The Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour in Saint Louis, Missouri, United States [Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).] "All Sins"
for Wednesday, August 17, 2016
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.[1 John 1:9]PASTOR'S NOTE: Please be aware that the two paragraphs which begin: "Sometimes the censure can begin with the commission ..." contains a graphic story. Please evaluate before sharing with those who are young and of a sensitive nature. Thank you, Pastor Klaus
Have you ever had your heart condemn you? Most of us have.
Sometimes that condemnation seems to stem from an inconsequential, insignificant trifle. In 1895, a teenager wrote to President Cleveland. In his letter, he poured out the censure of his heart.
He said: "To His Majesty President Cleveland! Dear President: I am in a dreadful state of mind, and I thought I would write and tell you all. About two years ago I used two postage stamps that had been used before (on a letter.) Perhaps (I used) more than two stamps, but I can only remember doing it twice. I did not realize what I had done until lately. My mind is constantly on that subject. I think of it night and day. Now, dear President, will you please forgive me, and I (will) promise you I will never do it again. Enclosed find (the) cost of three stamps, and please forgive me, for I was then but thirteen years old, (for) I am heartily sorry for what I have done."
Have you ever had your heart condemn you? Most of us have.
Sometimes that censure can begin with the commission of a transgression of seeming overwhelming proportions. About the same time as that boy wrote a letter to President Cleveland, the case of another young boy mystified his doctors. The lad's initial symptoms were nervousness, accompanied by a deep depression. Soon the boy lost his appetite and was unable to sleep. When he did manage to slip into a restless slumber, he tossed, turned and moaned: "Oh, those eyes, those eyes!"
When the boy awoke, the doctor rightly inquired of the youngster what his words had meant.
The boy, slowly, reluctantly confessed: "The other day I saw a toad. He was on the road, and was trying to get away from me. He managed for a while, and that made me angry. I got so angry, that when I caught up with him, I took a sharp stick and pinned him to the ground. I left him there. Then, the next day I went back and the toad was still there. He was still alive, and he looked right up at me, and his eyes, oh, his eyes. He seemed to say, 'You did this.'"
Then the boy finished, saying that whenever he tried to eat or sleep, he could see those eyes filled with accusation.
Have you had your heart condemn you? Most of us have not lived a life so perfect that we can say, "No, my conscience is clear; my mind remains untroubled." That's because -- and I'm not too worried about being contradicted when I say -- all of us are sinners. Even the most upstanding of us have done things, many things, that are wrong.
Thankfully, we have a Savior who did everything right.
So we might be saved He came into this world as our heaven-sent Ransom. At great cost to Himself He lived, suffered, died and rose for us. He carried our sins and He resisted all temptations.
And now, because of what He has done we are saved. Our sins, even those condemned by our hearts, are forgiven, and we can be at peace permanently.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, for the peace which Jesus has won may I be thankful. May I resist every accusation of the devil who wishes me to believe that Jesus' forgiveness is for all sins but mine. This I pray in the Savior's Name. Amen.
Today's Bible in a Year Reading: Psalms 45-47; 1 Corinthians 10:19-33
Psalms 45:1 (0) For the leader. Set to “Lilies.” By the descendants of Korach. A maskil. A lovesong:
2 (1) My heart is stirred by a noble theme;
I address my verses to the king;
My tongue is the pen of an expert scribe.
3 (2) You are the most handsome of men;
gracious speech flows from your lips.
For God has blessed you forever.
4 (3) Warrior, strap your sword at your thigh;
[gird on] your splendor and majesty.
5 (4) In your majesty, succeed, ride on
in the cause of truth, meekness and righteousness.
May your right hand teach you awesome things.
6 (5) Your arrows are sharp. The people fall under you,
as they penetrate the hearts of the king’s enemies.
7 (6) Your throne, God, will last forever and ever;
you rule your kingdom with a scepter of equity.
8 (7) You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness.
Therefore God, your God, has anointed you
with the oil of joy in preference to your companions.
9 (8) Your robes are all fragrant with myrrh, aloes and cassia;
from ivory palaces stringed instruments bring you joy.
10 (9) Daughters of kings are among your favorites;
at your right stands the queen in gold from Ofir.
11 (10) Listen, daughter! Think, pay attention!
Forget your own people and your father’s house,
12 (11) and the king will desire your beauty;
for he is your lord, so honor him.
13 (12) Then the daughter of Tzor, the richest of peoples,
will court your favor with gifts.
14 (13) Inside [the palace], the king’s daughter looks splendid,
attired in checker-work embroidered with gold.
15 (14) In brocade, she will be led to the king,
to you, with the virgins in her retinue.
16 (15) They will be led in with gladness and joy,
they will enter the king’s palace.
17 (16) You will have sons to succeed your ancestors;
you will make them princes in all the land.
18 (17) I will make your name known through all generations;
thus the peoples will praise you forever and ever.
46:1 (0) For the leader. By the descendants of Korach. On ‘alamot[high-pitched musical instruments?]. A song:
2 (1) God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
3 (2) Therefore we are unafraid,
even if the earth gives way,
even if the mountains tumble
into the depths of the sea,
4 (3) even if its waters rage and foam,
and mountains shake at its turbulence. (Selah)
5 (4) There is a river whose streams
gladden the city of God,
the holy habitation of ‘Elyon —
6 (5) God is in the city.
It will not be moved —
when daybreak comes, God will help it.
7 (6) Nations were in turmoil,
kingdoms were moved;
his voice thundered forth,
and the earth melted away.
8 (7) Adonai-Tzva’ot is with us,
our fortress, the God of Ya‘akov. (Selah)
9 (8) Come and see the works of Adonai,
the astounding deeds he has done on the earth.
10 (9) To the ends of the earth he makes wars cease —
he breaks the bow, snaps the spear,
burns the shields in the fire.
11 (10) “Desist, and learn that I am God,
supreme over the nations,
supreme over the earth.”
12 (11) Adonai-Tzva’ot is with us,
our fortress, the God of Ya‘akov. (Selah)
47:1 (0) For the leader. A psalm of the descendants of Korach:
2 (1) Clap your hands, all you peoples!
Shout to God with cries of joy!
3 (2) For Adonai ‘Elyon is awesome,
a great king over all the earth.
4 (3) He makes peoples subject to us,
puts nations under our feet.
5 (4) He chooses our heritage for us,
the pride of Ya‘akov, whom he loves. (Selah)
6 (5) God goes up to shouts of acclaim,
Adonai to a blast on the shofar.
7 (6) Sing praises to God, sing praises!
Sing praises to our king, sing praises!
8 (7) For God is king of all the earth;
sing praises in a maskil.
9 (8) God rules the nations;
God sits on his holy throne.
10 (9) The leaders of the people gather together,
the people of the God of Avraham;
for the rulers of the earth belong to God,
who is exalted on high.
1 Corinthians 10:19 So, what am I saying? That food sacrificed to idols has any significance in itself? or that an idol has significance in itself? 20 No, what I am saying is that the things which pagans sacrifice, they sacrifice not to God but to demons; and I don’t want you to become sharers of the demons! 21 You can’t drink both a cup of the Lord and a cup of demons, you can’t partake in both a meal of the Lord and a meal of demons. 22 Or are we trying to make the Lord jealous? We aren’t stronger than he is, are we?
23 “Everything is permitted,” you say? Maybe, but not everything is helpful. “Everything is permitted?” Maybe, but not everything is edifying. 24 No one should be looking out for his own interests, but for those of his fellow. 25 Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26 for the earth and everything in it belong to the Lord.[1 Corinthians 10:26 Psalm 24:1, 50:12, 89:12(11)] 27 If some unbeliever invites you to a meal, and you want to go, eat whatever is put in front of you without raising questions of conscience. 28 But if someone says to you, “This meat was offered as a sacrifice,” then don’t eat it, out of consideration for the person who pointed it out and also for conscience’s sake — 29 however, I don’t mean your conscience but that of the other person. You say, “Why should my freedom be determined by someone else’s conscience? 30 If I participate with thankfulness, why am I criticized over something for which I myself bless God?” 31 Well, whatever you do, whether it’s eating or drinking or anything else, do it all so as to bring glory to God. 32 Do not be an obstacle to anyone — not to Jews, not to Gentiles, and not to God’s Messianic Community. 33 Just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not looking out for my own interests but for those of the many, so that they may be saved;
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The Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour in Saint Louis, Missouri, United States [Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).]
