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Malachi
3:1-4
Psalm 84
Hebrews 2:14-18
Luke 2:22-40
Malachi
3:1-4
1: "Behold, I send my messenger to prepare the way before me,
and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; the
messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is
coming, says the LORD of hosts.
2: But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand
when he appears? "For he is like a refiner's fire and like
fullers' soap;
3: he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will
purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, till
they present right offerings to the LORD.
4: Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to
the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years.
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Psalm
84
1: How lovely is thy dwelling place, O LORD of hosts!
2: My soul longs, yea, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart
and flesh sing for joy to the living God.
3: Even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for
herself, where she may lay her young, at thy altars, O LORD of
hosts, my King and my God.
4: Blessed are those who dwell in thy house, ever singing thy
praise! [Selah]
5: Blessed are the men whose strength is in thee, in whose heart
are the highways to Zion.
6: As they go through the valley of Baca they make it a place of
springs; the early rain also covers it with pools.
7: They go from strength to strength; the God of gods will be seen
in Zion.
8: O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob!
[Selah]
9: Behold our shield, O God; look upon the face of thine anointed!
10: For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I
would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in
the tents of wickedness.
11: For the LORD God is a sun and shield; he bestows favor and
honor. No good thing does the LORD withhold from those who walk
uprightly.
12: O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in thee!
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Hebrews
2:14-18
14: Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he
himself likewise partook of the same nature, that through death he
might destroy him who has the power of death, that is, the devil,
15: and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject
to lifelong bondage.
16: For surely it is not with angels that he is concerned but with
the descendants of Abraham.
17: Therefore he had to be made like his brethren in every
respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high
priest in the service of God, to make expiation for the sins of
the people.
18: For because he himself has suffered and been tempted, he is
able to help those who are tempted.
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Luke
2:22-40
22:
And when the time came for their purification according to the law
of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the
Lord
23: (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male
that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord")
24: and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law
of the Lord, "a pair of turtledoves, or two young
pigeons."
25: Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and
this man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of
Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.
26: And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he
should not see death before he had seen the Lord's Christ.
27: And inspired by the Spirit he came into the temple; and when
the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him according to
the custom of the law,
28: he took him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
29: "Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace,
according to thy word;
30: for mine eyes have seen thy salvation
31: which thou hast prepared in the presence of all peoples,
32: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to thy
people Israel."
33: And his father and his mother marveled at what was said about
him;
34: and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother,
"Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising of many in
Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against
35: (and a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that
thoughts out of many hearts may be revealed."
36: And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phan'u-el,
of the tribe of Asher; she was of a great age, having lived with
her husband seven years from her virginity,
37: and as a widow till she was eighty-four. She did not depart
from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.
38: And coming up at that very hour she gave thanks to God, and
spoke of him to all who were looking for the redemption of
Jerusalem.
39: And when they had performed everything according to the law of
the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.
40: And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and
the favor of God was upon him.
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