Read the Bible in a Year
Each day, we'll post passages so that you can read the Bible in one year. This is part of The Colossians 13:16 Project, sponsored by Cove Presbyterian Church, 3404 Main Street, Weirton, West Virginia. You're invited to worship with us Sundays, at 11:00 a.m. or Saturdays, at 6:30 p.m. You may also want to consider joining one our adult Bible Studies: Thursdays at 12:00 noon and Sundays at 9:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. We also have a full range of programs for children. If you want more information about the church, check out the other blogs. And please feel free to leave any comments.
The Bible in a Year is a ministry of Cove Presbyterian Church. We need your support to keep posting. If you find it helpful, you can support this blog by your contributions. They may be sent to Cove Presbyterian Church, 3404 Main Street, Weirton, WV 26062. You can also use the PayPal link below:
Today our passages are 1 Kings
3:4–4:34; Acts 6:1-15; Psalm 126:1-6; and Proverbs 16:26-27. The readings are
the Contemporary
English Version.
1 Kings
3:4-4:34 (Contemporary English Version)
4The
most important shrine was in Gibeon, and Solomon had offered more than a
thousand sacrifices on that altar.
5One
night while Solomon was in Gibeon, the LORD God appeared to him in a dream and
said, "Solomon, ask for anything you want, and I will give it to you."
6Solomon answered:
My father David, your servant, was honest and
did what you commanded. You were always loyal to him, and you gave him a son who
is now king. 7LORD God, I'm your
servant, and you've made me king in my father's place. But I'm very young and
know so little about being a leader. 8And now I must rule your chosen people, even though there
are too many of them to count.
9Please make me wise and teach me the difference between
right and wrong. Then I will know how to rule your people. If you don't, there
is no way I could rule this great nation of yours.
10-11God said:
Solomon, I'm pleased that you asked for this.
You could have asked to live a long time or to be rich. Or you could have asked
for your enemies to be destroyed. Instead, you asked for wisdom to make right
decisions. 12So I'll make you wiser
than anyone who has ever lived or ever will live.
13I'll also give you what you didn't ask for. You'll be
rich and respected as long as you live, and you'll be greater than any other
king. 14If you obey me and follow my
commands, as your father David did, I'll let you live a long time.
15Solomon woke up and realized that God had spoken to him
in the dream. He went back to Jerusalem and stood in front of the sacred chest,
where he offered sacrifices to please the Lord
and sacrifices to ask his blessing.
Then Solomon gave a feast for his officials.
Solomon Makes a Difficult
Decision
16One day two women
came to King Solomon, 17and one of them
said: Your Majesty, this woman and I live in the same house. Not long ago my
baby was born at home, 18and three days
later her baby was born. Nobody else was there with us.
19One night while we were all asleep, she rolled over on
her baby, and he died. 20Then while I
was still asleep, she got up and took my son out of my bed. She put him in her
bed, then she put her dead baby next to me.
21In
the morning when I got up to feed my son, I saw that he was dead. But when I
looked at him in the light, I knew he wasn't my son.
22"No!" the other woman shouted. "He was your son. My baby
is alive!"
"The dead baby is yours," the first woman
yelled. "Mine is alive!"
They argued back and forth in front of
Solomon, 23until finally he said, "Both
of you say this live baby is yours. 24Someone bring me a sword."
A sword was brought, and Solomon ordered, 25"Cut the baby in half! That way each of
you can have part of him."
26"Please don't kill my son," the baby's mother screamed.
"Your Majesty, I love him very much, but give him to her. Just don't kill him."
The other woman shouted, "Go ahead and cut him
in half. Then neither of us will have the baby."
27Solomon said, "Don't kill the baby." Then he pointed to
the first woman, "She is his real mother. Give the baby to her."
28Everyone in Israel was amazed when they heard how Solomon
had made his decision. They realized that God had given him wisdom to judge
fairly.
1 Kings 4
Solomon's Officials
1-6Here is a
list of Solomon's highest officials while he was king of Israel:
Azariah son of Zadok was the priest;
Elihoreph and Ahijah sons of Shisha were the
secretaries;
Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud kept the government
records;
Benaiah son of Jehoiada was the army
commander;
Zadok and Abiathar were priests;
Azariah son of Nathan was in charge of the
regional officers;
Zabud son of Nathan was a priest and the
king's advisor;
Ahishar was the prime minister;
Adoniram son of Abda was in charge of the
forced labor.
7Solomon chose twelve regional officers, who took turns
bringing food for him and his household. Each officer provided food from his
region for one month of the year. 8These were the twelve officers:
The son of Hur was in charge of the hill
country of Ephraim.
9The
son of Deker was in charge of the towns of Makaz, Shaalbim, Beth-Shemesh, and
Elon-Beth-Hanan.
10The son of Hesed was in charge of the towns of Arubboth
and Socoh, and the region of Hepher.
11The son of Abinadab was in charge of Naphath-Dor and was
married to Solomon's daughter Taphath.
12Baana son of Ahilud was in charge of the towns of Taanach
and Megiddo. He was also in charge of the whole region of Beth-Shan near the
town of Zarethan, south of Jezreel from Beth-Shan to Abel-Meholah to the other
side of Jokmeam.
