1 CHRONICLES 12:19-14:17
ROMANS 1:1-17
PSALM 9:13-20
PROVERBS 19:4-5
1 CHRONICLES 12:19-14:17
Some men from Manasseh defected from the Israelite army and joined David when he went with the Philistines to fight against Saul. But as it turned out, the Philistine leaders refused to let David and his men go with them. After much discussion, they sent them back, for they said, " It will cost us our lives if David switches loyalties to Saul and turns against us." 20 Here is a list of the men from Manasseh who defected to David as he was returning to Ziklag: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu, and Zillethai. Each commanded a thousand troops from the tribe of Manasseh. 21 They helped David chase down bands of raiders, for they were all brave and able warriors who became commanders in his army. 22 Day after day more men joined David until he had a great army, like the army of God. 23 These are the numbers of armed warriors who joined David at Hebron. They were all eager to see David become king instead of Saul, just as the LORD had promised. 24 From the tribe of Judah, there were 6,800 warriors armed with shields and spears. 25 From the tribe of Simeon, there were 7,100 warriors. 26 From the tribe of Levi, there were 4,600 troops. 27 This included Jehoiada, leader of the family of Aaron, who had 3,700 under his command. 28 This also included Zadok, a young warrior, with twenty-two members of his family who were all officers. 29 From the tribe of Benjamin, Saul's relatives, there were 3,000 warriors. Most of the men from Benjamin had remained loyal to Saul until this time. 30 From the tribe of Ephraim, there were 20,800 warriors, each famous in his own clan. 31 From the half-tribe of Manasseh west of the Jordan, 18,000 men were sent for the express purpose of helping David become king. 32 From the tribe of Issachar, there were 200 leaders of the tribe with their relatives. All these men understood the temper of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take. 33 From the tribe of Zebulun, there were 50,000 skilled warriors. They were fully armed and prepared for battle and completely loyal to David. 34 From the tribe of Naphtali, there were 1,000 officers and 37,000 warriors armed with shields and spears. 35 From the tribe of Dan, there were 28,600 warriors, all prepared for battle. 36 From the tribe of Asher, there were 40,000 trained warriors, all prepared for battle. 37 From the east side of the Jordan River--where the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh lived--there were 120,000 troops armed with every kind of weapon.38 All these men came in battle array to Hebron with the single purpose of making David the king of Israel. In fact, all Israel agreed that David should be their king. 39 They feasted and drank with David for three days, for preparations had been made by their relatives for their arrival. 40 And people from as far away as Issachar, Zebulun, and Naphtali brought food on donkeys, camels, mules, and oxen. Vast supplies of flour, fig cakes, raisins, wine, olive oil, cattle, and sheep were brought to the celebration. There was great joy throughout the land of Israel. 13:1 DAVID consulted with all his officials, including the generals and captains of his army. 2 Then he addressed the entire assembly of Israel as follows: " If you approve and if it is the will of the LORD our God, let us send messages to all the Israelites throughout the land, including the priests and Levites in their towns and pasturelands. Let us invite them to come and join us. 3 It is time to bring back the Ark of our God, for we neglected it during the reign of Saul." 4 The whole assembly agreed to this, for the people could see it was the right thing to do. 5 So David summoned all the people of Israel, from one end of the country to the other, to join in bringing the Ark of God from Kiriath-jearim. 6 Then David and all Israel went to Baalah of Judah (also called Kiriath-jearim) to bring back the Ark of God, which bears the name of the LORD who is enthroned between the cherubim. 7 They transported the Ark of God from the house of Abinadab on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding it. 8 David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might, singing and playing all kinds of musical instruments--lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals, and trumpets. 9 But when they arrived at the threshing floor of Nacon, the oxen stumbled, and Uzzah put out his hand to steady the Ark. 10 Then the LORD's anger blazed out against Uzzah, and he struck him dead because he had laid his hand on the Ark. So Uzzah died there in the presence of God. 11 David was angry because the LORD's anger had blazed out against Uzzah. He named that place Perez-uzzah (which means " outbreak against Uzzah"). It is still called that today. 12 David was now afraid of God and asked, " How can I ever bring the Ark of God back into my care?" 13 So David decided not to move the Ark into the City of David. He took it instead to the home of Obed-edom of Gath. 14 The Ark of God remained there with the family of Obed-edom for three months, and the LORD blessed him and his entire household.14:1 NOW King Hiram of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with stonemasons and carpenters to build him a palace. Hiram also sent many cedar logs for lumber. 