"Jesus and Death"
for Tuesday, August 16, 2016
| Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.[Psalm 23:4] For those of you who may have been on a distant planet for the last decade, Justin Bieber is a singer. Actually, Justin Bieber is a very rich, very successful singer who has grown up in front of large crowds, screaming teenage girls, and adults who don't quite manage to see what the big hubbub is all about. Although he seems to be getting things under control, his public life has not been without a stumble or two. Even so, recently Mr. Bieber received a glowing report from the mother of a nine-year-old girl. It seems that last May Mr. Bieber took time out of his busy schedule and paid a visit to Kaylee Drew who was suffering from acute myeloid leukemia. Stopping by the girl's hospital room Mr. Bieber made that girl feel, at least for a while, first-rate. Drew's mother wrote, "I need to make sure you know how much you made her happy." The mother shares, at the end, when Drew was unresponsive, a Justin Bieber song played into her earphones managed to make her smile. Now I have to admit, Justin Bieber's songs don't get my feet to tappin' and my hands a-clappin'. That being said, I have to applaud and appreciate anyone who manages to brighten the last days of a dying child. If that is the case for a rock star who paid a one-time, short-term visit to Kaylee, what ought to be the world's response to the Savior? You know, when Jesus enters an individual's life, it isn't for a stolen moment or two. No, when Jesus comes, He comes to stay. That is why, over the centuries, He has been by the deathbeds of the rich, the poor, the young, the old, the parents, and the children. He has been there when death came quietly, and He was there when death gave a long-time warning. Jesus was there when the dying individual was alone, and He was there for the person surrounded by a host of family and loved ones. But there's more to be said about the Savior's presence when a person dies. We need to remember that when the physician is helpless and the medicine is ineffectual, Jesus is doing some of His best work. He who died so we might be forgiven and adopted into God's family of faith is there to take us through the valley of the shadow of death. He is present to assist the dying and comfort the mourning. He is there -- and because He is -- when death comes calling, we need not be afraid. THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, the time is coming when I will leave this world. May I be comforted by the knowledge that at that time I will not be alone. On that day the Savior will take me to a reunion in heaven that will never end. In Jesus' Name I give thanks. Amen. Today's Bible in a Year Reading: 1 Chronicles 16; Psalms 42,44; 1 Corinthians 10:1-18 | 1 Chronicles 16:1 They brought the ark of God in and put it in the tent that David had set up for it; and they offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before God. 2 When David had finished offering the burnt offering and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of Adonai. 3 Then he distributed to everyone in Isra’el, to everyone there, both men and women, a loaf of bread, a portion of meat and a raisin cake. 4 He appointed certain L’vi’im to serve in front of the ark of Adonai, to celebrate, and to thank and praise Adonai the God of Isra’el: 5 Asaf, the leader; assisting him, Z’kharyah; then Ye‘i’el, Sh’miramot, Yechi’el, Mattityahu, Eli’av, B’nayahu, ‘Oved-Edom and Ye‘i’el playing lutes and lyres, while Asaf played cymbals. 6 B’nayah and Yachzi’el the cohanimblew the trumpets continually before the ark for the covenant of God.7 It was on that same day that David first ordered that thanks be given to Adonai through Asaf and his kinsmen: 8 Give thanks to Adonai! Call on his name! Make his deeds known among the peoples. 9 Sing to him, sing praises to him! Talk about all his wonders. 10 Glory in his holy name; let those seeking Adonai have joyful hearts. 11 Seek Adonai and his strength; always seek his presence. 12 Remember the wonders he has done, his signs and his spoken judgments. 13 You descendants of Isra’el his servant, you offspring of Ya‘akov, his chosen ones: 14 he is Adonai our God, His judgments are everywhere on earth. 15 Remember his covenant forever, the word he commanded to a thousand generations, 16 the covenant he made with Avraham; the oath he swore to Yitz’chak 17 and established as a law for Ya‘akov, for Isra’el as an everlasting covenant: 18 “To you I will give the land of Kena‘an as your allotted heritage.” 19 When you were but few in number, and not only few, but aliens there too, 20 wandering from nation to nation, from this kingdom to that people, 21 he allowed no one to oppress them. Yes, for their sakes he rebuked even kings: 22 “Don’t touch my anointed ones or do my prophets harm!” 23 Sing to Adonai, all the earth! Proclaim his victory day after day! 24 Declare his glory among the nations, his wonders among all peoples! 25 For Adonai is great, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared more than all gods. 26 For all the gods of the peoples are nothing, but Adonai made the heavens. 27 In his presence are honor and majesty; in his place, strength and joy. 28 Give Adonai his due, you families from the peoples, give Adonai his due of glory and strength; 29 give Adonai the glory due to his name; bring an offering, and come into his presence. Worship Adonai in splendid, holy attire. 30 Tremble before him, all the earth! The world is firmly established, immovable. 31 Let the heavens rejoice; let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, “Adonai is king!” 32 Let the sea roar, and everything in it; let the fields exult, and all that is in them. 33 Then the trees in the forest will sing before Adonai, because he has come to judge the earth. 34 Give thanks to Adonai; for he is good, for his grace continues forever. 35 Say: “Save us, God who can save us! Gather and rescue us from the nations; so that we can thank your holy name and glory in praising you. 36 Blessed be Adonai, the God of Isra’el, from eternity past to eternity future!” All the people said, “Amen!” and praised Adonai. 37 So, there before the ark for the covenant of Adonai, David left Asaf and his kinsmen to perform the service regularly before the ark, as each day’s work required; 38 also ‘Oved-Edom with their kinsmen, sixty-eight of them — ‘Oved-Edom the son of Y’dutun and Hosah were gatekeepers. 39 He left Tzadok the cohen with his kinsmen before the tabernacle ofAdonai at the high place in Giv‘on 40 to offer burnt offerings to Adonaievery morning and evening on the altar for burnt offerings, according to everything written in the Torah of Adonai, which he gave to Isra’el.41 With them were Heman and Y’dutun and the rest who were chosen and assigned by name to give thanks to Adonai, because his grace continues forever. 42 With them were Heman and Y’dutun to play trumpets and cymbals, also instruments for the songs about God; while the sons of Y’dutun were assigned to the gate. 43 Then the people all left for their homes, and David returned to bless his household. Psalm 42:1 (0) For the leader. A maskil of the descendants of Korach: 2 (1) Just as a deer longs for running streams, God, I long for you. 3 (2) I am thirsty for God, for the living God! When can I come and appear before God? 4 (3) My tears are my food, day and night, while all day people ask me, “Where is your God?” 5 (4) I recall, as my feelings well up within me, how I’d go with the crowd to the house of God, with sounds of joy and praise from the throngs observing the festival. 6 (5) My soul, why are you so downcast? Why are you groaning inside me? Hope in God, since I will praise him again for the salvation that comes from his presence. 7 (6) My God, when I feel so downcast, I remind myself of you from the land of Yarden, from the peaks of Hermon, from the hill Mizar. 8 (7) Deep is calling to deep at the thunder of your waterfalls; all your surging rapids and waves are sweeping over me. 9 (8) By day Adonai commands his grace, and at night his song is with me as a prayer to the God of my life. 10 (9) I say to God my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, under pressure by the enemy? 11 (10) My adversaries’ taunts make me feel as if my bones were crushed, as they ask me all day long, ‘Where is your God?’ ” 12 (11) My soul, why are you so downcast? Why are you groaning inside me? Hope in God, since I will praise him again for being my Savior and God. 44:1 (0) For the leader. By the descendants of Korach. A maskil: 2 (1) God, we heard it with our ears; our fathers told us about it — a deed which you did in their days, back in days of old. 3 (2) With your hand you drove out nations to plant them in [the land], you crushed peoples to make room for them. 4 (3) For not by their own swords did they conquer the land, nor did their own arm give them victory; rather, it was your right hand, your arm and the light of your face; because you favored them. 5 (4) God, you are my king; command complete victory for Ya‘akov. 6 (5) Through you we pushed away our foes, through your name we trampled down our assailants. 7 (6) For I don’t rely on my bow, nor can my sword give me victory. 8 (7) No, you saved us from our adversaries; you put to shame those who hate us. 9 (8) We will boast in our God all day and give thanks to your name forever. (Selah) 10 (9) Yet now you have thrust us aside and disgraced us; you don’t march out with our armies. 11 (10) You make us retreat from the adversary, and those who hate us plunder us at will. 12 (11) You have handed us over like sheep to be eaten and scattered us among the nations. 13 (12) You sell your people for a pittance, you don’t even profit on the sale. 14 (13) You make us an object for our neighbors to mock, one of scorn and derision to those around us. 15 (14) You make us a byword among the nations; the peoples jeer at us, shaking their heads. 16 (15) All day long my disgrace is on my mind, and shame has covered my face 17 (16) at the sound of those who revile and insult, at the sight of the enemy bent on revenge. 18 (17) Though all this came on us, we did not forget you; we have not been false to your covenant; 19 (18) Our hearts have not turned back, and our steps did not turn away from your path, 20 (19) though you pressed us into a lair of jackals and covered us with death-dark gloom. 21 (20) If we had forgotten the name of our God or spread out our hands to a foreign god, 22 (21) wouldn’t God have discovered this, since he knows the secrets of the heart? 23 (22) For your sake we are put to death all day long, we are considered sheep to be slaughtered. 24 (23) Wake up, Adonai! Why are you asleep? Rouse yourself! Don’t thrust us off forever. 25 (24) Why are you turning your face away, forgetting our pain and misery? 26 (25) For we are lying flat in the dust, our bodies cling to the ground. 27 (26) Get up, and come to help us! For the sake of your grace, redeem us! 1 Corinthians 10:1 For, brothers, I don’t want you to miss the significance of what happened to our fathers. All of them were guided by the pillar of cloud, and they all passed through the sea, 2 and in connection with the cloud and with the sea they all immersed themselves into Moshe, 3 also they all ate the same food from the Spirit, 4 and they all drank the same drink from the Spirit — for they drank from a Spirit-sent Rock which followed them, and that Rock was the Messiah. 5 Yet with the majority of them God was not pleased, so their bodies were strewn across the desert. 6 Now these things took place as prefigurative historical events, warning us not to set our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Don’t be idolaters, as some of them were — as the Tanakh puts it, “The people sat down to eat and drink, then got up to indulge in revelry.”[1 Corinthians 10:7 Exodus 32:6] 8 And let us not engage in sexual immorality, as some of them did, with the consequence that 23,000 died in a single day. 9 And let us not put the Messiah to the test, as some of them did, and were destroyed by snakes. 10 And don’t grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the Destroying Angel. 11 These things happened to them as prefigurative historical events, and they were written down as a warning to us who are living in the acharit-hayamim. 12 Therefore, let anyone who thinks he is standing up be careful not to fall! 13 No temptation has seized you beyond what people normally experience, and God can be trusted not to allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear. On the contrary, along with the temptation he will also provide the way out, so that you will be able to endure. 14 Therefore, my dear friends, run from idolatry! 15 I speak to you as sensible people; judge for yourselves what I am saying. 16 The “cup of blessing” over which we make the b’rakhah — isn’t it a sharing in the bloody sacrificial death of the Messiah? The bread we break, isn’t it a sharing in the body of the Messiah? 17 Because there is one loaf of bread, we who are many constitute one body, since we all partake of the one loaf of bread. 18 Look at physical Isra’el: don’t those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar? ------- |
The Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries by Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz, Speaker of The Lutheran Hour in Saint Louis, Missouri, United States [Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).] "In Spite of Everything? Yes, Everything!"
