you rescued me.

You refused to let my enemies triumph over me.

2 O Lord my God, I cried to you for help,

and you restored my health.

3 You brought me up from the grave, O Lord.

You kept me from falling into the pit of death.

4 Sing to the Lord, all you godly ones!

Praise his holy name.

5 For his anger lasts only a moment,

but his favor lasts a lifetime!

Weeping may last through the night,

but joy comes with the morning.

6 When I was prosperous, I said,

“Nothing can stop me now!”

7 Your favor, O Lord, made me as secure as a mountain.

Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered.

8 I cried out to you, O Lord.

I begged the Lord for mercy, saying,

9 “What will you gain if I die,

if I sink into the grave?

Can my dust praise you?

Can it tell of your faithfulness?

10 Hear me, Lord, and have mercy on me.

Help me, O Lord.”

11 You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.

You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,

12 that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.

O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!

Friday

James 1:13–18 (NLT):

13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.

16 So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow. 18 He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.

Saturday

Deuteronomy 28:9–14 (NLT):

9 “If you obey the commands of the Lord your God and walk in his ways, the Lord will establish you as his holy people as he swore he would do. 10 Then all the nations of the world will see that you are a people claimed by the Lord, and they will stand in awe of you.

11 “The Lord will give you prosperity in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you, blessing you with many children, numerous livestock, and abundant crops. 12 The Lord will send rain at the proper time from his rich treasury in the heavens and will bless all the work you do. You will lend to many nations, but you will never need to borrow from them. 13 If you listen to these commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today, and if you carefully obey them, the Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you will always be on top and never at the bottom. 14 You must not turn away from any of the commands I am giving you today, nor follow after other gods and worship them.

AME Zion Universal Reading June 12th 2

Sunday School Zoom Link

Isaiah 49:1–17 (NLT): The Lord’s Servant Commissioned

1 Listen to me, all you in distant lands!

Pay attention, you who are far away!

The Lord called me before my birth;

from within the womb he called me by name.

2 He made my words of judgment as sharp as a sword.

He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand.

I am like a sharp arrow in his quiver.

3 He said to me, “You are my servant, Israel,

and you will bring me glory.”

4 I replied, “But my work seems so useless!

I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose.

Yet I leave it all in the Lord’s hand;

I will trust God for my reward.”

5 And now the Lord speaks—

the one who formed me in my mother’s womb to be his servant,

who commissioned me to bring Israel back to him.

The Lord has honored me,

and my God has given me strength.

6 He says, “You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me.

I will make you a light to the Gentiles,

and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth.”

7 The Lord, the Redeemer

and Holy One of Israel,

says to the one who is despised and rejected by the nations,

to the one who is the servant of rulers:

“Kings will stand at attention when you pass by.

Princes will also bow low

because of the Lord, the faithful one,

the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”

Promises of Israel’s Restoration

8 This is what the Lord says:

“At just the right time, I will respond to you.

On the day of salvation I will help you.

I will protect you and give you to the people

as my covenant with them.

Through you I will reestablish the land of Israel

and assign it to its own people again.

9 I will say to the prisoners, ‘Come out in freedom,’

and to those in darkness, ‘Come into the light.’

They will be my sheep, grazing in green pastures

and on hills that were previously bare.

10 They will neither hunger nor thirst.

The searing sun will not reach them anymore.

For the Lord in his mercy will lead them;

he will lead them beside cool waters.

11 And I will make my mountains into level paths for them.

The highways will be raised above the valleys.

12 See, my people will return from far away,

from lands to the north and west,

and from as far south as Egypt.”

13 Sing for joy, O heavens!

Rejoice, O earth!

Burst into song, O mountains!

For the Lord has comforted his people

and will have compassion on them in their suffering.

14 Yet Jerusalem says, “The Lord has deserted us;

the Lord has forgotten us.”

15 “Never! Can a mother forget her nursing child?

Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?

But even if that were possible,

I would not forget you!

16 See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands.

Always in my mind is a picture of Jerusalem’s walls in ruins.

17 Soon your descendants will come back,

and all who are trying to destroy you will go away.

