Bible Readings for July 12, 2018

Today our passages are 1 Chronicles 12:19–14:17; Romans 1:1-17; Psalm 9:13-20; and Proverbs 19:4-5. The readings are from The Message by Eugene H. Peterson.  If you find these readings helpful, please consider sending an offering directly to Cove Presbyterian Church, 3404 Main Street, Weirton, West Virginia or through PayPal by using the link below.

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1 Chronicles 12:19-14:17 (The Message)

 ¹⁹ Some from the tribe of Manasseh also defected to David when he started out with the Philistines to go to war against Saul. In the end, they didn't actually fight because the Philistine leaders, after talking it over, sent them home, saying, "We can't trust them with our lives—they'll betray us to their master Saul." 

 ^20-22 The men from Manasseh who defected to David at Ziklag were Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai, all leaders among the families of Manasseh. They helped David in his raids against the desert bandits; they were all stalwart fighters and good leaders among his raiders. Hardly a day went by without men showing up to help—it wasn't long before his band seemed as large as God's own army! 

^23-37 Here are the statistics on the battle-seasoned warriors who came down from the north to David at Hebron to hand over Saul's kingdom, in accord with God's word: from Judah, carrying shield and spear, 6,800 battle-ready; from Simeon, 7,100 stalwart fighters; from Levi, 4,600, which included Jehoiada leader of the family of Aaron, bringing 3,700 men and the young and stalwart Zadok with twenty-two leaders from his family; from Benjamin, Saul's family, 3,000, most of whom had stuck it out with Saul until now; from Ephraim, 20,800, fierce fighters and famous in their hometowns; from the half-tribe of Manasseh, 18,000 elected to come and make David king; from Issachar, men who understood both the times and Israel's duties, 200 leaders with their families; from Zebulun, 50,000 well-equipped veteran warriors, unswervingly loyal; from Naphtali, 1,000 chiefs leading 37,000 men heavily armed; from Dan, 28,600 battle-ready men; from Asher, 40,000 veterans, battle-ready; and from East of Jordan, men from Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh, heavily armed, 120,000. 

 ^38-40 All these soldiers came to David at Hebron, ready to fight if necessary; they were both united and determined to make David king over all Israel. And everyone else in Israel was of the same mind—"Make David king!" They were with David for three days of feasting celebration, with food and drink supplied by their families. Neighbors ranging from as far north as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali arrived with donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen loaded down with food for the party: flour, fig cakes, raisin cakes, wine, oil, cattle, and sheep—joy in Israel! 

1 Chronicles 13

David Goes to Get the Chest of God

 ^1-14 David consulted with all of his leaders, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds. Then David addressed the entire assembly of Israel, "If it seems right to you, and it is God's will, let's invite all our relatives wherever they are throughout Israel, along with their relatives, including their priests and Levites from their cities and surrounding pastures, to join us. And let's bring the Chest of our God back—the Chest that was out of sight, out of mind during the days of Saul." The entire assembly of Israel agreed—everybody agreed that it was the right thing to do. So David gathered all Israel together, from Egypt's Pond of Horus in the southwest to the Pass of Hamath in the northeast, to go and get the Chest of God from Kiriath Jearim. Then David and all Israel went to Baalah (Kiriath Jearim) in Judah to bring back the Chest of God, the "Cherubim-Throne-of-God," where God's Name is invoked. They moved the Chest of God on a brand-new cart from the house of Abinadab with Uzzah and Ahio in charge. In procession with the Chest of God, David and all Israel worshiped exuberantly in song and dance, with a marching band of all kinds of instruments. When they were at the threshing floor of Kidon, the oxen stumbled and Uzzah grabbed the Chest to keep it from falling off. God erupted in anger against Uzzah and killed him because he grabbed the Chest. He died on the spot—in the presence of God. David lost his temper, angry because God exploded against Uzzah; the place is still called Perez Uzzah (Exploded Uzzah). David was terrified of God that day; he said, "How can I possibly continue this parade with the Chest of God?" So David called off the parade of the Chest to the City of David; instead he stored it in the house of Obed-Edom the Gittite. The Chest of God was in storage in the house of Obed-Edom for three months. God blessed the family of Obed-Edom and everything around him.

