Bible Readings for June 3, 2019

Today our passages are 2 Samuel 20:14–22:20; Acts 1:1-26; Psalm 121:1-8; and Proverbs 16:18. 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 by using the link below. 

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2 Samuel 20:14-22:20 (Contemporary English Version)

Sheba Hides Out in the Town of Abel

 ¹⁴Sheba had gone through all of the tribes of Israel when he came to the town of Abel Beth-Maacah. All of his best soldiers ^{a<="" value="[a]" >[]} met him there and followed him into the town. ¹⁵Joab and his troops came and surrounded Abel, so that no one could go in or come out. They made a dirt ramp up to the town wall and then started to use a battering ram to knock the wall down.     

A Wise Woman Saves the Town

 ¹⁶A wise woman shouted from the top of the wall, ^[b<="">] "Listen to me! Listen to me! I have to talk to Joab! Tell him to come here!" ¹⁷When he came, the woman said, "Are you Joab?" "Yes, I am," he answered.    She said, "Please, listen to what I have to say."
   "All right," he said. "I'll listen."
    ¹⁸She said, "Long ago people used to say, `If you want good advice, go to the town of Abel to get it.' The answers they got here were all that was needed to settle any problem. ¹⁹We are Israelites, and we want peace! You can trust us. Why are you trying to destroy a town that's like a mother in Israel? Why do you want to wipe out the LORD's people?"
    ²⁰Joab answered, "No, no! I'm not trying to wipe you out or destroy your town! ²¹That's not it at all. There's a man in your town from the hill country of Ephraim. His name is Sheba, and he is the leader of a rebellion against King David. Turn him over to me, and we will leave your town alone."
   The woman told Joab, "We will throw his head over the wall."
    ²²She went to the people of the town and talked them into doing it. They cut off Sheba's head and threw it to Joab.
   Joab blew a signal on his trumpet, and the soldiers returned to their homes. Joab went back to David in Jerusalem.     

Another List of David's Officials (20.23 Another List of David's Officials: See also the list in 8.16,17.)

 ²³Joab was the commander of Israel's entire army.    Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was in command of David's bodyguard. ^[c<="">] 24Adoram ^[d<="">] was in charge of the slave-labor force. Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud kept government records.
    ²⁵Sheva was the secretary.
   Zadok and Abiathar were the priests.
    ²⁶Ira from Jair was David's priest.
    

2 Samuel 21

The Gibeonites Hang Saul's Descendants

 ¹While David was king, there were three years in a row when the nation of Israel could not grow enough food. So David asked the LORD for help, and the LORD answered, "Saul and his family are guilty of murder, because he had the Gibeonites killed."     ²The Gibeonites were not Israelites; they were descendants of the Amorites. The people of Israel had promised not to kill them, ^[e<="">] but Saul had tried to kill them because he wanted Israel and Judah to control all the land. David had the Gibeonites come, and he talked with them. ³He said, "What can I do to make up for what Saul did, so that you'll ask the LORD to be kind to his people again?" ^[f<="">] 4The Gibeonites answered, "Silver and gold from Saul and his family are not enough. On the other hand, we don't have the right to put any Israelite to death."
   David said, "I'll do whatever you ask." ^[g<="">] 5They replied, "Saul tried to kill all our people so that none of us would be left in the land of Israel. ⁶Give us seven of his descendants. We will hang ^[h<="">] these men near the place where the LORD is worshiped in Gibeah, the hometown of Saul, the LORD's chosen king." "I'll give them to you," David said.
    ⁷David had made a promise to Jonathan with the LORD as his witness, so he spared Jonathan's son Mephibosheth, the grandson of Saul. ⁸But Saul and Rizpah the daughter of Aiah had two sons named Armoni and Mephibosheth. Saul's daughter Merab ^[i<="">] had five sons whose father was Adriel the son of Barzillai from Meholah. ^[j<="">] David took Rizpah's two sons and Merab's five sons and ⁹turned them over to the Gibeonites, who hanged ^[k<="">] all seven of them on the mountain near the place where the LORD was worshiped. This happened right at the beginning of the barley harvest. ^[l<="">] 

Rizpah Takes Care of the Bodies

 ¹⁰Rizpah spread out some sackcloth ^[m<="">] on a nearby rock. She wouldn't let the birds land on the bodies during the day, and she kept the wild animals away at night. She stayed there from the beginning of the harvest until it started to rain. ^[n<="">]

The Burial of Saul and His Descendants

 ^11-12Earlier the Philistines had killed Saul and Jonathan on Mount Gilboa and had hung their bodies in the town square at Beth-Shan. The people of Jabesh in Gilead had secretly taken the bodies away, but David found out what Saul's wife ^[o<="">] Rizpah had done, and he went to the leaders of Jabesh to get the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan. ^13-14David had their bones taken to the land of Benjamin and buried in a side room in Saul's family burial place. Then he gave orders for the bones of the men who had been hanged ^[p<="">] to be buried there. It was done, and God answered prayers to bless the land.

The Descendants of the Rephaim

(1 Chronicles 20.4-8)

 ¹⁵One time David got very tired when he and his soldiers were fighting the Philistines. ¹⁶One of the Philistine warriors was Ishbibenob, who was a descendant of the Rephaim, ^[q<="">] and he tried to kill David. Ishbibenob was armed with a new sword, ^[r<="">] and his bronze spearhead ^[s<="">] alone weighed seven and a half pounds. ¹⁷But Abishai ^[t<="">]came to the rescue and killed the Philistine. David's soldiers told him, "We can't let you risk your life in battle anymore! You give light to our nation, and we want that flame to keep burning."     ¹⁸There was another battle with the Philistines at Gob, where Sibbecai from Hushah killed a descendant of the Rephaim named Saph.
    ¹⁹There was still another battle with the Philistines at Gob. A soldier named Elhanan killed Goliath ^[u<="">] from Gath, whose spear shaft was like a weaver's beam. ^[v<="">] Elhanan's father was Jari ^[w<="">] from Bethlehem. ²⁰There was another war, this time in Gath. One of the enemy soldiers was a descendant of the Rephaim. He was as big as a giant and had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot. ²¹But when he made fun of Israel, David's nephew Jonathan killed him. Jonathan was the son of David's brother Shimei.
    ²²David and his soldiers killed these four men who were descendants of the Rephaim from Gath.
    