First Portion

Numbers Chapter 1

1The Lord spoke to Moses in the Sinai Desert, in the Tent of Meeting on the first day of the second month, in the second year after the exodus from the land of Egypt, saying.2Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, by families following their fathers' houses; a head count of every male according to the number of their names.3From twenty years old and upwards, all who are fit to go out to the army in Israel, you shall count them by their legions you and Aaron.4With you there shall be a man from each tribe, one who is head of his father's house.5These are the names of the men who shall stand with you; for Reuben, Elitzur the son of Shedeur.6For Simeon, Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.7For Judah, Nahshon the son of Amminadab.8For Issachar, Nethanel the son of Zu'ar.9For Zebulun, Eliab the son of Helon.10For the children of Joseph: for Ephraim, Elishama' the son of 'Ammihud; for Manasseh, Gamliel the son of Pedazur.11For Benjamin, Abidan the son of Gideoni.12For Dan, Ahi'ezer the son of 'Ammishaddai.13For Asher, Pag'iel the son of 'Ochran.14For Gad, Eliasaph the son of De'uel.15For Naphtali, Ahira' the son of 'Enan.16These were the ones summoned by the congregation, the princes of the tribes of their fathers; they are the heads of the thousands of Israel.17Then Moses and Aaron took these men, who were indicated by [their] names,18and they assembled all the congregation on the first day of the second month, and they declared their pedigrees according to their families according to their fathers' houses; according to the number of names, a head count of every male from twenty years old and upward.19As the Lord commanded Moses, so did he count them in the Sinai desert.

Second Portion

Numbers Chapter 1

20This was [the sum of] the children of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, their descendants according to their families, according to their fathers' houses; the number of individual names of every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were fit to go out to the army.21Those counted from the tribe of Reuben [were] forty six thousand, five hundred.22Of the tribe of Simeon, their descendants according to their families, according to their fathers' houses; his tally, according to the number of individual names of every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were fit to go out to the army.23Those counted from the tribe of Simeon: fifty nine thousand, three hundred.24Of the tribe of Gad, their descendants according to their families, according to their fathers' houses; the number of individual names of every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were fit to go out to the army.25Those counted from the tribe of Gad: forty five thousand, six hundred and fifty.26Of the tribe of Judah, their descendants according to their families, according to their fathers' houses; the number of individual names of every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were fit to go out to the army.27Those counted from the tribe of Judah: seventy four thousand, six hundred.28Of the tribe of Issachar, their descendants according to their families, according to their fathers' houses; the number of individual names of every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were fit to go out to the army.29Those counted from the tribe of Issachar: fifty four thousand, four hundred.30Of the tribe of Zebulun, their descendants according to their families, according to their fathers' houses; the number of individual names of every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were fit to go out to the army.31Those counted from the tribe of Zebulun: fifty seven thousand, four hundred.32Of the children of Yosef: of the tribe of Ephraim, their descendants according to their families, according to their fathers' houses; the number of individual names of every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were fit to go out to the army.33Those counted from the tribe of Ephraim: forty thousand, five hundred.34Of the tribe of Manasseh, their descendants according to their families, according to their fathers' houses; the number of individual names of every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were fit to go out to the army.35Those counted from the tribe of Manasseh: thirty two thousand, two hundred.36Of the tribe of Benjamin, their descendants according to their families, according to their fathers' houses; the number of individual names of every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were fit to go out to the army.37Those counted from the tribe of Benjamin: thirty five thousand, four hundred.38Of the tribe of Dan, their descendants according to their families, according to their fathers' houses; the number of individual names of every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were fit to go out to the army.39Those counted from the tribe of Dan: sixty two thousand, seven hundred.40Of the tribe of Asher, their descendants according to their families, according to their fathers' houses; the number of individual names of every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were fit to go out to the army.41Those counted from the tribe of Asher: forty one thousand, five hundred.42Of the tribe of Naphtali, their descendants according to their families, according to their fathers' houses; the number of individual names of every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were fit to go out to the army.43Those counted from the tribe of Naphtali: fifty three thousand, four hundred.44These are the numbered ones, whom Moses and Aaron and the twelve princes of Israel counted each one [representing] his fathers' house.45All the children of Israel were counted according to their fathers' houses, from twenty years and upward, all who were fit to go out to the army.46The sum of all those who were counted: six hundred and three thousand, five hundred and fifty.47But the Levites, according to their father's tribe were not numbered among them.48The Lord spoke to Moses saying:49Only the tribe of Levi you shall not number, and you shall not reckon their sum among the children of Israel.50But you shall appoint the Levites over the Tabernacle of the Testimony, over all its vessels and over all that belong to it; they shall carry the Tabernacle and they shall minister to it, and they shall encamp around the Tabernacle.51When the Tabernacle is set to travel, the Levites shall dismantle it; and when the Tabernacle camps, the Levites shall erect it; any outsider [non Levite] who approaches shall be put to death.52The children of Israel shall encamp, each man by his own camp and each man by his division.53The Levites shall encamp around the Mishkan of the Testimony, so that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel and the Levites shall keep the charge of the Mishkan of the Testimony.54And the children of Israel did according to all that the Lord had commanded Moses thus did they do.