2 And David realized that the LORD had made him king over Israel and had made his kingdom very great for the sake of his people Israel. 3 Then David married more wives in Jerusalem, and they had many sons and daughters. 4 These are the names of David's sons who were born in Jerusalem: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, 5 Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, 6 Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, 7 Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet.8 When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they mobilized all their forces to capture him. But David was told they were coming, so he and his men marched out to meet them. 9 The Philistines had arrived in the valley of Rephaim and raided it. 10 So David asked God, " Should I go out to fight the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?" The LORD replied, " Yes, go ahead. I will give you the victory." 11 So David and his troops went to Baal-perazim and defeated the Philistines there. " God has done it!" David exclaimed. " He used me to burst through my enemies like a raging flood!" So that place was named Baal-perazim (which means " the Lord who bursts through"). 12 The Philistines had abandoned their idols there, so David gave orders to burn them up. 13 But after a while, the Philistines returned and raided the valley again. 14 And once again David asked God what to do. " Do not attack them straight on," God replied. " Instead, circle around behind them and attack them near the balsam trees. 15 When you hear a sound like marching feet in the tops of the balsam trees, attack! That will be the signal that God is moving ahead of you to strike down the Philistines." 16 So David did what God commanded, and he struck down the Philistine army all the way from Gibeon to Gezer. 17 So David's fame spread everywhere, and the LORD caused all the nations to fear David.
ROMANS 1:1-17
This letter is from Paul, Jesus Christ's slave, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News. 2 This Good News was promised long ago by God through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. 3 It is the Good News about his Son, Jesus, who came as a man, born into King David's royal family line. 4 And Jesus Christ our Lord was shown to be the Son of God when God powerfully raised him from the dead by means of the Holy Spirit. 5 Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name. 6 You are among those who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ, 7 dear friends in Rome. God loves you dearly, and he has called you to be his very own people. May grace and peace be yours from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 8 Let me say first of all that your faith in God is becoming known throughout the world. How I thank God through Jesus Christ for each one of you. 9 God knows how often I pray for you. Day and night I bring you and your needs in prayer to God, whom I serve with all my heart by telling others the Good News about his Son. 10 One of the things I always pray for is the opportunity, God willing, to come at last to see you. 11 For I long to visit you so I can share a spiritual blessing with you that will help you grow strong in the Lord. 12 I'm eager to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. In this way, each of us will be a blessing to the other.13 I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters,* that I planned many times to visit you, but I was prevented until now. I want to work among you and see good results, just as I have done among other Gentiles. 14 For I have a great sense of obligation to people in our culture and to people in other cultures,* to the educated and uneducated alike. 15 So I am eager to come to you in Rome, too, to preach God's Good News. 16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes--Jews first and also Gentiles. 17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, " It is through faith that a righteous person has life."
PSALM 9:13-20
LORD, have mercy on me.
See how I suffer at the hands of those who hate me.
Snatch me back from the jaws of death.
14 Save me, so I can praise you publicly at Jerusalem's gates,
so I can rejoice that you have rescued me.
15 The nations have fallen into the pit they dug for others.
They have been caught in their own trap.
16 The LORD is known for his justice.
The wicked have trapped themselves in their own snares.
Quiet Interlude17 The wicked will go down to the grave.
This is the fate of all the nations who ignore God.
18 For the needy will not be forgotten forever;
the hopes of the poor will not always be crushed.
19 Arise, O LORD!
Do not let mere mortals defy you!
Let the nations be judged in your presence!
20 Make them tremble in fear, O LORD.
Let them know they are merely human.
Interlude
PROVERBS 19:4-5
Wealth makes many " friends"; poverty drives them away. A false witness will not go unpunished, nor will a liar escape.