2 Samuel 22

David Sings to the LORD

(Psalm 18.1-50)

 ¹David sang a song to the LORD after the LORD had rescued him from his enemies, especially Saul. These are the words to David's song:     ²Our LORD and our God,
   you are my mighty rock, ^[x<="">] my fortress, my protector.
    ³You are the rock
   where I am safe.
   You are my shield,
   my powerful weapon, ^[y<="">] and my place of shelter.
   You rescue me and keep me
   from being hurt.
    ⁴I praise you, our LORD!
   I prayed to you,
   and you rescued me
   from my enemies.
    ⁵Death, like ocean waves,
   surrounded me,
   and I was almost swallowed
   by its flooding waters.
    ⁶Ropes from the world
   of the dead
   had coiled around me,
   and death had set a trap
   in my path.
    ⁷I was in terrible trouble
   when I called out to you,
   but from your temple
   you heard me
   and answered my prayer.
    ⁸Earth shook and shivered!
   The columns supporting the sky ^[z<="">] rocked back and forth.
   You were angry
    ⁹and breathed out smoke.
   Scorching heat and fiery flames
   spewed from your mouth.
    ¹⁰You opened the heavens
   like curtains,
   and you came down
   with storm clouds
   under your feet.
    ¹¹You rode on the backs
   of flying creatures. ^[aa<="">] You appeared ^[ab<="">] with the wind as wings.
    ¹²Darkness was your tent!
   Thunderclouds filled the sky,
   hiding you from sight.
    ¹³Fiery coals lit up the sky
   in front of you.
    ¹⁴LORD Most High, your voice
   thundered from the heavens.
    ¹⁵You scattered your enemies
   with arrows of lightning.
    ¹⁶You roared at the sea,
   and its deepest channels
   could be seen.
   You snorted,
   and the earth shook
   to its foundations.
    ¹⁷You reached down from heaven,
   and you lifted me
   from deep in the ocean.
    ¹⁸You rescued me from enemies
   who were hateful
   and too powerful for me.
    ¹⁹On the day disaster struck,
   they came and attacked,
   but you defended me.
    ²⁰When I was fenced in,
   you freed and rescued me
   because you love me.
    

Footnotes:

1. 2 Samuel 20:14 best soldiers: One ancient translation; the difficult Hebrew text may mean either "Berites" or "Bichrites," Sheba's relatives.
2. 2 Samuel 20:16 the top of the wall: Or "the town."
3. 2 Samuel 20:23 David's bodyguard: See the note at 8.18.
4. 2 Samuel 20:24 Adoram: One ancient translation "Adoniram" (see 1 Kings 4.1-6; 5.14).
5. 2 Samuel 21:2 promised. . . them: See Joshua 9.3-27.
6. 2 Samuel 21:3 ask. . . again: Saul's guilt had become a curse on Israel that had resulted in famine. For the effects of this curse to be removed, the Gibeonites would have to ask the LORD to be kind to Israel.
7. 2 Samuel 21:4 I'll. . . ask: Or "What are you asking me to do for you?"
8. 2 Samuel 21:6 hang: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
9. 2 Samuel 21:8 Merab: Some Hebrew manuscripts and some manuscripts of one ancient translation. Most other manuscripts have "Michal," Saul's daughter who was one of David's wives, but she never had any children (see 2 Samuel 6.23). According to 1 Samuel 18.19, Merab was Saul's daughter, and she married Adriel from Meholah.
10. 2 Samuel 21:8 Meholah: Also known as Abel-Meholah.
11. 2 Samuel 21:9 hanged: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
12. 2 Samuel 21:9 This. . . harvest: This would have been late in April.
13. 2 Samuel 21:10 sackcloth: See the note at 3.31.
14. 2 Samuel 21:10 started to rain: This may have been the beginning of the rainy season in September or October. It usually didn't rain from May to September. Or, it may have been a sign that now there would be enough rain again.
15. 2 Samuel 21:11 wife: See the note at 3.7.
16. 2 Samuel 21:13 hanged: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
17. 2 Samuel 21:16 Rephaim: This may refer to a group of people that lived in Palestine before the Israelites and who were famous for their large size.
18. 2 Samuel 21:16 new sword: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
19. 2 Samuel 21:16 spearhead: Or "helmet."
20. 2 Samuel 21:17 Abishai: David's nephew, the brother of Joab.
21. 2 Samuel 21:19 Goliath: According to 1 Chronicles 20.5, Elhanan killed the brother of Goliath.
22. 2 Samuel 21:19 weaver's beam: A large wooden rod used by a weaver when making cloth.
23. 2 Samuel 21:19 Jari: Or "Jaare."
24. 2 Samuel 22:2 mighty rock: The Hebrew text has "rock," which is sometimes used in poetry to compare the LORD to a mountain where his people can run for protection from their enemies.
25. 2 Samuel 22:3 powerful weapon: The Hebrew has "the horn," which refers to the horn of a bull, one of the most powerful animals in ancient Palestine.
26. 2 Samuel 22:8 columns. . . sky: The sky was sometimes described as a dome that was held up by a foundation or pillars.
27. 2 Samuel 22:11 flying creatures: These were supernatural beings (see the note at 6.2).
28. 2 Samuel 22:11 appeared: Most Hebrew manuscripts; some Hebrew manuscripts "swooped down" (see Psalm 18.10).

