1 CHRONICLES 24:1- 26:11
ROMANS 4:1- 12
PSALM 13:1- 6
PROVERBS 19:15- 16
This is how Aaron's descendants, the priests, were divided into groups for service. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father did, and they had no sons. So only Eleazar and Ithamar were left to carry on as priests. 3 With the help of Zadok, who was a descendant of Eleazar, and of Ahimelech, who was a descendant of Ithamar, David divided Aaron's descendants into groups according to their various duties. 4 Eleazar's descendants were divided into sixteen groups and Ithamar's into eight, for there were more family leaders among the descendants of Eleazar. 5 All tasks were assigned to the various groups by means of sacred lots so that no preference would be shown, for there were many qualified officials serving God in the sanctuary from among the descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar. 6 Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, acted as secretary and wrote down the names and assignments in the presence of the king, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the family leaders of the priests and Levites. The descendants of Eleazar and Ithamar took turns casting lots. 7 The first lot fell to Jehoiarib. The second lot fell to Jedaiah. 8 The third lot fell to Harim. The fourth lot fell to Seorim. 9 The fifth lot fell to Malkijah. The sixth lot fell to Mijamin. 10 The seventh lot fell to Hakkoz. The eighth lot fell to Abijah. 11 The ninth lot fell to Jeshua. The tenth lot fell to Shecaniah. 12 The eleventh lot fell to Eliashib. The twelfth lot fell to Jakim. 13 The thirteenth lot fell to Huppah. The fourteenth lot fell to Jeshebeab. 14 The fifteenth lot fell to Bilgah. The sixteenth lot fell to Immer. 15 The seventeenth lot fell to Hezir. The eighteenth lot fell to Happizzez. 16 The nineteenth lot fell to Pethahiah. The twentieth lot fell to Jehezkel. 17 The twenty- first lot fell to Jakin. The twenty- second lot fell to Gamul. 18 The twenty- third lot fell to Delaiah. The twenty- fourth lot fell to Maaziah. 19 Each group carried out its duties in the house of the LORD according to the procedures established by their ancestor Aaron in obedience to the commands of the LORD, the God of Israel. 20 These were the other family leaders descended from Levi:From the descendants of Amram, the leader was Shebuel. From the descendants of Shebuel, the leader was Jehdeiah. 21 From the descendants of Rehabiah, the leader was Isshiah. 22 From the descendants of Izhar, the leader was Shelomith. From the descendants of Shelomith, the leader was Jahath. 23 From the descendants of Hebron, Jeriah was the leader, Amariah was second- in- command, Jahaziel was third, and Jekameam was fourth. 24 From the descendants of Uzziel, the leader was Micah. From the descendants of Micah, the leader was Shamir, 25 along with Isshiah, the brother of Micah. From the descendants of Isshiah, the leader was Zechariah. 26 From the descendants of Merari, the leaders were Mahli and Mushi. From the descendants of Jaaziah, the leader was Beno. 27 From the descendants of Merari through Jaaziah, the leaders were Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri. 28 From the descendants of Mahli, the leader was Eleazar, though he had no sons. 29 From the descendants of Kish, the leader was Jerahmeel. 30 From the descendants of Mushi, the leaders were Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the descendants of Levi in their various families. 31 Like the descendants of Aaron, they were assigned to their duties by means of sacred lots, without regard to age or rank. It was done in the presence of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the family leaders of the priests and the Levites. 25:1 DAVID and the army commanders then appointed men from the families of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to proclaim God's messages to the accompaniment of harps, lyres, and cymbals. Here is a list of their names and their work:2 From the sons of Asaph, there were Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah. They worked under the direction of their father, Asaph, who proclaimed God's messages by the king's orders. 3 Jeduthun had six sons:Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah. They worked under the direction of their father, Jeduthun, who proclaimed God's messages to the accompaniment of the harp, offering thanks and praise to the LORD. 4 Heman's sons were Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shubael, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Geddalti, Romamti- ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. 5 All these were the sons of Heman, the king's seer, for God had honored him with fourteen sons and three daughters. 6 All these men were under the direction of their fathers as they made music at the house of the LORD. Their responsibilities included the playing of cymbals, lyres, and harps at the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman reported directly to the king. 7 They and their families were all trained in making music before the LORD, and each of them-- 288 in all-- was an accomplished musician. 8 The musicians were appointed to their particular term of service by means of sacred lots, without regard to whether they were young or old, teacher or student. 