Bible Readings for March 7, 2019

Today our passages are Numbers 8-9:23; Mark 13:14-37; Psalm 50:1-23; and Proverbs 10:29-30. The readings are 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 by using the link below. 

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Numbers 8-9:23 (Contemporary English Version)

Numbers 8

Aaron Puts the Gold Lamps in Place

 ¹The LORD said to Moses, ²" Tell Aaron to put the seven lamps on the lampstand so they shine toward the front."     ³Aaron obeyed and placed the lamps as he was told. ⁴The lampstand was made of hammered gold from its base to the decorative flowers on top, exactly like the pattern the LORD had described to Moses.
    

Instructions for Ordaining the Levites

 ⁵The LORD said to Moses:     ⁶The Levites must be acceptable to me before they begin working at the sacred tent. So separate them from the rest of the Israelites ⁷and sprinkle them with the water that washes away their sins. Then have them shave their entire bodies and wash their clothes.
    ⁸They are to bring a bull and its proper grain sacrifice of flour mixed with olive oil. And they must bring a second bull as a sacrifice for sin.
    ⁹Then you, Moses, will call together all the people of Israel and have the Levites go to my sacred tent, ¹⁰where the people will place their hands on them. ¹¹Aaron will present the Levites to me as a gift from the people, so that the Levites will do my work.
    ¹²After this, the Levites are to place their hands on the heads of the bulls. Then one of the bulls will be sacrificed for the forgiveness of sin, and the other to make sure that I am pleased. ¹³The Levites will stand at my altar in front of Aaron and his sons, who will then dedicate the Levites to me.
    ¹⁴This ceremony will show that the Levites are different from the other Israelites and belong to me in a special way. ¹⁵After they have been made acceptable and have been dedicated, they will be allowed to work at my sacred tent. ¹⁶They are mine and will take the place of the first-born Israelite sons. ¹⁷When I killed the oldest sons of the Egyptians, I decided that the first-born sons in each Israelite family would be mine, as well as every first-born male from their flocks and herds. ¹⁸But now I have chosen these Levites as substitutes for the first-born sons, ¹⁹and I have given them as gifts to Aaron and his sons to serve at the sacred tent. I will hold them responsible for what happens to anyone who gets too close to the sacred tent. ^[a] 

The Levites Are Dedicated to the LORD

 ²⁰Moses, Aaron, and the other Israelites made sure that the Levites did everything the LORD had commanded. ²¹The Levites sprinkled themselves with the water of forgiveness and washed their clothes. Then Aaron brought them to the altar and offered sacrifices to forgive their sins and make them acceptable to the LORD. ²²After this, the Levites worked at the sacred tent as assistants to Aaron and his sons, just as the LORD had commanded.     ²³The LORD also told Moses, ^24-25" Levites who are between the ages of twenty-five and fifty can work at my sacred tent. But once they turn fifty, they must retire. ²⁶They may help the other Levites in their duties, but they must no longer be responsible for any work themselves. Remember this when you assign their duties."
    

Numbers 9

Regulations for Celebrating Passover

 ¹During the first month of Israel's second year in the Sinai Desert, ^[b] the LORD had told Moses ²to say to the people, " Celebrate Passover ³in the evening of the fourteenth day of this month ^[c] and do it by following all the regulations." ^4-5Moses told the people what the LORD had said, and they celebrated Passover there in the desert in the evening of the fourteenth day of the first month. ⁶Some people in Israel's camp had touched a dead body and had become unfit to worship the LORD, and they could not celebrate Passover. But they asked Moses and Aaron, ⁷" Even though we have touched a dead body, why can't we celebrate Passover and offer sacrifices to the LORD at the same time as everyone else?"     ⁸Moses said, " Wait here while I go into the sacred tent and find out what the LORD says about this."
    ⁹The LORD then told Moses ¹⁰to say to the community of Israel:
   If any of you or your descendants touch a dead body and become unfit to worship me, or if you are away on a long journey, you may still celebrate Passover. ¹¹But it must be done in the second month, ^[d] in the evening of the fourteenth day. Eat the Passover lamb with thin bread and bitter herbs, ¹²and don't leave any of it until morning or break any of the animal's bones. Be sure to follow these regulations. ¹³But if any of you refuse to celebrate Passover when you are not away on a journey, you will no longer belong to my people. You will be punished because you did not offer sacrifices to me at the proper time.
    ¹⁴Anyone, including foreigners who live among you, can celebrate Passover, if they follow all the regulations.     