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Acts 1:1-26 (Contemporary English Version)

Acts 1

 ¹Theophilus, I first wrote to you ^{a<="" value="[a]" >[]} about all that Jesus did and taught from the very first ²until he was taken up to heaven. But before he was taken up, he gave orders to the apostles he had chosen with the help of the Holy Spirit. ³For forty days after Jesus had suffered and died, he proved in many ways that he had been raised from death. He appeared to his apostles and spoke to them about God's kingdom. ⁴While he was still with them, he said:   Don't leave Jerusalem yet. Wait here for the Father to give you the Holy Spirit, just as I told you he has promised to do. ⁵John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.  

Jesus Is Taken to Heaven

 ⁶While the apostles were still with Jesus, they asked him, "Lord, are you now going to give Israel its own king again?" ^[b<="">] 7Jesus said to them, "You don't need to know the time of those events that only the Father controls. ⁸But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world." ⁹After Jesus had said this and while they were watching, he was taken up into a cloud. They could not see him, ¹⁰but as he went up, they kept looking up into the sky.    Suddenly two men dressed in white clothes were standing there beside them. ¹¹They said, "Why are you men from Galilee standing here and looking up into the sky? Jesus has been taken to heaven. But he will come back in the same way that you have seen him go." 

Someone To Take the Place of Judas

 ^12-13The Mount of Olives was about half a mile from Jerusalem. The apostles who had gone there were Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon, known as the Eager One, ^[c<="">] and Judas the son of James. After the apostles returned to the city, they went upstairs to the room where they had been staying.     ¹⁴The apostles often met together and prayed with a single purpose in mind. ^[d<="">] The women and Mary the mother of Jesus would meet with them, and so would his brothers. ¹⁵One day there were about one hundred twenty of the Lord's followers meeting together, and Peter stood up to speak to them. ^16-17He said: My friends, long ago by the power of the Holy Spirit, David said something about Judas, and what he said has now happened. Judas was one of us and had worked with us, but he brought the mob to arrest Jesus. ¹⁸Then Judas bought some land with the money he was given for doing that evil thing. He fell headfirst into the field. His body burst open, and all his insides came out. ¹⁹When the people of Jerusalem found out about this, they called the place Akeldama, which in the local language means "Field of Blood."
    ²⁰In the book of Psalms it says,
   "Leave his house empty,
   and don't let anyone
   live there."
   It also says,
   "Let someone else
   have his job."
    ^21-22So we need someone else to help us tell others that Jesus has been raised from death. He must also be one of the men who was with us from the very beginning. He must have been with us from the time the Lord Jesus was baptized by John until the day he was taken to heaven.
    ²³Two men were suggested: One of them was Joseph Barsabbas, known as Justus, and the other was Matthias. ²⁴Then they all prayed, "Lord, you know what everyone is like! Show us the one you have chosen ²⁵to be an apostle and to serve in place of Judas, who got what he deserved." ²⁶They drew names, and Matthias was chosen to join the group of the eleven apostles.
    

Footnotes:

1. Acts 1:1 I first wrote to you: The Gospel of Luke.
2. Acts 1:6 are you now going to give Israel its own king again: Or "Are you now going to rule Israel as its king?"
3. Acts 1:12 Eager One: The Greek text has "Zealot," a name later given to the members of the Jewish group that resisted and fought against the Romans.
4. Acts 1:14 met together and prayed with a single purpose in mind: Or "met together in a special place for prayer."

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Psalm 121:1-8 (Contemporary English Version)

Psalm 121

(A song for worship.)

The LORD Will Protect His People

 ¹I look to the hills!    Where will I find help?
    ²It will come from the LORD,
   who created the heavens
   and the earth.
    ³The LORD is your protector,
   and he won't go to sleep
   or let you stumble.
    ⁴The protector of Israel
   doesn't doze
   or ever get drowsy.
    ⁵The LORD is your protector,
   there at your right side
   to shade you from the sun.
    ⁶You won't be harmed
   by the sun during the day
   or by the moon ^{a<="" value="[a]" >[]} at night. ⁷The LORD will protect you
   and keep you safe
   from all dangers.
    ⁸The LORD will protect you
   now and always
   wherever you go.
    

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 121:6 harmed. . . sun. . . moon: In ancient times people saw the harmful effects of the rays of the sun, and they thought that certain illnesses (especially mental disorders) were also caused by the rays of the moon.

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Proverbs 16:18 (Contemporary English Version)

¹⁸Too much pride
   will destroy you.

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Verse of the Day

“[The LORD Sees Everything]A kind answer soothes angry feelings, but harsh words stir them up.” - Proverbs 15:1 

Today's passage is from the Contemporary English Version.

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Thought for the Day

American attorney, politician, liberal activist, and actor, Dudley Field Malone wrote, “I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me.”

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A Joke for Today

A rabbit one day managed to break free from the laboratory where he had been born and brought up. As he scurried away from the fencing of the compound, he felt grass under his little feet and saw the dawn breaking for the first time in his life.

“Wow, this is great,” he thought. It wasn’t long before he came to a hedge and after squeezing under it he saw a wonderful sight – lots of other bunny rabbits, all free and nibbling at the lush grass.

“Hey,” he called. “I’m a rabbit from the laboratory and I’ve just escaped. Are you wild rabbits?”

“Yes. Come and join us,” they cried. Our friend hopped over to them and started eating the grass. It tasted so good. “What else do you wild rabbits do?” he asked.

“Well,” one of them said. “You see that field there? It’s got carrots growing in it. We dig them up and eat them.” This, he couldn’t resist and he spent the next hour eating the most succulent carrots. They were wonderful. Later, he asked them again, “What else do you do?”

“You see that field there? It’s got lettuce growing in it. We eat that as well.” The lettuce tasted just as good and he returned a while later completely full.

“It’s fantastic out here in the world,” he told them.

