Introduction: For hundreds of years many Christian traditions have read passages of scripture using a tool called a lectionary. During this ordinary season, our devotional team decided to resource you with selections from the Revised Common Lectionary. You will encounter texts from the Psalms, the Prophets, and the New Testament as well as formal prayers.
Source: the Revised Common Lectionary Year A
(Note. If you desire to read these passages in a different version of the Bible, this link will provide all the readings for week 6 in ESV in Bible Gateway where you may also choose other versions of these passages.)
Genesis 29:15-28
29:15 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Because you are my kinsman, should you therefore serve me for nothing? Tell me, what shall your wages be?”29:16 Now Laban had two daughters; the name of the elder was Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel.
29:17 Leah’s eyes were lovely, and Rachel was graceful and beautiful.
29:18 Jacob loved Rachel; so he said, “I will serve you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel.”
29:19 Laban said, “It is better that I give her to you than that I should give her to any other man; stay with me.”
29:20 So Jacob served seven years for Rachel, and they seemed to him but a few days because of the love he had for her.
29:21 Then Jacob said to Laban, “Give me my wife that I may go in to her, for my time is completed.”
29:22 So Laban gathered together all the people of the place, and made a feast.
29:23 But in the evening he took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob; and he went in to her.
29:24 (Laban gave his maid Zilpah to his daughter Leah to be her maid.)
29:25 When morning came, it was Leah! And Jacob said to Laban, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?”
29:26 Laban said, “This is not done in our country–giving the younger before the firstborn.
29:27 Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years.”
29:28 Jacob did so, and completed her week; then Laban gave him his daughter Rachel as a wife.
Psalm 105:1-11, 45b
105:1 O give thanks to the LORD, call on his name, make known his deeds among the peoples.105:2 Sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wonderful works.
105:3 Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
105:4 Seek the LORD and his strength; seek his presence continually.
105:5 Remember the wonderful works he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he uttered,
105:6 O offspring of his servant Abraham, children of Jacob, his chosen ones.
105:7 He is the LORD our God; his judgments are in all the earth.
105:8 He is mindful of his covenant forever, of the word that he commanded, for a thousand generations,
105:9 the covenant that he made with Abraham, his sworn promise to Isaac,
105:10 which he confirmed to Jacob as a statute, to Israel as an everlasting covenant,
105:11 saying, “To you I will give the land of Canaan as your portion for an inheritance.”
105:45b Praise the LORD!
Psalm 128
128:1 Happy is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in his ways.128:2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands; you shall be happy, and it shall go well with you.
128:3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table.
128:4 Thus shall the man be blessed who fears the LORD.
128:5 The LORD bless you from Zion. May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.
128:6 May you see your children’s children. Peace be upon Israel!
Application: Today’s passage in Genesis describes Laban giving his beautiful and youngest daughter as wages for Jacob’s excellent work. As an unexpected bonus, Laban awarded Jacob his oldest daughter first. It was not a pleasant surprise. Here is an artist’s depiction of the scene where Jacob confronts Laban.
Have you had a similar unpleasant surprise? When you read the above Psalms, ask God to change your perspective about your situation.