The Cloud over the Sacred Tent

(Exodus 40.34-38)

 ^15-16As soon as the sacred tent was set up, ^[e] a thick cloud appeared and covered it. The cloud was there each day, and during the night, a fire could be seen in it. ^17-19The LORD used this cloud to tell the Israelites when to move their camp and where to set it up again. As long as the cloud covered the tent, the Israelites did not break camp. But when the cloud moved, they followed it, and wherever it stopped, they camped and stayed there, ^20-22whether it was only one night, a few days, a month, or even a year. As long as the cloud remained over the tent, the Israelites stayed where they were. But when the cloud moved, so did the Israelites. ²³They obeyed the LORD's commands and went wherever he directed Moses. 

Footnotes:

1. Numbers 8:19 I will hold. . . sacred tent: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
2. Numbers 9:1 first month. . . Sinai Desert: The book of Numbers begins in the second month of the second year (see 1.1), so 9.1-5 refers to a Passover celebration that had already taken place.
3. Numbers 9:3 this month: Abib (also called Nisan), the first month of the Hebrew calendar, from about mid-March to mid-April.
4. Numbers 9:11 second month: See the note at 1.1.
5. Numbers 9:15 As soon as the sacred tent was set up: According to Exodus 40.17, this took place " on the first day of the first month of the second year" of the Israelites' stay in the desert.

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Mark 13:14-37 (Contemporary English Version)

The Horrible Thing

(Matthew 24.15-21; Luke 21.20-24)

 ¹⁴Someday you will see that "Horrible Thing" where it should not be. ^[a] Everyone who reads this must try to understand! If you are living in Judea at that time, run to the mountains. ¹⁵If you are on the roof ^[b] of your house, don't go inside to get anything. ¹⁶If you are out in the field, don't go back for your coat. ¹⁷It will be an awful time for women who are expecting babies or nursing young children. ¹⁸Pray that it won't happen in winter. ^[c] ¹⁹This will be the worst time of suffering since God created the world, and nothing this terrible will ever happen again. ²⁰If the Lord doesn't make the time shorter, no one will be left alive. But because of his chosen and special ones, he will make the time shorter.     ²¹If someone should say, "Here is the Messiah!" or "There he is!" don't believe it. ²²False messiahs and false prophets will come and work miracles and signs. They will even try to fool God's chosen ones. ²³But be on your guard! That's why I am telling you these things now.     

When the Son of Man Appears

(Matthew 24.29-31; Luke 21.25-28)

 ²⁴In those days, right after that time of suffering,    "The sun will become dark,
   and the moon
   will no longer shine.
    ²⁵The stars will fall,
   and the powers in the sky ^[d]
   will be shaken."
    ²⁶Then the Son of Man will be seen coming in the clouds with great power and glory. ²⁷He will send his angels to gather his chosen ones from all over the earth.     

A Lesson from a Fig Tree

(Matthew 24.32-35; Luke 21.29-33)

 ²⁸Learn a lesson from a fig tree. When its branches sprout and start putting out leaves, you know summer is near. ²⁹So when you see all these things happening, you will know that the time has almost come. ^[e] ³⁰You can be sure that some of the people of this generation will still be alive when all this happens. ³¹The sky and the earth will not last forever, but my words will.     

No One Knows the Day or Time

(Matthew 24.36-44)

 ³²No one knows the day or the time. The angels in heaven don't know, and the Son himself doesn't know. Only the Father knows. ³³So watch out and be ready! You don't know when the time will come. ³⁴It is like what happens when a man goes away for a while and places his servants in charge of everything. He tells each of them what to do, and he orders the guard to keep alert. ³⁵So be alert! You don't know when the master of the house will come back. It could be in the evening or at midnight or before dawn or in the morning. ³⁶But if he comes suddenly, don't let him find you asleep. ³⁷I tell everyone just what I have told you. Be alert!     

Footnotes:

1. Mark 13:14 where it should not be: Probably the holy place in the temple.
2. Mark 13:15 roof: See the note at 2.4.
3. Mark 13:18 in winter: In Palestine the winters are cold and rainy and make travel difficult.
4. Mark 13:25 the powers in the sky: In ancient times people thought that the stars were spiritual powers.
5. Mark 13:29 the time has almost come: Or "he (that is, the Son of Man) will soon be here."

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Psalm 50:1-23 (Contemporary English Version)

Psalm 50

(A psalm by Asaph.)