13The son of Geber was in charge of the town of Ramoth in
Gilead and the villages in Gilead belonging to the family of Jair, a descendant
of Manasseh. He was also in charge of the region of Argob in Bashan, which had
sixty walled towns with bronze bars on their gates.
14Ahinadab son of Iddo was in charge of the territory of
Mahanaim.
15Ahimaaz was in charge of the territory of Naphtali and
was married to Solomon's daughter Basemath.
16Baana son of Hushai was in charge of the territory of
Asher and the town of Bealoth.
17Jehoshaphat son of Paruah was in charge of the territory
of Issachar.
18Shimei son of Ela was in charge of the territory of
Benjamin.
19Geber son of Uri was in charge of Gilead, where King
Sihon of the Amorites and King Og of Bashan had lived.
And one officer was in charge of the territory
of Judah.
The Size of Solomon's Kingdom
20There were so
many people living in Judah and Israel while Solomon was king that they seemed
like grains of sand on a beach. Everyone had enough to eat and drink, and they
were happy.
21Solomon ruled every kingdom between the Euphrates River
and the land of the Philistines down to Egypt. These kingdoms paid him taxes as
long as he lived.
22Every day, Solomon needed one hundred fifty bushels of
fine flour, three hundred bushels of coarsely-ground flour, 23ten grain-fed cattle, twenty pasture-fed cattle, one
hundred sheep, as well as deer, gazelles, and geese.
24Solomon ruled the whole region west of the Euphrates
River, from Tiphsah to Gaza, and he was at peace with all of the countries
around him. 25Everyone living in
Israel, from the town of Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south, was safe as
long as Solomon lived. Each family sat undisturbed beneath its own grape vines
and fig trees.
26Solomon had forty thousand stalls of chariot horses and
twelve thousand chariot soldiers.
27Each of the twelve regional officers brought food to
Solomon and his household for one month of the year. They provided everything he
needed, 28as well as barley and straw
for the horses.
Solomon's Wisdom
29Solomon was
brilliant. God had blessed him with insight and understanding. 30-31He was wiser than anyone else in the
world, including the wisest people of the east and of Egypt. He was even wiser
than Ethan the Ezrahite, and Mahol's three sons, Heman, Calcol, and Darda.
Solomon became famous in every country around Judah and Israel. 32Solomon wrote three thousand wise sayings
and composed more than one thousand songs. 33He could talk about all kinds of plants, from large trees
to small bushes, and he taught about animals, birds, reptiles, and fish. 34Kings all over the world heard about
Solomon's wisdom and sent people to listen to him teach.
Acts 6:1-15 (Contemporary
English Version)
Acts 6
Seven Leaders for the Church
1A lot of
people were now becoming followers of the Lord. But some of the ones who spoke
Greek started complaining about the ones who spoke Aramaic. They complained that
the Greek-speaking widows were not given their share when the food supplies were
handed out each day.
2The twelve apostles called the whole group of followers
together and said, "We should not give up preaching God's message in order to
serve at tables.
3My friends, choose seven men who are
respected and wise and filled with God's Spirit. We will put them in charge of
these things. 4We can spend our time
praying and serving God by preaching." 5This suggestion pleased everyone, and they began by
choosing Stephen. He had great faith and was filled with the Holy Spirit. Then
they chose Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and also Nicolaus, who
worshiped with the Jewish people
in Antioch. 6These men were brought to
the apostles. Then the apostles prayed and placed their hands on the men to show
that they had been chosen to do this work. 7God's message spread, and many more people in Jerusalem
became followers. Even a large number of priests put their faith in the Lord.
Stephen Is Arrested
8God gave
Stephen the power to work great miracles and wonders among the people. 9But some Jews from Cyrene and Alexandria
were members of a group who called themselves "Free Men."
They started arguing with Stephen. Some others from Cilicia and Asia also argued
with him. 10But they were no match for
Stephen, who spoke with the great wisdom that the Spirit gave him. 11So they talked some men into saying, "We
heard Stephen say terrible things against Moses and God!" 12They turned the people and their leaders and the teachers
of the Law of Moses against Stephen. Then they all grabbed Stephen and dragged
him in front of the council.
13Some men agreed to tell lies about Stephen, and they
said, "This man keeps on saying terrible things about this holy temple and the
Law of Moses. 14We have heard him
claim that Jesus from Nazareth will destroy this place and change the customs
that Moses gave us." 15Then all the
council members stared at Stephen. They saw that his face looked like the face
of an angel.
Psalm 126:1-6 (Contemporary
English Version)
Psalm 126
(A song for worship.)
Celebrating the Harvest
1It seemed like
a dream
when the LORD brought us back
to the city of Zion.
2We celebrated with laughter
and joyful songs.
In foreign nations it was said,
"The LORD has worked miracles
for his people."
3And so we celebrated
because the LORD had indeed
worked miracles for us.
4Our LORD, we ask you to bless
our people again,
and let us be like streams
in the Southern Desert.
5We
cried as we went out
to plant our seeds.