“So are you going to live with us then?” one of them asked.

“I’m sorry, I had a great time but I can’t.” The wild rabbits all stared at him, a bit surprised. “Why? We thought you liked it here.”

“I do,” the rabbit replied. “But I must get back to the lab. I’m dying for a cigarette.”

Bible Readings for June 2, 2019

Today our passages are 2 Samuel 19:11–20:13; John 21:1-25; Psalm 120:1-7; and Proverbs 16:16-17. 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 by using the link below.

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2 Samuel 19:11-20:13 (Contemporary English Version)

¹¹When David found out what they were saying, he sent a message to Zadok and Abiathar the priests. It said:
   Say to the leaders of Judah, "Why are you the last tribe to think about bringing King David back home? ¹²He is your brother, your own relative! Why haven't you done anything to bring him back?"
    ¹³And tell Amasa, "You're my nephew, and with God as a witness, I swear I'll make you commander of my army instead of Joab."
    ¹⁴Soon the tribe of Judah again became followers of David, and they sent him this message: "Come back, and bring your soldiers with you."     

David Starts Back for Jerusalem

 ¹⁵David started back and had gone as far as the Jordan River when he met the people of Judah. They had gathered at Gilgal and had come to help him cross the river.     ¹⁶Shimei ^{a<="" value="[a]" >[]} the son of Gera was there with them. He had hurried from Bahurim to meet David. Shimei was from the tribe of Benjamin, and ¹⁷a thousand others from Benjamin had come with him. Ziba, the chief servant of Saul's family, also came to the Jordan River. He and his fifteen sons and twenty servants waded across ^[b<="">] to meet David. ¹⁸Then they brought David's family and servants back across the river, and they did everything he wanted them to do. Shimei crossed the Jordan River and bowed down in front of David. 

Shimei Meets with David

 ¹⁹He said, "Your Majesty, I beg you not to punish me! Please, forget what I did when you were leaving Jerusalem. Don't even think about it. ²⁰I know I was wrong. That's why I wanted to be the first one from the northern tribes to meet you."    ²¹But Abishai shouted, "You should be killed for cursing the LORD's chosen king!"
    ²²David said, "Abishai, what will I ever do with you and your brother Joab? Is it your job to tell me who has done wrong? I've been made king of all Israel today, and no one will be put to death!" ²³Then David promised Shimei that he would not be killed.
    

Mephibosheth Meets with David

 ²⁴Mephibosheth, the grandson of Saul, also came to meet David. He had missed David so much that he had not taken a bath or trimmed his beard or washed his clothes the whole time David was gone.     ²⁵After they had gone back to Jerusalem, Mephibosheth came to see David, who asked him, "Why didn't you go with me?"
    ²⁶He answered, "Your Majesty, you know I can't walk. I told my servant to saddle a donkey for me ^[c<="">] so I could go with you. But my servant left without me, and ²⁷then he lied about me. You're as wise as an angel of God, so do what you think is right. ²⁸After all, you could have killed my whole family and me. But instead, you let me eat at your own table. Your Majesty, what more could I ask?" ²⁹David answered, "You've said enough! I've decided to divide the property ^[d<="">] between you and Ziba." ³⁰Mephibosheth replied, "He can have it all! I'm just glad you've come home safely."   

Barzillai Returns Home

 ³¹Barzillai came from Rogelim in Gilead to meet David at the Jordan River and go across with him. ³²Barzillai was eighty years old. He was very rich and had sent food to David in Mahanaim.     ³³David said to him, "Cross the river and go to Jerusalem with me. I will take care of you."
    ³⁴Barzillai answered:
   Your Majesty, why should I go to Jerusalem? I don't have much longer to live. ³⁵I'm already eighty years old, and my body is almost numb. I can't taste my food or hear the sound of singing, and I would be nothing but a burden. ³⁶I'll cross the river with you, but I'll only go a little way on the other side. You don't have to be so kind to me. ³⁷Just let me return to my hometown, where I can someday be buried near my father and mother. My servant Chimham ^[e<="">] can go with you, and you can treat him as your own. ³⁸David said, "I'll take Chimham with me, and whatever you ask me to do for him, I'll do. And if there's anything else you want, I'll also do that."
    ³⁹David's soldiers went on across the river, while he stayed behind to tell Barzillai good-by and to wish him well. Barzillai returned home, but ⁴⁰Chimham crossed the river with David.
   All of Judah's army and half of Israel's army were there to help David cross the river. 

Israel and Judah Argue

 ⁴¹The soldiers from Israel came to him and said, "Why did our relatives from Judah sneak you and your family and your soldiers across the Jordan?"     ⁴²The people of Judah answered, "Why are you so angry? We are the king's relatives. He didn't give us any food, and we didn't take anything for ourselves!"
    ⁴³Those from Israel said, "King David belongs to us ten times more than he belongs to you. ^[f<="">] Why didn't you think we were good enough to help you? After all, we were the first ones to think of bringing him back!" The people of Judah spoke more harshly than the people of Israel.
    

2 Samuel 20

Sheba Rebels against David

 ¹A troublemaker from the tribe of Benjamin was there. His name was Sheba the son of Bichri, and he blew a trumpet to get everyone's attention. Then he said, "People of Israel, David the son of Jesse doesn't belong to us! Let's go home."    ²So they stopped following David and went off with Sheba. But the people of Judah stayed close to David all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem.     

David's Ten Wives

 ³David had left ten of his wives in Jerusalem to take care of his palace. But when he came back, he had them taken to another house, and he placed soldiers there to guard them. He gave them whatever they needed, but he never slept with any of them again. ^[g<="">] They had to live there for the rest of their lives as if they were widows.