What Pleases God

 ¹From east to west,    the powerful LORD God
   has been calling together
   everyone on earth.
    ²God shines brightly from Zion,
   the most beautiful city.
    ³Our God approaches,
   but not silently;
   a flaming fire comes first,
   and a storm surrounds him.
    ⁴God comes to judge his people.
   He shouts to the heavens
   and to the earth,
    ⁵"Call my followers together!
   They offered me a sacrifice,
   and we made an agreement."
    ⁶The heavens announce,
   "God is the judge,
   and he is always honest."
    ⁷My people, I am God!
   Israel, I am your God.
   Listen to my charges
   against you.
    ⁸Although you offer sacrifices
   and always bring gifts,
    ⁹I won't accept your offerings
   of bulls and goats.
    ¹⁰Every animal in the forest
   belongs to me,
   and so do the cattle
   on a thousand hills.
    ¹¹I know all the birds
   in the mountains,
   and every wild creature
   is in my care.
    ¹²If I were hungry,
   I wouldn't tell you,
   because I own the world
   and everything in it.
    ¹³I don't eat the meat of bulls
   or drink the blood of goats.
    ¹⁴I am God Most High!
   The only sacrifice I want
   is for you to be thankful
   and to keep your word.
    ¹⁵Pray to me in time of trouble.
   I will rescue you,
   and you will honor me.
    ¹⁶But to the wicked I say:
   "You don't have the right
   to mention my laws
   or claim
   to keep our agreement!
    ¹⁷You refused correction
   and rejected my commands.
    ¹⁸You made friends
   with every crook you met,
   and you liked people who break
   their wedding vows.
    ¹⁹You talked only about violence
   and told nothing but lies;
    ²⁰you sat around gossiping,
   ruining the reputation
   of your own relatives."
    ²¹When you did all of this,
   I didn't say a word,
   and you thought,
   "God is just like us!"
   But now I will accuse you.
    ²²You have ignored me!
   So pay close attention
   or I will tear you apart,
   and no one can help you.
    ²³The sacrifice that honors me
   is a thankful heart.
   Obey me, ^[a] and I, your God,
   will show my power to save.
    

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 50:23 Obey me: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.

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Proverbs 10:29-30 (Contemporary English Version)

²⁹The LORD protects everyone
   who lives right,
   but he destroys anyone
   who does wrong.
    ³⁰Good people will stand firm,
   but the wicked
   will lose their land.

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Verse of the Day

“Look deep into my heart, God, and find out everything I am thinking. Don't let me follow evil ways, but lead me in the way that time has proven true.” - Psalm 139:23-24 

Today's passage is from the Contemporary English Version.

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Thought for the Day

Associate Director of the Program in Placebo Studies and a lecturer in medicine at the Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Irving Kirsch wrote, “Anything that instills a sense of hope will at least temporarily help treat depression.”

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A Joke for Today

An artist asked the gallery owner if there had been any interest in her paintings that were on display.

"Well, I have good news and bad news," the owner responded. "The good news is that a gentleman noticed your work and wondered if it would appreciate in value after your death. I told him it would and he bought all 10 of your paintings."

"That's wonderful," the artist exclaimed. "What's the bad news?"

"The gentleman was your doctor." 

Bible Readings for March 3, 2019

Today our passages are Leviticus 27:14–Numbers 1:54; Mark 11:1-25; Psalm 46:1-11; and Proverbs 10:23. The readings are 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 by using the link below.

 

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Leviticus 27:14 - Numbers 1:54 (Contemporary English Version)

¹⁴If you promise a house to me, a priest will set the price, whatever the condition of the house. ¹⁵But if you decide to buy it back, you must pay an additional twenty percent.
    ¹⁶If you promise part of your family's land to me, its value must be determined by the bushels of seed needed to plant the land, and the rate will be ten pieces of silver for every bushel of seed. ¹⁷If this promise is made in the Year of Celebration, ^{a<="" value="[a]" >[]} the land will be valued at the full price. ¹⁸But any time after that, the price will be figured according to the number of years before the next Year of Celebration. ¹⁹If you decide to buy back the land, you must pay the price plus an additional twenty percent, ²⁰but you cannot buy it back once someone else has bought it. ²¹When the Year of Celebration comes, the land becomes holy because it belongs to me, and it will be given to the priests. ²²If you promise me a field that you have bought, ²³its value will be decided by a priest, according to the number of years before the next Year of Celebration, and the money you pay will be mine. ²⁴However, on the next Year of Celebration, the land will go back to the family of its original owner. ²⁵Every price will be set by the official standards.
    

Various Offerings

The LORD said:

 ²⁶All first-born animals of your flocks and herds are already mine, and so you cannot promise any of them to me. ²⁷If you promise me a donkey, ^[b<="">] you may buy it back by adding an additional twenty percent to its value. If you don't buy it back, it can be sold to someone else for whatever a priest has said it is worth. ²⁸Anything that you completely dedicate to me must be completely destroyed. ^[c<="">] It cannot be bought back or sold. Every person, animal, and piece of property that you dedicate completely is only for me. ²⁹In fact, any humans who have been promised to me in this way must be put to death. ³⁰Ten percent of everything you harvest is holy and belongs to me, whether it grows in your fields or on your fruit trees. ³¹If you want to buy back this part of your harvest, you may do so by paying what it is worth plus an additional twenty percent.     ³²When you count your flocks and herds, one out of ten of every newborn animal ^[d<="">] is holy and belongs to me, ³³no matter how good or bad it is. If you substitute one animal for another, both of them become holy, and neither can be bought back. ³⁴Moses was on Mount Sinai when the LORD gave him these laws for the people of Israel.
    