Now let us celebrate
as we bring in the crops.
6We
cried on the way
to plant our seeds,
but we will celebrate and shout
as we bring in the crops.
Proverbs
16:26-27 (Contemporary English Version)
26The
hungrier you are,
the harder you work.
27Worthless people plan trouble.
Even their words burn
like a flaming fire.
Verse of the
Day
“The LORD gives me strength. He makes my feet as
sure as those of a deer, and he helps me stand on the mountains. To the music
director: Use stringed instruments.” - Habakkuk 3:19
Thought
for the Day
American humorist, journalist, and author, Don Marquis wrote, “An idea
isn't responsible for the people who believe in it.”
Today our passages are Genesis 11:1–13:4;
Matthew 5:1-26; Psalm 5:1-12; and Proverbs 1:24-28. The
readings are the Contemporary English Version.
Genesis 11-13:4 (Contemporary
English Version)
Genesis 11
The Tower of Babel
1At first everyone
spoke the same language, 2but after some
of them moved from the east
and settled in Babylonia, 3-4they said: Let's build a city with a tower
that reaches to the sky! We'll use hard bricks and tar instead of stone and
mortar. We'll become famous, and we won't be scattered all over the world.
5But when
the LORD came down to look at the city and the tower, 6he said:
These people are working together because they
all speak the same language. This is just the beginning. Soon they will be able
to do anything they want. 7Come on!
Let's go down and confuse them by making them speak different languages--then
they won't be able to understand each other.
8-9So the
people had to stop building the city, because the LORD confused their language
and scattered them all over the earth. That's how the city of Babel
got its name.
The Descendants of Shem
10-11Two years
after the flood, when Shem was one hundred, he had a son named Arpachshad. He
had more children and died at the age of six hundred. This is a list of his
descendants:
12When
Arpachshad was thirty-five, he had a son named Shelah. 13Arpachshad had more children and died at the age of four
hundred thirty-eight.
14When
Shelah was thirty, he had a son named Eber. 15Shelah had more children and died at the age of four
hundred thirty-three.
16When
Eber was thirty-four, he had a son named Peleg. 17Eber had more children and died at the age of four
hundred sixty-four.
18When
Peleg was thirty, he had a son named Reu. 19Peleg had more children and died at the age of two
hundred thirty-nine.
20When
Reu was thirty-two he had a son named Serug. 21Reu had more children and died at the age of two hundred
thirty-nine.
22When
Serug was thirty, he had a son named Nahor. 23Serug had more children and died at the age of two
hundred thirty.
24When
Nahor was twenty-nine, he had a son named Terah. 25Nahor had more children and died at the age of one
hundred forty-eight.
The Descendants of Terah
26-28After Terah
was seventy years old, he had three sons: Abram, Nahor, and Haran, who became
the father of Lot. Terah's sons were born in the city of Ur in Chaldea,
and Haran died there before the death of his father. The following is the story
of Terah's descendants. 29-30Abram
married Sarai, but she was not able to have any children. And Nahor married
Milcah, who was the daughter of Haran and the sister of Iscah.
31Terah
decided to move from Ur to the land of Canaan. He took along Abram and Sarai and
his grandson Lot, the son of Haran. But when they came to the city of Haran,
they decided to settle there instead. 32Terah lived to be two hundred five years old and died in
Haran.
Genesis 12
The LORD Chooses Abram
1The LORD said to
Abram:
Leave your country, your family, and your
relatives and go to the land that I will show you. 2I will bless you and make your descendants into a great
nation. You will become famous and be a blessing to others. 3I will bless anyone who blesses you, but I will put a
curse on anyone who puts a curse on you. Everyone on earth will be blessed
because of you. 4-5Abram was seventy-five years old when the
LORD told him to leave the city of Haran. He obeyed and left with his wife
Sarai, his nephew Lot, and all the possessions and slaves they had gotten while
in Haran.
When they came to the land of Canaan, 6Abram went as far as the sacred tree of
Moreh in a place called Shechem. The Canaanites were still living in the land at
that time, 7but the LORD appeared to
Abram and promised, "I will give this land to your family forever." Abram then
built an altar there for the LORD.
8Abram
traveled to the hill country east of Bethel and camped between Bethel and Ai,
where he built another altar and worshiped the LORD. 9Later, Abram started out toward the Southern Desert.
Abram in Egypt
10-11The crops
failed, and there was no food anywhere in the land. So Abram and his wife Sarai
went to live in Egypt for a while. But just before they got there, he said,
"Sarai, you are really beautiful! 12When
the Egyptians see how lovely you are, they will murder me because I am your
husband. But they won't kill you. 13Please save my life by saying that you are my sister."
14As soon
as Abram and Sarai arrived in Egypt, the Egyptians noticed how beautiful she
was. 15The king's
officials told him about her, and she was taken to his house. 16The king was good to Abram because of Sarai, and Abram
was given sheep, cattle, donkeys, slaves, and camels. 17Because of Sarai, the LORD struck the king and everyone
in his palace with terrible diseases. 18Finally, the king sent for Abram and said to him, "What
have you done to me? Why didn't you tell me Sarai was your wife? 19Why did you make me believe she was your
sister? Now I've married her. Take her and go! She's your wife."
