Bible Readings for July 17, 2015

Today our passages are 1 Chronicles 24:1–26:11; Romans 4:1-12; Psalm 13:1-6; and Proverbs 19:15-16. The readings are from the Contemporary English Version. 

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1 Chronicles 24-26:11 (Contemporary English Version)

1 Chronicles 24

David Assigns the Priests Their Duties

 ¹Aaron's descendants were then divided into work groups. Aaron had four sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. ²But Nadab and Abihu died long before their father, without having any sons. That's why Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.     ³David divided Aaron's descendants into groups, according to their assigned work. Zadok, one of Eleazar's descendants, and Ahimelech, one of Ithamar's descendants, helped David.
    ⁴Eleazar's descendants were divided into sixteen groups, and Ithamar's were divided into eight groups, because Eleazar's family included more family leaders. ⁵However, both families included temple officials and priests, and so to make sure the work was divided fairly, David asked God what to do. ^[a] ⁶As each group was assigned their duties, Shemaiah the son of Nethanel the Levite wrote down the name of the family leader in charge of that group. The witnesses were David and his officials, as well as Zadok the priest, Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the family leaders from the clans of the priests and the Levites.
    ^7-18Each group of priests went by the name of its family leader, and they were assigned their duties in the following order: Jehoiarib, Jedaiah, Harim, Seorim, Malchijah, Mijamin, Hakkoz, Abijah, Jeshua, Shecaniah, Eliashib, Jakim, Huppah, Jeshebeab, Bilgah, Immer, Hezir, Happizzez, Pethahiah, Jehezkel, Jachin, Gamul, Delaiah, Maaziah. ¹⁹These men were assigned their duties at the temple, just as the LORD God of Israel had commanded their ancestor Aaron.
   

The Rest of the Levites Are Assigned Their Duties

 ²⁰Here is a list of the other descendants of Levi:    Amram was the ancestor of Shubael and Jehdeiah.
    ²¹Rehabiah was the ancestor of Isshiah, the oldest son in his family.
    ²²Izhar was the father of Shelomoth and the grandfather of Jahath.
    ²³Hebron had four sons, in the following order: Jeriah, Amariah, Jahaziel, and Jekameam.
    ²⁴Uzziel was the father of Micah and the grandfather of Shamir.
    ²⁵Isshiah, Micah's brother, was the father of Zechariah.
    ²⁶Merari was the father of Mahli, Mushi, and Jaaziah.
    ²⁷Jaaziah had three sons: Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri. ^[b] ^28-29Mahli was the father of Eleazar and Kish. Eleazar had no sons, but Kish was the father of Jerahmeel. ³⁰Mushi had three sons: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the descendants of Levi, according to their clans. ³¹Each one was assigned his duties in the same way that their relatives the priests had been assigned their duties. David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the family leaders of the priests and Levites were the witnesses.
   

1 Chronicles 25

David Assigns the Temple Musicians Their Duties

 ¹David and the temple officials chose the descendants of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to be in charge of music. They were to praise the LORD by playing cymbals, harps and other stringed instruments. Here is a list of the musicians and their duties:     ²Asaph's four sons, Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah, were under the direction of their father and played music whenever the king told them to.
    ³Jeduthun's six sons, Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, ^[c] Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, were under the direction of their father and played harps and sang praises to the LORD. ⁴Heman had fourteen sons: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamtiezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, Mahazioth. ⁵Heman was one of the king's prophets, and God honored Heman by giving him fourteen sons and three daughters. ⁶His sons were under his direction and played cymbals, harps, and other stringed instruments during times of worship at the temple.
   Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman took their orders directly from the king.
    ⁷There were two hundred eighty-eight of these men, and all of them were skilled musicians. ⁸David assigned them their duties by asking the LORD what he wanted. ^[d] Everyone was responsible for something, whether young or old, teacher or student. ^9-31The musicians were divided into twenty-four groups of twelve, and each group went by the name of their family leader. They were assigned their duties in the following order: Joseph, Gedaliah, Zaccur, Zeri, Nethaniah, Bukkiah, Asarelah, Jeshaiah, Mattaniah, Shimei, Uzziel, Hashabiah, Shebuel, Mattithiah, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Joshbekashah, Hanani, Mallothi, Eliathah, Hothir, Giddalti, Mahazioth, and Romamtiezer.
   

