Today our passages are Nehemiah 11:1 - 12:26; 1 Corinthians 10:14-11:2; Psalm 34:11-22; and Proverbs 21:14-16. The readings are from the Contemporary English Version. If you find these readings helpful, please consider sending an offering directly to Cove Presbyterian Church, 3404 Main Steet, Weirton, West Virginia or through PayPal by using the link below.
Nehemiah 11-12:26 (Contemporary English Version)
Nehemiah 11
People Who Settled in Jerusalem
1The nation's leaders and their families settled in Jerusalem. But there was room for only one out of every ten of the remaining families, and so they asked God to show them [a] who would live there. 2Then everyone else asked God to bless those who were willing to live in Jerusalem. 3Some of the people of Israel, the priests, the Levites, the temple workers, and the descendants of Solomon's servants lived on their own property in the towns of Judah. But the leaders of the province lived in Jerusalem with their families.The Judah Tribe
4-6From the Judah tribe, two leaders settled in Jerusalem with their relatives. One of them was Athaiah son of Uzziah. His ancestors were Zechariah, Amariah, Shephatiah, Mahalalel, and Perez, the son of Judah. From the descendants of Perez, four hundred sixty-eight of the best men lived in Jerusalem.
The other leader from Judah was Maaseiah the
son of Baruch. His ancestors were Colhozeh, Hazaiah, Adaiah, Joiarib, Zechariah,
and Shelah, the son of Judah.
The Benjamin Tribe
7-8From the Benjamin tribe, three leaders settled in Jerusalem. The first was Sallu son of Meshullam, and the others were Gabbai and Sallai. Sallu's ancestors were Joed, Pedaiah, Kolaiah, Maaseiah, Ithiel, and Jeshaiah. Altogether, there were nine hundred twenty-eight men of the Benjamin tribe living in Jerusalem. 9Joel son of Zichri was their leader, and Judah son of Hassenuah was second in command.Priests
10Four priests settled in Jerusalem. The first was Jedaiah; he was the son of Joiarib and the uncle of Jachin. [b] 11The second priest to settle there was Seraiah son of Hilkiah. His ancestors were Meshullam, Zadok, Meraioth, and Ahitub, who had been a high priest. 12Altogether, there were eight hundred twenty-two from his clan who served in the temple.
The third priest to settle there was Adaiah
son of Jeroham. His ancestors were Pelaliah, Amzi, Zechariah, Pashhur, and
Malchijah. 13Altogether, there were two
hundred forty-two clan leaders among his relatives.
The fourth priest to settle there was Amashsai
son of Azarel. His ancestors were Ahzai, Meshillemoth, and Immer. 14Altogether, there were one hundred
twenty-eight brave warriors from their clans, and their leader was Zabdiel son
of Haggedolim.
Levites
15Several Levites settled in Jerusalem. First, there was Shemaiah son of Hasshub. His ancestors were Azrikam, Hashabiah, and Bunni.
16Next, there were Shabbethai and Jozabad, who were in
charge of the work outside the temple.
17Then there was Mattaniah son of Mica. His ancestors were
Zabdi and Asaph. Mattaniah led the temple choir in the prayer of praise.
Bakbukiah, who also settled in Jerusalem, was his assistant.
Finally, there was Abda son of Shammua; his
grandfather was Galal, and his great-grandfather was Jeduthun.
18Altogether, two hundred eighty-four Levites settled in
the holy city.
Temple Guards and Others
19One hundred seventy-two temple guards settled in Jerusalem; their leaders were Akkub and Talmon.
20The rest of the Israelites, including priests and
Levites, lived on their own property in the other towns of Judah. 21But the temple workers lived in the
section of Jerusalem known as Ophel, and the two men in charge of them were Ziha
and Gishpa.
22Uzzi son of Bani was the leader of the Levites in
Jerusalem. His grandfather was Hashabiah, his great-grandfather was Mattaniah,
and his great-great-grandfather was Mica. He belonged to the Asaph clan that was
in charge of the music for the temple services, 23though the daily choice of music and musicians was
decided by royal decree of the Persian king.
24The people of Israel were represented at the Persian
court by Pethahiah son of Meshezabel from the Zerah clan of the Judah tribe.