for Monday, August 15, 2016
| We know that in everything God works for good with those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.[Romans 8:28] I've got a question for you today. Do you like failure in your life? Do you like struggle in your life? I know I don't. I especially don't like those times when I'm dealing with things that don't seem to make sense at all. Well, that's why our verse yesterday on The Lutheran Hour is worth taking a look at again one more day. Romans 8 tells us that especially in those tough times, we can put our trust in the God of heaven who ultimately works all things together for good to those who love Him. He's the cross-and-resurrection Savior who tells us to trust in Him in all things! And that's good news indeed, isn't it? So here's a thought for today: good from evil messages, success from failure stories can be encouraging and even better -- hope engendering. We can see a glimpse of that even in the simple stories in everyday life. For instance, have you ever heard about the failure that became the Post-it Notes success? I know that you know what Post-it Notes are, everyone does. They're those great little self-stick notepapers. Most people have Post-it Notes. Most people use them. Most people love them. But Post-it Notes was not a planned product. Their success came from real failure! No one got the idea of Post-it Notes and then stayed up all night to invent it. A man named Spencer Silver was working in the 3M research laboratories in 1970 trying to find a strong adhesive. Silver developed a new adhesive, but it was even weaker than what 3M had already manufactured. It stuck to objects, but could easily be lifted off. It was super weak instead of super strong. No one knew what to do with the stuff, but Silver luckily didn't discard it. Then one Sunday four years later, another 3M scientist named Arthur Fry was singing in the church's choir. He used paper markers to keep his place in the hymnal, but they kept falling out of the book. Remembering Silver's adhesive, Fry used some to coat his markers. Success! With the weak adhesive, the markers stayed in place, yet lifted off without damaging the paper. 3M began distributing Post-it Notes nationwide in 1980 -- ten years after Silver developed the super weak adhesive. Today they are one of the most popular office products available. Well, eternally, when it really counts, God is an expert at making failure into successes, but not just with mundane Post-it Notes' moments in our lives. His greatest miracle is taking sinners like us and making us His own, and it is God's promise that nothing in this world will be able to separate us from Him. That's the message that holds in success and struggle, in triumph and even in tragedy. Indeed, in everything God works for good to those who love Him. But you might be asking do you mean everything, I mean really everything? That still sounds as trite as someone saying that "in every cloud there is a silver lining." Well, when it comes to questions such as these, there are no easy answers or motivating heroic, human stories that can do the job. There is only the message of God in action, who endured the cross, enduring the hellish price for sin so that we could really put our hope in the promise of our resurrection and eternal life with our Savior, Jesus Christ. That's why, as C.G. Moule says, "There is no situation so chaotic that God cannot from that situation, create something that is surpassingly good. He did it at the creation. He did it at the cross. He is doing it today," even for you! THE PRAYER: Dear Jesus, I don't know what to do or what to think when things aren't going well in my life. Please, by the power of Your Holy Spirit, give me the courage to put my trust in You and trust Your Word, even then. Amen!  In Christ,Rev. Dr. Gregory Seltz Speaker of The Lutheran HourLutheran Hour Ministries Today's Bible in a Year Readings: 1 Chronicles 13-15; 1 Corinthians 9 1 Chronicles 13:1 David consulted with the commanders of thousands and of hundreds — with every leader. 2 Then David said to the entire assembly of Isra’el, “If it seems good to you, and if it is the will of Adonai our God, let’s send messengers to the rest of our kinsmen in the land of Isra’el, and also to the cohanim and L’vi’im in their cities with surrounding open land, asking them to join us; 3 and let’s bring back the ark of our God to ourselves, since we didn’t go after it when Sha’ul was king.” 4 The whole assembly said they would do this, for in the view of all the people it seemed right. 5 So David summoned all Isra’el to come together, from Shichor in Egypt all the way to the entrance of Hamat, to bring the ark of God from Kiryat-Ye‘arim. 6 David went up with all Isra’el to Ba‘alah, that is, Kiryat-Ye‘arim, which belonged to Y’hudah, to bring up from there the ark of God, Adonai, who is enthroned above the k’ruvim, bearing the Name.7 They set the ark of God on a new cart from the house of Avinadav, with ‘Uza and Achyo, the sons of Avinadav, driving the cart. 8 David and all Isra’el celebrated in the presence of God with all their strength, with songs, lyres, lutes, tambourines, cymbals and trumpets. 9 When they arrived at Kidon’s threshing-floor, the oxen stumbled; and ‘Uza put out his hand to steady the ark. 10 But Adonai’s anger blazed up against ‘Uza, and he struck him down, because he had put out his hand and touched the ark, so that he died there before God. 11 It upset David that Adonai had broken out against ‘Uza; that place has been called Peretz-‘Uza [breaking-out of ‘Uza] ever since. 12 That day, God frightened David; he asked, “How can I bring the ark of God to me?”13 So David didn’t bring the ark into the City of David; rather, David carried it aside into the house of ‘Oved-’Edom the Gitti. 14 The ark of God stayed with the family of ‘Oved-’Edom the Gitti in his house for three months; and Adonai blessed the household of ‘Oved-’Edom and all he had. 14:1 Huram king of Tzor sent envoys to David with cedar logs, and with them stonemasons and carpenters, to build him a palace. 2 David then knew that Adonai had set him up as king over Isra’el; because, for the sake of his people Isra’el, his royal power had been greatly increased. 3 David took more concubines and wives in Yerushalayim, and David became father of more sons and daughters. 4 Here are the names of the children born to him in Yerushalayim: Shamua, Shovav, Natan, Shlomo,5 Yivchar, Elishua, Elpelet, 6 Nogah, Nefeg, Yafia, 7 Elishama, Be‘elyada and Elifelet. 8 When the P’lishtim heard that David had been anointed king over all Isra’el, all the P’lishtim went up in search of David. On hearing of it, David went to attack them. 9 Now the P’lishtim came and made a raid in the Refa’im Valley. 10 David consulted God, asking, “Should I attack the P’lishtim? Will you hand them over to me?” Adonai answered David, “Attack; I will hand them over to you.” 11 So they went up to Ba‘al-P’ratzim, and David defeated them there. David said, “God has broken through my enemies by my power like a river breaking through its banks.” This is why they called the place Ba‘al-P’ratzim [Lord of breaking through]. 12 The P’lishtim had left their gods there, so David gave an order, and they were burned up completely. 13 The P’lishtim came up again and raided the valley. 14 David consulted God again, but God told him, “Don’t attack them! Turn away from them, and engage them opposite the balsam trees. 15 When you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move out, and attack; because God has gone out ahead of you to defeat the army of the P’lishtim.” 16 David did as God had ordered him to do and pursued his attack on the army of the P’lishtim from Giv‘on to Gezer. 17 So David’s reputation spread to all countries, and Adonai brought the fear of him on all nations. 15:1 David erected buildings for himself in the City of David, prepared a place for the ark of God, and set up a tent for it. 2 Then David said, “No one but the L’vi’im should carry the ark of God, because Adonai chose them to carry the ark of Adonai and to serve him forever.” 3 David assembled all Isra’el in Yerushalayim to bring the ark of Adonaiup to its place, which he had prepared for it. 4 David gathered together the descendants of Aharon and the L’vi’im: 5 from the descendants of K’hat: Uri’el the chief, and 120 of his kinsmen; 6 from the descendants of M’rari: ‘Asayah the chief, and 220 of his kinsmen; 7 from the descendants of Gershom: Yo’el the chief, and 130 of his kinsmen;8 from the descendants of Elitzafan: Sh’ma‘yah the chief, and 200 of his kinsmen; 9 from the descendants of Hevron: Eli’el the chief, and eighty of his kinsmen; 10 and from the descendants of ‘Uzi’el: ‘Amminadav the chief, and 112 of his kinsmen. 11 David called for Tzadok and Evyatar the cohanim and for the L’vi’im — Uri’el, ‘Asayah, Yo’el, Sh’ma‘yah, Eli’el and ‘Amminadav — 12 and said to them, “You are the clan leaders of the L’vi’im. Consecrate yourselves, both you and your kinsmen, to bring the ark of Adonai the God of Isra’el up to the place I have prepared for it. 13 It’s because you weren’t there the first time that Adonai our God broke out against us. We didn’t seek him out according to the rule.” 14 So the cohanim and L’vi’imconsecrated themselves to bring up the ark of Adonai the God of Isra’el;15 and the L’vi’im carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles on it, as Moshe had ordered, according to what Adonai had said. 16 David spoke to the chief of the L’vi’im to appoint their kinsmen to be singers making use of musical instruments — lutes, lyres and cymbals — to play loudly and raise sounds of joy. 17 So the L’vi’im appointed Heman the son of Yo’el; of his kinsmen, Asaf the son of Berekhyahu; of the descendants of M’rari their kinsmen, Eitan the son of Kushayahu;18 and with them their second-degree kinsmen Z’kharyahu, Ben, Ya‘azi’el, Sh’miramot, Yechi’el, ‘Uni, Eli’av, B’nayahu, Ma‘aseiyahu, Mattityahu, Elif’lehu, Mikneyahu, with ‘Oved-Edom and Ye‘i’el the gatekeepers. 19 The singers Heman, Asaf and Eitan were appointed to sound the bronze cymbals. 