Numbers 1

The People of Israel Are Counted

 ¹The people of Israel had left Egypt and were living in the Sinai Desert. Then on the first day of the second month ^[e<="">] of the second year, Moses was in the sacred tent when the LORD said: ^2-3I want you and Aaron to find out how many people are in each of Israel's clans and families. And make a list of all the men twenty years and older who are able to fight in battle. ^4-15The following twelve family leaders, one from each tribe, will help you:    Elizur son of Shedeur
   from Reuben,
   Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai
   from Simeon,
   Nahshon son of Amminadab
   from Judah,
   Nethanel son of Zuar
   from Issachar,
   Eliab son of Helon
   from Zebulun,
   Elishama son of Ammihud
   from Ephraim,
   Gamaliel son of Pedahzur
   from Manasseh,
   Abidan son of Gideoni
   from Benjamin,
   Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai
   from Dan,
   Pagiel son of Ochran
   from Asher,
   Eliasaph son of Deuel
   from Gad,
   and Ahira son of Enan
   from Naphtali.
    ^16-17Moses and Aaron, together with these twelve tribal leaders, ¹⁸called together the people that same day. They were counted according to their clans and families. Then Moses and the others listed the names of the men twenty years and older, ¹⁹just as the LORD had commanded. ^20-46The number of men from each tribe who were at least twenty years old and strong enough to fight in Israel's army was as follows:
   46,500 from Reuben,
   the oldest son of Jacob, ^[f<="">] 59,300 from Simeon,
   45,650 from Gad,
   74,600 from Judah,
   54,400 from Issachar,
   57,400 from Zebulun,
   40,500 from Ephraim,
   32,200 from Manasseh,
   35,400 from Benjamin,
   62,700 from Dan,
   41,500 from Asher,
   53,400 from Naphtali.
   The total number of men registered by Moses, Aaron, and the twelve leaders was 603,550.
    ⁴⁷But those from the Levi tribe were not included ⁴⁸because the LORD had said to Moses:
    ⁴⁹When you count the Israelites, do not include those from the Levi tribe. ^50-51Instead, give them the job of caring for the sacred tent, its furnishings, and the objects used for worship. They will camp around the tent, and whenever you move, they will take it down, carry it to the new camp, and set it up again. Anyone else who tries to go near it must be put to death.
    ⁵²The rest of the Israelites will camp in their own groups and under their own banners. ⁵³But the Levites will camp around the sacred tent to make sure that no one goes near it and makes me furious with the Israelites.
    ⁵⁴The people of Israel did everything the LORD had commanded.
    

Footnotes:

1. Leviticus 27:17 Year of Celebration: See 25.8-34.
2. Leviticus 27:27 donkey: See the note at verse 11.
3. Leviticus 27:28 completely dedicate. . . completely destroyed: In order to show that something belonged completely to the LORD and could not be used by anyone else, it was destroyed. This law most often applied to towns and people captured in war (see Joshua 6.16,17).
4. Leviticus 27:32 one out of ten of every newborn animal: Or " one out of every ten animals."
5. Numbers 1:1 second month: Ziv, the second month of the Hebrew calendar, from about mid-April to mid-May.
6. Numbers 1:20 Jacob: The Hebrew text has " Israel," Jacob's name after God renamed him.

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Mark 11:1-25 (Contemporary English Version)

Mark 11

Jesus Enters Jerusalem

(Matthew 21.1-11; Luke 19.28-40; John 12.12-19)

 ¹Jesus and his disciples reached Bethphage and Bethany near the Mount of Olives. When they were getting close to Jerusalem, Jesus sent two of them on ahead. ²He told them, "Go into the next village. As soon as you enter it, you will find a young donkey that has never been ridden. Untie the donkey and bring it here. ³If anyone asks why you are doing that, say, `The Lord ^{a<="" value="[a]" >[]} needs it and will soon bring it back.' "     ⁴The disciples left and found the donkey tied near a door that faced the street. While they were untying it, ⁵some of the people standing there asked, "Why are you untying the donkey?" ⁶They told them what Jesus had said, and the people let them take it.
    ⁷The disciples led the donkey to Jesus. They put some of their clothes on its back, and Jesus got on. ⁸Many people spread clothes on the road, while others went to cut branches from the fields. ^{[b<="">]
    9}In front of Jesus and behind him, people went along shouting,
   "Hooray! ^[c<="">]
   God bless the one
   who comes
   in the name of the Lord!
    ¹⁰God bless the coming kingdom
   of our ancestor David.
   Hooray for God
   in heaven above!"
    ¹¹After Jesus had gone to Jerusalem, he went into the temple and looked around at everything. But since it was already late in the day, he went back to Bethany with the twelve disciples.     