The Army Goes after Sheba

 ⁴David said to Amasa, "Three days from now I want you and all of Judah's army to be here!"     ⁵Amasa started bringing the army together, but it was taking him more than three days. ⁶So David said to Abishai, "Sheba will hurt us more than Absalom ever did. Take my best soldiers and go after him. We don't want him to take over any walled cities and get away from us." ^[h<="">] 

Joab Kills Amasa

 ⁷Abishai left Jerusalem to try and capture Sheba. He took along Joab and his soldiers, as well as David's bodyguard ^[i<="">] and best troops. ⁸They had gone as far as the big rock at Gibeon when Amasa caught up with them. Joab had a dagger strapped around his waist over his military uniform, but it fell out as he started toward Amasa. ⁹Joab said, "Amasa, my cousin, how are you?" Then Joab took hold of Amasa's beard with his right hand, so that he could greet him with a kiss. ¹⁰Amasa did not see the dagger in Joab's other hand. Joab stuck it in Amasa's stomach, and his insides spilled out on the ground. Joab only struck him once, but Amasa was dying.    Joab and his brother Abishai went off to chase Sheba. ¹¹One of Joab's soldiers stood by Amasa and shouted, "If any of you like Joab, and if you are for David, then follow Joab!"
    ¹²Amasa was still rolling in his own blood in the middle of the road. The soldier who had shouted noticed that everyone who passed by would stop, so he dragged Amasa off the road and covered him with a blanket. ¹³After this, no one else stopped. They all walked straight past him on their way to help Joab capture Sheba.
    

Footnotes:

1. 2 Samuel 19:16 Shimei: See 16.5-13.
2. 2 Samuel 19:17 waded across: Or "rushed."
3. 2 Samuel 19:26 I told. . . me: Two ancient translations; Hebrew, "I said, `I will saddle a donkey for myself.' "
4. 2 Samuel 19:29 the property: The property that had belonged to Saul (see 9.7; 16.4).
5. 2 Samuel 19:37 My servant Chimham: Or "My son Chimham."
6. 2 Samuel 19:43 King David. . . you: In this verse "Israel" stands for the ten northern tribes and does not include the tribe of Judah in the south.
7. 2 Samuel 20:3 he. . . again: Because of what Absalom had done (see 16.21,22).
8. 2 Samuel 20:6 get. . . us: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
9. 2 Samuel 20:7 bodyguard: See the note at 8.18.

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John 21:1-25 (Contemporary English Version)

John 21

Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples

 ¹Jesus later appeared to his disciples along the shore of Lake Tiberias. ²Simon Peter, Thomas the Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, and the brothers James and John, ^{a<="" value="[a]" >[]} were there, together with two other disciples. ³Simon Peter said, "I'm going fishing!" The others said, "We will go with you." They went out in their boat. But they didn't catch a thing that night.     ⁴Early the next morning Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize who he was. ⁵Jesus shouted, "Friends, have you caught anything?"
   "No!" they answered.
    ⁶So he told them, "Let your net down on the right side of your boat, and you will catch some fish."
   They did, and the net was so full of fish that they could not drag it up into the boat.
    ⁷Jesus' favorite disciple told Peter, "It's the Lord!" When Simon heard that it was the Lord, he put on the clothes that he had taken off while he was working. Then he jumped into the water. ⁸The boat was only about a hundred yards from shore. So the other disciples stayed in the boat and dragged in the net full of fish.
    ⁹When the disciples got out of the boat, they saw some bread and a charcoal fire with fish on it. ¹⁰Jesus told his disciples, "Bring some of the fish you just caught." ¹¹Simon Peter got back into the boat and dragged the net to shore. In it were one hundred fifty-three large fish, but still the net did not rip.
    ¹²Jesus said, "Come and eat!" But none of the disciples dared ask who he was. They knew he was the Lord. ¹³Jesus took the bread in his hands and gave some of it to his disciples. He did the same with the fish. ¹⁴This was the third time that Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from death.    

Jesus and Peter

 ¹⁵When Jesus and his disciples had finished eating, he asked, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than the others do?" ^[b<="">] Simon Peter answered, "Yes, Lord, you know I do!"    "Then feed my lambs," Jesus said.
    ¹⁶Jesus asked a second time, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
   Peter answered, "Yes, Lord, you know I love you!"
   "Then take care of my sheep," Jesus told him.
    ¹⁷Jesus asked a third time, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
   Peter was hurt because Jesus had asked him three times if he loved him. So he told Jesus, "Lord, you know everything. You know I love you."
   Jesus replied, "Feed my sheep. ¹⁸I tell you for certain that when you were a young man, you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will hold out your hands. Then others will wrap your belt around you and lead you where you don't want to go."
    ¹⁹Jesus said this to tell how Peter would die and bring honor to God. Then he said to Peter, "Follow me!"     

Jesus and His Favorite Disciple

 ²⁰Peter turned and saw Jesus' favorite disciple following them. He was the same one who had sat next to Jesus at the meal and had asked, "Lord, who is going to betray you?" ²¹When Peter saw that disciple, he asked Jesus, "Lord, what about him?"     ²²Jesus answered, "What is it to you, if I want him to live until I return? You must follow me." ²³So the rumor spread among the other disciples that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say he would not die. He simply said, "What is it to you, if I want him to live until I return?"
    ²⁴This disciple is the one who told all of this. He wrote it, and we know he is telling the truth.
    ²⁵Jesus did many other things. If they were all written in books, I don't suppose there would be room enough in the whole world for all the books.
    

Footnotes:

1. John 21:2 the brothers James and John: Greek " the two sons of Zebedee."
2. John 21:15 more than the others do: Or " more than you love these things?"

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Psalm 120:1-7 (Contemporary English Version)

Psalm 120

(A song for worship.)

