AME Zion Universal Reading September 17th, 2023

Sunday School Zoom Link

First Portion

Bereshit (Genesis) Chapter 21

1And the Lord remembered Sarah as He had said, and the Lord did to Sarah as He had spoken.2And Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the time of which God had spoken to him.3And Abraham named his son who had been born to him, whom Sarah had borne to him, Isaac.4And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac when he was eight days old, as God had commanded him.

John 7:14–24 (NLT):

14 Then, midway through the festival, Jesus went up to the Temple and began to teach. 15 The people were surprised when they heard him. “How does he know so much when he hasn’t been trained?” they asked.

16 So Jesus told them, “My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me. 17 Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own. 18 Those who speak for themselves want glory only for themselves, but a person who seeks to honor the one who sent him speaks truth, not lies. 19 Moses gave you the law, but none of you obeys it! In fact, you are trying to kill me.”

20 The crowd replied, “You’re demon possessed! Who’s trying to kill you?”

21 Jesus replied, “I did one miracle on the Sabbath, and you were amazed. 22 But you work on the Sabbath, too, when you obey Moses’ law of circumcision. (Actually, this tradition of circumcision began with the patriarchs, long before the law of Moses.) 23 For if the correct time for circumcising your son falls on the Sabbath, you go ahead and do it so as not to break the law of Moses. So why should you be angry with me for healing a man on the Sabbath? 24 Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly.”

Second Portion

Bereshit (Genesis) Chapter 21

5And Abraham was a hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born to him.6And Sarah said, "God has made joy for me; whoever hears will rejoice over me."7And she said, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children, for I have borne a son to his old age!"8And the child grew and was weaned, and Abraham made a great feast on the day that Isaac was weaned.

Monday

Isaiah 58:6–14 (NLT):

6 “No, this is the kind of fasting I want:

Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;

lighten the burden of those who work for you.

Let the oppressed go free,

and remove the chains that bind people.

7 Share your food with the hungry,

and give shelter to the homeless.

Give clothes to those who need them,

and do not hide from relatives who need your help.

8 “Then your salvation will come like the dawn,

and your wounds will quickly heal.

Your godliness will lead you forward,

and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.

9 Then when you call, the Lord will answer.

‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.

“Remove the heavy yoke of oppression.

Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors!

10 Feed the hungry,

and help those in trouble.

Then your light will shine out from the darkness,

and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.

11 The Lord will guide you continually,

giving you water when you are dry

and restoring your strength.

You will be like a well-watered garden,

like an ever-flowing spring.

12 Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities.

Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls

and a restorer of homes.

13 “Keep the Sabbath day holy.

Don’t pursue your own interests on that day,

but enjoy the Sabbath

and speak of it with delight as the Lord’s holy day.

Honor the Sabbath in everything you do on that day,

and don’t follow your own desires or talk idly.

14 Then the Lord will be your delight.

I will give you great honor

and satisfy you with the inheritance I promised to your ancestor Jacob.

I, the Lord, have spoken!”

Third Portion

Bereshit (Genesis) Chapter 21

9And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, whom she had borne to Abraham, making merry.10And Sarah said to Abraham, "Drive out this handmaid and her son, for the son of this handmaid shall not inherit with my son, with Isaac."11But the matter greatly displeased Abraham, concerning his son.12And God said to Abraham, "Be not displeased concerning the lad and concerning your handmaid; whatever Sarah tells you, hearken to her voice, for in Isaac will be called your seed.

Tuesday

John 5:1–9 (NLT): Jesus Heals a Lame Man

Afterward Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish holy days. 2 Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda, with five covered porches. 3 Crowds of sick people—blind, lame, or paralyzed—lay on the porches. 5 One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?”

7 “I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.”

8 Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!”

9 Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking! But this miracle happened on the Sabbath,

Fourth Portion

Bereshit (Genesis) Chapter 21

13But also the son of the handmaid I will make into a nation, because he is your seed."14And Abraham arose early in the morning, and he took bread and a leather pouch of water, and he gave [them] to Hagar, he placed [them] on her shoulder, and the child, and he sent her away; and she went and wandered in the desert of Beer sheba.15And the water was depleted from the leather pouch, and she cast the child under one of the bushes.16And she went and sat down from afar, at about the distance of two bowshots, for she said, "Let me not see the child's death." And she sat from afar, and she raised her voice and wept.17And God heard the lad's voice, and an angel of God called to Hagar from heaven, and said to her, "What is troubling you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the lad's voice in the place where he is.

Wednesday

John 5:10–16 (NLT):

10 so the Jewish leaders objected. They said to the man who was cured, “You can’t work on the Sabbath! The law doesn’t allow you to carry that sleeping mat!”

11 But he replied, “The man who healed me told me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ”

12 “Who said such a thing as that?” they demanded.

13 The man didn’t know, for Jesus had disappeared into the crowd. 14 But afterward Jesus found him in the Temple and told him, “Now you are well; so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you.” 15 Then the man went and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had healed him.