Jesus Puts a Curse on a Fig Tree

(Matthew 21.18,19)

 ¹²When Jesus and his disciples left Bethany the next morning, he was hungry. ¹³From a distance Jesus saw a fig tree covered with leaves, and he went to see if there were any figs on the tree. But there were not any, because it wasn't the season for figs. ¹⁴So Jesus said to the tree, "Never again will anyone eat fruit from this tree!" The disciples heard him say this.     

Jesus in the Temple

(Matthew 21.12-17; Luke 19.45-48; John 2.13-22)

 ¹⁵After Jesus and his disciples reached Jerusalem, he went into the temple and began chasing out everyone who was selling and buying. He turned over the tables of the moneychangers and the benches of those who were selling doves. ¹⁶Jesus would not let anyone carry things through the temple. ¹⁷Then he taught the people and said, "The Scriptures say, `My house should be called a place of worship for all nations.' But you have made it a place where robbers hide!"     ¹⁸The chief priests and the teachers of the Law of Moses heard what Jesus said, and they started looking for a way to kill him. They were afraid of him, because the crowds were completely amazed at his teaching.
    ¹⁹That evening, Jesus and the disciples went outside the city.
    

A Lesson from the Fig Tree

(Matthew 21.20-22)

 ²⁰As the disciples walked past the fig tree the next morning, they noticed that it was completely dried up, roots and all. ²¹Peter remembered what Jesus had said to the tree. Then Peter said, "Teacher, look! The tree you put a curse on has dried up."     ²²Jesus told his disciples:
   Have faith in God! ²³If you have faith in God and don't doubt, you can tell this mountain to get up and jump into the sea, and it will. ²⁴Everything you ask for in prayer will be yours, if you only have faith.
    ^25-26Whenever you stand up to pray, you must forgive what others have done to you. Then your Father in heaven will forgive your sins. ^[d<="">]
    

Footnotes:

1. Mark 11:3 The Lord: Or "The master of the donkey."
2. Mark 11:8 spread. . . branches from the fields: This was one way that the Jewish people welcomed a famous person.
3. Mark 11:9 Hooray: This translates a word that can mean "please save us." But it is most often used as a shout of praise to God.
4. Mark 11:25 your sins: Some manuscripts add, "But if you do not forgive others, God will not forgive you."

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Psalm 46:1-11 (Contemporary English Version)

Psalm 46

(A special song for the people of Korah and for the music leader.)

God Is Our Mighty Fortress

 ¹God is our mighty fortress,    always ready to help
   in times of trouble.
    ²And so, we won't be afraid!
   Let the earth tremble
   and the mountains tumble
   into the deepest sea.
    ³Let the ocean roar and foam,
   and its raging waves
   shake the mountains.
    ⁴A river and its streams
   bring joy to the city,
   which is the sacred home
   of God Most High.
    ⁵God is in that city,
   and it won't be shaken.
   He will help it at dawn.
    ⁶Nations rage! Kingdoms fall!
   But at the voice of God
   the earth itself melts.
    ⁷The LORD All-Powerful
   is with us.
   The God of Jacob
   is our fortress.
    ⁸Come! See the fearsome things
   the LORD has done on earth.
    ⁹God brings wars to an end
   all over the world.
   He breaks the arrows,
   shatters the spears,
   and burns the shields. ^{a<="" value="[a]" >[] 10}Our God says, "Calm down,
   and learn that I am God!
   All nations on earth
   will honor me."
    ¹¹The LORD All-Powerful
   is with us.
   The God of Jacob
   is our fortress.
    

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 46:9 shields: Or " chariots."

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Proverbs 10:23 (Contemporary English Version)

²³Fools enjoy doing wrong,
   but anyone with good sense
   enjoys acting wisely.

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Verse of the Day

“The LORD says: "My thoughts and my ways are not like yours. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, my thoughts and my ways are higher than yours.” - Isaiah 55:8-9 

Today's passage is from the Contemporary English Version.

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Thought for the Day

Norwegian economist and the co-recipient of the first Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1969, Ragnar Frisch wrote, “Deep in the human nature, there is an almost irresistible tendency to concentrate physical and mental energy on attempts at solving problems that seem to be unsolvable. Indeed, for some kinds of active people, only the seemingly unsolvable problems can arouse their interest.”

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A Joke for Today

A third-grade teacher was instructing her students in some of the wonders of nature and ended by saying, "Isn't it wonderful how baby chickens get out of their shells?" 

An eight-year-old, showing more curiosity than the rest said, "What gets me is how they got in."