The People in the Other Towns and Villages
25Some of the people of Judah lived in the following towns near their farms: Kiriath-Arba, Dibon, Jekabzeel, 26Jeshua, Moladah, Beth-Pelet, 27Hazar-Shual, Beersheba, 28Ziklag, Meconah, 29Enrimmon, Zorah, Jarmuth, 30Zanoah, Adullam, Lachish, and Azekah. In fact, they settled the towns from Beersheba in the south to Hinnom Valley in the north.
31The people of Benjamin lived in the towns of Geba,
Michmash, Aija, Bethel with its nearby villages, 32Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah, 33Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim, 34Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat, 35Lod, and Ono, as well as in Craft Valley. 36Several groups of Levites from the
territory of Judah were sent to live among the people of Benjamin.
Nehemiah 12
A List of Priests and Levites
1Many priests and Levites had returned from Babylonia with Zerubbabel [c] and Joshua as their leaders. Those priests were Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra, 2Amariah, Malluch, Hattush, 3Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth, 4Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah, 5Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah, 6Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah, 7Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, and another Jedaiah. These were the leading priests and their assistants during the time of Joshua. [d] 8The Levites who returned were Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah. They and their assistants were responsible for the songs of praise, 9while Bakbukiah and Unno, together with their assistants, were responsible for the choral responses.Descendants of Joshua the High Priest
10Joshua was the father of Joiakim, the grandfather of Eliashib, and the great-grandfather of Joiada. 11Joiada was the father of Jonathan and the grandfather of Jaddua.Leaders of the Priestly Clans
12When Joiakim was high priest, the following priests were leaders of their clans: Meraiah of the Seraiah clan, Hananiah of Jeremiah, 13Meshullam of Ezra, Jehohanan of Amariah, 14Jonathan of Malluchi, Joseph of Shebaniah, 15Adna of Harim, Helkai of Meraioth, 16Zechariah of Iddo, Meshullam of Ginnethon, 17Zichri of Abijah, [e] Piltai of Moadiah, 18Shammua of Bilgah, Jehonathan of Shemaiah, 19Mattenai of Joiarib, Uzzi of Jedaiah, 20Kallai of Sallai, Eber of Amok, 21Hashabiah of Hilkiah, and Nethanel of Jedaiah.The Priestly and Levite Families
22During the time of the high priests Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua, and including the time that Darius was king of Persia, a record was kept of the heads of the Levite and priestly families. 23However, no official record was kept of the heads of the Levite clans after the death of Johanan, [f] the grandson of Eliashib. 24Hashabiah, Sherebiah, Jeshua son of Kadmiel, [g] and their assistants organized two choirs of Levites to offer praises to God, just as King David, the man of God, had commanded. 25Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were responsible for guarding the storerooms near the temple gates.
26All of these men lived during the time of Joiakim [h] and
during the time that I was governor and Ezra, a teacher of the Law of Moses, was
priest.
Footnotes:
- Nehemiah 11:1 asked God to show them: The Hebrew text has " cast lots." These were made of wood or stone and were thrown on the ground by a priest or official to find out how and when to do something.
- Nehemiah 11:10 son of Joiarib and the uncle of Jachin: See 1 Chronicles 9.10-12; the Hebrew text has " son of Joiarib, Jachin."
- Nehemiah 12:1 Zerubbabel: Hebrew " Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel."
- Nehemiah 12:7 Joshua: Joshua the high priest and friend of Zerubbabel (see verse 1 and Haggai 1.1; 2.2).
- Nehemiah 12:17 of Abijah: The Hebrew text adds " . . . of Miniamin."
- Nehemiah 12:23 death of Johanan: Probably between 408 and 405 B.C., when Darius II died.
- Nehemiah 12:24 son of Kadmiel: Or possibly " Binnui, Kadmiel" (see 10.9; 12.8).
- Nehemiah 12:26 Joiakim: Hebrew " Joiakim son of Joshua son of Jozadak."
