Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
20 May the Lord answer you when you are in trouble.
May the God of Jacob keep you safe.
2 May he send you help from the sacred tent.
May he give you aid from Zion.
3 May he remember all your sacrifices.
May he accept your burnt offerings.
4 May he give you what your heart wishes for.
May he make all your plans succeed.
5 May we shout for joy over your victory.
May we lift up our flags in the name of our God.
May the Lord give you everything you ask for.
6 Now I know that the Lord gives victory to his anointed king.
He answers him from his sacred home in heaven.
The power of God’s right hand gives victory to the king.
7 Some trust in chariots. Some trust in horses.
But we trust in the Lord our God.
8 They are brought to their knees and fall down.
But we get up and stand firm.
9 Lord, give victory to the king!
Answer us when we call out to you!
Moses Sets Up the Holy Tent
40 Then the Lord said to Moses, 2 “Set up the holy tent, the tent of meeting. Set it up on the first day of the first month. 3 Place in it the ark where the tablets of the covenant law are kept. Hide the ark with the curtain. 4 Bring in the table for the holy bread. Arrange the loaves of bread on it. Then bring in the lampstand. Set up its lamps. 5 Place the gold altar for burning incense in front of the ark where the tablets of the covenant law are kept. Put up the curtain at the entrance to the holy tent.
6 “Place the altar for burnt offerings in front of the entrance to the holy tent, the tent of meeting. 7 Place the large bowl between the tent of meeting and the altar. Put water in the bowl. 8 Set up the courtyard around the holy tent. Put the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard.
9 “Get the anointing oil. Anoint the holy tent and everything in it. Set apart the holy tent and everything that belongs to it. Then it will be holy. 10 Anoint the altar for burnt offerings and all its tools. Set apart the altar. Then it will be a very holy place. 11 Anoint the large bowl and its stand. Set them apart.
12 “Bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance to the tent of meeting. Wash them with water. 13 Dress Aaron in the sacred clothes. Anoint him and set him apart. Then he will be able to serve me as priest. 14 Bring his sons and dress them in their inner robes. 15 Anoint them just as you anointed their father. Then they will be able to serve me as priests. They will be anointed to do the work of priests. That work will last for all time to come.”
An Appeal and Warning to Remain Faithful
19 Brothers and sisters, we are not afraid to enter the Most Holy Room. We enter boldly because of the blood of Jesus. 20 His way is new because he lives. It has been opened for us through the curtain. I’m talking about his body. 21 We also have a great priest over the house of God. 22 So let us come near to God with a sincere heart. Let us come near boldly because of our faith. Our hearts have been sprinkled. Our minds have been cleansed from a sense of guilt. Our bodies have been washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold firmly to the hope we claim to have. The God who promised is faithful. 24 Let us consider how we can stir up one another to love. Let us help one another to do good works. 25 And let us not give up meeting together. Some are in the habit of doing this. Instead, let us encourage one another with words of hope. Let us do this even more as you see Christ’s return approaching.
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