Bible Readings for March 2, 2019

Today our passages are Leviticus 25:47–27:13; Mark 10:32-52; Psalm 45:1-17; and Proverbs 10:22. The readings are 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 by using the link below.

 

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Leviticus 25:47-27:13 (Contemporary English Version)

⁴⁷Even if some of you Israelites become so much in debt that you must sell yourselves to foreigners in your country, ⁴⁸you still have the right to be set free by a relative, such as a brother ⁴⁹or uncle or cousin, or some other family member. In fact, if you ever get enough money, you may buy your own freedom ⁵⁰by paying your owner for the number of years you would still be a slave before the next Year of Celebration. ^51-52The longer the time until then, the more you will have to pay. ⁵³And even while you are the slaves of foreigners in your own country, your people must make sure that you are not mistreated. ⁵⁴If you cannot gain your freedom in any of these ways, both you and your children will still be set free in the Year of Celebration. ⁵⁵People of Israel, I am the LORD your God, and I brought you out of Egypt to be my own servants.
    

Leviticus 26

Blessings for Obeying the LORD

The LORD said:

 ¹I am the LORD your God! So don't make or worship any sort of idols or images. ²Respect the Sabbath and honor the place where I am worshiped, because I am the LORD.     ³Faithfully obey my laws, ⁴and I will send rain to make your crops grow and your trees produce fruit. ⁵Your harvest of grain and grapes will be so abundant, that you won't know what to do with it all. You will eat and be satisfied, and you will live in safety. ⁶I will bless your country with peace, and you will rest without fear. I will wipe out the dangerous animals and protect you from enemy attacks. ⁷You will chase and destroy your enemies, ⁸even if there are only five of you and a hundred of them, or only a hundred of you and ten thousand of them. ⁹I will treat you with such kindness that your nation will grow strong, and I will also keep my promises to you. ¹⁰Your barns will overflow with grain each year. ¹¹I will live among you and never again look on you with disgust. ¹²I will walk with you--I will be your God, and you will be my people. ¹³I am the LORD your God, and I rescued you from Egypt, so that you would never again be slaves. I have set you free; now walk with your heads held high.     

Punishment for Disobeying the LORD

The LORD said:

 ^14-15If you disobey me and my laws, and if you break our agreement, ¹⁶I will punish you terribly, and you will be ruined. You will be struck with incurable diseases and with fever that leads to blindness and depression. Your enemies will eat the crops you plant, ¹⁷and I will turn from you and let you be destroyed by your attackers. You will even run at the very rumor of attack. ¹⁸Then, if you still refuse to obey me, I will punish you seven times for each of your sins, ¹⁹until your pride is completely crushed. I will hold back the rain, so the sky above you will be like iron, and the ground beneath your feet will be like copper. ²⁰All of your hard work will be for nothing--and there will be no harvest of grain or fruit.     ²¹If you keep rebelling against me, I'll punish you seven times worse, just as your sins deserve! ²²I'll send wild animals to attack you, and they will gobble down your children and livestock. So few of you will be left that your roads will be deserted.
    ²³If you remain my enemies after this, ²⁴I'll remain your enemy and punish you even worse. ²⁵War will break out because you broke our agreement, and if you escape to your walled cities, I'll punish you with horrible diseases, and you will be captured by your enemies. ²⁶You will have such a shortage of bread, that ten women will be able to bake their bread in the same oven. Each of you will get only a few crumbs, and you will go hungry.
    ²⁷Then if you don't stop rebelling, ²⁸I'll really get furious and punish you terribly for your sins! ²⁹In fact, you will be so desperate for food that you will eat your own children. ³⁰I'll destroy your shrines and tear down your incense altars, leaving your dead bodies piled on top of your idols. And you will be disgusting to me. ³¹I'll wipe out your towns and your places of worship and will no longer be pleased with the smell of your sacrifices. ³²Your land will become so desolate that even your enemies who settle there will be shocked when they see it. ³³After I destroy your towns and ruin your land with war, I'll scatter you among the nations.
    ^34-35While you are prisoners in foreign lands, your own land will enjoy years of rest and refreshment, as it should have done each seventh year when you lived there. ^36-37In the land of your enemies, you will tremble at the rustle of a leaf, as though it were a sword. And you will become so weak that you will stumble and fall over each other, even when no one is chasing you. ³⁸Many of you will die in foreign lands, ³⁹and others of you will waste away in sorrow as the result of your sins and the sins of your ancestors.
    ^40-41Then suppose you realize that I turned against you and brought you to the land of your enemies because both you and your ancestors had stubbornly sinned against me. If you humbly confess what you have done and start living right, ⁴²I'll keep the promise I made to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will bless your land ⁴³and let it rest during the time that you are in a foreign country, paying for your rebellion against me and my laws.
    ⁴⁴No matter what you have done, I am still the LORD your God, and I will never completely reject you or become absolutely disgusted with you there in the land of your enemies. ⁴⁵While nations watched, I rescued your ancestors from Egypt so that I would be their God. Yes, I am your LORD, and I will never forget our agreement.
    ⁴⁶Moses was on Mount Sinai when the LORD gave him these laws and teachings for the people of Israel.
    