Monday

1 Corinthians 1:18–25 (NLT): The Wisdom of God

18 The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God. 19 As the Scriptures say,

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise

and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.”

20 So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish. 21 Since God in his wisdom saw to it that the world would never know him through human wisdom, he has used our foolish preaching to save those who believe. 22 It is foolish to the Jews, who ask for signs from heaven. And it is foolish to the Greeks, who seek human wisdom. 23 So when we preach that Christ was crucified, the Jews are offended and the Gentiles say it’s all nonsense.

24 But to those called by God to salvation, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength.

Third Portion

Numbers Chapter 2

1God spoke to Moses and Aaron saying:2The children of Israel shall encamp each man by his division with the flag staffs of their fathers' house; some distance from the Tent of Meeting they shall encamp.3Those camping in front, to the east, were the legions under the division of the camp of Judah. The prince of the children of Judah was Nahshon the son of Amminadab.4His legion numbered seventy four thousand, six hundred.5Camping next to him, the tribe of Issachar; the prince of the children of Issachar was Nethanel the son of Zu'ar.6His legion numbered fifty four thousand, four hundred.7[Then] the tribe of Zebulun, and the prince of the children of Zebulun was Eliab the son of Helon.8His legion numbered fifty seven thousand, four hundred.9The total sum for the legions of Judah's camp was one hundred and eighty six thousand, four hundred; these shall journey first.10The legions under the division of the camp of Reuben were to the south. The prince of the children of Reuben was Elitzur the son of Shedeur.11His legion numbered forty six thousand, five hundred.12Camping next to him, the tribe of Simeon. The prince of the children of Simeon was Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.13His legion numbered fifty nine thousand, three hundred.14[Then] the tribe of Gad. The prince of the children of Gad was Eliasaph the son of Re'uel.15His legion numbered forty five thousand, six hundred and fifty.16The total sum for the legions of Reuben's camp was one hundred and fifty one thousand, four hundred and fifty; they shall be the second to set out.17Then the Tent of Meeting shall set out, [with] the Levite camp, in the center of the other camps. Just as they camp, so shall they travel, each man in his place, by their divisions.18The legions under the division of the camp of Ephraim were to the west. The prince of the children of Ephraim was Elishama'the son of 'Amihud.19His legion numbered forty thousand, five hundred.20Next to him, the tribe of Manasseh. The prince of the children of Manasseh was Gamliel the son of Pedahzur.21His legion numbered thirty two thousand, two hundred.22[Then] the tribe of Benjamin. The prince of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gid'oni.23His legion numbered thirty five thousand, four hundred.24The total sum for the legions under the division of the camp of Ephraim was one hundred and eight thousand, one hundred; they shall be the third to set out.25The legions under the division of the camp of Dan were to the north. The prince of the children of Dan was Ahi'ezer the son of Ammishaddai.26His legion numbered sixty two thousand, seven hundred.27Camping next to him was the tribe of Asher. The prince of the children of Asher was Pag'iel the son of 'Ocran.28His legion numbered forty one thousand, five hundred.29[Then] the tribe of Naphtali. The prince of the children of Naphtali was Ahira' the son of 'Enan.30His legion numbered fifty three thousand, four hundred.31The total sum for the legions under the division of the camp of Dan was one hundred and fifty seven thousand, six hundred; they shall be the last to set out.32These are the numbers of the Israelites according to their fathers' houses. The total number of legions of the camps was six hundred and three thousand, five hundred and fifty.33However, the Levites were not counted with the rest of the Israelites, as the Lord commanded Moses.34The Israelites did all that the Lord had commanded Moses; they encamped by their divisions, and so did they journey each man with his family, according to his father's house.