A Prayer for the LORD's Help

 ¹When I am in trouble, I pray,     ²"Come and save me, LORD,
   from deceitful liars!"
    ³What punishment is fitting
   for you deceitful liars?
    ⁴Your reward should be
   sharp and flaming arrows!
    ⁵But I must live as a foreigner
   among the people of Meshech
   and in the tents of Kedar. ^{a<="" value="[a]" >[] 6}I have spent too much time
   living among people
   who hate peace.
    ⁷I am in favor of peace,
   but when I speak of it,
   all they want is war.
    

Footnotes:

1. Psalm 120:5 Meshech. . . Kedar: Meshech was a country near the Black Sea, and Kedar was a tribe of the Syrian desert.

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Proverbs 16:16-17 (Contemporary English Version)

¹⁶It's much better to be wise
   and sensible
   than to be rich.
    ¹⁷God's people avoid evil ways,
   and they protect themselves
   by watching where they go.

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Verse of the Day

“So Christ died only once to take away the sins of many people. But when he comes again, it will not be to take away sin. He will come to save everyone who is waiting for him.” - Hebrews 9:28 

Today's passage is from the Contemporary English Version.

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Thought for the Day

British-American actor, model, and screenwriter, Wentworth Miller wrote, “I think there's something about evil that is thoughtless and relentless and incredibly frightening because it can't be reckoned with, reasoned with or stopped.”

 

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A Joke for the Day

 

In California Unleaded gas went to $4.00 a gallon last Thursday.

 

Sister Mary Ann, who worked for a home health agency, was out making her rounds visiting homebound patients when she ran out of gas. Fortunately, an Exxon station was just a block away. She walked to the station to borrow a gas can and buy some gas.

 

The attendant told her that the only gas can he owned had been loaned out, but she could wait until it was returned. Since Sister Mary Ann was on the way to see a patient, she decided not to wait, and walked back to her car.

 

She looked for something in her car that she could fill with gas, and spotted the bedpan she was taking to the patient. Always resourceful, Sister Mary Ann carried the bedpan to the station, filled it with gasoline, and carried the full bedpan back to her car. 

As she was pouring the gas into her tank, two Baptist ladies watched from across the street. One of them turned to the other and said, 'If it starts, I'm turning Catholic.' 

A Thought from the Word

A brief thought based on 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 - With a loud command and with the shout of the chief angel and a blast of God's trumpet, the Lord will return from heaven. Then those who had faith in Christ before they died will be raised to life. Next, all of us who are still alive will be taken up into the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the sky. From that time on we will all be with the Lord forever.

Bible Readings for June 1, 2019

Today our passages are 2 Samuel 18:1–19:10; John 20:1-31; Psalm 119:153-176; and Proverbs 16:14-15. 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 by using the link below.

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2 Samuel 18-19:10 (Contemporary English Version)

2 Samuel 18

David Gets Ready for Battle

 ¹David divided his soldiers into groups of a hundred and groups of a thousand. Then he chose officers to be in command of each group. ²He sent out one-third of his army under the command of Joab, another third under the command of Abishai the son of Zeruiah, and the rest under the command of Ittai from Gath. He told the soldiers, "I'm going into battle with you."     ³But the soldiers said, "No, don't go into battle with us! It won't matter to our enemies if they make us all run away, or even if they kill half of us. But you are worth ten thousand of us. It would be better for you to stay in town and send help if we need it." 
    ^4-6David said, "All right, if you think I should." 
   Then in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear, he said, "Joab! Abishai! Ittai! For my sake, be sure that Absalom comes back unharmed." 
   David stood beside the town gate as his army marched past in groups of a hundred and in groups of a thousand. 
   The war with Israel took place in Ephraim Forest. 

Joab Kills Absalom

 ^7-8Battles were being fought all over the forest, and David's soldiers were winning. Twenty thousand soldiers were killed ^{a<="" value="[a]" >[]} that day, and more of them died from the dangers of the forest than from the fighting itself. ⁹Absalom was riding his mule under a huge tree when his head ^[b<="">] caught in the branches. The mule ran off and left Absalom hanging in midair. Some of David's soldiers happened by, ¹⁰and one of them went and told Joab, "I saw Absalom hanging in a tree!" ¹¹Joab said, "You saw Absalom? Why didn't you kill him? I would have given you ten pieces of silver and a special belt."     ¹²The man answered, "Even if you paid me a thousand pieces of silver here and now, I still wouldn't touch the king's son. We all heard King David tell you and Abishai and Ittai not to harm Absalom. ¹³He always finds out what's going on. I would have been risking my life to kill Absalom, because you would have let me take the blame." 
    ¹⁴Joab said, "I'm not going to waste any more time on you!" 
   Absalom was still alive, so Joab took three spears and stuck them through Absalom's chest. ¹⁵Ten of Joab's bodyguards came over and finished him off. ¹⁶Then Joab blew a trumpet to signal his troops to stop chasing Israel's soldiers. ¹⁷They threw Absalom's body into a deep pit in the forest and put a big pile of rocks over it. 
   Meanwhile, the people of Israel had all run back to their own homes. 
    ¹⁸When Absalom was alive, he had set up a stone monument for himself in King's Valley. He explained, "I don't have any sons ^[c<="">] to keep my name alive." He called it Absalom's Monument, and that is the name it still has today. ^[d<="">] 