1 Chronicles 14

David Builds

 ^1-7 King Hiram of Tyre sent an envoy to David, along with cedar lumber, masons, and carpenters to build him a royal palace. Then David knew for sure that God had confirmed him as king over Israel, because of the rising reputation that God was giving his kingdom for the benefit of his people Israel. David married more wives and had more children in Jerusalem. His children born in Jerusalem were Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Beeliada, and Eliphelet. 
^8-9 The minute the Philistines heard that David had been made king over a united Israel, they went out in force to capture David. When David got the report, he marched out to confront them. On their way, the Philistines stopped off to plunder the Valley of Rephaim. 

 ¹⁰ David prayed to God: "Is this the right time to attack the Philistines? Will you give me the victory?" 

    God answered, "Attack; I'll give you the victory." 

 ^11-12 David attacked at Baal Perazim and slaughtered them. David said, "God exploded my enemies, as water explodes from a burst pipe." That's how the place got its name, Baal Perazim (Baal-Explosion). The Philistines left their gods behind and David ordered that they be burned up. 

 ^13-15 And then the Philistines were back at it again, plundering in the valley. David again prayed to God. God answered, "This time don't attack head-on; circle around and come at them out of the balsam grove. When you hear a sound like shuffling feet in the tops of the balsams, attack; God will be two steps ahead of you, slaughtering the Philistines." 

 ¹⁶ David did exactly as God commanded, slaughtering Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer. 

 ¹⁷ David was soon famous all over the place, far and near; and God put the fear of God into the godless nations.

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Romans 1:1-17 (The Message)

Romans 1

 ¹I, Paul, am a devoted slave of Jesus Christ on assignment, authorized as an apostle to proclaim God's words and acts. I write this letter to all the believers in Rome, God's friends. ^2-7The sacred writings contain preliminary reports by the prophets on God's Son. His descent from David roots him in history; his unique identity as Son of God was shown by the Spirit when Jesus was raised from the dead, setting him apart as the Messiah, our Master. Through him we received both the generous gift of his life and the urgent task of passing it on to others who receive it by entering into obedient trust in Jesus. You are who you are through this gift and call of Jesus Christ! And I greet you now with all the generosity of God our Father and our Master Jesus, the Messiah.  ^8-12I thank God through Jesus for every one of you. That's first. People everywhere keep telling me about your lives of faith, and every time I hear them, I thank him. And God, whom I so love to worship and serve by spreading the good news of his Son—the Message!—knows that every time I think of you in my prayers, which is practically all the time, I ask him to clear the way for me to come and see you. The longer this waiting goes on, the deeper the ache. I so want to be there to deliver God's gift in person and watch you grow stronger right before my eyes! But don't think I'm not expecting to get something out of this, too! You have as much to give me as I do to you. 

 ^13-15Please don't misinterpret my failure to visit you, friends. You have no idea how many times I've made plans for Rome. I've been determined to get some personal enjoyment out of God's work among you, as I have in so many other non-Jewish towns and communities. But something has always come up and prevented it. Everyone I meet—it matters little whether they're mannered or rude, smart or simple—deepens my sense of interdependence and obligation. And that's why I can't wait to get to you in Rome, preaching this wonderful good news of God. 

 ^16-17It's news I'm most proud to proclaim, this extraordinary Message of God's powerful plan to rescue everyone who trusts him, starting with Jews and then right on to everyone else! God's way of putting people right shows up in the acts of faith, confirming what Scripture has said all along: "The person in right standing before God by trusting him really lives." 

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Psalm 9:13-20 (The Message)

 ^13-14 Be kind to me, God;
      I've been kicked around long enough.
   Once you've pulled me back
      from the gates of death,
   I'll write the book on Hallelujahs;
      on the corner of Main and First
      I'll hold a street meeting;
   I'll be the song leader; we'll fill the air
      with salvation songs.

 ^15-16 They're trapped, those godless countries,
      in the very snares they set,
   Their feet all tangled
      in the net they spread.
   They have no excuse;
      the way God works is well-known.
   The cunning machinery made by the wicked
      has maimed their own hands.

 ^17-20 The wicked bought a one-way
      ticket to hell.
   No longer will the poor be nameless—
      no more humiliation for the humble.
   Up, God! Aren't you fed up with their empty strutting?
      Expose these grand pretensions!
   Shake them up, God!
      Show them how silly they look. 

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Proverbs 19:4-5 (The Message)

 ⁴ Wealth attracts friends as honey draws flies,
   but poor people are avoided like a plague.

 ⁵ Perjury won't go unpunished.
   Would you let a liar go free? 