Tuesday

1 Corinthians 1:26–31 (NLT):

26 Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. 27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. 28 God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. 29 As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.

30 God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. 31 Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.”

Fourth Portion

Numbers Chapter 3

1These are the descendants of Aaron and Moses on the day that the Lord spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai.2These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.3These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the anointed kohanim, whom he consecrated to serve as kohanim.4Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord when they brought alien fire before the Lord in the Sinai desert, and they had no children. Eleazar and Ithamar, however, served as kohanim in the presence of Aaron, their father.5The Lord spoke to Moses saying:6Bring forth the tribe of Levi and present them before Aaron the kohen, that they may serve him.7They shall keep his charge and the charge of the entire community before the Tent of Meeting, to perform the service of the Mishkan.8They shall take charge of all the vessels of the Tent of Meeting and the charge of the children of Israel, to perform the service of the Mishkan.9You shall give over the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they shall be wholly given over to him from the children of Israel.10You shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall keep their kehunah; any outsider [non kohen] who approaches shall be put to death.11The Lord spoke to Moses, saying.12As for Me I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel in place of all firstborns among the children of Israel who have opened the womb, and the Levites shall be Mine.13For all the firstborns are Mine; since the day I smote all the firstborns in the land of Egypt, I sanctified for Myself all the firstborns of Israel, both man and beast they shall become Mine, I am the Lord.

Wednesday

Psalm 111

1 Praise the Lord!

I will thank the Lord with all my heart

as I meet with his godly people.

2 How amazing are the deeds of the Lord!

All who delight in him should ponder them.

3 Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty.

His righteousness never fails.

4 He causes us to remember his wonderful works.

How gracious and merciful is our Lord!

5 He gives food to those who fear him;

he always remembers his covenant.

6 He has shown his great power to his people

by giving them the lands of other nations.

7 All he does is just and good,

and all his commandments are trustworthy.

8 They are forever true,

to be obeyed faithfully and with integrity.

9 He has paid a full ransom for his people.

He has guaranteed his covenant with them forever.

What a holy, awe-inspiring name he has!

10 Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom.

All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom.

Praise him forever!

Fifth Portion

Numbers Chapter 3

14The Lord spoke to Moses in the Sinai desert, saying:15Count the children of Levi according to their fathers' house according to their families. Count all males from the age of one month and upward.16So Moses counted them according to God's word, just as he was commanded.17These were the names of Levi's sons: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.18The names of the sons of Gershon according to their families were Libni and Shim'ei.19And the sons of Kohath according to their families were Amram, Itzhar, Hebron, and Uziel.20And the sons of Merari according to their families were Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of Levi according to their fathers' houses.21For Gershon, the Libnite family and the Shim'eite family; these are the Gershonite families.22Their sum was made according to the number of males from the age of one month and upward; the tally amounted to seven thousand, five hundred.23The Gershonite families shall camp behind the Mishkan, to the west.24The prince of the father's house of the Gershonites is Eliasaph the son of Lael.25The charge of the sons of Gershon in the Tent of Meeting [included] the Mishkan, the Tent, its cover, and the screen for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.26The hangings of the courtyard, the screen at the entrance to the courtyard, which is around the Mishkan and the altar, its ropes, as well as all the work involved.27For Kohath, the Amramite family, the Izharite family, the Hebronite family, and the Uzielite family; these are the families of Kohath.28The number of all males from the age of one month and upward amounted to eight thousand six hundred, the keepers of the charge of the holy.29The families of the sons of Kohath shall camp to the south side of the Mishkan.30The prince of the father's house of the Kohathite families is Elizaphan the son of Uziel.31Their charge [included] the ark, the table, the menorah, the altars, and the holy utensils with which they would minister, and the screen and all the work involved.32The prince over all the princes of the Levites shall be Eleazar the son of Aaron the kohen, the appointment of all the keepers of the charge of the Holy.33For Merari, the Machlite family and the Mushite family; these are the families of Merari.34Their tally according to the number of males from the age of one month and upward was six thousand two hundred.35The prince of the father's house of the Merarite families is Zuriel the son of Abihail; they shall camp on the north side of the Mishkan.36The appointment of the charge of the sons of Merari [included] the planks of the Mishkan, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets, all its utensils, and all the work involved.37Also the pillars of the surrounding courtyard, their sockets, their stakes, and their ropes.38Camping in front of the Mishkan, in front of the Tent of Meeting to the east were Moses, Aaron and his sons, the keepers of the charge of the Sanctuary as a trust for the children of Israel; any outsider who approaches shall be put to death.39The sum of the male Levites according to their families, from the age of one month and upward, counted by Moses and Aaron according to the word of the Lord, was twenty two thousand.

