Thursday, June 12, 2014

Reading through the Word.....Day 109

JOSHUA 19:1- 20:9
LUKE 19:28- 48
PSALM 88:1- 18
PROVERBS 13:12- 14


The second allotment of land went to the families of the tribe of Simeon. Their inheritance was surrounded by Judah's territory. 2 Simeon's inheritance included Beersheba, Sheba, Moladah, 3 Hazar- shual, Balah, Ezem, 4 Eltolad, Bethul, Hormah, 5 Ziklag, Beth- marcaboth, Hazar- susah, 6 Beth- lebaoth, and Sharuhen-- thirteen towns with their villages. 7 It also included Ain, Rimmon, Ether, and Ashan-- four towns with their villages, 8 including all the villages as far south as Baalath- beer (also known as Ramah of the Negev). This was the inheritance of the families of the tribe of Simeon. 9 Their inheritance came from part of what had been given to Judah because Judah's territory was too large for them. So the tribe of Simeon received an inheritance within the territory of Judah. 10 The third allotment of land went to the families of the tribe of Zebulun. The boundary of Zebulun's inheritance started at Sarid. 11 From there it went west, going past Maralah, touching Dabbe- sheth, and proceeding to the brook east of Jokneam. 12 In the other direction, the boundary line went east from Sarid to the border of Kisloth- tabor, and from there to Daberath and up to Japhia. 13 Then it continued east to Gath- hepher, Eth- kazin, and Rimmon and turned toward Neah. 14 The northern boundary of Zebulun passed Hannathon and ended at the valley of Iphtah- el. 15 The towns in these areas included Kattath, Nahalal, Shimron, Idalah, and Bethlehem-- twelve towns with their surround- ing villages. 16 This was the inheritance of the families of the tribe of Zebulun. 17 The fourth allotment of land went to the families of the tribe of Issachar. 18 Its boundaries included the following towns:Jezreel, Kesulloth, Shunem, 19 Hapharaim, Shion, Anaharath, 20 Rabbith, Kishion, Ebez, 21 Remeth, En- gannim, En- haddah, and Beth- pazzez. 22 The boundary also touched Tabor, Shahazumah, and Beth- shemesh, ending at the Jordan River-- sixteen towns with their surround- ing villages. 23 This was the inheritance of the families of the tribe of Issachar. 24 The fifth allotment of land went to the families of the tribe of Asher. 25 Its boundaries included these towns:Helkath, Hali, Beten, Acshaph, 26 Allammelech, Amad, and Mishal. The boundary on the west went from Carmel to Shihor- libnath, 27 turned east toward Beth- dagon, and ran as far as Zebulun in the valley of Iphtah- el, running north to Beth- emek and Neiel. It then continued north to Cabul, 28 Abdon, Rehob, Hammon, Kanah, and as far as Greater Sidon. 29 Then the boundary turned toward Ramah and the fortified city of Tyre and came to the Mediterranean Sea at Hosah. The territory also included Mehebel, Aczib, 30 Ummah, Aphek, and Rehob-- twenty- two towns with their surrounding villages. 31 This was the inheritance of the families of the tribe of Asher. 32 The sixth allotment of land went to the families of the tribe of Naphtali. 33 Its boundary ran from Heleph, from the oak at Zaanannim, and extended across to Adami- nekeb, Jabneel, and as far as Lakkum, ending at the Jordan River. 34 The western boundary ran past Aznoth- tabor, then to Hukkok, and touched the boundary of Zebulun in the south, the boundary of Asher on the west, and the Jordan River on the east. 35 The fortified cities included in this territory were Ziddim, Zer, Hammath, Rakkath, Kinnereth, 36 Adamah, Ramah, Hazor, 37 Kedesh, Edrei, En- hazor, 38 Yiron, Migdal- el, Horem, Beth- anath, and Beth- shemesh-- nineteen cities with their surrounding villages. 39 This was the inheritance of the families of the tribe of Naphtali. 40 The seventh and last allotment of land went to the families of the tribe of Dan. 41 The towns within Dan's inheritance included Zorah, Eshtaol, Ir- shemesh, 42 Shaalabbin, Aijalon, Ithlah, 43 Elon, Timnah, Ekron, 44 Eltekeh, Gibbethon, Baalath, 45 Jehud, Bene- berak, Gath- rimmon, 46 and Me- jarkon, also Rakkon along with the territory across from Joppa. 47 But the tribe of Dan had trouble taking possession of their land, so they fought against the town of Laish. They captured it, slaughtered its people, and settled there. They renamed the city Dan after their ancestor. 48 This was the inheritance of the families of the tribe of Dan-- these towns with their villages. 49 After all the land was divided among the tribes, the Israelites gave a special piece of land to Joshua as his inheritance. 50 For the LORD had said he could have any town he wanted. He chose Timnath- serah in the hill country of Ephraim. He rebuilt the town and lived there. 51 These are the territories that Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the tribal leaders gave as an inheritance to the tribes of Israel by casting sacred lots in the presence of the LORD at the entrance of the Tabernacle at Shiloh. So the division of the land was completed. 20:1 THE LORD said to Joshua, 2 "Now tell the Israelites to designate the cities of refuge, as I instructed Moses. 3 Anyone who kills another person unintentionally can run to one of these cities and be protected from the relatives of the one who was killed, for the relatives may seek to avenge the killing. 4" Upon reaching one of these cities, the one who caused the accidental death will appear before the leaders at the city gate and explain what happened. They must allow the accused to enter the city and live there among them. 5 If the relatives of the victim come to avenge the killing, the leaders must not release the accused to them, for the death was accidental. 6 But the person who caused the death must stay in that city and be tried by the community and found innocent. Then the one declared innocent because the death was accidental must continue to live in that city until the death of the high priest who was in office at the time of the accident. After that, the one found innocent is free to return home. "7 The following cities were designated as cities of refuge:Kedesh of Galilee, in the hill country of Naphtali; Shechem, in the hill country of Ephraim; and Kiriath- arba (that is, Hebron), in the hill country of Judah. 8 On the east side of the Jordan River, across from Jericho, the following cities were designated as cities of refuge:Bezer, in the wilderness plain of the tribe of Reuben; Ramoth in Gilead, in the territory of the tribe of Gad; and Golan in Bashan, in the land of the tribe of Manasseh. 9 These cities were set apart for Israelites as well as the foreigners living among them. Anyone who accidentally killed another person could take refuge in one of these cities. In this way, they could escape being killed in revenge prior to standing trial before the community.