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Verse of the Day

“Jesus answered, "The Scriptures say: `No one can live only on food. People need every word that God has spoken.” - Matthew 4:4 

Today's passage is from the Contemporary English Version.

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Thought for the Day

American essayist, poet, philosopher, abolitionist, naturalist, tax resister, development critic, surveyor, and historian, Henry David Thoreau wrote, “You must live in the present, launch yourself on every wave, find your eternity in each moment.”

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A Joke for Today

A prosecuting attorney just could not believe that the jury had found the defendant not guilty.

Astonished, he asked the jury foreman, "How could you possibly have found this man innocent?"

The foreman replied, "Insanity."

The perplexed prosecutor replied, "All 12 of you?"

Bible Readings for November 26, 2015

Today our passages are Daniel 2:24–3:30; 1 Peter 4:7–5:14; Psalm 119:81-96; and Proverbs 28:15-16. 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 Street, Weirton, West Virginia or through PayPal. 

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Daniel 2:24-3:30 (Contemporary English Version)

Daniel Interprets the Dream

 ²⁴Daniel went back to Arioch, the official in charge of executing the wise men. Daniel said, " Don't kill those men! Take me to the king, and I will explain the meaning of his dream."

    ²⁵Arioch rushed Daniel to the king and announced, " Your Majesty, I have found out that one of the men brought here from Judah can explain your dream."

    ²⁶The king asked Daniel, ^[a] " Can you tell me my dream and what it means?" ²⁷Daniel answered:

   Your Majesty, not even the smartest person in all the world can do what you are demanding. ^28-29But the God who rules from heaven can explain mysteries. And while you were sleeping, he showed you what will happen in the future. ³⁰However, you must realize that these mysteries weren't explained to me because I am smarter than everyone else. Instead, it was done so that you would understand what you have seen.

    ³¹Your Majesty, what you saw standing in front of you was a huge and terrifying statue, shining brightly. ³²Its head was made of gold, its chest and arms were silver, and from its waist down to its knees, it was bronze. ³³From there to its ankles it was iron, and its feet were a mixture of iron and clay.

    ³⁴As you watched, a stone was cut from a mountain--but not by human hands. The stone struck the feet, completely shattering the iron and clay. ³⁵Then the iron, the clay, the bronze, the silver, and the gold were crushed and blown away without a trace, like husks of wheat at threshing time. But the stone became a tremendous mountain that covered the entire earth.

    ³⁶That was the dream, and now I'll tell you what it means. ³⁷Your Majesty, you are the greatest of kings, and God has highly honored you with power ³⁸over all humans, animals, and birds. You are the head of gold. ³⁹After you are gone, another kingdom will rule, but it won't be as strong. Then it will be followed by a kingdom of bronze that will rule the whole world. ⁴⁰Next, a kingdom of iron will come to power, crushing and shattering everything. ^[b] ^41-42This fourth kingdom will be divided--it will be both strong and brittle, just as you saw that the feet and toes were a mixture of iron and clay. ⁴³This kingdom will be the result of a marriage between kingdoms, but it will crumble, just as iron and clay don't stick together.

    ^44-45During the time of those kings, the God who rules from heaven will set up an eternal kingdom that will never fall. It will be like the stone that was cut from the mountain, but not by human hands--the stone that crushed the iron, bronze, clay, silver, and gold. Your Majesty, in your dream the great God has told you what is going to happen, and you can trust this interpretation.

   

Daniel Is Promoted

 ⁴⁶King Nebuchadnezzar bowed low to the ground and worshiped Daniel. Then he gave orders for incense to be burned and a sacrifice of grain to be offered in honor of Daniel. ⁴⁷The king said, " Now I know that your God is above all other gods and kings, because he gave you the power to explain this mystery." ⁴⁸The king then presented Daniel with a lot of gifts; he promoted him to governor of Babylon Province and put him in charge of the other wise men. ⁴⁹At Daniel's request, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to high positions in Babylon Province, and he let Daniel stay on as a palace official.

   

Daniel 3

King Nebuchadnezzar's Gold Statue

 ¹King Nebuchadnezzar ordered a gold statue to be built ninety feet high and nine feet wide. He had it set up in Dura Valley near the city of Babylon, ²and he commanded his governors, advisors, treasurers, judges, and his other officials to come from everywhere in his kingdom to the dedication of the statue. ³So all of them came and stood in front of it.