Jesus Claims to Be the Son of God

16 So the Jewish leaders began harassing Jesus for breaking the Sabbath rules.

Fifth Portion

Bereshit (Genesis) Chapter 21

18Rise, pick up the lad and grasp your hand upon him, for I shall make him into a great nation."19And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water, and she went and filled the pouch with water and gave the lad to drink.20And God was with the lad, and he grew, and he dwelt in the desert, and he became an archer.21And he dwelt in the desert of Paran, and his mother took for him a wife from the land of Egypt.

Thursday

John 5:17–22 (NLT):

17 But Jesus replied, “My Father is always working, and so am I.” 18 So the Jewish leaders tried all the harder to find a way to kill him. For he not only broke the Sabbath, he called God his Father, thereby making himself equal with God.

19 So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing. In fact, the Father will show him how to do even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished. 21 For just as the Father gives life to those he raises from the dead, so the Son gives life to anyone he wants.

Sixth Portion

Bereshit (Genesis) Chapter 21

22Now it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phicol his general said to Abraham, saying, "God is with you in all that you do.23And now, swear to me here by God, that you will not lie to me or to my son or to my grandson; according to the kindness that I have done with you, you shall do with me, and with the land wherein you have sojourned."24And Abraham said, "I will swear."25And Abraham contended with Abimelech about the well of water that the servants of Abimelech had forcibly seized.26And Abimelech said, "I do not know who did this thing, neither did you tell me, nor did I hear [of it] until today. "27And Abraham took flocks and cattle, and gave them to Abimelech, and they both formed a covenant.

Friday

Deuteronomy 4:1–14 (NLT): Moses Urges Israel to Obey

“And now, Israel, listen carefully to these decrees and regulations that I am about to teach you. Obey them so that you may live, so you may enter and occupy the land that the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. 2 Do not add to or subtract from these commands I am giving you. Just obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you.

3 “You saw for yourself what the Lord did to you at Baal-peor. There the Lord your God destroyed everyone who had worshiped Baal, the god of Peor. 4 But all of you who were faithful to the Lord your God are still alive today—every one of you.

5 “Look, I now teach you these decrees and regulations just as the Lord my God commanded me, so that you may obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy. 6 Obey them completely, and you will display your wisdom and intelligence among the surrounding nations. When they hear all these decrees, they will exclaim, ‘How wise and prudent are the people of this great nation!’ 7 For what great nation has a god as near to them as the Lord our God is near to us whenever we call on him? 8 And what great nation has decrees and regulations as righteous and fair as this body of instructions that I am giving you today?

9 “But watch out! Be careful never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your children and grandchildren. 10 Never forget the day when you stood before the Lord your God at Mount Sinai, where he told me, ‘Summon the people before me, and I will personally instruct them. Then they will learn to fear me as long as they live, and they will teach their children to fear me also.’

11 “You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain, while flames from the mountain shot into the sky. The mountain was shrouded in black clouds and deep darkness. 12 And the Lord spoke to you from the heart of the fire. You heard the sound of his words but didn’t see his form; there was only a voice. 13 He proclaimed his covenant—the Ten Commandments—which he commanded you to keep, and which he wrote on two stone tablets. 14 It was at that time that the Lord commanded me to teach you his decrees and regulations so you would obey them in the land you are about to enter and occupy.

Seventh Portion

Bereshit (Genesis) Chapter 21

28And Abraham placed seven ewe lambs by themselves.29And Abimelech said to Abraham, "What are these seven ewe lambs, which you have placed by themselves?"30And he said, "For these seven ewe lambs you shall take from my hand, in order that it be to me for a witness that I dug this well."31Therefore, he named that place Beer sheba, for there they both swore.32And they formed a covenant in Beer-sheba, and Abimelech and Phicol his general arose, and they returned to the land of the Philistines.33And he planted an eishel in Beer-Sheba, and he called there in the name of the Lord, the God of the world.34And Abraham dwelt in the land of the Philistines for many days.

Saturday

Psalm 119:113–128 (NLT): Samekh

1. 113 I hate those with divided loyalties,

but I love your instructions.

114 You are my refuge and my shield;

your word is my source of hope.

115 Get out of my life, you evil-minded people,

for I intend to obey the commands of my God.

116 Lord, sustain me as you promised, that I may live!

Do not let my hope be crushed.

117 Sustain me, and I will be rescued;

then I will meditate continually on your decrees.

118 But you have rejected all who stray from your decrees.

They are only fooling themselves.

119 You skim off the wicked of the earth like scum;

no wonder I love to obey your laws!

120 I tremble in fear of you;

I stand in awe of your regulations.

Ayin

121 Don’t leave me to the mercy of my enemies,

for I have done what is just and right.

122 Please guarantee a blessing for me.

Don’t let the arrogant oppress me!

123 My eyes strain to see your rescue,

to see the truth of your promise fulfilled.

124 I am your servant; deal with me in unfailing love,

and teach me your decrees.

125 Give discernment to me, your servant;

then I will understand your laws.

126 Lord, it is time for you to act,

for these evil people have violated your instructions.

127 Truly, I love your commands

more than gold, even the finest gold.

128 Each of your commandments is right.

That is why I hate every false way.