Thursday

Hebrews 9:11–14 (NLT): Christ Is the Perfect Sacrifice

11 So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. 12 With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever.

13 Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer could cleanse people’s bodies from ceremonial impurity. 14 Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.

Sixth Portion

Numbers Chapter 3

40The Lord said to Moses: Count every firstborn male aged one month and upward of the children of Israel, and take the number of their names.41And you shall take the Levites for Me I am the Lord instead of all firstborns among the children of Israel. And [take] the Levites' animals instead of all the firstborn animals of the children of Israel.42So Moses counted every firstborn of Israel, as the Lord had commanded him.43The firstborn males aged one month and upward, according to the number of names, was twenty two thousand, two hundred and seventy three.44The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:45Take the Levites instead of all the firstborns among the children of Israel and the Levites' animals instead of their animals, and the Levites shall be Mine I am the Lord.46As for the two hundred and seventy three of the children of Israel who required redemption, who are in excess of the Levites,47you shall take five shekels per head, according to the holy shekel, by which the shekel is twenty gerahs.48You shall give the money to Aaron and his sons, in redemption for the firstborns who are in excess of them.49So Moses took the redemption money for those in excess of those redeemed by the Levites.50He took the money from the firstborn of the children of Israel; one thousand, three hundred and sixty five of the holy shekels.51Then Moses gave the money of those redeemed to Aaron and his sons, in accordance with the word of the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Friday

Psalm 25 1-11 (NLT):

A psalm of David.

1 O Lord, I give my life to you.

2 I trust in you, my God!

Do not let me be disgraced,

or let my enemies rejoice in my defeat.

3 No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced,

but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.

4 Show me the right path, O Lord;

point out the road for me to follow.

5 Lead me by your truth and teach me,

for you are the God who saves me.

All day long I put my hope in you.

6 Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love,

which you have shown from long ages past.

7 Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth.

Remember me in the light of your unfailing love,

for you are merciful, O Lord.

8 The Lord is good and does what is right;

he shows the proper path to those who go astray.

9 He leads the humble in doing right,

teaching them his way.

10 The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness

all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.

11 For the honor of your name, O Lord,

forgive my many, many sins.

12 Who are those who fear the Lord?

Seventh Portion

Numbers Chapter 4

1The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron saying:2Make a count of the sons of Kohath from among the children of Levi by their families, according to their fathers' houses.3From the age of thirty until the age of fifty, all who enter the service, to do work in the Tent of Meeting.4The following is the service of the sons of Kohath in the Tent of Meeting-the Holy of Holies.5When the camp is about to travel, Aaron and his sons shall come and take down the dividing screen; with it, they shall cover the Ark of the Testimony.6They shall place upon it a covering of tachash skin and on top of that they shall spread a cloth of pure blue wool. Then they shall put its poles in place.7They shall spread a cloth of blue wool on the Show Table and they shall place on it the forms, spoons, supports, and covering frames; the continual bread can then be placed upon it.8They shall spread upon them a cloth of crimson wool and cover that with a covering of tachash skin. Then they shall put its poles into place.9They shall take a blue cloth and cover the menorah for lighting and its lamps, its tongs, and its scoops, and all its oil vessels used in performing its service.10They shall put it and its vessels into a covering of tachash skin and place it on a pole.11They shall spread a cloth of blue wool over the golden altar and cover it with a covering of tachash skin, and then set its poles in place.12They shall then take all the vessels used in the Holy, put them into a cloth of blue wool, cover them with a covering of tachash skin, and put them onto a pole.13They shall remove the ashes from the altar and spread a cloth of purple wool over it.14They shall place on it all the utensils with which they minister upon it: the scoops, the forks, the shovels, and the basins-all the implements of the altar. Then they shall spread over it a covering of tachash skin and set its poles into place.15Aaron and his sons shall finish covering the Holy and all the vessels of the Holy when the camp is set to travel, and following that, the sons of Kohath shall come to carry [them], but they shall not touch the sacred objects for [then] they will die. These are the burden of the sons of Kohath for the Tent of Meeting.16The charge of Eleazar the son of Aaron the kohen: oil for lighting, the incense of spices, the continual [daily] meal offering, and the anointing oil; the charge for the entire Mishkan and all that is in it, of the Holy and its furnishings.17The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron saying:18Do not cause the tribe of the families of Kohath to be cut off from among the Levites.19Do this for them, so they should live and not die, when they approach the Holy of Holies. Aaron and his sons shall first come and appoint each man individually to his task and his load.20They shall not come in to see when the holy [vessels] are being wrapped up, lest they die.