    ⁴Then an official stood up and announced:

   People of every nation and race, now listen to the king's command! ⁵Trumpets, flutes, harps, and all other kinds of musical instruments will soon start playing. When you hear the music, you must bow down and worship the statue that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. ⁶Anyone who refuses will at once be thrown into a flaming furnace.

    ⁷As soon as the people heard the music, they bowed down and worshiped the gold statue that the king had set up.

    ⁸Some Babylonians used this as a chance to accuse the Jews to King Nebuchadnezzar. ⁹They said, " Your Majesty, we hope you live forever! ¹⁰You commanded everyone to bow down and worship the gold statue when the music played. ¹¹And you said that anyone who did not bow down and worship it would be thrown into a flaming furnace. ¹²Sir, you appointed three men to high positions in Babylon Province, but they have disobeyed you. Those Jews, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, refuse to worship your gods and the statue you have set up."

    ¹³King Nebuchadnezzar was furious. So he sent for the three young men and said, ¹⁴" I hear that you refuse to worship my gods and the gold statue I have set up. ¹⁵Now I am going to give you one more chance. If you bow down and worship the statue when you hear the music, everything will be all right. But if you don't, you will at once be thrown into a flaming furnace. No god can save you from me."

    ¹⁶The three men replied, " Your Majesty, we don't need to defend ourselves. ¹⁷The God we worship can save us from you and your flaming furnace. ¹⁸But even if he doesn't, we still won't worship your gods and the gold statue you have set up."

    ¹⁹Nebuchadnezzar's face twisted with anger at the three men. And he ordered the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual. ²⁰Next, he commanded some of his strongest soldiers to tie up the men and throw them into the flaming furnace. ^21-23The king wanted it done at that very moment. So the soldiers tied up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and threw them into the flaming furnace with all of their clothes still on, including their turbans. The fire was so hot that flames leaped out and killed the soldiers.

    ²⁴Suddenly the king jumped up and shouted, " Weren't only three men tied up and thrown into the fire?"

   " Yes, Your Majesty," the people answered.

    ²⁵" But I see four men walking around in the fire," the king replied. " None of them is tied up or harmed, and the fourth one looks like a god." ^[c] ²⁶Nebuchadnezzar went closer to the flaming furnace and said to the three young men, " You servants of the Most High God, come out at once!"

   They came out, ²⁷and the king's high officials, governors, and advisors all crowded around them. The men were not burned, their hair wasn't scorched, and their clothes didn't even smell like smoke. ²⁸King Nebuchadnezzar said:

   Praise their God for sending an angel to rescue his servants! They trusted their God and refused to obey my commands. Yes, they chose to die rather than to worship or serve any god except their own. ²⁹And I won't allow people of any nation or race to say anything against their God. Anyone who does will be chopped up and their houses will be torn down, because no other god has such great power to save.

    ³⁰After this happened, the king appointed Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to even higher positions in Babylon Province.

   

Footnotes:

1. Daniel 2:26 Daniel: Aramaic " Daniel whose name was Belteshazzar" (see 1.7).
2. Daniel 2:40 crushing. . . everything: Three ancient translations; Aramaic adds " and like iron crushing."
3. Daniel 3:25 a god: Aramaic, " a son of the gods."

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1 Peter 4:7-5:14 (Contemporary English Version)

⁷Everything will soon come to an end. So be serious and be sensible enough to pray.

    ⁸Most important of all, you must sincerely love each other, because love wipes away many sins.

    ⁹Welcome people into your home and don't grumble about it.

    ¹⁰Each of you has been blessed with one of God's many wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others. So use your gift well. ¹¹If you have the gift of speaking, preach God's message. If you have the gift of helping others, do it with the strength that God supplies. Everything should be done in a way that will bring honor to God because of Jesus Christ, who is glorious and powerful forever. Amen.

   

Suffering for Being a Christian

 ¹²Dear friends, don't be surprised or shocked that you are going through testing that is like walking through fire. ¹³Be glad for the chance to suffer as Christ suffered. It will prepare you for even greater happiness when he makes his glorious return.

    ¹⁴Count it a blessing when you suffer for being a Christian. This shows that God's glorious Spirit is with you. ¹⁵But you deserve to suffer if you are a murderer, a thief, a crook, or a busybody. ¹⁶Don't be ashamed to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God that you belong to him. ¹⁷God has already begun judging his own people. And if his judgment begins with us, imagine how terrible it will be for those who refuse to obey his message. The Scriptures say,

    ¹⁸"If good people barely escape,

   what will happen to sinners

   and to others

   who don't respect God?"