1 Chronicles 26

The Temple Guards Are Assigned Their Duties

 ¹The temple guards were also divided into groups according to clans.    Meshelemiah son of Kore was from the Korah clan and was a descendant of Asaph. ²He had seven sons, who were born in the following order: Zechariah, Jediael, Zebadiah, Jathniel, ³Elam, Jehohanan, and Eliehoenai.
    ^4-5Obed-Edom had been blessed with eight sons: Shemaiah, Jehozabad, Joah, Sachar, Nethanel, Ammiel, Issachar, and Peullethai.
    ^6-7Shemaiah was the father of Othni, Rephael, Obed, Elzabad, Elihu, and Semachiah. They were all respected leaders in their clan. ⁸There were sixty-two descendants of Obed-Edom who were strong enough to be guards at the temple.
    ⁹Eighteen descendants of Meshelemiah were chosen for this work.
    ^10-11Hosah, from the Merari clan, was the father of Shimri, Hilkiah, Tebaliah, and Zechariah. Hosah had made Shimri the family leader, even though he was not the oldest son. Thirteen men from Hosah's family were chosen to be temple guards.
   

Footnotes:

1. 1 Chronicles 24:5 asked God what to do: The Hebrew text has "cast lots" (see the note at 6.65).
2. 1 Chronicles 24:27 Ibri: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text of verses 26,27.
3. 1 Chronicles 25:3 Shimei: One Hebrew manuscript and two ancient translations; other Hebrew manuscripts do not have this name.
4. 1 Chronicles 25:8 asking the LORD what he wanted: The Hebrew text has "casting lots" (see the note at 6.65).

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Romans 4:1-12 (Contemporary English Version)

Romans 4

The Example of Abraham

 ¹Well then, what can we say about our ancestor Abraham? ²If he became acceptable to God because of what he did, then he would have something to brag about. But he would never be able to brag about it to God. ³The Scriptures say, "God accepted Abraham because Abraham had faith in him."     ⁴Money paid to workers isn't a gift. It is something they earn by working. ⁵But you cannot make God accept you because of something you do. God accepts sinners only because they have faith in him. ⁶In the Scriptures David talks about the blessings that come to people who are acceptable to God, even though they don't do anything to deserve these blessings. David says,
    ⁷"God blesses people
   whose sins are forgiven
   and whose evil deeds
   are forgotten.
    ⁸The Lord blesses people
   whose sins are erased
   from his book."
    ⁹Are these blessings meant for circumcised people or for those who are not circumcised? Well, the Scriptures say that God accepted Abraham because Abraham had faith in him. ¹⁰But when did this happen? Was it before or after Abraham was circumcised? Of course, it was before.
    ¹¹Abraham let himself be circumcised to show that he had been accepted because of his faith even before he was circumcised. This makes Abraham the father of all who are acceptable to God because of their faith, even though they are not circumcised. ¹²This also makes Abraham the father of everyone who is circumcised and has faith in God, as Abraham did before he was circumcised.

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Psalm 13:1-6 (Contemporary English Version)

Psalm 13

(A psalm by David for the music leader.)

A Prayer for the LORD's Help

 ¹How much longer, LORD,    will you forget about me?
   Will it be forever?
   How long will you hide?
    ²How long must I be confused
   and miserable all day?
   How long will my enemies
   keep beating me down?
    ³Please listen, LORD God,
   and answer my prayers.
   Make my eyes sparkle again,
   or else I will fall
   into the sleep of death.
    ⁴My enemies will say,
   "Now we've won!"
   They will be greatly pleased
   when I am defeated.
    ⁵I trust your love,
   and I feel like celebrating
   because you rescued me.
    ⁶You have been good to me, LORD,
   and I will sing about you.

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Proverbs 19:15-16 (Contemporary English Version)

¹⁵If you are lazy
   and sleep your time away,
   you will starve.
    ¹⁶Obey the Lord's teachings
   and you will live--
   disobey and you will die.

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Verse of the Day

“[The Power of the Good News]I am proud of the good news! It is God's powerful way of saving all people who have faith, whether they are Jews or Gentiles.” - Romans 1:16

Today's passage is from the Contemporary English Version.

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Thought for the Day

 

American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist, Langston Hughes wrote, “Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken-winged bird that cannot fly.”