20So the
king told his men to let Abram and Sarai take their possessions and leave.
Genesis 13
Abram and Lot Separate
1Abram and Sarai
took everything they owned and went to the Southern Desert. Lot went with them.
2Abram
was very rich. He owned many cattle, sheep, and goats, and had a lot of silver
and gold. 3Abram moved from place to
place in the Southern Desert. And finally, he went north and set up his tents
between Bethel and Ai, 4where he had
earlier camped and built an altar. There he worshiped the LORD.
Matthew 5:1-26 (Contemporary
English Version)
Matthew 5
The Sermon on the Mount
1When Jesus saw
the crowds, he went up on the side of a mountain and sat down.
Jesus' disciples gathered around him,
Blessings
(Luke 6.20-23)
2and he taught
them:
3God
blesses those people
who depend only on him.
They belong to the kingdom
of heaven! 4God blesses those people
who grieve.
They will find comfort!
5God
blesses those people
who are humble.
The earth will belong
to them!
6God
blesses those people
who want to obey him
more than to eat or drink.
They will be given
what they want!
7God
blesses those people
who are merciful.
They will be treated
with mercy!
8God
blesses those people
whose hearts are pure.
They will see him!
9God
blesses those people
who make peace.
They will be called
his children!
10God
blesses those people
who are treated badly
for doing right.
They belong to the kingdom
of heaven. 11God will bless you when people insult
you, mistreat you, and tell all kinds of evil lies about you because of me. 12Be happy and excited! You will have a
great reward in heaven. People did these same things to the prophets who lived
long ago.
Salt and Light
(Mark 9.50; Luke 14.34,35)
13You are like
salt for everyone on earth. But if salt no longer tastes like salt, how can it
make food salty? All it is good for is to be thrown out and walked on.
14You
are like light for the whole world. A city built on top of a hill cannot be
hidden, 15and no one would light a
lamp and put it under a clay pot. A lamp is placed on a lampstand, where it can
give light to everyone in the house. 16Make your light shine, so that others will see the good
that you do and will praise your Father in heaven.
The Law of Moses
17Don't suppose
that I came to do away with the Law and the Prophets.
I did not come to do away with them, but to give them their full meaning. 18Heaven and earth may disappear. But I
promise you that not even a period or comma will ever disappear from the Law.
Everything written in it must happen. 19If you reject even the least important command in the Law
and teach others to do the same, you will be the least important person in the
kingdom of heaven. But if you obey and teach others its commands, you will have
an important place in the kingdom. 20You must obey God's commands better than the Pharisees
and the teachers of the Law obey them. If you don't, I promise you that you will
never get into the kingdom of heaven.
Anger
21You know that
our ancestors were told, "Do not murder" and "A murderer must be brought to
trial." 22But I promise you that if
you are angry with someone,
you will have to stand trial. If you call someone a fool, you will be taken to
court. And if you say that someone is worthless, you will be in danger of the
fires of hell. 23So if you are about
to place your gift on the altar and remember that someone is angry with you,
24leave your gift there in front of
the altar. Make peace with that person, then come back and offer your gift to
God.
25Before you are dragged into court, make friends with the
person who has accused you of doing wrong. If you don't, you will be handed over
to the judge and then to the officer who will put you in jail. 26I promise you that you will not get out
until you have paid the last cent you owe.
Psalm 5:1-12 (Contemporary
English Version)
Psalm 5
(A psalm by David for the music leader. Use
flutes.)
A Prayer for Help
1Listen, LORD,
as I pray!
Pay attention when I groan. 2You are my King and my God.
Answer my cry for help
because I pray to you.
3Each
morning you listen
to my prayer,
as I bring my requests
to you and wait for your reply.
4You
are not the kind of God
who is pleased with evil.
Sinners can't stay with you.
5No one
who boasts can stand
in your presence, LORD,
and you hate evil people.
6You
destroy every liar,
and you despise violence
and deceit.
7Because of your great mercy,
I come to your house, LORD,
and I am filled with wonder
as I bow down
to worship
at your holy temple.
8You do
what is right,
and I ask you to guide me.
Make your teaching clear
because of my enemies.
9Nothing they say is true!
They just want to destroy.
Their words are deceitful
like a hidden pit,
and their tongues are good
only for telling lies.
10Punish them, God,
and let their own plans
bring their downfall.
Get rid of them!
They keep committing crimes
and turning against you.
11Let
all who run to you
for protection
always sing joyful songs.
Provide shelter for those
who truly love you
and let them rejoice.
12Our
LORD, you bless those
who live right,
and you shield them
with your kindness.
Proverbs 1:24-28
(Contemporary English Version)
24You
completely ignored me
and refused to listen;
25you
rejected my advice
and paid no attention
when I warned you.
26"So
when you are struck
by some terrible disaster,
27or
when trouble and distress
surround you like a whirlwind,
I will laugh and make fun.
28You
will ask for my help,
but I won't listen;
you will search,
but you won't find me.