    ¹⁹If you suffer for obeying God, you must have complete faith in your faithful Creator and keep on doing right.

   

1 Peter 5

Helping Christian Leaders

 ¹Church leaders, ^[a] I am writing to encourage you. I too am a leader, as well as a witness to Christ's suffering, and I will share in his glory when it is shown to us. ²Just as shepherds watch over their sheep, you must watch over everyone God has placed in your care. Do it willingly in order to please God, and not simply because you think you must. Let it be something you want to do, instead of something you do merely to make money. ³Don't be bossy to those people who are in your care, but set an example for them. ⁴Then when Christ the Chief Shepherd returns, you will be given a crown that will never lose its glory.

    ⁵All of you young people should obey your elders. In fact, everyone should be humble toward everyone else. The Scriptures say,

   "God opposes proud people,

   but he helps everyone

   who is humble."

    ⁶Be humble in the presence of God's mighty power, and he will honor you when the time comes. ⁷God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him.

    ⁸Be on your guard and stay awake. Your enemy, the devil, is like a roaring lion, sneaking around to find someone to attack. ⁹But you must resist the devil and stay strong in your faith. You know that all over the world the Lord's followers are suffering just as you are. ¹⁰But God shows undeserved kindness to everyone. That's why he appointed Christ Jesus to choose you to share in his eternal glory. You will suffer for a while, but God will make you complete, steady, strong, and firm. ¹¹God will be in control forever! Amen.

   

Final Greetings

 ¹²Silvanus helped me write this short letter, and I consider him a faithful follower of the Lord. I wanted to encourage you and tell you how kind God really is, so that you will keep on having faith in him.

    ¹³Greetings from the Lord's followers in Babylon. ^[b] They are God's chosen ones. Mark, who is like a son to me, sends his greetings too.

    ¹⁴Give each other a warm greeting. I pray that God will give peace to everyone who belongs to Christ. ^[c]

Footnotes:

1. 1 Peter 5:1 Church leaders: Or "Elders" or "Presbyters" or "Priests."
2. 1 Peter 5:13 Babylon: This may be a secret name for the city of Rome.
3. 1 Peter 5:14 Christ: Some manuscripts add "Amen."

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Psalm 119:81-96 (Contemporary English Version)

⁸¹I long for you to rescue me!

   Your word is my only hope.

    ⁸²I am worn out from waiting

   for you to keep your word.

   When will you have mercy?

    ⁸³My life is wasting away

   like a dried-up wineskin, ^[a] but I have not forgotten

   your teachings.

    ⁸⁴I am your servant!

   How long must I suffer?

   When will you punish

   those troublemakers?

    ⁸⁵Those proud people reject

   your teachings,

   and they dig pits

   for me to fall in.

    ⁸⁶Your laws can be trusted!

   Protect me from cruel liars.

    ⁸⁷They have almost killed me,

   but I have been faithful

   to your teachings.

    ⁸⁸Show that you love me

   and let me live,

   so that I may obey all

   of your commands.

    ⁸⁹Our LORD, you are eternal!

   Your word will last as long

   as the heavens. ^[b] ⁹⁰You remain faithful

   in every generation,

   and the earth you created

   will keep standing firm.

    ⁹¹All things are your servants,

   and the laws you made

   are still in effect today.

    ⁹²If I had not found happiness

   in obeying your Law,

   I would have died in misery.

    ⁹³I won't ever forget

   your teachings,

   because you give me new life

   by following them.

    ⁹⁴I belong to you,

   and I have respected your laws,

   so keep me safe.

    ⁹⁵Brutal enemies are waiting

   to ambush and destroy me,

   but I obey your rules.

    ⁹⁶Nothing is completely perfect,

   except your teachings.

   

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 119:83 a dried-up wineskin: The Hebrew text has " a wineskin in the smoke." In ancient times bags were made from animal skins to hold wine, but when the bags dried up they cracked and could no longer be used.
2. Psalm 119:89 Our. . . heavens: Or " Our LORD, your word is eternal. It will last as long as the heavens."

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Proverbs 28:15-16 (Contemporary English Version)

¹⁵A ruler who mistreats the poor

   is like a roaring lion

   or a bear hunting for food.