9 The first lot fell to Joseph of the Asaph clan and twelve of his sons and relatives. The second lot fell to Gedaliah and twelve of his sons and relatives. 10 The third lot fell to Zaccur and twelve of his sons and relatives. 11 The fourth lot fell to Zeri and twelve of his sons and relatives. 12 The fifth lot fell to Nethaniah and twelve of his sons and relatives. 13 The sixth lot fell to Bukkiah and twelve of his sons and relatives. 14 The seventh lot fell to Asarelah and twelve of his sons and relatives. 15 The eighth lot fell to Jeshaiah and twelve of his sons and relatives. 16 The ninth lot fell to Mattaniah and twelve of his sons and relatives. 17 The tenth lot fell to Shimei and twelve of his sons and relatives. 18 The eleventh lot fell to Uzziel and twelve of his sons and relatives. 19 The twelfth lot fell to Hashabiah and twelve of his sons and relatives. 20 The thirteenth lot fell to Shubael and twelve of his sons and relatives. 21 The fourteenth lot fell to Matti- thiah and twelve of his sons and relatives. 22 The fifteenth lot fell to Jerimoth and twelve of his sons and relatives. 23 The sixteenth lot fell to Hananiah and twelve of his sons and relatives. 24 The seventeenth lot fell to Joshbe- kashah and twelve of his sons and relatives. 25 The eighteenth lot fell to Hanani and twelve of his sons and relatives. 26 The nineteenth lot fell to Mallothi and twelve of his sons and relatives. 27 The twentieth lot fell to Eliathah and twelve of his sons and relatives. 28 The twenty- first lot fell to Hothir and twelve of his sons and relatives. 29 The twenty- second lot fell to Geddalti and twelve of his sons and relatives. 30 The twenty- third lot fell to Mahazioth and twelve of his sons and relatives. 31 The twenty- fourth lot fell to Romamti- ezer and twelve of his sons and relatives. 26:1 THESE are the divisions of the gatekeepers:From the Korahites, there was Meshelemiah son of Kore, of the family of Asaph. 2 The sons of Meshelemiah were Zechariah (the oldest), Jediael (the second), Zebadiah (the third), Jathniel (the fourth), 3 Elam (the fifth), Jehohanan (the sixth), and Eliehoenai (the seventh). 4 The sons of Obed- edom, also gatekeepers, were Shemaiah (the oldest), Jehozabad (the second), Joah (the third), Sacar (the fourth), Nethanel (the fifth), 5 Ammiel (the sixth), Issachar (the seventh), and Peullethai (the eighth). God had richly blessed Obed- edom. 6 Obed- edom's son Shemaiah had sons with great ability who earned positions of great authority in the clan. 7 Their names were Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad. Their relatives, Elihu and Semakiah, were also very capable men. 8 All of these descendants of Obed- edom, including their sons and grandsons-- sixty- two of them in all-- were very capable men, well qualified for their work. 9 Meshelemiah's eighteen sons and relatives were also very capable men. 10 Hosah, of the Merari clan, appointed Shimri as the leader among his sons, though he was not the oldest. 11 His other sons included Hilkiah (the second), Tebaliah (the third), and Zechariah (the fourth). Hosah's sons and relatives, who served as gate- keepers, numbered thirteen in all.
Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What were his experiences concerning this question of being saved by faith? 2 Was it because of his good deeds that God accepted him? If so, he would have had something to boast about. But from God's point of view Abraham had no basis at all for pride. 3 For the Scriptures tell us, "Abraham believed God, so God declared him to be righteous." 4 When people work, their wages are not a gift. Workers earn what they receive. 5 But people are declared righteous because of their faith, not because of their work. 6 King David spoke of this, describing the happiness of an undeserving sinner who is declared to be righteous:7 "Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sins are put out of sight.
8 Yes, what joy for those
whose sin is no longer counted against them by the Lord."
9 Now then, is this blessing only for the Jews, or is it for Gentiles, too? Well, what about Abraham? We have been saying he was declared righteous by God because of his faith. 10 But how did his faith help him? Was he declared righteous only after he had been circumcised, or was it before he was circumcised? The answer is that God accepted him first, and then he was circumcised later! 11 The circumcision ceremony was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous-- even before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. They are made right with God by faith. 12 And Abraham is also the spiritual father of those who have been circumcised, but only if they have the same kind of faith Abraham had before he was circumcised.
For the choir director:A psalm of David.
1 O LORD, how long will you forget me? Forever?
How long will you look the other way?
2 How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,
with sorrow in my heart every day?
How long will my enemy have the upper hand?
3 Turn and answer me, O LORD my God!
Restore the light to my eyes, or I will die.
4 Don't let my enemies gloat, saying, "We have defeated him!"
Don't let them rejoice at my downfall.
5 But I trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
6 I will sing to the LORD
because he has been so good to me.