Verse of the
Day
“Wash yourselves clean! I am disgusted with your
filthy deeds. Stop doing wrong and learn to live right. See that justice is
done. Defend widows and orphans and help those in need.” - Isaiah 1:16-17
Thought
for the Day
American humorist, journalist, and author, Don Marquis wrote, “The
chief obstacle to the progress of the human race is the human race.”
Today our passages are Ezekiel 16:43–17:24;
Hebrews 8:1-13; Psalm 106:13-31; and Proverbs 27:7-9. The
readings are from The Message by
Eugene H.
Peterson.
Ezekiel 16:43-17:24 (The Message)
43 "'Because you didn't remember
what happened when you were young but made me angry with all this behavior, I'll
make you pay for your waywardness. Didn't you just exponentially compound your
outrageous obscenities with all your sluttish ways?
44-45 "'Everyone who likes to use
proverbs will use this one: "Like mother, like daughter." You're the daughter of
your mother, who couldn't stand her husband and children. And you're a true
sister of your sisters, who couldn't stand their husbands and children. Your
mother was a Hittite and your father an Amorite.
46-48 "'Your older sister is
Samaria. She lived to the north of you with her daughters. Your younger sister
is Sodom, who lived to the south of you with her daughters. Haven't you lived
just like they did? Haven't you engaged in outrageous obscenities just like they
did? In fact, it didn't take you long to catch up and pass them! As sure as I am
the living God!—Decree of God, the Master—your sister Sodom and her daughters
never even came close to what you and your daughters have done.
49-50 "'The sin of your sister
Sodom was this: She lived with her daughters in the lap of luxury—proud,
gluttonous, and lazy. They ignored the oppressed and the poor. They put on airs
and lived obscene lives. And you know what happened: I did away with them.
51-52 "'And Samaria. Samaria didn't
sin half as much as you. You've committed far more obscenities than she ever
did. Why, you make your two sisters look good in comparison with what you've
done! Face it, your sisters look mighty good compared with you. Because you've
outsinned them so completely, you've actually made them look righteous. Aren't
you ashamed? But you're going to have to live with it. What a reputation to
carry into history: outsinning your two sisters!
53-58 "'But I'm going to reverse
their fortunes, the fortunes of Sodom and her daughters and the fortunes of
Samaria and her daughters. And—get this—your fortunes right along with them!
Still, you're going to have to live with your shame. And by facing and accepting
your shame, you're going to provide some comfort to your two sisters. Your
sisters, Sodom with her daughters and Samaria with her daughters, will become
what they were before, and you will become what you were before. Remember the
days when you were putting on airs, acting so high and mighty, looking down on
sister Sodom? That was before your evil ways were exposed. And now you're the
butt of contempt, despised by the Edomite women, the Philistine women, and
everybody else around. But you have to face it, to accept the shame of your
obscene and vile life. Decree of God, the Master.
59-63 "'God, the Master, says, I'll
do to you just as you have already done, you who have treated my oath with
contempt and broken the covenant. All the same, I'll remember the covenant I
made with you when you were young and I'll make a new covenant with you that
will last forever. You'll remember your sorry past and be properly contrite when
you receive back your sisters, both the older and the younger. I'll give them to
you as daughters, but not as participants in your covenant. I'll firmly
establish my covenant with you and you'll know that I am God. You'll remember
your past life and face the shame of it, but when I make atonement for you, make
everything right after all you've done, it will leave you speechless.'" Decree
of God, the Master.
Ezekiel 17
The Great Tree Is Made Small and the Small Tree Great
1-6 God's Message came to me: "Son of man,
make a riddle for the house of Israel. Tell them a story. Say, 'God, the Master,
says: "'A great eagle
with a huge wingspan and long feathers,
In full
plumage and bright colors,
came to Lebanon
And took the top off a
cedar,
broke off the top branch,
Took it to a land of traders,
and set it down in a city of shopkeepers.
Then he took a cutting from
the land
and planted it in good, well-watered soil,
like a willow
on a riverbank.
It sprouted into a flourishing vine,
low to the
ground.
Its branches grew toward the eagle
and the roots became
established—
A vine putting out shoots,
developing branches.
7-8"'There was another great eagle
with a huge wingspan and thickly feathered.
This vine sent out its
roots toward him
from the place where it was planted.
Its branches
reached out to him
so he could water it
from a long
distance.
It had been planted
in good, well-watered soil,
And it
put out branches and bore fruit,
and became a noble vine.
9-10"'God, the Master, says,
Will it thrive?
Won't he just pull it up by the roots
and leave
the grapes to rot
And the branches to shrivel up,
a withered, dead
vine?
It won't take much strength
or many hands to pull it up.
Even
if it's transplanted,
will it thrive?
When the hot east wind strikes
it,
won't it shrivel up?
Won't it dry up and blow away
from the
place where it was planted?'"
11-12 God's Message came to me:
"Tell this house of rebels, 'Do you get it? Do you know what this means?'
12-14 "Tell them, 'The king of
Babylon came to Jerusalem and took its king and its leaders back to Babylon. He
took one of the royal family and made a covenant with him, making him swear his
loyalty. The king of Babylon took all the top leaders into exile to make sure
that this kingdom stayed weak—didn't get any big ideas of itself—and kept the
covenant with him so that it would have a future.