1 Corinthians 10:14-11:2 (Contemporary English Version)
14My
friends, you must keep away from idols. 15I am speaking to you as people who have enough sense to
know what I am talking about. 16When
we drink from the cup that we ask God to bless, isn't that sharing in the blood
of Christ? When we eat the bread that we break, isn't that sharing in the body
of Christ? 17By sharing in the same
loaf of bread, we become one body, even though there are many of us.
18Aren't the people of Israel sharing in the worship when they gather around the altar and eat the sacrifices offered there? 19Am I saying that either the idols or the food sacrificed to them is anything at all? 20No, I am not! That food is really sacrificed to demons and not to God. I don't want you to have anything to do with demons. 21You cannot drink from the cup of demons and still drink from the Lord's cup. You cannot eat at the table of demons and still eat at the Lord's table. 22We would make the Lord jealous if we did that. And we are not stronger than the Lord.
31When you eat or drink or do anything else, always do it to honor God. 32Don't cause problems for Jews or Greeks or anyone else who belongs to God's church. 33I always try to please others instead of myself, in the hope that many of them will be saved.
18Aren't the people of Israel sharing in the worship when they gather around the altar and eat the sacrifices offered there? 19Am I saying that either the idols or the food sacrificed to them is anything at all? 20No, I am not! That food is really sacrificed to demons and not to God. I don't want you to have anything to do with demons. 21You cannot drink from the cup of demons and still drink from the Lord's cup. You cannot eat at the table of demons and still eat at the Lord's table. 22We would make the Lord jealous if we did that. And we are not stronger than the Lord.
Always Honor God
23Some of you say, "We can do whatever we want to!" But I tell you that not everything may be good or helpful. 24We should think about others and not about ourselves. 25However, when you buy meat in the market, go ahead and eat it. Keep your conscience clear by not asking where the meat came from. 26The Scriptures say, "The earth and everything in it belong to the Lord." 27If an unbeliever invites you to dinner, and you want to go, then go. Eat whatever you are served. Don't cause a problem for someone's conscience by asking where the food came from. 28-29But if you are told that it has been sacrificed to idols, don't cause a problem by eating it. I don't mean a problem for yourself, but for the one who told you. Why should my freedom be limited by someone else's conscience? 30If I give thanks for what I eat, why should anyone accuse me of doing wrong?31When you eat or drink or do anything else, always do it to honor God. 32Don't cause problems for Jews or Greeks or anyone else who belongs to God's church. 33I always try to please others instead of myself, in the hope that many of them will be saved.
1 Corinthians 11
1You must follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.Rules for Worship
2I am proud of you, because you always remember me and obey the teachings I gave you.Psalm 34:11-22 (Contemporary English Version)
11Come,
my children, listen
as I teach you
to respect the LORD.
12Do you want to live
and enjoy a long life?
13Then don't say cruel things
and don't tell lies.
14Do good instead of evil
and try to live at peace.
15If you obey the LORD,
he will watch over you
and answer your prayers.
16But God despises evil people,
and he will wipe them all
from the earth,
till they are forgotten.
17When his people pray for help,
he listens and rescues them
from their troubles.
18The LORD is there to rescue
all
who are discouraged
and have given up hope.
19The LORD's people
may suffer a lot,
but he will always
bring them safely through.
20Not one of their bones
will ever be broken.
21Wicked people are killed
by their own evil deeds,
and if you hate God's people
you will be punished.
22The LORD saves the lives
of his servants.
Run to him for protection,
and you won't be punished.
Proverbs 21:14-16 (Contemporary English Version)
14A
secret bribe will save you
from someone's fierce anger.
15When justice is done,
good citizens are glad
and crooks are terrified.
16If you stop using good sense,
you will find yourself
in the grave.
My friends, God has made us these promises. So we
should stay away from everything that keeps our bodies and spirits from being
clean. We should honor God and try to be completely like him. (2 Corinthians 7:1
CEV - Today's
passage is from the Contemporary English Version.)
Thought for the Day
French philosopher and moralist, Jean de La Bruyère wrote, “Lofty posts make great men greater still, and small men much smaller.”
A Joke for Today
An old guy was working out in the gym when he spotted a sweet young thing.
He asked the trainer that was near by, "What machine in here should I use to impress that sweet thing over there?"
The trainer looked him up and down and said, "I think you should try the ATM in the lobby."
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