After telling this story, Jesus went on toward Jerusalem, walking ahead of his disciples. 29 As they came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany, on the Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples ahead. 30" Go into that village over there, "he told them," and as you enter it, you will see a colt tied there that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, `The Lord needs it. '"32 So they went and found the colt, just as Jesus had said. 33 And sure enough, as they were untying it, the owners asked them," Why are you untying our colt? "34 And the disciples simply replied," The Lord needs it. "35 So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it for him to ride on. 36 Then the crowds spread out their coats on the road ahead of Jesus. 37 As they reached the place where the road started down from the Mount of Olives, all of his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen. 38" Bless the King who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven
and glory in highest heaven! "
39 But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said," Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that! "40 He replied," If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers! "41 But as they came closer to Jerusalem and Jesus saw the city ahead, he began to cry. 42" I wish that even today you would find the way of peace. But now it is too late, and peace is hidden from you. 43 Before long your enemies will build ramparts against your walls and encircle you and close in on you. 44 They will crush you to the ground, and your children with you. Your enemies will not leave a single stone in place, because you have rejected the opportunity God offered you. "45 Then Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the merchants from their stalls. 46 He told them," The Scriptures declare, `My Temple will be a place of prayer,' but you have turned it into a den of thieves. "47 After that, he taught daily in the Temple, but the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the other leaders of the people began planning how to kill him. 48 But they could think of nothing, because all the people hung on every word he said.


For the choir director:A psalm of the descendants of Korah, to be sung to the tune" The Suffering of Affliction. "A psalm of Heman the Ezrahite. A song.
1 O LORD, God of my salvation,
I have cried out to you day and night.
2 Now hear my prayer;
listen to my cry.
3 For my life is full of troubles,
and death draws near.
4 I have been dismissed as one who is dead,
like a strong man with no strength left.
5 They have abandoned me to death,
and I am as good as dead.
I am forgotten,
cut off from your care.
6 You have thrust me down to the lowest pit,
into the darkest depths.
7 Your anger lies heavy on me;
wave after wave engulfs me.
Interlude8 You have caused my friends to loathe me;
you have sent them all away.
I am in a trap with no way of escape.
9 My eyes are blinded by my tears.
Each day I beg for your help, O LORD;
I lift my pleading hands to you for mercy.
10 Of what use to the dead are your miracles?
Do the dead get up and praise you?
Interlude11 Can those in the grave declare your unfailing love?
In the place of destruction, can they proclaim your faithfulness?
12 Can the darkness speak of your miracles?
Can anyone in the land of forgetfulness talk about your righteousness?
13 O LORD, I cry out to you.
I will keep on pleading day by day.
14 O LORD, why do you reject me?
Why do you turn your face away from me?
15 I have been sickly and close to death since my youth.
I stand helpless and desperate before your terrors.
16 Your fierce anger has overwhelmed me.
Your terrors have cut me off.
17 They swirl around me like floodwaters all day long.
They have encircled me completely.
18 You have taken away my companions and loved ones;
only darkness remains.


Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when dreams come true, there is life and joy. People who despise advice will find themselves in trouble; those who respect it will succeed. The advice of the wise is like a life- giving fountain; those who accept it avoid the snares of death