1 SAMUEL 18:5-19:24
JOHN 8:31-59
PSALM 112:1-10
PROVERBS 15:12-14
1 SAMUEL 18:5-19:24
Whatever Saul asked David to do, David did it successfully. So Saul made him a commander in his army, an appointment that was applauded by the fighting men and officers alike. 6 But something happened when the victorious Israelite army was returning home after David had killed Goliath. Women came out from all the towns along the way to celebrate and to cheer for King Saul, and they sang and danced for joy with tambourines and cymbals. 7 This was their song: " Saul has killed his thousands,
and David his ten thousands!"
8 This made Saul very angry. " What's this?" he said. " They credit David with ten thousands and me with only thousands. Next they'll be making him their king!" 9 So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David. 10 The very next day, in fact, a tormenting spirit from God overwhelmed Saul, and he began to rave like a madman. David began to play the harp, as he did whenever this happened. But Saul, who had a spear in his hand, 11 suddenly hurled it at David, intending to pin him to the wall. But David jumped aside and escaped. This happened another time, too, 12 for Saul was afraid of him, and he was jealous because the LORD had left him and was now with David. 13 Finally, Saul banned him from his presence and appointed him commander over only a thousand men, but David faithfully led his troops into battle. 14 David continued to succeed in everything he did, for the LORD was with him. 15 When Saul recognized this, he became even more afraid of him. 16 But all Israel and Judah loved David because he was so successful at leading his troops into battle. 17 One day Saul said to David, " I am ready to give you my older daughter, Merab, as your wife. But first you must prove yourself to be a real warrior by fighting the LORD's battles." For Saul thought to himself, " I'll send him out against the Philistines and let them kill him rather than doing it myself." 18 " Who am I, and what is my family in Israel that I should be the king's son-in-law?" David exclaimed. " My father's family is nothing!" 19 So when the time came for the wedding, Saul gave Merab in marriage to Adriel, a man from Meholah. 20 In the meantime, Saul's daughter Michal had fallen in love with David, and Saul was delighted when he heard about it. 21 " Here's another chance to see him killed by the Philistines!" Saul said to himself. But to David he said, " I have a way for you to become my son-in-law after all!" 22 Then Saul told his men to say confidentially to David, " The king really likes you, and so do we. Why don't you accept the king's offer and become his son-in-law?" 23 When Saul's men said these things to David, he replied, " How can a poor man from a humble family afford the bride price for the daughter of a king?" 24 When Saul's men reported this back to the king, 25 he told them, " Tell David that all I want for the bride price is one hundred Philistine foreskins! Vengeance on my enemies is all I really want." But what Saul had in mind was that David would be killed in the fight. 26 David was delighted to accept the offer. So before the time limit expired, 27 he and his men went out and killed two hundred Philistines and presented all their foreskins to the king. So Saul gave Michal to David to be his wife. 28 When the king realized how much the LORD was with David and how much Michal loved him, 29 he became even more afraid of him, and he remained David's enemy for the rest of his life. 30 Whenever the Philistine army attacked, David was more successful against them than all the rest of Saul's officers. So David's name became very famous throughout the land.19:1 SAUL now urged his servants and his son Jonathan to assassinate David. But Jonathan, because of his close friendship with David, 2 told him what his father was planning. " Tomorrow morning," he warned him, " you must find a hiding place out in the fields. 3 I'll ask my father to go out there with me, and I'll talk to him about you. Then I'll tell you everything I can find out." 4 The next morning Jonathan spoke with his father about David, saying many good things about him. " Please don't sin against David," Jonathan pleaded. " He's never done anything to harm you. He has always helped you in any way he could. 5 Have you forgotten about the time he risked his life to kill the Philistine giant and how the LORD brought a great victory to Israel as a result? You were certainly happy about it then. Why should you murder an innocent man like David? There is no reason for it at all!" 6 So Saul listened to Jonathan and vowed, " As surely as the LORD lives, David will not be killed." 7 Afterward Jonathan called David and told him what had happened. Then he took David to see Saul, and everything was as it had been before. 8 War broke out shortly after that, and David led his troops against the Philistines. He attacked them with such fury that they all ran away. 9 But one day as Saul was sitting at home, the tormenting spirit from the LORD suddenly came upon him again. As David played his harp for the king, 10 Saul hurled his spear at David in an attempt to kill him. But David dodged out of the way and escaped into the night, leaving the spear stuck in the wall. 11 Then Saul sent troops to watch David's house. They were told to kill David when he came out the next morning. But Michal, David's wife, warned him, " If you don't get away tonight, you will be dead by morning." 12 So she helped him climb out through a window, and he escaped. 13 Then she took an idol and put it in his bed, covered it with blankets, and put a cushion of goat's hair at its head. 14 When the troops came to arrest David, she told them he was sick and couldn't get out of bed. 15 " Then bring him to me in his bed," Saul ordered, " so I can kill him as he lies there!" And he sent them back to David's house. 16 But when they came to carry David out, they discovered that it was only an idol in the bed with a cushion of goat's hair at its head. 17 " Why have you tricked me and let my enemy escape?" Saul demanded of Michal. " I had to," Michal replied. " He threatened to kill me if I didn't help him." 18 So David got away and went to Ramah to see Samuel, and he told him all that Saul had done to him. Then Samuel took David with him to live at Naioth. 19 When the report reached Saul that David was at Naioth in Ramah, 20 he sent troops to capture him. But when they arrived and saw Samuel and the other prophets prophesying, the Spirit of God came upon Saul's men, and they also began to prophesy. 21 When Saul heard what had happened, he sent other troops, but they, too, prophesied! The same thing happened a third time! 22 Finally, Saul himself went to Ramah and arrived at the great well in Secu. " Where are Samuel and David?" he demanded. " They are at Naioth in Ramah," someone told him. 23 But on the way to Naioth the Spirit of God came upon Saul, and he, too, began to prophesy! 24 He tore off his clothes and lay on the ground all day and all night, prophesying in the presence of Samuel. The people who were watching exclaimed, " What? Is Saul a prophet, too?"