    ¹⁶A heartless leader is a fool,

   but anyone who refuses

   to get rich by cheating others

   will live a long time.

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Verse of the Day

“We should be grateful that we were given a kingdom that cannot be shaken. And in this kingdom we please God by worshiping him and by showing him great honor and respect.” - Hebrews 12:28

Today's passage is from the Contemporary English Version.

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Thought for the Day

American author, poet, philosopher, abolitionist, naturalist, tax resister, development critic, surveyor, and historian, Henry David Thoreau wrote, “I am grateful for what I am and have. My thanksgiving is perpetual.”

Bible Readings for May 16, 2015

Today our passages are 1 Samuel 18:5–19:24; John 8:31-59; Psalm 112:1-10; and Proverbs 15:12-14. The readings are the Contemporary English Version. 

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1 Samuel 18:5-19:24 (Contemporary English Version)

⁵David was a success in everything that Saul sent him to do, and Saul made him a high officer in his army. That pleased everyone, including Saul's other officers.
   

Saul Becomes David's Enemy

 ⁶David had killed Goliath, the battle was over, and the Israelite army set out for home. As the army went along, women came out of each Israelite town to welcome King Saul. They were singing happy songs and dancing to the music of tambourines and harps. ⁷They sang:    Saul has killed
   a thousand enemies;
   David has killed
   ten thousand enemies!
    ⁸This song made Saul very angry, and he thought, "They are saying that David has killed ten times more enemies than I ever did. Next they will want to make him king." ⁹Saul never again trusted David.
    ¹⁰The next day the LORD let an evil spirit take control of Saul, and he began acting like a crazy man inside his house. David came to play the harp for Saul as usual, but this time Saul had a spear in his hand. ¹¹Saul thought, "I'll pin David to the wall." He threw the spear at David twice, but David dodged and got away both times.
    ¹²Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was helping David and was no longer helping him. ¹³Saul put David in charge of a thousand soldiers and sent him out to fight. ¹⁴The LORD helped David, and he and his soldiers always won their battles. ¹⁵This made Saul even more afraid of David. ¹⁶But everyone else in Judah and Israel was loyal to ^[a] David, because he led the army in battle. ¹⁷One day, Saul told David, "If you'll be brave and fight the LORD's battles for me, I'll let you marry my oldest daughter Merab." But Saul was really thinking, "I don't want to kill David myself, so I'll let the Philistines do it for me."
    ¹⁸David answered, "How could I possibly marry your daughter? I'm not very important, and neither is my family."
    ¹⁹But when the time came for David to marry Saul's daughter Merab, Saul told her to marry Adriel from the town of Meholah.
    ²⁰Saul had another daughter. Her name was Michal, and Saul found out that she was in love with David. This made Saul happy, ²¹and he thought, "I'll tell David he can marry Michal, but I'll set it up so that the Philistines will kill him." He told David, "I'm going to give you a second chance to marry one of my daughters."
    ^22-23Saul ordered his officials to speak to David in private, so they went to David and said, "Look, the king likes you, and all of his officials are loyal to you. Why not ask the king if you can marry his daughter Michal?"
   "I'm not rich ^[b] or famous enough to marry princess Michal!" David answered. ²⁴The officials went back to Saul and told him exactly what David had said. ²⁵Saul was hoping that the Philistines would kill David, and he told his officials to tell David, "The king doesn't want any silver or gold. He only wants to get even with his enemies. All you have to do is to bring back proof that you have killed a hundred Philistines!" ^{[c] 26}The officials told David, and David wanted to marry the princess. King Saul had set a time limit, and before it ran out, ²⁷David and his men left and killed two hundred Philistines. He brought back the proof and showed it to Saul, so he could marry Michal. Saul agreed to let David marry Michal. ²⁸Saul knew that she loved David, ^[d] and he also realized that the LORD was helping David. ²⁹But knowing those things made Saul even more afraid of David, and he was David's enemy for the rest of his life. ³⁰The Philistine rulers kept coming to fight Israel, but whenever David fought them, he won. He was famous because he won more battles against the Philistines than any of Saul's other officers.
   