Saturday

Psalm 25:12–22 (NLT):

12 Who are the Lord?

He will show them the path they should choose.

13 They will live in prosperity,

and their children will inherit the land.

14 The Lord is a friend to those who fear him.

He teaches them his covenant.

15 My eyes are always on the Lord,

for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies.

16 Turn to me and have mercy,

for I am alone and in deep distress.

17 My problems go from bad to worse.

Oh, save me from them all!

18 Feel my pain and see my trouble.

Forgive all my sins.

19 See how many enemies I have

and how viciously they hate me!

20 Protect me! Rescue my life from them!

Do not let me be disgraced, for in you I take refuge.

21 May integrity and honesty protect me,

for I put my hope in you.

22 O God, ransom Israel

from all its troubles.

Maftir Portion

Numbers Chapter 4

17The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron saying:18Do not cause the tribe of the families of Kohath to be cut off from among the Levites.19Do this for them, so they should live and not die, when they approach the Holy of Holies. Aaron and his sons shall first come and appoint each man individually to his task and his load.20They shall not come in to see when the holy [vessels] are being wrapped up, lest they die.

Haftarah

Hosea Chapter 2

Y1And the number of the children of Israel shall be as the sand of the sea, which shall neither be measured nor counted; and it shall come to pass that, instead of saying to them, "You are not My people," it shall be said to them, "The children of the living God."2And the children of Judah and the children of Israel shall be gathered together, and they shall appoint for themselves one head, and they shall go up from the land, for great is the day of Jezreel.3Say to your brethren, "Ammi," and to your sisters, "Ruhamah."4Strive with your mother, strive, for she is not My wife, and I am not her Husband, and let her remove her harlotries from her face and her adulteries from between her breasts.5Lest I strip her naked and leave her as [on] the day she was born; and I make her like a desert, and I set her like an arid land, and cause her to die of thirst.6And I will not pity her children for they are children of harlotries.7For their mother played the harlot; she who conceived them behaved shamefully, for she said, "I will go after my lovers, those who give my bread and my water, my wool and my flax, my oil and my drinks. "8Therefore, behold I will close off your way with thorns, and I make a fence against her, and she shall not find her paths.9And she shall pursue her lovers and not overtake them, and she shall seek them and not find them; and she shall say, "I will go and return to my first Husband, for it was better for me then than now.10But she did not know that I gave her the corn, the wine, and the oil, and I gave her much silver and gold, but they made it for Baal.11Therefore, I will return and take My corn in its time and My wine in its appointed season, and I will separate My wool and My flax, to cover her nakedness.12And now, I will bare her disgrace before the eyes of her lovers, and no man shall save her from My hand.13And I will terminate all her rejoicing, her festival[s], her new moon[s], and her Sabbath[s], and all her appointed seasons.14And I will lay waste her vine[s] and her fig tree[s], [concerning] which she said, "They are my hire, which my lovers have given me," and I will make them a forest, and the beasts of the field shall devour them.15And I will visit upon her the days of the baalim, to whom she burnt incense, and she adorned herself with her earrings and her jewelry, and went after her lovers, and she forgot Me, says the Lord.16Therefore, behold I will allure her and lead her into the desert, and I will speak comfortingly to her heart.17And I will give her her vineyards from there and the depth of trouble for a door of hope, and she shall dwell there as in the days of her youth, and as the day of her ascent from the land of Egypt.18And it shall come to pass on that day, says the Lord, you shall call [Me] Ishi, and you shall no longer call Me Baali.19And I will remove the names of the baalim from her mouth, and they shall no longer be mentioned by their name.20And I will make a covenant for them on that day with the beasts of the field and with the fowl of the sky and the creeping things of the earth; and the bow, the sword, and war I will break off the earth, and I will let them lie down safely.21And I will betroth you to Me forever, and I will betroth you to Me with righteousness and with justice and with loving-kindness and with mercy.22And I will betroth you to Me with faith, and you shall know the Lord.