Maftir Portion

Bamidbar (Numbers) Chapter 29

1And in the seventh month, on the first day, there shall be a holy convocation for you; you shall not perform any mundane work. It shall be a day of shofar sounding for you.2You shall offer up a burnt offering for a spirit of satisfaction to the Lord: one young bull, one ram, and seven lambs in the first year, [all] unblemished.3And their meal offering [shall be] fine flour mixed with oil, three tenths for the bull and two tenths for the ram.4And one tenth for each lamb, for the seven lambs.5And one young male goat as a sin offering, to atone for you.6[This is] besides the burnt offering of the new month and its meal offering, and the continual burnt offering and its meal offering, and their libations as prescribed for them, as a spirit of satisfaction, a fire offering to the Lord.

Haftarah

Shmuel I (I Samuel) Chapter 1

1And there was one man from Ramathaim Zophim, from Mt. Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.2And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah and the name of the second was Peninnah; and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.3And that man was wont to go up from his city from appointed time to appointed time, to prostrate himself and to slaughter (peace offerings) to the Lord of Hosts in Shiloh, and there the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinhas, were serving the Lord.4And when it was the day, and Elkanah slaughtered (peace offerings), and he would give to Peninnah his wife and to all her sons and daughters portions.5And to Hannah he would give one choice portion, for he loved Hannah, and the Lord had shut up her womb.6And her rival would frequently anger her, in order to make her complain, for the Lord had shut up her womb.7And so he would do year by year, as often as she went up to the house of the Lord, so she would anger her, and she wept and would not eat.8And Elkanah her husband said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep? And why do you not eat? And why is your heart sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?"9And Hannah arose after eating and after drinking, and Eli the priest was sitting on the chair beside the doorpost of the Temple of the Lord.10And she was bitter in spirit, and she prayed to the Lord, and wept.11And she vowed a vow, and said: to Lord of Hosts, if You will look upon the affliction of Your bondswoman, and You will remember me, and You will not forget Your bondswoman and You will give Your bondswoman a man-child, and I shall give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.12And it was, as she prayed long before the Lord, that Eli watched her mouth.13But Hannah, she was speaking in her heart, only her lips were moving, and her voice was not heard, and Eli thought her to be a drunken woman.14And Eli said to her: Until when will you be drunk? Throw off your wine from upon yourself.15And Hannah answered and said: No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit, and neither new wine nor old wine have I drunk, and I poured out my soul before the Lord.16Deliver not your bondswoman before the unscrupulous woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and my vexation have I spoken until now.17And Eli answered and said: Go in peace, and the God of Israel will grant your request which you have asked of Him.18And she said: May your bondswoman find favor in your eyes; and the woman went on her way and ate, and her face was not (sad) anymore.19And they arose early in the morning, and prostrated themselves before the Lord: and they returned and came to their house, to Ramah, and Elkanah knew Hannah, his wife, and the Lord remembered her.20And it was, when the time came about, after Hannah had conceived, that she bore a son, and she called his name Samuel, because (she said); "I asked him of the Lord."21And the man, Elkanah and his entire household, went up to slaughter to the Lord, the sacrifice of the days and his vow.22But Hannah did not go up, for she said to her husband: "Until the child is weaned, then I shall bring him, and he shall appear before the Lord, and abide there forever.23And Elkanah her husband said to her: "Do what seems good to you. Stay until you have weaned him, only, may the Lord fulfill His word." And the woman stayed and nursed her son, until she weaned him.24And she brought him with her when she had weaned him, with three bulls, and one ephah of meal, and an earthenware jug of wine, and she brought him to the house of the Lord, to Shiloh, and the child was young.25And they slaughtered the bull, and they brought the child to Eli.26And she said, "Please, my lord! As surely as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who was standing here with you, to pray to the Lord.27For this child did I pray, and the Lord granted me my request, which I asked of Him.28And I also have lent him to the Lord; all the days which he will be alive, he is borrowed by the Lord." And he prostrated himself there to the Lord.

Shmuel I (I Samuel) Chapter 2

1And Hannah prayed and said: "My heart has rejoiced through the Lord; My horn has been raised by the Lord. My mouth is opened wide against my enemies, For I have rejoiced in Your salvation.2There is none as holy as the Lord, For there is none besides You; And there is no rock like our God.3Do not increasingly speak haughtily; Let not arrogance come out of your mouth, For the Lord is a God of thoughts, And to Him are deeds counted.4The bows of the mighty are broken; And those who stumbled, are girded with strength.5Those who were satiated have hired themselves out for bread, While the hungry have ceased. While the barren woman has born seven, She that had many children, has been bereaved.6The Lord kills and makes alive; He brings down to the grave and raises up.7The Lord impoverishes and makes rich. He humbles; He also exalts.8He lifts the poor from the dust; From the dunghill, He raises the pauper, To seat them with princes, And a seat of honor He causes them to inherit, For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, And He placed the world upon them.9The feet of His pious ones He will guard, And the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, For not by strength will man prevail.10Those who strive with the Lord will be broken; Upon him will He thunder in Heaven; The Lord will judge the ends of the earth. And He will grant strength to His king, And raise the horn of His anointed one.