15 "'But he rebelled and sent
emissaries to Egypt to recruit horses and a big army. Do you think that's going
to work? Are they going to get by with this? Does anyone break a covenant and
get off scot-free?
16-18 "'As sure as I am the living
God, this king who broke his pledge of loyalty and his covenant will die in that
country, in Babylon. Pharaoh with his big army—all those soldiers!—won't lift a
finger to fight for him when Babylon sets siege to the city and kills everyone
inside. Because he broke his word and broke the covenant, even though he gave
his solemn promise, because he went ahead and did all these things anyway, he
won't escape.
19-21 "'Therefore, God, the Master,
says, As sure as I am the living God, because the king despised my oath and
broke my covenant, I'll bring the consequences crashing down on his head. I'll
send out a search party and catch him. I'll take him to Babylon and have him
brought to trial because of his total disregard for me. All his elite soldiers,
along with the rest of the army, will be killed in battle, and whoever is left
will be scattered to the four winds. Then you'll realize that I, God, have
spoken.
22-24 "'God, the Master, says, I
personally will take a shoot from the top of the towering cedar, a cutting from
the crown of the tree, and plant it on a high and towering mountain, on the high
mountain of Israel. It will grow, putting out branches and fruit—a majestic
cedar. Birds of every sort and kind will live under it. They'll build nests in
the shade of its branches. All the trees of the field will recognize that I,
God, made the great tree small and the small tree great, made the green tree
turn dry and the dry tree sprout green branches. I, God, said it—and I did
it.'"
Hebrews 8:1-13 (The Message)
Hebrews 8
A New Plan with Israel
1-2In
essence, we have just such a high priest: authoritative right alongside God,
conducting worship in the one true sanctuary built by God. 3-5The assigned task of a high priest is to offer both
gifts and sacrifices, and it's no different with the priesthood of Jesus. If he
were limited to earth, he wouldn't even be a priest. We wouldn't need him since
there are plenty of priests who offer the gifts designated in the law. These
priests provide only a hint of what goes on in the true sanctuary of heaven,
which Moses caught a glimpse of as he was about to set up the tent-shrine. It
was then that God said, "Be careful to do it exactly as you saw it on the
Mountain."
6-13But Jesus' priestly work far
surpasses what these other priests do, since he's working from a far better
plan. If the first plan—the old covenant—had worked out, a second wouldn't have
been needed. But we know the first was found wanting, because God said,
Heads up! The days are coming
when I'll set up a new plan
for dealing with Israel and Judah.
I'll throw out the old plan
I set up with their ancestors
when I led them by the hand
out of Egypt.
They didn't keep their part of the bargain,
so I
looked away and let it go.
This new plan I'm making with Israel
isn't going to be written on paper,
isn't going to be
chiseled in stone;
This time I'm writing out the plan in them,
carving it on the lining of their hearts.
I'll be their God,
they'll be my people.
They won't go to school to learn about
me,
or buy a book called God in Five Easy Lessons.
They'll all
get to know me firsthand,
the little and the big, the small and the
great.
They'll get to know me by being kindly forgiven,
with
the slate of their sins forever wiped clean.
By coming up with a new plan, a
new covenant between God and his people, God put the old plan on the shelf. And
there it stays, gathering dust.
Psalm 106:13-31 (The Message)
13-18 But it wasn't long
before they forgot the whole thing,
wouldn't wait to be told what to
do.
They only cared about pleasing themselves in that desert,
provoked God with their insistent demands.
He gave them exactly
what they asked for—
but along with it they got an empty heart.
One day in camp some grew jealous of Moses,
also of Aaron, holy
priest of God.
The ground
opened and swallowed Dathan,
then buried Abiram's gang.
Fire
flared against that rebel crew
and torched them to a cinder.
19-22 They cast in metal a
bull calf at Horeb
and worshiped the statue they'd made.
They
traded the Glory
for a cheap piece of sculpture—a grass-chewing bull!
They forgot God, their very own Savior,
who turned things
around in Egypt,
Who created a world of wonders in the Land of Ham,
who gave that stunning performance at the Red Sea.
23-27 Fed up, God decided to get rid of
them—
and except for Moses, his chosen, he would have.
But
Moses stood in the gap and deflected God's anger,
prevented it from
destroying them utterly.
They went on to reject the Blessed Land,
didn't believe a word of what God promised.
They found fault
with the life they had
and turned a deaf ear to God's voice.
Exasperated, God
swore
that he'd lay them low in the desert,
Scattering their
children hither and yon,
strewing them all over the earth.
28-31 Then they linked up
with Baal Peor,
attending funeral banquets and eating idol food.
That made God so angry
that a plague spread through their
ranks;
Phinehas stood up and pled their case
and the plague was
stopped.
This was counted to his credit;
his descendants will
never forget it.
Proverbs 27:7-9 (The Message)
7 When you've stuffed
yourself, you refuse dessert;
when you're starved, you could eat a horse.
8 People who won't settle
down, wandering hither and yon,
are like restless birds, flitting to and
fro.