Ahimaaz Wants To Tell David

 ¹⁹Ahimaaz the son of Zadok said, "Joab, let me run and tell King David that the LORD has rescued him from his enemies."     ²⁰Joab answered, "You're not the one to tell the king that his son is dead. You can take him a message some other time, but not today." 
    ²¹Someone from Ethiopia ^[e<="">] was standing there, and Joab told him, "Go and tell the king what you have seen." The man knelt down in front of Joab and then got up and started running. ²²Ahimaaz spoke to Joab again, "No matter what happens, I still want to run. And besides, the Ethiopian has already left." 
   Joab said, "Why should you run? You won't get a reward for the news you have!" 
    ²³"I'll run no matter what!" Ahimaaz insisted. 
   "All right then, run!" Joab said. 
   Ahimaaz took the road through the Jordan Valley and outran the Ethiopian. 
    ²⁴Meanwhile, David was sitting between the inner and outer gates ^[f<="">] in the city wall. One of his soldiers was watching from the roof of the gate-tower. He saw a man running toward the town ²⁵and shouted down to tell David. David answered, "If he's alone, he must have some news." 
   The runner was getting closer, ²⁶when the soldier saw someone else running. He shouted down to the gate, "Look! There's another runner!" 
   David said, "He must have some news too." 
    ²⁷The soldier on the roof shouted, "The first one runs just like Ahimaaz the son of Zadok." 
   This time David said, "He's a good man. He must have some good news." 
    ²⁸Ahimaaz called out, "We won! We won!" Then he bowed low to David and said, "Your Majesty, praise the LORD your God! He has given you victory over your enemies." 
    ²⁹"Is my son Absalom all right?" David asked. 
   Ahimaaz said, "When Joab sent your personal servant and me, I saw a noisy crowd. But I don't know what it was all about." 
    ³⁰David told him, "Stand over there and wait." 
   Ahimaaz went over and stood there. ³¹The Ethiopian came and said, "Your Majesty, today I have good news! The LORD has rescued you from all your enemies!" 
    ³²"Is my son Absalom all right?" David asked. 
   The Ethiopian replied, "I wish that all Your Majesty's enemies and everyone who tries to harm you would end up like him!"     

David Cries for Absalom

 ³³David started trembling. Then he went up to the room above the city gate to cry. As he went, he kept saying, "My son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! I wish I could have died instead of you! Absalom, my son, my son!" ^[g<="">] 

2 Samuel 19

 ¹Someone told Joab, "The king is crying because Absalom is dead."     ²David's army found out he was crying because his son had died, and their day of victory suddenly turned into a day of sadness. ³The troops were sneaking into Mahanaim, just as if they had run away from a battle and were ashamed. 
    ⁴David held his hands over his face and kept on crying loudly, "My son, Absalom! Absalom, my son, my son!" 
    ⁵Joab went to the house where David was staying and told him: 
   You've made your soldiers ashamed! Not only did they save your life, they saved your sons and daughters and wives as well. ⁶You're more loyal to your enemies than to your friends. What you've done today has shown your officers and soldiers that they don't mean a thing to you. You would be happy if Absalom was still alive, even if the rest of us were dead. 
    ⁷Now get up! Go out there and thank them for what they did. If you don't, I swear by the LORD that you won't even have one man left on your side tomorrow morning. You may have had a lot of troubles in the past, but this will be the worst thing that has ever happened to you! 
    ⁸David got up and went to the town gate and sat down. When the people heard that he was sitting there, they came to see him. 
   After Israel's soldiers had all returned home, 

Israel and Judah Want David Back

 ^9-10everyone in Israel started arguing. They were saying to each other, "King David rescued us from the Philistines and from our other enemies. But then we chose Absalom to be our new leader, and David had to leave the country to get away. Absalom died in battle, so why hasn't something been done to bring David back?"   

  

Footnotes:

1. 2 Samuel 18:7 Twenty. . . killed: This may refer to the total number or to the number of Absalom's soldiers who were killed.
2. 2 Samuel 18:9 head: Or "hair."
3. 2 Samuel 18:18 I don't have any sons: According to 14.27, Absalom had three sons. But they could have died young or been put to death for Absalom's murder of Amnon.
4. 2 Samuel 18:18 today: That is, at the time of writing. This monument is not the same as the structure now known as "Absalom's Tomb," which was built at least 600 years later.
5. 2 Samuel 18:21 Ethiopia: The Hebrew text has "Cush," which was a region south of Egypt that included parts of the present countries of Ethiopia and Sudan.
6. 2 Samuel 18:24 between. . . gates: The city gate was often like a tower in the city wall, with one gate on the outside of the wall and another gate on the inside of the wall.
7. 2 Samuel 18:33 son: In Hebrew, this verse is 19.1.

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John 20:1-31 (Contemporary English Version)

John 20

Jesus Is Alive

(Matthew 28.1-10; Mark 16.1-8; Luke 24.1-12)

 ¹On Sunday morning while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. ²She ran to Simon Peter and to Jesus' favorite disciple and said, "They have taken the Lord from the tomb! We don't know where they have put him."     ³Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. ⁴They ran side by side, until the other disciple ran faster than Peter and got there first. ⁵He bent over and saw the strips of linen cloth lying inside the tomb, but he did not go in. 
    ⁶When Simon Peter got there, he went into the tomb and saw the strips of cloth. ⁷He also saw the piece of cloth that had been used to cover Jesus' face. It was rolled up and in a place by itself. ⁸The disciple who got there first then went into the tomb, and when he saw it, he believed. ⁹At that time Peter and the other disciple did not know that the Scriptures said Jesus would rise to life. ¹⁰So the two of them went back to the other disciples.     

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

(Mark 16.9-11)

 ¹¹Mary Magdalene stood crying outside the tomb. She was still weeping, when she stooped down ¹²and saw two angels inside. They were dressed in white and were sitting where Jesus' body had been. One was at the head and the other was at the foot. ¹³The angels asked Mary, "Why are you crying?"    She answered, "They have taken away my Lord's body! I don't know where they have put him." 
    ¹⁴As soon as Mary said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. But she did not know who he was.¹⁵Jesus asked her, "Why are you crying? Who are you looking for?" 
   She thought he was the gardener and said, "Sir, if you have taken his body away, please tell me, so I can go and get him." 
    ¹⁶Then Jesus said to her, "Mary!" 
   She turned and said to him, "Rabboni." The Aramaic word "Rabboni" means "Teacher." 
    ¹⁷Jesus told her, "Don't hold on to me! I have not yet gone to the Father. But tell my disciples that I am going to the one who is my Father and my God, as well as your Father and your God." ¹⁸Mary Magdalene then went and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord. She also told them what he had said to her.     

