2 SAMUEL 12:1-31
JOHN 16:1-33
PSALM 119:65-80
PROVERBS 16:4-5
2 SAMUEL 12:1-31
So the LORD sent Nathan the prophet to tell David this story: " There were two men in a certain town. One was rich, and one was poor. 2 The rich man owned many sheep and cattle. 3 The poor man owned nothing but a little lamb he had worked hard to buy. He raised that little lamb, and it grew up with his children. It ate from the man's own plate and drank from his cup. He cuddled it in his arms like a baby daughter. 4 One day a guest arrived at the home of the rich man. But instead of killing a lamb from his own flocks for food, he took the poor man's lamb and killed it and served it to his guest." 5 David was furious. " As surely as the LORD lives," he vowed, " any man who would do such a thing deserves to die! 6 He must repay four lambs to the poor man for the one he stole and for having no pity." 7 Then Nathan said to David, " You are that man! The LORD, the God of Israel, says, ` I anointed you king of Israel and saved you from the power of Saul. 8 I gave you his house and his wives and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you much, much more. 9 Why, then, have you despised the word of the LORD and done this horrible deed? For you have murdered Uriah and stolen his wife. 10 From this time on, the sword will be a constant threat to your family, because you have despised me by taking Uriah's wife to be your own. 11 " ` Because of what you have done, I, the LORD, will cause your own household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man, and he will go to bed with them in public view. 12 You did it secretly, but I will do this to you openly in the sight of all Israel.' " 13 Then David confessed to Nathan, " I have sinned against the LORD." Nathan replied, " Yes, but the LORD has forgiven you, and you won't die for this sin. 14 But you have given the enemies of the LORD great opportunity to despise and blaspheme him, so your child will die." 15 After Nathan returned to his home, the LORD made Bathsheba's baby deathly ill. 16 David begged God to spare the child. He went without food and lay all night on the bare ground. 17 The leaders of the nation pleaded with him to get up and eat with them, but he refused. 18 Then on the seventh day the baby died. David's advisers were afraid to tell him. " He was so broken up about the baby being sick," they said. " What will he do to himself when we tell him the child is dead?" 19 But when David saw them whispering, he realized what had happened. " Is the baby dead?" he asked. " Yes," they replied. 20 Then David got up from the ground, washed himself, put on lotions, and changed his clothes. Then he went to the Tabernacle and worshiped the LORD. After that, he returned to the palace and ate. 21 His advisers were amazed. " We don't understand you," they told him. " While the baby was still living, you wept and refused to eat. But now that the baby is dead, you have stopped your mourning and are eating again." 22 David replied, " I fasted and wept while the child was alive, for I said, ` Perhaps the LORD will be gracious to me and let the child live.' 23 But why should I fast when he is dead? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him one day, but he cannot return to me." 24 Then David comforted Bathsheba, his wife, and slept with her. She became pregnant and gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon. The LORD loved the child 25 and sent word through Nathan the prophet that his name should be Jedidiah--" beloved of the LORD"--because the LORD loved him. 26 Meanwhile, Joab and the Israelite army were successfully ending their siege of Rabbah, the capital of Ammon. 27 Joab sent messengers to tell David, " I have fought against Rabbah and captured its water supply. 28 Now bring the rest of the army and finish the job, so you will get credit for the victory instead of me." 29 So David led the rest of his army to Rabbah and captured it. 30 David removed the crown from the king's head, and it was placed on David's own head. The crown was made of gold and set with gems, and it weighed about seventy-five pounds. David took a vast amount of plunder from the city. 31 He also made slaves of the people of Rabbah and forced them to labor with saws, picks, and axes, and to work in the brick kilns. That is how he dealt with the people of all the Ammonite cities. Then David and his army returned to Jerusalem.
JOHN 16:1-33
" I [Jesus] have told you these things so that you won't fall away. 2 For you will be expelled from the synagogues, and the time is coming when those who kill you will think they are doing God a service. 3 This is because they have never known the Father or me. 4 Yes, I'm telling you these things now, so that when they happen, you will remember I warned you. I didn't tell you earlier because I was going to be with you for a while longer. 5 " But now I am going away to the one who sent me, and none of you has asked me where I am going. 6 Instead, you are very sad. 7 But it is actually best for you that I go away, because if I don't, the Counselor won't come. If I do go away, he will come because I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convince the world of its sin, and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment. 9 The world's sin is unbelief in me. 10 Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more. 11 Judgment will come because the prince of this world has already been judged. 12 " Oh, there is so much more I want to tell you, but you can't bear it now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not be presenting his own ideas; he will be telling you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future. 14 He will bring me glory by revealing to you whatever he receives from me. 15 All that the Father has is mine; this is what I mean when I say that the Spirit will reveal to you whatever he receives from me. 16 " In just a little while I will be gone, and you won't see me anymore. Then, just a little while after that, you will see me again." 17 The disciples asked each other, " What does he mean when he says, ` You won't see me, and then you will see me'? And what does he mean when he says, ` I am going to the Father'? 18 And what does he mean by ` a little while'? We don't understand." 19 Jesus realized they wanted to ask him, so he said, " Are you asking yourselves what I meant? I said in just a little while I will be gone, and you won't see me anymore. Then, just a little while after that, you will see me again. 20 Truly, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy when you see me again. 21 It will be like a woman experiencing the pains of labor. When her child is born, her anguish gives place to joy because she has brought a new person into the world. 22 You have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. 23 At that time you won't need to ask me for anything. The truth is, you can go directly to the Father and ask him, and he will grant your request because you use my name. 24 You haven't done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy. 25 " I have spoken of these matters in parables, but the time will come when this will not be necessary, and I will tell you plainly all about the Father. 26 Then you will ask in my name. I'm not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, 27 for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God. 28 Yes, I came from the Father into the world, and I will leave the world and return to the Father." 29 Then his disciples said, " At last you are speaking plainly and not in parables. 30 Now we understand that you know everything and don't need anyone to tell you anything. From this we believe that you came from God." 31 Jesus asked, " Do you finally believe? 32 But the time is coming--in fact, it is already here--when you will be scattered, each one going his own way, leaving me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. 33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."
PSALM 119:65-80
You have done many good things for me, LORD,
just as you promised.
66 I believe in your commands;
now teach me good judgment and knowledge.
67 I used to wander off until you disciplined me;
but now I closely follow your word.
68 You are good and do only good;
teach me your principles.
69 Arrogant people have made up lies about me,
but in truth I obey your commandments with all my heart.
70 Their hearts are dull and stupid,
but I delight in your law.
71 The suffering you sent was good for me,
for it taught me to pay attention to your principles.
72 Your law is more valuable to me
than millions in gold and silver!
73 You made me; you created me.
Now give me the sense to follow your commands.
74 May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy,
for I have put my hope in your word.
75 I know, O LORD, that your decisions are fair;
you disciplined me because I needed it.
76 Now let your unfailing love comfort me,
just as you promised me, your servant.
77 Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live,
for your law is my delight.
78 Bring disgrace upon the arrogant people who lied about me;
meanwhile, I will concentrate on your commandments.
79 Let me be reconciled
with all who fear you and know your decrees.
80 May I be blameless in keeping your principles;
then I will never have to be ashamed.
PROVERBS 16:4-5
The LORD has made everything for his own purposes, even the wicked for punishment. The LORD despises pride; be assured that the proud will be punished.
No comments:
Post a Comment