9 Just as lotions and
fragrance give sensual delight,
a sweet friendship refreshes the soul.
Verse of the Day
“[How To Pray]First of all, I ask you to pray for everyone. Ask God to help
and bless them all, and tell God how thankful you are for each of them. Pray for
kings and others in power, so that we may live quiet and peaceful lives as we
worship and honor God.” - 1
Timothy 2:1-2
Thought for the
Day
American humorist, journalist, and author, Don Marquis wrote, “Pity the
meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”
Today our
passages are Ezekiel 27:1–28:26; Hebrews 11:17-31; Psalm 111:1-10; and Proverbs
27:15-16. The readings are the
Contemporary English
Version.
Ezekiel 27-28:26 (Contemporary English Version)
Ezekiel 27
A Funeral Song for Tyre
1The
LORD said:
2Ezekiel, son of man, sing a
funeral song for Tyre,
3the city that is built along the sea
and that trades with nations along the coast. Tell the people of Tyre that the
following message is from me: Tyre, you brag about
your perfect beauty,
4and your control of the sea.
You are a ship
built to perfection.
5Builders used cypress trees
from Mount Hermon
to make your planks
and a cedar tree from Lebanon
for your tall mast.
6Oak trees from Bashan
were shaped into oars;
pine trees from Cyprus
were cut for your deck,
which was then decorated
with strips of ivory.
7The builders used fancy linen
from Egypt for your sails,
so everyone could see you.
Blue and purple cloth
from Cyprus
was used
to shade your deck.
8Men from Sidon and Arvad
did the rowing,
and your own skilled workers
were the captains.
9Experienced men from Byblos
repaired any damages.
Sailors from all over
shopped
at the stores
in your port.
10Brave soldiers from Persia,
Lydia, and Libya
served in your navy,
protecting you with shields
and helmets,
and making you famous.
11Your guards came from
Arvad and Cilicia,
and men from Gamad
stood watch in your towers.
With their weapons
hung on your walls,
your beauty was complete.
12Merchants from southern Spain
traded silver, iron, tin, and lead for your products. 13The people of Greece, Tubal, and Meshech traded slaves
and things made of bronze, 14and those
from Beth-Togarmah traded work horses, war horses, and mules. 15You also did business with people from
Rhodes,
and people from nations along the coast gave you ivory and ebony
in exchange for your goods. 16Edom
traded emeralds, purple cloth, embroidery, fine linen, coral, and rubies. 17Judah and Israel gave you their finest
wheat, fancy figs,
honey, olive oil, and spices in exchange for your merchandise. 18The people of Damascus saw what you had
to offer and brought you wine from Helbon and wool from Zahar. 19Vedan and Javan near Uzal
traded you iron and spices. 20The
people of Dedan supplied you with saddle blankets, 21while people from Arabia and the rulers of Kedar traded
lambs, sheep, and goats. 22Merchants
from Sheba and Raamah gave you excellent spices, precious stones, and gold in
exchange for your products. 23You also
did business with merchants from the cities of Haran, Canneh, Eden, Sheba,
Asshur, and Chilmad, 24and they gave
you expensive clothing, purple and embroidered cloth, brightly colored rugs, and
strong rope. 25Large, seagoing ships
carried your goods wherever they needed to go. You were like a ship
loaded with heavy cargo
26and sailing across the sea,
but you were wrecked
by strong eastern winds.
27Everything on board was
lost--
your valuable cargo,
your sailors and carpenters,
merchants and soldiers.
28The shouts of your drowning
crew
were heard on the shore.
29Every ship is deserted;
rowers and sailors and captains
all stand on shore,
30mourning for you.
They show their sorrow
by putting dust on their heads
and rolling in ashes;
31they shave their heads
and dress in sackcloth
as they cry in despair.
32In their grief they sing
a funeral song for you:
"Tyre, you were greater
than all other cities.
But now you lie in silence
at the bottom of the sea.
33"Nations that received
your merchandise
were always pleased;
kings everywhere got rich
from your costly goods.
34But now you are wrecked
in the deep sea,
with your cargo and crew
scattered everywhere.
35People living along the coast
are shocked at the news.
Their rulers are horrified,
and terror is written
across their faces.
36The merchants of the world
can't believe what happened.
Your death was gruesome,
and you are gone forever."
Ezekiel 28
Judgment on the King of Tyre
1The LORD God said:
2Ezekiel, son of man, tell the
king of Tyre
that I am saying: You are so arrogant that you think you're a god and that the
city of Tyre is your throne. You may claim to be a god, though you're nothing
but a mere human. 3You think you're
wiser than Daniel
and know everything.
4Your wisdom has certainly made you
rich, because you have storehouses filled with gold and silver. 5You're a clever businessman and are
extremely wealthy, but your wealth has led to arrogance!
6You compared yourself to a
god, so now I, the LORD God, 7will
make you the victim of cruel enemies. They will destroy all the possessions
you've worked so hard to get. 8Your
enemies will brutally kill you, and the sea will be your only grave.
9When you face your enemies,
will you still claim to be a god? They will attack, and you will suffer like any
other human. 10Foreigners will kill
you, and you will die the death of those who don't worship me. I, the LORD, have
spoken.