AME Zion Universal Reading June 5th 2022

Sunday School Zoom Link

Isaiah 47:1–15 (NLT): Prediction of Babylon’s Fall

1 “Come down, virgin daughter of Babylon, and sit in the dust.

For your days of sitting on a throne have ended.

O daughter of Babylonia, never again will you be

the lovely princess, tender and delicate.

2 Take heavy millstones and grind flour.

Remove your veil, and strip off your robe.

Expose yourself to public view.

3 You will be naked and burdened with shame.

I will take vengeance against you without pity.”

4 Our Redeemer, whose name is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,

is the Holy One of Israel.

5 “O beautiful Babylon, sit now in darkness and silence.

Never again will you be known as the queen of kingdoms.

6 For I was angry with my chosen people

and punished them by letting them fall into your hands.

But you, Babylon, showed them no mercy.

You oppressed even the elderly.

7 You said, ‘I will reign forever as queen of the world!’

You did not reflect on your actions

or think about their consequences.

8 “Listen to this, you pleasure-loving kingdom,

living at ease and feeling secure.

You say, ‘I am the only one, and there is no other.

I will never be a widow or lose my children.’

9 Well, both these things will come upon you in a moment:

widowhood and the loss of your children.

Yes, these calamities will come upon you,

despite all your witchcraft and magic.

10 “You felt secure in your wickedness.

‘No one sees me,’ you said.

But your ‘wisdom’ and ‘knowledge’ have led you astray,

and you said, ‘I am the only one, and there is no other.’

11 So disaster will overtake you,

and you won’t be able to charm it away.

Calamity will fall upon you,

and you won’t be able to buy your way out.

A catastrophe will strike you suddenly,

one for which you are not prepared.

12 “Now use your magical charms!

Use the spells you have worked at all these years!

Maybe they will do you some good.

Maybe they can make someone afraid of you.

13 All the advice you receive has made you tired.

Where are all your astrologers,

those stargazers who make predictions each month?

Let them stand up and save you from what the future holds.

14 But they are like straw burning in a fire;

they cannot save themselves from the flame.

You will get no help from them at all;

their hearth is no place to sit for warmth.

15 And all your friends,

those with whom you’ve done business since childhood,

will go their own ways,

turning a deaf ear to your cries.

Monday

Jeremiah 29:8–14 (NLT):

8 This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says: “Do not let your prophets and fortune-tellers who are with you in the land of Babylon trick you. Do not listen to their dreams, 9 because they are telling you lies in my name. I have not sent them,” says the Lord.

10 This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. 12 In those days when you pray, I will listen. 13 If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. 14 I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”

Tuesday

Psalm 79:1–13 (NLT):

1 O God, pagan nations have conquered your land,

your special possession.

They have defiled your holy Temple

and made Jerusalem a heap of ruins.

2 They have left the bodies of your servants

as food for the birds of heaven.

The flesh of your godly ones

has become food for the wild animals.

3 Blood has flowed like water all around Jerusalem;

no one is left to bury the dead.

4 We are mocked by our neighbors,

an object of scorn and derision to those around us.

5 O Lord, how long will you be angry with us? Forever?

How long will your jealousy burn like fire?

6 Pour out your wrath on the nations that refuse to acknowledge you—

on kingdoms that do not call upon your name.

7 For they have devoured your people Israel,

making the land a desolate wilderness.

8 Do not hold us guilty for the sins of our ancestors!

Let your compassion quickly meet our needs,

for we are on the brink of despair.

9 Help us, O God of our salvation!

Help us for the glory of your name.

Save us and forgive our sins

for the honor of your name.

10 Why should pagan nations be allowed to scoff,

asking, “Where is their God?”

Show us your vengeance against the nations,

for they have spilled the blood of your servants.

11 Listen to the moaning of the prisoners.

Demonstrate your great power by saving those condemned to die.

