a thread opens
Listen to me, O Jacob and Israel, my called; I am he; I am the first, I also am the last.
The Vigil
Today’s scroll, one verse at a time — each linked to the last by the cross-references rather than by any model of you. The same vigil for everyone, and a different one tomorrow.
Thus says the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God.
from Isaiah 48:12
Produce your cause, says the LORD; bring forth your strong reasons, says the King of Jacob.
from Isaiah 44:6 · a strong link
Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!
from Isaiah 41:21
Surely I would speak to the Almighty, and I desire to reason with God.
from Job 23:3
If he will contend with him, he cannot answer him one of a thousand.
from Job 13:3
a thread opens
As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.
from I Corinthians 8:4
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
from Ephesians 4:6
And hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given to us.
from Ephesians 3:17
For this reason I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him for that day.
from Romans 5:5
a thread opens
By this we perceive the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
Who have for my life laid down their own necks: to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
from I John 3:16
And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.
from Romans 16:4
Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
from Acts 16:5 · a strong link
a thread opens
But the anointing which you have received of him remains in you, and you need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it has taught you, you shall remain in him.
But the Helper, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatever I have said to you.
from I John 2:27 · a strong link
He therefore that despises, despises not man, but God, who has also given to us his holy Spirit.
from John 14:26
And he that keeps his commandments dwells in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he remains in us, by the Spirit which he has given us.
from I Thessalonians 4:8 · a strong link
He that has my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
from I John 3:24
But he said, Yes rather, blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it.
from John 14:21 · a strong link
Praise the LORD. Blessed is the man that fears the LORD, that delights greatly in his commandments.
from Luke 11:28 · a strong link
a thread opens
And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, varieties of tongues.
Take heed therefore to yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he has purchased with his own blood.
from I Corinthians 12:28
And they sang a new song, saying, You are worthy to take the book, and to open its seals: for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
from Acts 20:28
And I saw, and, look, in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
from Revelation of John 5:9 · a strong link
But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
from I Peter 1:19
a thread opens
I know also, my God, that you try the heart, and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy your people, who are present here, to offer willingly to you.
You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you that believe:
from I Chronicles 29:17
Neither as domineering over God’s heritage, but being examples to the flock.
from I Thessalonians 2:10
The diseased have you not strengthened, neither have you healed that which was sick, neither have you bound up that which was broken, neither have you brought again that which was driven away, neither have you sought that which was lost; but with force and with cruelty have you ruled them.
from I Peter 5:3 · a strong link
And the LORD said to me, Take to you yet the instruments of a foolish shepherd.
from Ezekiel 34:4
a thread opens
Clean out therefore the old leaven, so that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us:
The next day John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.
from I Corinthians 5:7
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
from John 1:29
But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
from I John 4:10
That is the whole thread.
Every verse the cross-references reach from Isaiah 48:12 along this chain. Today’s own vigil is laid separately.
Each verse follows the one before it along the chain a study Bible draws — a century old, public, and compiled by people arguing about Scripture rather than about how long you stay. Every card says which verse it came from and opens the chapter it belongs to. Today’s vigil is the same for every reader and is worked out from the date alone, so there is no account, no counter, and nothing stored in your browser or ours.
The text is the Lantern Modern Standard. The links are openbible.info’s cross-reference set (CC BY), the same apparatus behind the reader’s Echoes drawer. Read a whole book · Today’s table