Leviticus 27

Making Promises to the LORD

 ¹The LORD told Moses ²to say to the community of Israel:    If you ever want to free someone who has been promised to me, ^3-7you may do so by paying the following amounts, weighed according to the official standards:
   fifty pieces of silver for men ages twenty to sixty,
   and thirty pieces for women;
   twenty pieces of silver for young men
   ages five to twenty,
   and ten pieces for young women;
   fifteen pieces of silver for men
   ages sixty and above and ten pieces for women;
   five pieces of silver for boys
   ages one month to five years, and three pieces for girls.
    ⁸If you have promised to give someone to me and can't afford to pay the full amount for that person's release, you will be taken to a priest, and he will decide how much you can afford.
    ⁹If you promise to sacrifice an animal to me, it becomes holy, and there is no way you can set it free. ¹⁰If you try to substitute any other animal, no matter how good, for the one you promised, they will both become holy and must be sacrificed. ¹¹Donkeys are unfit for sacrifice, so if you promise me a donkey, ^{a<="" value="[a]" >[]} you must bring it to the priest, ¹²and let him determine its value. ¹³But if you want to buy it back, you must pay an additional twenty percent. 

Footnotes:

1. Leviticus 27:11 Donkeys. . . donkey: The Hebrew text has " If you promise me an unclean animal," which probably refers to a donkey (see Exodus 13.13; 34.20).

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Mark 10:32-52 (Contemporary English Version)

Jesus Again Tells about His Death

(Matthew 20.17-19; Luke 18.31-34)

 ³²The disciples were confused as Jesus led them toward Jerusalem, and his other followers were afraid. Once again, Jesus took the twelve disciples aside and told them what was going to happen to him. He said:     ³³We are now on our way to Jerusalem where the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the teachers of the Law of Moses. They will sentence him to death and hand him over to foreigners, ^{a<="" value="[a]" >[] 34}who will make fun of him and spit on him. They will beat him and kill him. But three days later he will rise to life.     

The Request of James and John

(Matthew 20.20-28)

 ³⁵James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came up to Jesus and asked, "Teacher, will you do us a favor?"     ³⁶Jesus asked them what they wanted, ³⁷and they answered, "When you come into your glory, please let one of us sit at your right side and the other at your left." ^{[b<="">]
    38}Jesus told them, "You don't really know what you're asking! Are you able to drink from the cup ^[c<="">] that I must soon drink from or be baptized as I must be baptized?" ^{[d<="">]
    39}"Yes, we are!" James and John answered.
   Then Jesus replied, "You certainly will drink from the cup from which I must drink. And you will be baptized just as I must! ⁴⁰But it isn't for me to say who will sit at my right side and at my left. That is for God to decide."
    ⁴¹When the ten other disciples heard this, they were angry with James and John. ⁴²But Jesus called the disciples together and said:
   You know that those foreigners who call themselves kings like to order their people around. And their great leaders have full power over the people they rule. ⁴³But don't act like them. If you want to be great, you must be the servant of all the others. ⁴⁴And if you want to be first, you must be everyone's slave. ⁴⁵The Son of Man did not come to be a slave master, but a slave who will give his life to rescue ^[e<="">] many people.     

Jesus Heals Blind Bartimaeus

(Matthew 20.29-34; Luke 18.35-43)

 ⁴⁶Jesus and his disciples went to Jericho. And as they were leaving, they were followed by a large crowd. A blind beggar by the name of Bartimaeus son of Timaeus was sitting beside the road. ⁴⁷When he heard that it was Jesus from Nazareth, he shouted, "Jesus, Son of David, ^[f<="">] have pity on me!" ⁴⁸Many people told the man to stop, but he shouted even louder, "Son of David, have pity on me!"     ⁴⁹Jesus stopped and said, "Call him over!"
   They called out to the blind man and said, "Don't be afraid! Come on! He is calling for you." ⁵⁰The man threw off his coat as he jumped up and ran to Jesus.
    ⁵¹Jesus asked, "What do you want me to do for you?"
   The blind man answered, "Master, ^[g<="">] I want to see!"
    ⁵²Jesus told him, "You may go. Your eyes are healed because of your faith."
   Right away the man could see, and he went down the road with Jesus.
    