12 O Lord, pay back our neighbors seven times

for the scorn they have hurled at you.

13 Then we your people, the sheep of your pasture,

will thank you forever and ever,

praising your greatness from generation to generation.

Wednesday

Mark 13:1–13 (NLT): Jesus Speaks about the Future

As Jesus was leaving the Temple that day, one of his disciples said, “Teacher, look at these magnificent buildings! Look at the impressive stones in the walls.”

2 Jesus replied, “Yes, look at these great buildings. But they will be completely demolished. Not one stone will be left on top of another!”

3 Later, Jesus sat on the Mount of Olives across the valley from the Temple. Peter, James, John, and Andrew came to him privately and asked him, 4 “Tell us, when will all this happen? What sign will show us that these things are about to be fulfilled?”

5 Jesus replied, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, 6 for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. 7 And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. 8 Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in many parts of the world, as well as famines. But this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.

9 “When these things begin to happen, watch out! You will be handed over to the local councils and beaten in the synagogues. You will stand trial before governors and kings because you are my followers. But this will be your opportunity to tell them about me. 10 For the Good News must first be preached to all nations. 11 But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

12 “A brother will betray his brother to death, a father will betray his own child, and children will rebel against their parents and cause them to be killed. 13 And everyone will hate you because you are my followers. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Thursday

Mark 13:28–37 (NLT):

28 “Now learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branches bud and its leaves begin to sprout, you know that summer is near. 29 In the same way, when you see all these things taking place, you can know that his return is very near, right at the door. 30 I tell you the truth, this generation will not pass from the scene before all these things take place. 31 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.

32 “However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows. 33 And since you don’t know when that time will come, be on guard! Stay alert!

34 “The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return. 35 You, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know when the master of the household will return—in the evening, at midnight, before dawn, or at daybreak. 36 Don’t let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning. 37 I say to you what I say to everyone: Watch for him!”

Friday

Psalm 74:10–23 (NLT):

10 How long, O God, will you allow our enemies to insult you?

Will you let them dishonor your name forever?

11 Why do you hold back your strong right hand?

Unleash your powerful fist and destroy them.

12 You, O God, are my king from ages past,

bringing salvation to the earth.

13 You split the sea by your strength

and smashed the heads of the sea monsters.

14 You crushed the heads of Leviathan

and let the desert animals eat him.

15 You caused the springs and streams to gush forth,

and you dried up rivers that never run dry.

16 Both day and night belong to you;

you made the starlight and the sun.

17 You set the boundaries of the earth,

and you made both summer and winter.

18 See how these enemies insult you, Lord.

A foolish nation has dishonored your name.

19 Don’t let these wild beasts destroy your turtledoves.

Don’t forget your suffering people forever.

20 Remember your covenant promises,

for the land is full of darkness and violence!

21 Don’t let the downtrodden be humiliated again.

Instead, let the poor and needy praise your name.

22 Arise, O God, and defend your cause.

Remember how these fools insult you all day long.

23 Don’t overlook what your enemies have said

or their growing uproar.

Saturday

Isaiah 47:1–9 (NLT):

1 “Come down, virgin daughter of Babylon, and sit in the dust.

For your days of sitting on a throne have ended.

O daughter of Babylonia, never again will you be

the lovely princess, tender and delicate.

2 Take heavy millstones and grind flour.

Remove your veil, and strip off your robe.

Expose yourself to public view.

3 You will be naked and burdened with shame.

I will take vengeance against you without pity.”

4 Our Redeemer, whose name is the Lord of Heaven’s Armies,

is the Holy One of Israel.

5 “O beautiful Babylon, sit now in darkness and silence.

Never again will you be known as the queen of kingdoms.

6 For I was angry with my chosen people

and punished them by letting them fall into your hands.

But you, Babylon, showed them no mercy.

You oppressed even the elderly.

7 You said, ‘I will reign forever as queen of the world!’

You did not reflect on your actions

or think about their consequences.

8 “Listen to this, you pleasure-loving kingdom,

living at ease and feeling secure.

You say, ‘I am the only one, and there is no other.

I will never be a widow or lose my children.’

9 Well, both these things will come upon you in a moment:

widowhood and the loss of your children.

Yes, these calamities will come upon you,

despite all your witchcraft and magic.