A lazy person sleeps soundly-- and goes hungry. Keep the commandments and keep your life; despising them leads to death
ROMANS 4:1- 12
PSALM 13:1- 6
PROVERBS 19:15- 16
This is how Aaron's descendants, the priests, were divided into groups for service. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father did, and they had no sons. So only Eleazar and Ithamar were left to carry on as priests. 3 With the help of Zadok, who was a descendant of Eleazar, and of Ahimelech, who was a descendant of Ithamar, David divided Aaron's descendants into groups according to their various duties. 4 Eleazar's descendants were divided into sixteen groups and Ithamar's into eight, for there were more family leaders among the descendants of Eleazar. 5 All tasks were assigned to the various groups by means of sacred lots so that no preference would be shown, for there were many qualified officials serving God in the sanctuary from among the descendants of both Eleazar and Ithamar. 6 Shemaiah son of Nethanel, a Levite, acted as secretary and wrote down the names and assignments in the presence of the king, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech son of Abiathar, and the family leaders of the priests and Levites. The descendants of Eleazar and Ithamar took turns casting lots. 7 The first lot fell to Jehoiarib. The second lot fell to Jedaiah. 8 The third lot fell to Harim. The fourth lot fell to Seorim. 9 The fifth lot fell to Malkijah. The sixth lot fell to Mijamin. 10 The seventh lot fell to Hakkoz. The eighth lot fell to Abijah. 11 The ninth lot fell to Jeshua. The tenth lot fell to Shecaniah. 12 The eleventh lot fell to Eliashib. The twelfth lot fell to Jakim. 13 The thirteenth lot fell to Huppah. The fourteenth lot fell to Jeshebeab. 14 The fifteenth lot fell to Bilgah. The sixteenth lot fell to Immer. 15 The seventeenth lot fell to Hezir. The eighteenth lot fell to Happizzez. 16 The nineteenth lot fell to Pethahiah. The twentieth lot fell to Jehezkel. 17 The twenty- first lot fell to Jakin. The twenty- second lot fell to Gamul. 18 The twenty- third lot fell to Delaiah. The twenty- fourth lot fell to Maaziah. 19 Each group carried out its duties in the house of the LORD according to the procedures established by their ancestor Aaron in obedience to the commands of the LORD, the God of Israel. 20 These were the other family leaders descended from Levi:From the descendants of Amram, the leader was Shebuel. From the descendants of Shebuel, the leader was Jehdeiah. 21 From the descendants of Rehabiah, the leader was Isshiah. 22 From the descendants of Izhar, the leader was Shelomith. From the descendants of Shelomith, the leader was Jahath. 23 From the descendants of Hebron, Jeriah was the leader, Amariah was second- in- command, Jahaziel was third, and Jekameam was fourth. 24 From the descendants of Uzziel, the leader was Micah. From the descendants of Micah, the leader was Shamir, 25 along with Isshiah, the brother of Micah. From the descendants of Isshiah, the leader was Zechariah. 26 From the descendants of Merari, the leaders were Mahli and Mushi. From the descendants of Jaaziah, the leader was Beno. 27 From the descendants of Merari through Jaaziah, the leaders were Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri. 28 From the descendants of Mahli, the leader was Eleazar, though he had no sons. 29 From the descendants of Kish, the leader was Jerahmeel. 30 From the descendants of Mushi, the leaders were Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the descendants of Levi in their various families. 31 Like the descendants of Aaron, they were assigned to their duties by means of sacred lots, without regard to age or rank. It was done in the presence of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the family leaders of the priests and the Levites. 25:1 DAVID and the army commanders then appointed men from the families of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun to proclaim God's messages to the accompaniment of harps, lyres, and cymbals. Here is a list of their names and their work:2 From the sons of Asaph, there were Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asarelah. They worked under the direction of their father, Asaph, who proclaimed God's messages by the king's orders. 3 Jeduthun had six sons:Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah. They worked under the direction of their father, Jeduthun, who proclaimed God's messages to the accompaniment of the harp, offering thanks and praise to the LORD. 4 Heman's sons were Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shubael, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Geddalti, Romamti- ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. 5 All these were the sons of Heman, the king's seer, for God had honored him with fourteen sons and three daughters. 6 All these men were under the direction of their fathers as they made music at the house of the LORD. Their responsibilities included the playing of cymbals, lyres, and harps at the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman reported directly to the king. 7 They and their families were all trained in making music before the LORD, and each of them-- 288 in all-- was an accomplished musician. 8 The musicians were appointed to their particular term of service by means of sacred lots, without regard to whether they were young or old, teacher or student. 9 The first lot fell to Joseph of the Asaph clan and twelve of his sons and relatives. The second lot fell to Gedaliah and twelve of his sons and relatives. 