1 Samuel 19

Saul Tries To Have David Killed

 ¹One day, Saul told his son Jonathan and his officers to kill David. But Jonathan liked David a lot, ^2-3and he warned David, "My father is trying to have you killed, so be very careful. Hide in a field tomorrow morning, and I'll bring him there. Then I'll talk to him about you, and if I find out anything, I'll let you know."     ^4-5The next morning, Jonathan reminded Saul about the many good things David had done for him. Then he said, "Why do you want to kill David? He hasn't done anything to you. He has served in your army and has always done what's best for you. He even risked his life to kill Goliath. The LORD helped Israel win a great victory that day, and it made you happy."
    ⁶Saul agreed and promised, "I swear by the living LORD that I won't have David killed!"
    ⁷Jonathan called to David and told him what Saul had said. Then he brought David to Saul, and David served in Saul's army just as he had done before.
    ⁸The next time there was a war with the Philistines, David fought hard and forced them to retreat.
   

Michal Helps David Escape

 ^9-10One night, David was in Saul's home, playing the harp for him. Saul was sitting there, holding a spear, when an evil spirit from the LORD took control of him. Saul tried to pin David to the wall with the spear, but David dodged, and it stuck in the wall. David ran out of the house and escaped.     ¹¹Saul sent guards to watch David's house all night and then to kill him in the morning.
   Michal, David's wife, told him, "If you don't escape tonight, they'll kill you tomorrow!" ¹²She helped David go through a window and climb down to the ground. ^[e] As David ran off, ¹³Michal put a statue in his bed. She put goat hair on its head and dressed it in some of David's clothes. ¹⁴The next morning, Saul sent guards to arrest David. But Michal told them, "David is sick."
    ¹⁵Saul sent the guards back and told them, "Get David out of his bed and bring him to me, so I can have him killed."
    ¹⁶When the guards went in, all they found in the bed was the statue with the goat hair on its head.
    ¹⁷"Why have you tricked me this way?" Saul asked Michal. "You helped my enemy get away!"
   She answered, "He said he would kill me if I didn't help him escape!"
   

Samuel Helps David Escape

 ¹⁸Meanwhile, David went to Samuel at Ramah and told him what Saul had done. Then Samuel and David went to Prophets Village ^[f] and stayed there. ¹⁹Someone told Saul, "David is at Prophets Village in Ramah."     ²⁰Saul sent a few soldiers to bring David back. They went to Ramah and found Samuel in charge of a group of prophets who were all prophesying. Then the Spirit of God took control of the soldiers and they started prophesying too.
    ²¹When Saul heard what had happened, he sent another group of soldiers, but they prophesied the same way. He sent a third group of soldiers, but the same thing happened to them. ²²Finally, Saul left for Ramah himself. He went as far as the deep pit ^[g] at the town of Secu, and he asked, "Where are Samuel and David?" "At Prophets Village in Ramah," the people answered.
    ²³Saul left for Ramah. But as he walked along, the Spirit of God took control of him, and he started prophesying. Then, when he reached Prophets Village, ²⁴he stripped off his clothes and prophesied in front of Samuel. He dropped to the ground and lay there naked all day and night. That's how the saying started, "Is Saul now a prophet?"
   

Footnotes:

1. 1 Samuel 18:16 was loyal to: Or "loved."
2. 1 Samuel 18:22 not rich: It was the custom for a man to give the bride's father some silver or gold in order to marry his daughter, and it would take a large amount to marry the daughter of the king.
3. 1 Samuel 18:25 proof. . . Philistines: Hebrew "one hundred Philistine foreskins." In ancient times soldiers would sometimes cut off body parts of their dead enemies to prove how many they had killed.
4. 1 Samuel 18:28 she. . . David: Hebrew; one ancient translation "all Israel was loyal to David."
5. 1 Samuel 19:12 ground: The house was probably built into the town wall, allowing David to come down outside the wall.
6. 1 Samuel 19:18 Prophets Village: Or "Naioth."
7. 1 Samuel 19:22 pit: A cistern, a large pit dug down into the rock and used for storing rainwater.

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John 8:31-59 (Contemporary English Version)

The Truth Will Set You Free

 ³¹Jesus told the people who had faith in him, "If you keep on obeying what I have said, you truly are my disciples. ³²You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."     ³³They answered, "We are Abraham's children! We have never been anyone's slaves. How can you say we will be set free?"
    ³⁴Jesus replied:
   I tell you for certain that anyone who sins is a slave of sin! ³⁵And slaves don't stay in the family forever, though the Son will always remain in the family. ³⁶If the Son gives you freedom, you are free! ³⁷I know that you are from Abraham's family. Yet you want to kill me, because my message isn't really in your hearts. ³⁸I am telling you what my Father has shown me, just as you are doing what your father has taught you.
   