20 Z’kharyahu, ‘Azi’el, Sh’miramot, Yechi’el, ‘Uni, Eli’av, Ma‘aseiyahu and B’nayahu were to play the lutes for ‘alamot[high-pitched music?]. 21 Mattityahu, Elif’lehu, Mikneyahu, ’Oved-Edom, Ye‘i’el and ‘Azazyahu were to play lyres to lead the sh’minit [low-pitched music?]. 22 K’nanyahu, chief of the L’vi’im, was in charge of the singing; he was put in charge of the singing because he was skillful at it.23 Berekhyahu and Elkanah were gatekeepers for the ark.24 Sh’vanyahu, Yoshafat, N’tan’el, ‘Amasai, Z’kharyahu, B’nayahu and Eli‘ezer the cohanim blew the trumpets in front of the ark of God. ‘Oved-Edom and Yechiyah were gatekeepers for the ark. 25 So David, the leaders of Isra’el and the commanders over thousands went to bring up the ark for the covenant of Adonai out from the house of ‘Oved-Edom with joy. 26 Since God was helping the L’vi’im who were carrying the ark for the covenant of Adonai, they sacrificed seven young bulls and seven rams. 27 David, all the L’vi’im bearing the ark, the singers and K’nanyah the music leader for the singers were all wearing linen cloaks; and David was also wearing a linen ritual vest. 28 So all Isra’el brought up the ark for the covenant of Adonai with shouting; blowing on shofars and trumpets; and cymbals sounding with lutes and lyres. 29 As the ark for the covenant of Adonai entered the City of David, Mikhal the daughter of Sha’ul, watching from the window, saw King David dancing and celebrating; and she was filled with contempt for him. 1 Corinthians 9:1 Am I not a free man? Am I not an emissary of the Messiah? Haven’t I seen Yeshua our Lord? And aren’t you yourselves the result of my work for the Lord? 2 Even if to others I am not an emissary, at least I am to you; for you are living proof that I am the Lord’s emissary. 3 That is my defense when people put me under examination. 4 Don’t we have the right to be given food and drink? 5 Don’t we have the right to take along with us a believing wife, as do the other emissaries, also the Lord’s brothers and Kefa? 6 Or are Bar-Nabba and I the only ones required to go on working for our living? 7 Did you ever hear of a soldier paying his own expenses? or of a farmer planting a vineyard without eating its grapes? Who shepherds a flock without drinking some of the milk? 8 What I am saying is not based merely on human authority, because the Torah says the same thing — 9 for in the Torah of Moshe it is written, “You are not to put a muzzle on an ox when it is treading out the grain.”[1 Corinthians 9:9 Deuteronomy 25:4] If God is concerned about cattle,10 all the more does he say this for our sakes. Yes, it was written for us, meaning that he who plows and he who threshes should work expecting to get a share of the crop. 11 If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much if we reap a material harvest from you? 12 If others are sharing in this right to be supported by you, don’t we have a greater claim to it? But we don’t make use of this right. Rather, we put up with all kinds of things so as not to impede in any way the Good News about the Messiah. 13 Don’t you know that those who work in the Temple get their food from the Temple, and those who serve at the altar get a share of the sacrifices offered there? 14 In the same way, the Lord directed that those who proclaim the Good News should get their living from the Good News. 15 But I have not made use of any of these rights. Nor am I writing now to secure them for myself, for I would rather die than be deprived of my ground for boasting! 16 For I can’t boast merely because I proclaim the Good News — this I do from inner compulsion: woe is me if I don’t proclaim the Good News! 17 For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if I do it unwillingly, I still do it, simply because I’ve been entrusted with a job. 18 So then, what is my reward? Just this: that in proclaiming the Good News I can make it available free of charge, without making use of the rights to which it entitles me. 19 For although I am a free man, not bound to do anyone’s bidding, I have made myself a slave to all in order to win as many people as possible. 20 That is, with Jews, what I did was put myself in the position of a Jew, in order to win Jews. With people in subjection to a legalistic perversion of the Torah, I put myself in the position of someone under such legalism, in order to win those under this legalism, even though I myself am not in subjection to a legalistic perversion of the Torah.21 With those who live outside the framework of Torah, I put myself in the position of someone outside the Torah in order to win those outside the Torah — although I myself am not outside the framework of God’sTorah but within the framework of Torah as upheld by the Messiah.22 With the “weak” I became “weak,” in order to win the “weak.” With all kinds of people I have become all kinds of things, so that in all kinds of circumstances I might save at least some of them. 23 But I do it all because of the rewards promised by the Good News, so that I may share in them along with the others who come to trust.24 Don’t you know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one wins the prize? So then, run to win! 25 Now every athlete in training submits himself to strict discipline, and he does it just to win a laurel wreath that will soon wither away. But we do it to win a crown that will last forever. 26 Accordingly, I don’t run aimlessly but straight for the finish line; I don’t shadow-box but try to make every punch count. 27 I treat my body hard and make it my slave so that, after proclaiming the Good News to others, I myself will not be disqualified.------- |
The Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour in Saint Louis, Missouri, United States [Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).] "God First, My Neighbor, Then Me"
for Sunday, August 14, 2016
And behold, a lawyer stood up to put Him to the test, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"[Luke 10:25]
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
The salvation story of Jesus Christ reaches around the world. So that the readers of our Daily Devotion may see the power of the Savior on a global scale, we have asked the volunteers of our international ministry centers to write our Sunday devotions. We pray that the Spirit may touch your day through their words.
In Christ, I remain, His servant and yours,
Kenneth R. Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
Teachers of the French language have always taught us to conjugate the verb to be as follows: "I am," "you are," and "he is."
But the Hebrew student learns to reverse the order and the conjugation becomes: "He is," "you are," and "I am." It is quite possible that this difference in language is one way the Lord was trying to teach His people that when we set our priorities of importance, it ought to be "Our Almighty God first, my neighbor second, and then, in last place, myself."
Luke 10:25 forward tells of the time a lawyer tried to test Jesus as to His teachings on the Law. The lawyer asked what he should do to inherit eternal life. Jesus' reply was a simple one. The Savior said, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself" (Luke 10:27).
Jesus' statement sounds easy, but in reality it is quite difficult. Actually, it is impossible.
The only Person I know who could keep these priorities perfectly was the Christ. When He was 12, He told His bewildered parents that He had to be in His Father's house.
Throughout His life Jesus strove first for the kingdom of God and to follow His Father's plan of salvation. In doing so, Jesus also was concerned for -- and reached out to -- all men. This He did by living with them, calling them to repentance and a right relationship with the Lord.
Indeed, Jesus was the Good Samaritan who came to help the wounded (see Luke10:30-37). He was also the Good Shepherd who went after the lost sheep (see Luke 15:4-5). The Gospels are plain: Jesus served the Lord first; He loved the sinners of this world next, and He placed Himself last. It is that wonderful spirit of grace and mercy which saw the Redeemer suffer and sacrifice His life to rescue us from condemnation.
It is the completeness and perfection of His work which brought about His third-day resurrection from the dead and the assurance that all who believe on Him are forgiven and will be granted eternal life.
As we look at Jesus, we stand convicted. All too often we think of ourselves first, then of our Lord God, and then of our neighbor, and when we do think of our neighbor, it is often on the basis of social status, color, race, gender, etc.
This should not be. That is why our Lord Jesus always reminds us in His teachings that our neighbor is anyone who is made in the image of God -- everyone who needs our help, in short, everybody.
Fellow Christians, let us live in accordance with the teachings and example set by our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us set our priorities and thoughts in proper order: the Lord God first, my neighbors second, and then me.
THE PRAYER: Dear God, we ask Your forgiveness for our wrong priorities. Guide and give us the confidence to trust You above all things. Thank You for Your love and care as we rely on You. Through Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
Biography of Author: Today's international devotion was written by 51-year-old Yapani Hermine. She is part of the Lutheran Hour Ministries staff in Cameroon. She is in charge of training Christian mothers in the art of mothering. She is a member of Women for Christ in the congregation of the Lutheran Evangelical Church of Cameroon (EELC). She is a widow who has been blessed with four children.
There is freedom of religion in Cameroon, but radio broadcasts and television airings are limited. Therefore, the most effective method of ministry in this country is a personalized, one-on-one approach, which brings staff and volunteers to the front doors of those to whom they are reaching out. Though this method is hampered by an infrastructure with often impassable roads, it is effective, especially in the northern portion of the country where the influence of Islam has been spreading.