10 The third lot fell to Zaccur and twelve of his sons and relatives. 11 The fourth lot fell to Zeri and twelve of his sons and relatives. 12 The fifth lot fell to Nethaniah and twelve of his sons and relatives. 13 The sixth lot fell to Bukkiah and twelve of his sons and relatives. 14 The seventh lot fell to Asarelah and twelve of his sons and relatives. 15 The eighth lot fell to Jeshaiah and twelve of his sons and relatives. 16 The ninth lot fell to Mattaniah and twelve of his sons and relatives. 17 The tenth lot fell to Shimei and twelve of his sons and relatives. 18 The eleventh lot fell to Uzziel and twelve of his sons and relatives. 19 The twelfth lot fell to Hashabiah and twelve of his sons and relatives. 20 The thirteenth lot fell to Shubael and twelve of his sons and relatives. 21 The fourteenth lot fell to Matti- thiah and twelve of his sons and relatives. 22 The fifteenth lot fell to Jerimoth and twelve of his sons and relatives. 23 The sixteenth lot fell to Hananiah and twelve of his sons and relatives. 24 The seventeenth lot fell to Joshbe- kashah and twelve of his sons and relatives. 25 The eighteenth lot fell to Hanani and twelve of his sons and relatives. 26 The nineteenth lot fell to Mallothi and twelve of his sons and relatives. 27 The twentieth lot fell to Eliathah and twelve of his sons and relatives. 28 The twenty- first lot fell to Hothir and twelve of his sons and relatives. 29 The twenty- second lot fell to Geddalti and twelve of his sons and relatives. 30 The twenty- third lot fell to Mahazioth and twelve of his sons and relatives. 31 The twenty- fourth lot fell to Romamti- ezer and twelve of his sons and relatives. 26:1 THESE are the divisions of the gatekeepers:From the Korahites, there was Meshelemiah son of Kore, of the family of Asaph. 2 The sons of Meshelemiah were Zechariah (the oldest), Jediael (the second), Zebadiah (the third), Jathniel (the fourth), 3 Elam (the fifth), Jehohanan (the sixth), and Eliehoenai (the seventh). 4 The sons of Obed- edom, also gatekeepers, were Shemaiah (the oldest), Jehozabad (the second), Joah (the third), Sacar (the fourth), Nethanel (the fifth), 5 Ammiel (the sixth), Issachar (the seventh), and Peullethai (the eighth). God had richly blessed Obed- edom. 6 Obed- edom's son Shemaiah had sons with great ability who earned positions of great authority in the clan. 7 Their names were Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad. Their relatives, Elihu and Semakiah, were also very capable men. 8 All of these descendants of Obed- edom, including their sons and grandsons-- sixty- two of them in all-- were very capable men, well qualified for their work. 9 Meshelemiah's eighteen sons and relatives were also very capable men. 10 Hosah, of the Merari clan, appointed Shimri as the leader among his sons, though he was not the oldest. 11 His other sons included Hilkiah (the second), Tebaliah (the third), and Zechariah (the fourth). Hosah's sons and relatives, who served as gate- keepers, numbered thirteen in all.
Abraham was, humanly speaking, the founder of our Jewish nation. What were his experiences concerning this question of being saved by faith? 2 Was it because of his good deeds that God accepted him? If so, he would have had something to boast about. But from God's point of view Abraham had no basis at all for pride. 3 For the Scriptures tell us, "Abraham believed God, so God declared him to be righteous." 4 When people work, their wages are not a gift. Workers earn what they receive. 5 But people are declared righteous because of their faith, not because of their work. 6 King David spoke of this, describing the happiness of an undeserving sinner who is declared to be righteous:7 "Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven,
whose sins are put out of sight.
8 Yes, what joy for those
whose sin is no longer counted against them by the Lord."
9 Now then, is this blessing only for the Jews, or is it for Gentiles, too? Well, what about Abraham? We have been saying he was declared righteous by God because of his faith. 10 But how did his faith help him? Was he declared righteous only after he had been circumcised, or was it before he was circumcised? The answer is that God accepted him first, and then he was circumcised later! 11 The circumcision ceremony was a sign that Abraham already had faith and that God had already accepted him and declared him to be righteous-- even before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the spiritual father of those who have faith but have not been circumcised. They are made right with God by faith. 12 And Abraham is also the spiritual father of those who have been circumcised, but only if they have the same kind of faith Abraham had before he was circumcised.
For the choir director:A psalm of David.
1 O LORD, how long will you forget me? Forever?
How long will you look the other way?
2 How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul,
with sorrow in my heart every day?
How long will my enemy have the upper hand?
3 Turn and answer me, O LORD my God!
Restore the light to my eyes, or I will die.
4 Don't let my enemies gloat, saying, "We have defeated him!"
Don't let them rejoice at my downfall.
5 But I trust in your unfailing love.
I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
6 I will sing to the LORD
because he has been so good to me.
A lazy person sleeps soundly-- and goes hungry. Keep the commandments and keep your life; despising them leads to death