Your Father Is the Devil

 ³⁹The people said to Jesus, "Abraham is our father!"    Jesus replied, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do what Abraham did. ⁴⁰Instead, you want to kill me for telling you the truth that God gave me. Abraham never did anything like that. ⁴¹But you are doing exactly what your father does."
   "Don't accuse us of having someone else as our father!" they said. "We just have one father, and he is God."
    ⁴²Jesus answered:
   If God were your Father, you would love me, because I came from God and only from him. He sent me. I did not come on my own. ⁴³Why can't you understand what I am talking about? Can't you stand to hear what I am saying? ⁴⁴Your father is the devil, and you do exactly what he wants. He has always been a murderer and a liar. There is nothing truthful about him. He speaks on his own, and everything he says is a lie. Not only is he a liar himself, but he is also the father of all lies.
    ⁴⁵Everything I have told you is true, and you still refuse to have faith in me. ⁴⁶Can any of you accuse me of sin? If you cannot, why won't you have faith in me? After all, I am telling you the truth. ⁴⁷Anyone who belongs to God will listen to his message. But you refuse to listen, because you don't belong to God.
   

Jesus and Abraham

 ⁴⁸The people told Jesus, "We were right to say that you are a Samaritan ^[a] and that you have a demon in you!" ⁴⁹Jesus answered, "I don't have a demon in me. I honor my Father, and you refuse to honor me. ⁵⁰I don't want honor for myself. But there is one who wants me to be honored, and he is also the one who judges. ⁵¹I tell you for certain that if you obey my words, you will never die."     ⁵²Then the people said, "Now we are sure that you have a demon. Abraham is dead, and so are the prophets. How can you say that no one who obeys your words will ever die? ⁵³Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?"
    ⁵⁴Jesus replied, "If I honored myself, it would mean nothing. My Father is the one who honors me. You claim that he is your God, ⁵⁵even though you don't really know him. If I said I didn't know him, I would be a liar, just like all of you. But I know him, and I do what he says. ⁵⁶Your father Abraham was really glad to see me."
    ⁵⁷"You are not even fifty years old!" they said. "How could you have seen Abraham?"
    ⁵⁸Jesus answered, "I tell you for certain that even before Abraham was, I was, and I am." ^{[b] 59}The people picked up stones to kill Jesus, but he hid and left the temple.

Footnotes:

1. John 8:48 Samaritan: See 4.9 and the note there.
2. John 8:58 I am: See the note at 8.24.

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Psalm 112:1-10 (Contemporary English Version)

Psalm 112

God Blesses His Worshipers

 ¹Shout praises to the LORD!    The LORD blesses everyone
   who worships him and gladly
   obeys his teachings.
    ²Their descendants will have
   great power in the land,
   because the LORD blesses
   all who do right.
    ³They will get rich and prosper
   and will always be remembered
   for their fairness.
    ⁴They will be so kind
   and merciful and good,
   that they will be a light
   in the dark
   for others
   who do the right thing.
    ⁵Life will go well for those
   who freely lend
   and are honest in business.
    ⁶They won't ever be troubled,
   and the kind things they do
   will never be forgotten.
    ⁷Bad news won't bother them;
   they have decided
   to trust the LORD.
    ⁸They are dependable
   and not afraid,
   and they will live to see
   their enemies defeated.
    ⁹They will always be remembered
   and greatly praised,
   because they were kind
   and freely gave to the poor.
    ¹⁰When evil people see this,
   they angrily bite their tongues
   and disappear.
   They will never get
   what they really want.

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Proverbs 15:12-14 (Contemporary English Version)

¹²Those who sneer at others
   don't like to be corrected,
   and they won't ask help
   from someone with sense.
    ¹³Happiness makes you smile;
   sorrow can crush you.
    ¹⁴Anyone with good sense
   is eager to learn more,
   but fools are hungry
   for foolishness.

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Verse of the Day

“The LORD your God wins victory after victory and is always with you. He celebrates and sings because of you, and he will refresh your life with his love.” - Zephaniah 3:17

Today's passage is from the Contemporary English Version.

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Thought for the Day

 

American author, poet, philosopher, abolitionist, naturalist, tax resister, development critic, surveyor, and historian. A leading transcendentalis, Henry David Thoreau wrote, “Aim above morality. Be not simply good, be good for something.”