In this country of more than 22 million people on the Gulf of Guinea in central West Africa, Lutheran Hour Ministries-Cameroon employs a wide variety of resources to reach the local population with the message of Jesus Christ. Included among these efforts are radio programming, printed materials, film shows, outdoor rallies, the Internet, text messaging, and hospital and prison visits. This ministry center also uses Bible Correspondence Courses (BCC) and Equipping the Saints (ETS) workshops to strengthen the faith of Christians. To reach young women at risk, LHM-Cameroon utilizes an holistic outreach program, where vocational training and the hope they have in Christ are studied and shared. Other initiatives are aimed at youth, giving them guidance from a Christian perspective and helping them to make choices to live effectively in a secular world.
Check out pictures from a roundtable discussion organized by LHM-Cameroon, in association with the Protestant University Chaplaincy, on the topic of whether Christians should enter politics or not. You can do this by clicking here.
To learn more about our International Ministries, click here or visit www.lhm.org/international.
Today's Bible in a Year Reading: 1 Chronicles 10-12; 1 Corinthians 81 Chronicles 10:1 Now the P’lishtim pressed their attack on Isra’el; and the men of Isra’el fled before the P’lishtim, leaving their dead on Mount Gilboa. 2 The P’lishtim pursued Sha’ul; overtook him and his sons; and the P’lishtim killed Y’honatan, Avinadav and Malkishua, the sons of Sha’ul. 3 The fighting went hard against Sha’ul; then the archers overtook and wounded him, so that he was in agony. 4 Sha’ul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through with it. Otherwise, these uncircumcised men will come and make sport of me.” But his armor-bearer refused; he was too frightened. So Sha’ul took his sword and fell on it. 5 When his armor-bearer saw that Sha’ul was dead, he too fell on his own sword and died. 6 Thus Sha’ul, his three sons and all his household died together.The Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour in Saint Louis, Missouri, United States [Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).]
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ:
The salvation story of Jesus Christ reaches around the world. So that the readers of our Daily Devotion may see the power of the Savior on a global scale, we have asked the volunteers of our international ministry centers to write our Sunday devotions. We pray that the Spirit may touch your day through their words.
In Christ, I remain, His servant and yours,
Kenneth R. Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
Teachers of the French language have always taught us to conjugate the verb to be as follows: "I am," "you are," and "he is."
But the Hebrew student learns to reverse the order and the conjugation becomes: "He is," "you are," and "I am." It is quite possible that this difference in language is one way the Lord was trying to teach His people that when we set our priorities of importance, it ought to be "Our Almighty God first, my neighbor second, and then, in last place, myself."
Luke 10:25 forward tells of the time a lawyer tried to test Jesus as to His teachings on the Law. The lawyer asked what he should do to inherit eternal life. Jesus' reply was a simple one. The Savior said, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself" (Luke 10:27).
Jesus' statement sounds easy, but in reality it is quite difficult. Actually, it is impossible.
The only Person I know who could keep these priorities perfectly was the Christ. When He was 12, He told His bewildered parents that He had to be in His Father's house.
Throughout His life Jesus strove first for the kingdom of God and to follow His Father's plan of salvation. In doing so, Jesus also was concerned for -- and reached out to -- all men. This He did by living with them, calling them to repentance and a right relationship with the Lord.
Indeed, Jesus was the Good Samaritan who came to help the wounded (see Luke10:30-37). He was also the Good Shepherd who went after the lost sheep (see Luke 15:4-5). The Gospels are plain: Jesus served the Lord first; He loved the sinners of this world next, and He placed Himself last. It is that wonderful spirit of grace and mercy which saw the Redeemer suffer and sacrifice His life to rescue us from condemnation.
It is the completeness and perfection of His work which brought about His third-day resurrection from the dead and the assurance that all who believe on Him are forgiven and will be granted eternal life.
As we look at Jesus, we stand convicted. All too often we think of ourselves first, then of our Lord God, and then of our neighbor, and when we do think of our neighbor, it is often on the basis of social status, color, race, gender, etc.
This should not be. That is why our Lord Jesus always reminds us in His teachings that our neighbor is anyone who is made in the image of God -- everyone who needs our help, in short, everybody.
Fellow Christians, let us live in accordance with the teachings and example set by our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us set our priorities and thoughts in proper order: the Lord God first, my neighbors second, and then me.
THE PRAYER: Dear God, we ask Your forgiveness for our wrong priorities. Guide and give us the confidence to trust You above all things. Thank You for Your love and care as we rely on You. Through Your beloved Son, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.
Biography of Author: Today's international devotion was written by 51-year-old Yapani Hermine. She is part of the Lutheran Hour Ministries staff in Cameroon. She is in charge of training Christian mothers in the art of mothering. She is a member of Women for Christ in the congregation of the Lutheran Evangelical Church of Cameroon (EELC). She is a widow who has been blessed with four children.
There is freedom of religion in Cameroon, but radio broadcasts and television airings are limited. Therefore, the most effective method of ministry in this country is a personalized, one-on-one approach, which brings staff and volunteers to the front doors of those to whom they are reaching out. Though this method is hampered by an infrastructure with often impassable roads, it is effective, especially in the northern portion of the country where the influence of Islam has been spreading.
In this country of more than 22 million people on the Gulf of Guinea in central West Africa, Lutheran Hour Ministries-Cameroon employs a wide variety of resources to reach the local population with the message of Jesus Christ. Included among these efforts are radio programming, printed materials, film shows, outdoor rallies, the Internet, text messaging, and hospital and prison visits. This ministry center also uses Bible Correspondence Courses (BCC) and Equipping the Saints (ETS) workshops to strengthen the faith of Christians. To reach young women at risk, LHM-Cameroon utilizes an holistic outreach program, where vocational training and the hope they have in Christ are studied and shared. Other initiatives are aimed at youth, giving them guidance from a Christian perspective and helping them to make choices to live effectively in a secular world.
Check out pictures from a roundtable discussion organized by LHM-Cameroon, in association with the Protestant University Chaplaincy, on the topic of whether Christians should enter politics or not. You can do this by clicking here.
To learn more about our International Ministries, click here or visit www.lhm.org/international.
Today's Bible in a Year Reading: 1 Chronicles 10-12; 1 Corinthians 81 Chronicles 10:1 Now the P’lishtim pressed their attack on Isra’el; and the men of Isra’el fled before the P’lishtim, leaving their dead on Mount Gilboa. 2 The P’lishtim pursued Sha’ul; overtook him and his sons; and the P’lishtim killed Y’honatan, Avinadav and Malkishua, the sons of Sha’ul. 3 The fighting went hard against Sha’ul; then the archers overtook and wounded him, so that he was in agony. 4 Sha’ul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through with it. Otherwise, these uncircumcised men will come and make sport of me.” But his armor-bearer refused; he was too frightened. So Sha’ul took his sword and fell on it. 5 When his armor-bearer saw that Sha’ul was dead, he too fell on his own sword and died. 6 Thus Sha’ul, his three sons and all his household died together.
7 When all the men of Isra’el who were in the valley saw them fleeing and that Sha’ul and his sons were dead, they abandoned their cities and fled; then the P’lishtim came and lived in them.
8 The following day, when the P’lishtim came to strip the dead, they found Sha’ul and his sons lying dead on Mount Gilboa. 9 They stripped him, then took his head and his armor and sent them all over the territory of the P’lishtim to carry the news to their idols and to the people. 10 They put his armor in the temple of their gods and fastened his skull to the temple of Dagon. 11 When everyone in Yavesh-Gil‘ad heard all that the P’lishtim had done to Sha’ul, 12 all their warriors set out, took away the body of Sha’ul and the bodies of his sons, brought them to Yavesh, buried their bones under the pistachio tree in Yavesh and fasted seven days.
13 So Sha’ul died for the transgression he committed against Adonai, because of the word of Adonai that he did not keep and because he sought the counsel of a spirit 14 instead of consulting Adonai. Therefore Adonai put him to death and turned the rulership over to David the son of Yishai.
11:1 Then all Isra’el gathered themselves to David in Hevron and said, “Here, we are your own flesh and bone. 2 In the past, even when Sha’ul was king, it was you who led Isra’el’s military campaigns; and Adonai your God said to you, ‘You will shepherd my people Isra’el, and you will be chief over my people Isra’el.’” 3 So all the leaders of Isra’el came to the king in Hevron; and David made a covenant with them in Hevron in the presence of Adonai. Then they anointed David king over Isra’el, as Adonai had said through Sh’mu’el.
4 David and all Isra’el went to Yerushalayim, also known as Y’vus; and the Y’vusi, the inhabitants of that region, were there. 5 The inhabitants of Y’vus taunted David by saying, “You won’t get in here!” Nevertheless, David captured the stronghold of Tziyon, also known now as the City of David. 6 David said, “Whoever attacks the Y’vusi first will be commander-in-chief.” Yo’av the son of Tz’ruyah attacked first and was made commander.
7 David lived in the stronghold; therefore they called it the City of David. 8 David built up the city around it, starting at the Millo [earth rampart] and going on around; while Yo’av repaired the rest of the city. 9 David grew greater and greater, because Adonai-Tzva’ot was with him.
10 These are David’s chief warriors, who, under his rulership, joined forces with him and with all Isra’el to make him king, as Adonai had said concerning Isra’el; 11 here is the list of David’s warrior-heroes:
Yashov‘am son of a Hakhmoni, the chief officer; he is the one who raised his spear against 300 men and killed them in a single encounter.
12 After him was El‘azar the son of Dodo the
Achochi, one of the three warriors. 13 He was with David at Pas-Damim, where the P’lishtim had assembled for battle. There was a plot of ground full of barley; and when the people fled from the P’lishtim, 14 they stood in the middle of the plot and defended it, killing the P’lishtim; and Adonai saved them with a great victory.