JOHN 8:31-59
Jesus said to the people who believed in him, " You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." 33 " But we are descendants of Abraham," they said. " We have never been slaves to anyone on earth. What do you mean, ` set free'?" 34 Jesus replied, " I assure you that everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free, you will indeed be free. 37 Yes, I realize that you are descendants of Abraham. And yet some of you are trying to kill me because my message does not find a place in your hearts. 38 I am telling you what I saw when I was with my Father. But you are following the advice of your father." 39 " Our father is Abraham," they declared. " No," Jesus replied, " for if you were children of Abraham, you would follow his good example. 40 I told you the truth I heard from God, but you are trying to kill me. Abraham wouldn't do a thing like that. 41 No, you are obeying your real father when you act that way." They replied, " We were not born out of wedlock! Our true Father is God himself." 42 Jesus told them, " If God were your Father, you would love me, because I have come to you from God. I am not here on my own, but he sent me. 43 Why can't you understand what I am saying? It is because you are unable to do so! 44 For you are the children of your father the Devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning and has always hated the truth. There is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 So when I tell the truth, you just naturally don't believe me! 46 Which of you can truthfully accuse me of sin? And since I am telling you the truth, why don't you believe me? 47 Anyone whose Father is God listens gladly to the words of God. Since you don't, it proves you aren't God's children." 48 The people retorted, " You Samaritan devil! Didn't we say all along that you were possessed by a demon?" 49 " No," Jesus said, " I have no demon in me. For I honor my Father--and you dishonor me. 50 And though I have no wish to glorify myself, God wants to glorify me. Let him be the judge. 51 I assure you, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!" 52 The people said, " Now we know you are possessed by a demon. Even Abraham and the prophets died, but you say that those who obey your teaching will never die! 53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? Are you greater than the prophets, who died? Who do you think you are?" 54 Jesus answered, " If I am merely boasting about myself, it doesn't count. But it is my Father who says these glorious things about me. You say, ` He is our God,' 55 but you do not even know him. I know him. If I said otherwise, I would be as great a liar as you! But it is true--I know him and obey him. 56 Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced as he looked forward to my coming. He saw it and was glad." 57 The people said, " You aren't even fifty years old. How can you say you have seen Abraham?" 58 Jesus answered, " The truth is, I existed before Abraham was even born!" 59 At that point they picked up stones to kill him. But Jesus hid himself from them and left the Temple.
PSALM 112:1-10
Praise the LORD!
Happy are those who fear the LORD.
Yes, happy are those who delight in doing what he commands.
2 Their children will be successful everywhere;
an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.
3 They themselves will be wealthy,
and their good deeds will never be forgotten.
4 When darkness overtakes the godly, light will come bursting in.
They are generous, compassionate, and righteous.
5 All goes well for those who are generous,
who lend freely and conduct their business fairly.
6 Such people will not be overcome by evil circumstances.
Those who are righteous will be long remembered.
7 They do not fear bad news;
they confidently trust the LORD to care for them.
8 They are confident and fearless
and can face their foes triumphantly.
9 They give generously to those in need.
Their good deeds will never be forgotten.
They will have influence and honor.
10 The wicked will be infuriated when they see this.
They will grind their teeth in anger;
they will slink away, their hopes thwarted.
PROVERBS 15:12-14
Mockers don't love those who rebuke them, so they stay away from the wise. A glad heart makes a happy face; a broken heart crushes the spirit. A wise person is hungry for truth, while the fool feeds on trash.