Jesus Appears to His Disciples

(Matthew 28.16-20; Mark 16.14-18; Luke 24.36-49)

 ¹⁹The disciples were afraid of the Jewish leaders, and on the evening of that same Sunday they locked themselves in a room. Suddenly, Jesus appeared in the middle of the group. He greeted them ²⁰and showed them his hands and his side. When the disciples saw the Lord, they became very happy.     ²¹After Jesus had greeted them again, he said, "I am sending you, just as the Father has sent me." ²²Then he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. ²³If you forgive anyone's sins, they will be forgiven. But if you don't forgive their sins, they will not be forgiven."     

Jesus and Thomas

 ²⁴Although Thomas the Twin was one of the twelve disciples, he wasn't with the others when Jesus appeared to them. ²⁵So they told him, "We have seen the Lord!"    But Thomas said, "First, I must see the nail scars in his hands and touch them with my finger. I must put my hand where the spear went into his side. I won't believe unless I do this!" 
    ²⁶A week later the disciples were together again. This time, Thomas was with them. Jesus came in while the doors were still locked and stood in the middle of the group. He greeted his disciples ²⁷and said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and look at my hands! Put your hand into my side. Stop doubting and have faith!" 
    ²⁸Thomas replied, "You are my Lord and my God!" 
    ²⁹Jesus said, "Thomas, do you have faith because you have seen me? The people who have faith in me without seeing me are the ones who are really blessed!"     

Why John Wrote His Book

 ³⁰Jesus worked many other miracles ^{a<="" value="[a]" >[]} for his disciples, and not all of them are written in this book. ³¹But these are written so that you will put your faith in Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God. If you have faith in^[b<="">] him, you will have true life. 

Footnotes:

1. John 20:30 miracles: See the note at 2.11.
2. John 20:31 put your faith in. . . have faith in: Some manuscripts have " keep on having faith in. . . keep on having faith in."

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Psalm 119:153-176 (Contemporary English Version)

¹⁵³I have not forgotten your Law! 
   Look at the trouble I am in, 
   and rescue me. 
    ¹⁵⁴Be my defender and protector! 
   Keep your promise 
   and save my life. 
    ¹⁵⁵Evil people won't obey you, 
   and so they have no hope 
   of being saved. 
    ¹⁵⁶You are merciful, LORD! 
   Please do the right thing 
   and save my life. 
    ¹⁵⁷I have a lot of brutal enemies, 
   but still I never turn 
   from your laws. 
    ¹⁵⁸All of those unfaithful people 
   who refuse to obey you 
   are disgusting to me. 
    ¹⁵⁹Remember how I love your laws, 
   and show your love for me 
   by keeping me safe. 
    ¹⁶⁰All you say can be trusted; 
   your teachings are true 
   and will last forever. 
    ¹⁶¹Rulers are cruel to me 
   for no reason. 
   But with all my heart 
   I respect your words, 
    ¹⁶²because they bring happiness 
   like treasures taken in war. 
    ¹⁶³I can't stand liars, 
   but I love your Law. 
    ¹⁶⁴I praise you seven times a day 
   because your laws are fair. 
    ¹⁶⁵You give peace of mind 
   to all who love your Law. 
   Nothing can make them fall. 
    ¹⁶⁶You are my only hope 
   for being saved, LORD, 
   and I do all you command. 
    ¹⁶⁷I love and obey your laws 
   with all my heart. 
    ¹⁶⁸You know everything I do. 
   You know I respect every law 
   you have given. 
    ¹⁶⁹Please, LORD, hear my prayer 
   and give me the understanding 
   that comes from your word. 
    ¹⁷⁰Listen to my concerns 
   and keep me safe, 
   just as you have promised. 
    ¹⁷¹If you will teach me your laws, 
   I will praise you ¹⁷²and sing 
   about your promise, 
   because all of your teachings 
   are what they ought to be. 
    ¹⁷³Be ready to protect me 
   because I have chosen 
   to obey your laws. 
    ¹⁷⁴I am waiting for you 
   to save me, LORD. 
   Your Law makes me happy. 
    ¹⁷⁵Keep me alive, 
   so I can praise you, 
   and let me find help 
   in your teachings. 
    ¹⁷⁶I am your servant, 
   but I have wandered away 
   like a lost sheep. 
   Please come after me, 
   because I have not forgotten 
   your teachings. 

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Proverbs 16:14-15 (Contemporary English Version)

¹⁴An angry ruler 
   can put you to death. 
   So be wise! 
   Don't make one angry. 
    ¹⁵When a ruler is happy 
   and pleased with you, 
   it's like refreshing rain, 
   and you will live. 

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Verse of the Day

“Then I saw New Jerusalem, that holy city, coming down from God in heaven. It was like a bride dressed in her wedding gown and ready to meet her husband. I heard a loud voice shout from the throne: God's home is now with his people. He will live with them, and they will be his own. Yes, God will make his home among his people. He will wipe all tears from their eyes, and there will be no more death, suffering, crying, or pain. These things of the past are gone forever.” -Revelation 21: 2-4 

Today's passage is from the Contemporary English Version.

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Thought for the Day

American character actor on radio, stage and film, Frank Morgan wrote, “A heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others.”

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A Joke for Today

A prisoner in jail receives a letter from his wife: "Dear Husband, I have decided to plant some lettuce in the back garden. When is the best time to plant them?" 

The prisoner, knowing that the prison guards read all mail, replied in a letter: "Dear Wife, whatever you do, do not touch the back garden. That is where I hid all the money." 

A week or so later, he received another letter from his wife: "Dear Husband, You wouldn't believe what happened, some men came with shovels to the house, and dug up all the back garden." 

The prisoner wrote another letter back: "Dear wife, now is the best time to plant the lettuce."