15 Three of the thirty leaders went down to the rock and came to David during harvest season at the cave of ‘Adulam when the army of the P’lishtim had set up camp in the Refa’im Valley. 16 At that time David was in the fortress, and the garrison of the P’lishtim was in Beit-Lechem. 17 David had a craving and said, “I wish someone could give me water to drink from the well by the gate of Beit-Lechem!” 18 The three broke through the army of the P’lishtim, drew water from the well by the gate of Beit-Lechem, took it and brought it to David. But David would not drink it; instead, he poured it out to Adonai
19 and said, “My God forbid that I should do such a thing! Am I to drink the blood of these men who went and put their lives in jeopardy? They risked their lives to bring it!” — and he would not consent to drink it. These are the things the three warrior-heroes did.
20 Avishai the brother of Yo’av was chief of these three. He raised his spear against 300 men and killed them; thus he had a reputation even among the three. 21 Of the three in the second rank he had the most honor and was therefore made their leader; however, he did not achieve the status of the first three.
22 B’nayah the son of Y’hoyada, the son of a valiant man of Kavtze’el, was a man of many exploits. He struck down two lion-hearted men of Mo’av. One day when it was snowing, he went down into a pit and killed a lion. 23 Here is how he killed an Egyptian, a man who was very tall, seven-and-a-half feet: the Egyptian had a spear in his hand the size of a weaver’s beam; he went down to him with only a stick, seized the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with his own spear. 24 These are things that B’nayah the son of Y’hoyada did that earned him a name among the three warrior-heroes. 25 He had more honor than the thirty, but he did not achieve the status of the first three. David put him in command of his personal guard.
26 There were also these warrior-heroes:
‘Asah’el the brother of Yo’av,
Elchanan the son of Dodo, from Beit-Lechem,
27 Shammah the Harori,
Heletz the P’loni,
28 ‘Ira son of ‘Ikesh from T’koa,
Avi‘ezer from ‘Anatot,
29 Sibkhai the Hushati,
‘Ilai the Achochi,
30 Mahrai the N’tofati,
Heled the son of Ba‘anah the N’tofati,
31 Ittai the son of Rivai from Giv‘ah, from the descendants of Binyamin,
B’nayahu from Pir‘aton,
32 Hurai from the vadis of Ga‘ash,
Avi’el the ‘Arvati,
33 ‘Azmavet the Bacharumi
Elyachba the Sha‘alvoni,
34 the sons of Hashem the Gizoni,
Y’honatan the son of Shageh the Harari,
35 Achi’am the son of Sakhar the Harari,
Elifal the son of Ur,
36 Hefer the M’kherati,
Achiyah the P’loni,
37 Hetzro the Karmeli,
Na‘arai the son of Ezbai
38 Yo’el the brother of Natan,
Mivchar the son of Hagri,
39 Tzelek the ‘Amoni,
Nachrai the Be’eroti, armor-bearer of Yo’av the son of Tz’ruyah,
40 ‘Ira the Yitri,
Garev the Yitri,
41 Uriyah the Hitti,
Zavad the son of Achlai,
42 ‘Adina the son of Shiza the Re’uveni, a leader among the Re’uveni,
and thirty with him,
43 Hanan the son of Ma‘akhah,
Yoshafat the Mitni,
44 ‘Uziyah the ‘Asht’rati
Shama and Ye‘i’el the sons of Hotam the ‘Aro‘eri,
45 Y’dia‘el the son of Shimri,
Yocha his brother, the Titzi,
46 Eli’el from Machavim,
Yerivai and Yoshavyah the sons of Elna‘am,
Yitmah the Mo’avi,
47 Eli’el,
‘Oved,
and Ya‘asi’el from M’tzovayah.
12:1 Following are the men who joined David at Ziklag while he was still being kept away from Sha’ul the son of Kish; they were among the warriors who helped him fight his battles. 2 They were archers who could use either hand to sling stones or shoot arrows from a bow; they were Sha’ul’s kinsmen from Binyamin. 3 Their leader was Achi‘ezer, then Yo’ash, the sons of Sh’ma‘ah the Giv‘ati, Y’zi’el, Pelet, the sons of ‘Azmavet, B’rakhah, Yehu from ‘Anatot, 4 Yishma‘yah the Giv‘oni, one of the strongest of the thirty and commander of the thirty, 5 (4b) Yirmeyah, Yachzi’el, Yochanan, Yozavad from G’derah, 6 (5) El‘uzai, Yerimot, B‘alyah, Sh’maryah, Sh’fatyah the Harufi, 7 (6) Elkanah, Yishiyahu, ‘Azar’el, Yo‘ezer, Yashov‘am the Korchi, 8 (7) and Yo‘elah and Z’vadyah the sons of Yerocham from G’dor.
9 (8) From the Gadi a number of strong, brave, trained fighting men defected to David at the fortress in the desert. They could handle shield and spear, they were as fierce as lions, and they were as fast as deer on the hills: 10 (9) ‘Ezer was the leader, ‘Ovadyah was second, Eli’av third, 11 (10) Mishmanah fourth, Yirmeyah fifth, 12 (11) ‘Atai sixth, Eli’el seventh, 13 (12) Yochanan eighth, Elzavad ninth, 14 (13) Yirmeyah tenth, and Makhbanai eleventh. 15 (14) These descendants of Gad were army commanders; the least of them was worth a hundred, and the greatest worth a thousand. 16 (15) These are the men who crossed the Yarden during the first month, when it had overflowed all its banks, and drove out all those who lived in the valleys, both to the east and to the west.
17 (16) From the descendants of Binyamin and Y’hudah a number came to David at the fortress. 18 (17) When David went out to meet them, he said, “If you are coming to me in peace to help me, my heart will be bonded to yours. But if you are coming to betray me to my enemies, then, since I have done nothing wrong, may the God of our fathers see it and judge.” 19 (18) Then the Spirit covered ‘Amasai the chief commander, and he said:
“We are yours, David;
on your side, son of Yishai!
Peace, peace to you,
and peace to your helpers;
for your God helps you.”
David welcomed them and made them senior officers.
20 (19) From M’nasheh some defected to David when he was about to go with the P’lishtim to fight against Sha’ul; but they ended up not helping them; because the rulers of the P’lishtim, after consultation, sent David away, saying, “He will defect to his master Sha’ul at the cost of our heads.” 21 (20) As he was on his way to Ziklag, those who defected to him from M’nasheh included ‘Adnach, Yozavad, Y’dia‘el, Mikha’el, Yozavad, Elihu and Tziltai, commanders of thousands from M’nasheh. 22 (21) They helped David against the raiding band, for they were all strong, brave men who were commanders in the army.
23 (22) Indeed, reinforcements to assist David reached him daily, until there was a great army, like the army of God. 24 (23) Following are the numbers of those who came armed for war to David in Hevron, in order to transfer to him the kingdom of Sha’ul, according to what Adonai had said.
25 (24) The descendants of Y’hudah bearing shields and spears numbered 6,800, armed for war.
26 (25) Of the descendants of Shim‘on, strong, brave men for war, there were 7,100.
27 (26) Of the descendants of Levi, there were 4,600. 28 (27) Y’hoyada was the leader of the house of Aharon, and with him were 3,700; 29 (28) also Tzadok, a young man, strong and brave, with twenty-two commanders from his father’s family.
30 (29) Of the descendants of Binyamin the kinsmen of Sha’ul, there were 3,000; for up until then, the majority of them had remained loyal to the house of Sha’ul.
31 (30) Of the descendants of Efrayim, there were 20,800 strong, brave men, well known in their fathers’ families.
32 (31) Of the half-tribe of M’nasheh, 18,000 were designated by name to come and make David king.
33 (32) Of the descendants of Yissakhar, men who understood the times and knew what Isra’el ought to do, there were 200 leaders, and all their kinsmen were under their command.
34 (33) Of Z’vulun, 50,000 men were fit for military service, experienced in war and able to use all kinds of weapons; they were brave, and none was doubleminded.
35 (34) Of Naftali, there were 1,000 officers, and with them 37,000 troops having shields and spears.
36 (35) Of Dan, 28,600 were experienced in war.
37 (36) Of Asher, 40,000 men were fit for military service and experienced in war.
38 (37) On the other side of the Yarden, from the Re’uveni, the Gadi and the half-tribe of M’nasheh, there were 120,000 with all kinds of weapons for battle.
39 (38) All these soldiers who were experienced in war came to Hevron wholeheartedly to make David king over all Isra’el, and all the rest from Isra’el were single-hearted in wanting to make David king. 40 (39) They remained there with David for three days, eating and drinking, for their kinsmen had prepared for them. 41 (40) Moreover, those who were near them — and even those as far as Yissakhar, Z’vulun and Naftali — brought food on donkeys, camels, mules and oxen: baked goods, fig cakes, clusters of raisins, wine, oil, and oxen and sheep in abundance; for there was joy in Isra’el.
1 Corinthians 8:1 Now about food sacrificed to idols: we know that, as you say, “We all have knowledge.” Yes, that is so, but “knowledge” puffs a person up with pride; whereas love builds up. 2 The person who thinks he “knows” something doesn’t yet know in the way he ought to know. 3 However, if someone loves God, God knows him.
4 So, as for eating food sacrificed to idols, we “know” that, as you say, “An idol has no real existence in the world, and there is only one God.” 5 For even if there are so-called “gods,” either in heaven or on earth — as in fact there are “gods” and “lords” galore — 6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom all things come and for whom we exist; and one Lord, Yeshua the Messiah, through whom were created all things and through whom we have our being.