A Funeral Song for the King of Tyre
11The LORD said:
12Ezekiel, son of man, sing a
funeral song for the king of Tyre
and tell him I am saying: At one time, you were perfect,
intelligent, and good-looking. 13You
lived in the garden of Eden and wore jewelry made of brightly colored gems and
precious stones. They were all set in gold
and were ready for you on the day you were born. 14I appointed a winged creature to guard your home
on my holy mountain, where you walked among gems that dazzled like fire. 15You were truly good from the time of your
birth, but later you started doing wicked things. 16You traded with other nations and became more and more
cruel and evil. So I forced you to leave my mountain, and the creature that had
been your protector now chased you away from the gems.
17It was your good looks that
made you arrogant, and you were so famous that you started acting like a fool.
That's why I threw you to the ground and let other kings sneer at you. 18You have cheated so many other merchants
that your places of worship are corrupt. So I set your city on fire and burned
it down. Now everyone sees only ashes where your city once stood, 19and the people of other nations are
shocked. Your punishment was horrible, and you are gone forever.
Judgment on Sidon and Peace for Israel
20The LORD said:
21Ezekiel, son of man, condemn
the city of Sidon
22and tell its people: I, the LORD
God, am your enemy! People will praise me when I punish you, and they will see
that I am holy. 23I will send deadly
diseases to wipe you out, and I will send enemies to invade and surround you.
Your people will be killed, and you will know that I am the LORD.
24When that happens, the people
of Israel will no longer have cruel neighbors that abuse them and make them feel
as though they are in a field of thorns and briers. And the Israelites will know
that I, the LORD God, have done these things.
A Blessing for Israel
25The
LORD God said:
Someday I will gather the people of Israel from the nations where they are
now scattered, and every nation will see that I am holy. The Israelites will
once again live in the land I gave to my servant Jacob. 26They will be safe and will build houses and plant
vineyards. They will no longer be in danger, because I will punish their hateful
neighbors. Israel will know that I am the LORD their God.
Hebrews 11:17-31 (Contemporary English Version)
17-18Abraham had been promised that
Isaac, his only son,
would continue his family. But when Abraham was tested, he had faith and was
willing to sacrifice Isaac, 19because
he was sure that God could raise people to life. This was just like getting
Isaac back from death. 20Isaac had
faith, and he promised blessings to Jacob and Esau. 21Later, when Jacob was about to die, he leaned on his
walking stick and worshiped. Then because of his faith he blessed each of
Joseph's sons. 22And right before
Joseph died, he had faith that God would lead the people of Israel out of Egypt.
So he told them to take his bones with them.
23Because Moses' parents had
faith, they kept him hidden until he was three months old. They saw that he was
a beautiful child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king's orders.
24Then after Moses grew up, his faith
made him refuse to be called Pharaoh's grandson. 25He chose to be mistreated with God's people instead of
having the good time that sin could bring for a little while. 26Moses knew that the treasures of Egypt
were not as wonderful as what he would receive from suffering for the Messiah,
and he looked forward to his reward. 27Because of his faith, Moses left Egypt. Moses had seen
the invisible God and wasn't afraid of the king's anger. 28His faith also made him celebrate Passover. He sprinkled
the blood of animals on the doorposts, so that the first-born sons of the people
of Israel would not be killed by the destroying angel.
29Because of their faith, the
people walked through the Red Sea
on dry land. But when the Egyptians tried to do it, they were drowned. 30God's people had faith, and when they had
walked around the city of Jericho for seven days, its walls fell down.
31Rahab had been a prostitute,
but she had faith and welcomed the spies. So she wasn't killed with the people
who disobeyed.
Psalm 111:1-10 (Contemporary English Version)
Psalm 111
Praise the LORD for All He Has Done
1Shout praises to the LORD!
With all my heart
I will thank the LORD
when his people meet.
2The LORD has done
many wonderful things!
Everyone who is pleased
with God's marvelous deeds
will keep them in mind.
3Everything the LORD does
is glorious and majestic,
and his power to bring justice
will never end.
4The LORD God is famous
for his wonderful deeds,
and he is kind and merciful.
5He gives food to his
worshipers
and always keeps his agreement
with them.
6He has shown his mighty power
to his people
and has given them the lands
of other nations.
7God is always honest and fair,
and his laws can be trusted.
8They are true and right
and will stand forever.
9God rescued his people,
and he will never break
his agreement with them.
He is fearsome and holy.
10Respect and obey the LORD!
This is the first step
to wisdom and good sense.
God will always be respected.
Proverbs 27:15-16 (Contemporary English Version)
15The steady dripping of rain
and the nagging of a wife
are one and the same.
16It's easier to catch the wind
or hold olive oil in your hand
than to stop a nagging wife.
Verse of the Day
“God wants you to silence stupid and ignorant people by doing right. You are
free, but still you are God's servants, and you must not use your freedom as an
excuse for doing wrong.” - 1
Peter 2:15-16
Thought
for the Day
Humorist, journalist, and author, Don Marquis wrote,
“Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday.”