Footnotes:

1. Mark 10:33 foreigners: The Romans who ruled Judea at this time.
2. Mark 10:37 right side. . . left: The most powerful people in a kingdom sat at the right and left side of the king.
3. Mark 10:38 drink from the cup: In the Scriptures a "cup" is sometimes used as a symbol of suffering. To "drink from the cup" would be to suffer.
4. Mark 10:38 as I must be baptized: Baptism is used with the same meaning that "cup" has in this verse.
5. Mark 10:45 rescue: The Greek word often, though not always, means the payment of a price to free a slave or a prisoner.
6. Mark 10:47 Son of David: The Jewish people expected the Messiah to be from the family of King David, and for this reason the Messiah was often called the "Son of David."
7. Mark 10:51 Master: A Hebrew word that may also mean "Teacher."

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Psalm 45:1-17 (Contemporary English Version)

Psalm 45

(A special psalm for the people of Korah and for the music leader. To the tune "Lilies." A love song.)

For a Royal Wedding

 ¹My thoughts are filled    with beautiful words
   for the king,
   and I will use my voice
   as a writer would use
   pen and ink.
    ²No one is as handsome as you!
   Your words are always kind.
   That is why God
   will always bless you.
    ³Mighty king, glorious ruler,
   strap on your sword
    ⁴and ride out in splendor!
   Win victories for truth
   and mercy and justice.
   Do fearsome things
   with your powerful arm.
    ⁵Send your sharp arrows
   through enemy hearts
   and make all nations fall
   at your feet.
    ⁶You are God, and you will rule
   forever as king. ^{a<="" value="[a]" >[]} Your royal power
   brings about justice.
    ⁷You love justice and hate evil.
   And so, your God chose you
   and made you happier
   than any of your friends.
    ⁸The sweet aroma of the spices
   myrrh, aloes, and cassia,
   covers your royal robes.
   You enjoy the music of harps
   in palaces decorated
   with ivory.
    ⁹Daughters of kings are here,
   and your bride stands
   at your right side,
   wearing a wedding gown
   trimmed with pure gold. ^[b<="">] 10Bride of the king,
   listen carefully to me.
   Forget your own people
   and your father's family.
    ¹¹The king is your husband,
   so do what he desires.
    ¹²All of the richest people
   from the city of Tyre
   will try to influence you
    ¹³with precious treasures.
   Your bride, my king,
   has inward beauty, ^[c<="">] and her wedding gown is woven
   with threads of gold.
    ¹⁴Wearing the finest garments,
   she is brought to you,
   followed by her young friends,
   the bridesmaids.
    ¹⁵Everyone is excited,
   as they follow you
   to the royal palace.
    ¹⁶Your sons and your grandsons
   will also be kings
   as your ancestors were.
   You will make them the rulers
   everywhere on earth.
    ¹⁷I will make your name famous
   from now on,
   and you will be praised
   forever and ever.
    

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 45:6 You. . . king: Or " God has made you king, and you will rule forever."
2. Psalm 45:9 trimmed with pure gold: Hebrew has " with gold from Ophir," which may have been in Africa or India. Gold from there was considered the very best.
3. Psalm 45:13 has inward beauty: Or " is dressed in her room."

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Proverbs 10:22 (Contemporary English Version)

²²When the LORD blesses you
   with riches,
   you have nothing to regret. ^{a<="" value="[a]" >[]} 

Footnotes:

1. Proverbs 10:22 When. . . regret: Or " No matter how hard you work, your riches really come From the LORD."

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Verse of the Day

 

“But he knows what I am doing, and when he tests me, I will be pure as gold. I have never refused to follow any of his commands,” - Job 23:10-11 

Today's passage is from the Contemporary English Version.

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Thought for the Day

British journalist, editor, poet, playwright, amateur actor, orator, and Methodist, George Linnaeus Banks wrote, “For the cause that lacks assistance, the wrong that needs resistance, for the future in the distance, and the good that I can do.”

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A Joke for Today

A fifteen year-old boy came home with a Porsche and his parents began to scream, "Where did you get that car???!!!" He calmly told them, "I bought it today."

"With what money?" demanded his parents. "We know what a Porsche costs."

"Well," said the boy, "this one cost me fifteen dollars."

So the parents began to yell even louder. "Who would sell a car like that for fifteen dollars?" they said.

"It was the lady up the street," said the boy." I don't know her name--they just moved in. She saw me ride past on my bike and asked me if I wanted to buy a Porsche for fifteen dollars."

"Oh No," moaned the mother, "she must be a child abuser. Who knows what she will do next? John, you go right up there and see what's going on."

So the boy's father walked up the street to the house where the lady lived and found her out in the yard calmly planting petunias! He introduced himself as the father of the boy to whom she had sold a Porsche for fifteen dollars and demanded to know why she did it.

"Well," she said, "this morning I got a phone call from my husband. I thought he was on a business trip, but it seems he has run off to Hawaii with his secretary and doesn't intend to come back. He asked me to sell his new Porsche and send him the money. So I did."