7 But not everyone has this knowledge. Moreover, some people are still so accustomed to idols that when they eat food which has been sacrificed to them, they think of it as really affected by the idol; and their consciences, being weak, are thus defiled. 8 Now food will not improve our relationship with God — we will be neither poorer if we abstain nor richer if we eat. 9 However watch out that your mastery of the situation does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 You have this “knowledge”; but suppose someone with a weak conscience sees you sitting, eating a meal in the temple of an idol. Won’t he be built up wrongly to eat this food which has been sacrificed to idols? 11 Thus by your “knowledge” this weak person is destroyed, this brother for whom the Messiah died; 12 and so, when you sin against the brothers by wounding their conscience when it is weak, you are sinning against the Messiah!
13 To sum up, if food will be a snare for my brother, I will never eat meat again, lest I cause my brother to sin.
-------The Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour in Saint Louis, Missouri, United States [Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).]
"A Minute of Prayer"
for Saturday, August 13, 2016
Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.[Ephesians 6:11-13]At the end of this devotion is a link to a website where you can download the chime of Big Ben to your Smartphone. It is free and legal to use. To install it as an alarm, please consult your children or grandchildren. They will probably know how it's done.
* It was only a few days ago that two terrorists interrupted Mass in a French church, forced the priest to his knees before the altar, and murdered him ... and filmed the entire atrocity. After visiting the place of the attack, the President of France has said his country is now at war with ISIS, which had claimed responsibility.
* It was only a few days ago that a woman who was angry with God entered St. Clement Catholic Church in Bowling Green, Missouri. There she vandalized the church and desecrated the elements set aside for Communion.
The fact that these types of terrible incidents are becoming more commonplace tells us that St. Paul knew what he was talking about when the Holy Spirit inspired Him to write that we are wrestling against powerful forces of spiritual evil. Later on in that chapter the apostle added we should pray "at all times in the Spirit" (see Ephesians 6:18).
Now all of us agree we should pray at all times, and especially in terrible times.
We should pray, but all too often we don't. That was the situation in World War II, which is why King George VI and Prime Minister Winston Churchill supported the idea of a minute devoted to prayer.
To that end, beginning on Sunday, November 10, 1940, the BBC began to broadcast the chiming of Big Ben at 9 p.m. That was the signal for the prayer-minute to begin. The idea caught on and President Roosevelt encouraged the silent minute in America too.
Did the idea succeed?
After the war a Nazi leader confessed to British Intelligence, "During the war, you had a secret weapon for which we could find no countermeasure, which we did not understand, but it was very powerful. It was associated with the striking of Big Ben each evening. I believe you called it the 'Silent Minute.'"
Today there are millions using the silent minute as a reminder to pray for their nation. I am one of them and invite you to be one too.
We believers who have the ear of our Creator, Redeemer and Sanctifier, can take our concerns to the Lord. James 5:16b says, "The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." If that is so -- and it is -- think what can happen if the tens of thousands of Daily Devotioners join together.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, we live in troublesome times. The Savior and His followers are under attack from many directions, which is why I give thanks that You have provided me with the weaponry that will enable me to stand firm. For my salvation and preservation, I offer my deepest gratitude. In the Savior's Name I pray it. Amen.
You can download Big Ben by clicking here.
Today's Bible in a Year Reading: 1 Chronicles 7-9; 1 Corinthians 7:20-40
1 Chronicles 7:1 The sons of Yissakhar were: Tola, Pu’ah, Yashuv and Shimron — four.
2 The sons of Tola were: ‘Uzi, Refayah, Yeri’el, Yachmai, Yivsam and Sh’mu’el. They were heads of their fathers’ clans, descended from Tola; they were strong, brave men in their generations. In the time of David they numbered 22,600.
3 The son of ‘Uzi was Yizrachyah, and the sons of Yizrachyah were: Mikha’el, ‘Ovadyah, Yo’el and Yishiyah — five, all of them leaders. 4 With them, by their generations, in their fathers’ clans, were army troops organized for war, 36,000 of them, because they had many women and children. 5 Their kinsmen among all the clans of Yissakhar, strong, brave men, numbered 87,000, listed in genealogical records.
6 [The sons of] Binyamin were: Bela, Bekher and Y’dia‘el — three.
7 The sons of Bela were: Etzbon, ‘Uzi, ‘Uzi’el, Yerimot and ‘Iri — five; they were leaders of fathers’ clans, strong, brave men. They numbered 22,034, listed in genealogical records.
8 The sons of Bekher were: Z’mirah, Yo’ash, Eli‘ezer, Elyo‘enai, ‘Omri, Yeremot, Aviyah, ‘Anatot and ‘Alemet; all these were sons of Bekher. 9 Listed in genealogical records by generations under leaders of fathers’ clans, who were strong, brave men, were 20,200.
10 The son of Y’dia‘el was Bilhan. The sons of Bilhan were: Ye‘ush, Binyamin, Ehud, Kena‘anah, Zeitan, Tarshish and Achishachar. 11 All these were descendants of Y’dia‘el, leaders of their fathers’ clans, who were brave, strong men; they numbered 17,200, all fit to fight with the army.
12 [More descendants of Binyamin:] Shupim, Hupim, the sons of ‘Ir.
Hushim, the son of another [of Isra’el’s sons, namely, Dan].
13 The sons of Naftali were: Yachtzi’el, Guni, Yetzer, Shalum, the sons of Bilhah.
14 The descendants of M’nasheh: his concubine the woman from Aram bore Makhir the father of Gil‘ad; Asri’el [Gil‘ad’s son] was descended from her. 15 Makhir’s wife was from the families of Hupim and Shupim, and his sister’s name was Ma‘akhah. M’nasheh’s second son was Tz’lof’chad, and Tz’lof’chad had daughters. 16 Ma‘akhah the wife of Makhir bore a son whom she named Peresh, the name of his brother was Sheresh, and his sons were Ulam and Rekem. 17 The son of Ulam was B’dan. These were the descendants of Gil‘ad the son of Makhir the son of M’nasheh. 18 His sister Hammolekhet [the governor] bore Ish-Hod, Avi‘ezer and Machlah. 19 The sons of Sh’mida were Achyan, Sh’khem, Lik’chi and Ani‘am.
20 The descendants of Efrayim were: Shutelach, his son Bered, his son Tachat, his son El‘adah, his son Tachat, 21 his son Zavad and his son Shutelach; also ‘Ezer and El‘ad, whom the men of Gat born in the land killed when they came down to raid their cattle. 22 Efrayim their father mourned for a long time, and his kinsmen came to comfort him. 23 Then he had sexual relations with his wife, and she conceived and bore a son whom he called B’ri‘ah [in calamity], because his household had suffered a calamity. 24 His daughter was She’erah, who built upper and lower Beit-Horon and Uzen-She’erah. 25 Refach was his son, and Reshef, then his son Telach, his son Tachan 26 his son La‘dan, his son ‘Ammihud, his son Elishama, 27 his son Nun and his son Y’hoshua.
28 Their possessions and settlements were Beit-El with its towns; Na‘aran to the east; and to the west, Gezer with its towns; also Sh’khem with its towns, as far as ‘Ayah and its towns; 29 and, near the territory of the descendants of M’nasheh, Beit-Sh’an with its towns, Ta‘nakh with its towns, Megiddo with its towns and Dor with its towns. In these places lived the descendants of Yosef the son of Isra’el.
30 The children of Asher were: Yimnah, Yishvah, Yishvi, B’ri‘ah and their sister Serach. 31 The sons of B’ri‘ah were: Hever and Malki’el, who fathered Birzayit. 32 Hever fathered Yaflet, Shomer, Hotam and their sister Shua. 33 The sons of Yaflet were: Pasakh, Bimhal and ‘Ashvat; these were the sons of Yaflet. 34 The sons of Shemer were: Achi, Rohgah, Hubah and Aram. 35 The sons of his brother Helem were: Zofach, Yimnah, Shelesh and ‘Amal. 36 The sons of Zofach were: Suach, Harnefer, Shu‘al, Beri, Yimrah, 37 Betzer, Hod, Shama, Shilshah, Yitran and Be’era. 38 The sons of Yeter were: Y’funeh, Pispah and Ara. 39 The sons of ‘Ula were: Arach, Hani’el and Ritzya. 40 All these were descendants of Asher, leaders of their fathers’ clans, elite, strong, brave men, the most important of the princes. Those fit for battle service, listed in genealogies, numbered 26,000 men.
8:1 Binyamin fathered Bela his firstborn son; his second, Ashbel; his third, Achrach; 2 his fourth, Nochah; and his fifth, Rafa. 3 Bela had sons: Adar, Gera, Avihud, 4 Avishua, Na‘aman, Achoach, 5 Gera, Sh’fufan and Huram. 6 These are the sons of Ehud, the heads of fathers’ clans among the inhabitants of Geva (they were carried away captive to Manachat; 7 those who carried them off were Na‘aman, Achiyah and Gera): he fathered ‘Uzah and Achichud. 8 Shacharayim fathered children on the plains of Mo’av; after sending away his wives Hushim and Ba‘ara, 9 it was through his wife Hodesh that he fathered: Yovav, Tzivya, Mesha, Malkam, 10 Ye‘utz, Sokhya and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of clans. 11 Through Hushim he fathered Avituv and Elpa‘al. 12 The sons of Elpa‘al: ‘Ever, Mish‘am, Shemed — he built Ono and Lod with its towns — 13 and B’ri‘ah and Shema — they were heads of fathers’ clans among the inhabitants of Ayalon, who drove away the people living in Gat.
14 Achyo, Shashak, Yeremot, 15 Z’vadyah, ‘Arad, ‘Eder, 16 Mikha’el, Yishpah and Yocha were the sons of B’ri‘ah. 17 Z’vadyah, Meshulam, Hizki, Hever, 18 Yishm’rai, Yizli’ah and Yovav were the sons of Elpa‘al. 19 Yakim, Zikhri, Zavdi, 20 Eli‘einai, Tziltai, Eli’el, 21 ‘Adayah, B’rayah and Shimrat were the sons of Shim‘i. 22 Yishpan, ‘Eved, Eli’el, 23 ‘Avdon, Zikhri, Hanan, 24 Hananyah, ‘Eilam, ‘Anatotyah, 25 Yifdeyah and P’nu’el were the sons of Shashak. 26 Shamsh’rai, Sh’charyah, ‘Atalyah, 27 Ya‘areshyah, Eliyah and Zikhri were the sons of Yerocham. 28 These were leaders of fathers’ houses through all their generations, leading men who lived in Yerushalayim.
29 In Giv‘on lived the father of Giv‘on, whose wife’s name was Ma‘akhah; 30 and his firstborn son ‘Avdon, Tzur, Kish, Ba‘al, Nadav, 31 G’dor, Achyo and Zekher. 32 Miklot fathered Shim’ah. In contrast with some of their kinsmen, they and their families lived in Yerushalayim.
33 Ner fathered Kish; Kish fathered Sha’ul; and Sha’ul fathered Y’honatan, Malkishua, Avinadav and Eshba‘al. 34 The son of Y’honatan was M’riv-Ba‘al, and M’riv-Ba‘al fathered Mikhah. 35 The sons of Mikhah: Piton, Melekh, Ta’rea and Achaz. 36 Achaz fathered Y’ho‘adah; Y’ho‘adah fathered ‘Alemet, ‘Azmavet and Zimri; Zimri fathered Motza; 37 and Motza fathered Bin‘a. His son was Rafah, his son was El‘asah and his son was Atzel. 38 Atzel had six sons, whose names were: ‘Azrikam, Bokhru, Yishma‘el, Sh‘aryah, ‘Ovadyah and Hanan; all these were sons of Atzel. 39 The sons of his brother ‘Eshek: Ulam his firstborn, Ye‘ush the second and Elifelet the third. 40 The sons of Ulam were strong, brave men, archers; they had many children and grandchildren, a hundred and fifty. All these were descendants of Binyamin.
9:1 So all Isra’el was listed by genealogies, and these were recorded in the book of the kings of Isra’el. Then Y’hudah was carried away captive to Bavel because of their unfaithfulness. 2 The first people to return to their possessions in the cities were the Isra’elim, the cohanim, the L’vi’im and the temple servants. 3 In Yerushalayim lived some descendants of Y’hudah, some descendants of Binyamin and some descendants of Efrayim and of M’nasheh: 4 ‘Utai the son of ‘Ammihud, the son of ‘Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, from the descendants of Peretz the son of Y’hudah. 5 Of the Shiloni: ‘Asayah the firstborn and his sons. 6 Of the descendants of Zerach: Ye‘u’el and their kinsmen, 690. 7 Of the descendants of Binyamin: Salu the son of Meshulam the son of Hodavyah the son of Hasnu’ah, 8 Yivneyah the son of Yerocham, Elah the son of ‘Uzi the son of Mikhri, Meshulam the son of Sh’fatyah the son of Re‘u’el the son of Yivneyah, 9 and their kinsmen, according to their generations — altogether 956. All these men were leaders of fathers’ clans.
10 Of the cohanim: Y’da‘yah, Y’hoyariv, Yakhin, 11 ‘Azaryah the son of Hilkiyah the son of Meshulam the son of Tzadok the son of M’rayot the son of Achituv the ruler of the house of God, 12 ‘Adayah the son of Yerocham the son of Pash’chur the son of Malkiyah, Ma‘asai the son of ‘Adi’el the son of Yachzerah the son of Meshulam the son of Meshilmit the son of Immer, 13 and their kinsmen, leaders of their fathers’ clans, 1,760 very competent men available for serving in the house of God.
14 Of the L’vi’im: Sh’ma‘yah the son of Hashuv the son of ‘Azrikam the son of Hashavyah, from the descendants of M’rari; 15 Bakbakar; Heresh; Galal; Matanyah the son of Mikha the son of Zikhri the son of Asaf; 16 ‘Ovadyah the son of Sh’ma‘yah the son of Galal the son of Y’dutun; and Berekhyah the son of Asa the son of Elkanah, who lived in the towns of the N’tofati.
17 The gatekeepers: Shalum, ‘Akuv, Talmon, Achiman and their kinsmen; Shalum was the chief. 18 Previously they had guarded the king’s gate to the east; they were gatekeepers for the camp of the descendants of Levi. 19 Shalum the son of Kore the son of Evyasaf the son of Korach and his kinsmen from his father’s clan the Korchim were in charge of the work of the service, keepers of the gates of the tent. Their ancestors had been in charge of the camp of Adonai, keepers of the entryway. 20 Pinchas the son of El‘azar had been ruler over them long before; Adonai had been with him. 21 Z’kharyah the son of Meshelemyah guarded the entryway to the tent of meeting. 22 All these chosen to be gatekeepers numbered 212. Their genealogies were recorded in their towns; they had been appointed to their positions by David and Sh’mu’el the seer. 23 They and their descendants supervised the gates of the house of Adonai, that is, the house of the tent, by periods of duty. 24 The gatekeepers served on the four sides, east, west, north and south. 25 From time to time their kinsmen had to come in from their towns to help them for seven days.
26 For the four chief gatekeepers were on permanent duty; they were the L’vi’im in charge of accommodations and supplies in the house of God. 27 They spent their nights in the vicinity of the house of God, because they were in charge of it; they were responsible for opening it up each morning.
28 Some of [the L’vi’im] were in charge of the articles used for the service; they had to keep records of them when bringing them in and out. 29 Others were in charge of the equipment, the holy utensils, the fine flour, the wine, the olive oil, the frankincense and the spices. 30 Some of the sons of the cohanim mixed together the ingredients for the perfumes. 31 Mattityah, one of the L’vi’im, who was the firstborn of Shalum the Korchi, was permanently in charge of baking operations. 32 Some of their kinsmen, from the descendants of the K’hati, were in charge of preparing the showbread every Shabbat. 33 Also there were the singers, heads of fathers’ clans among the L’vi’im. They lived in the accommodations and were free from other kinds of service, for they were employed in their own work day and night. 34 These were heads of fathers’ clans among the L’vi’im, according to their generations, and they were leaders; they lived in Yerushalayim.
35 In Giv‘on lived the father of Giv‘on, Ye‘i’el, whose his wife’s name was Ma‘akhah; 36 and his firstborn son ‘Avdon, Tzur, Kish, Ba‘al, Ner, Nadav, 37 G’dor, Achyo, Z’kharyah and Miklot. 38 Miklot fathered Shim’am. In contrast with some of their kinsmen, they and their families lived in Yerushalayim.
39 Ner fathered Kish; Kish fathered Sha’ul; and Sha’ul fathered Y’honatan, Malkishua, Avinadav and Eshba‘al. 40 The son of Y’honatan was M’riv-Ba‘al, and M’riv-Ba‘al fathered Mikhah. 41 The sons of Mikhah were: Piton, Melekh and Ta’rea. 42 Achaz fathered Ya‘ra; Ya‘ra fathered ‘Alemet, ‘Azmavet and Zimri; Zimri fathered Motza; 43 and Motza fathered Bin‘a. His son was Rafah, his son El‘asah and his son Atzel. 44 Atzel had six sons, whose names were: ‘Azrikam, Bokhru, Yishma‘el, Sh‘aryah, ‘Ovadyah and Hanan; all these were sons of Atzel.
1 Corinthians 7:20 Each person should remain in the condition he was in when he was called.
21 Were you a slave when you were called? Well, don’t let it bother you; although if you can gain your freedom, take advantage of the opportunity. 22 For a person who was a slave when he was called is the Lord’s freedman; likewise, someone who was a free man when he was called is a slave of the Messiah. 23 You were bought at a price, so do not become slaves of other human beings. 24 Brothers, let each one remain with God in the condition in which he was called.
25 Now the question about the unmarried: I do not have a command from the Lord, but I offer an opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy is worthy to be trusted. 26 I suppose that in a time of stress like the present it is good for a person to stay as he is. 27 That means that if a man has a wife, he should not seek to be free of her; and if he is unmarried, he should not look for a wife. 28 But if you marry you do not sin, and if a girl marries she does not sin. It is just that those who get married will have the normal problems of married life, and I would rather spare you. 29 What I am saying, brothers, is that there is not much time left: from now on a man with a wife should live as if he had none — 30 and those who are sad should live as if they weren’t, those who are happy as if they weren’t, 31 and those who deal in worldly affairs as if not engrossed in them — because the present scheme of things in this world won’t last much longer. 32 What I want is for you to be free of concern. An unmarried man concerns himself with the Lord’s affairs, 33 with how to please the Lord; but the married man concerns himself with the world’s affairs, with how to please his wife; 34 and he finds himself split. Likewise the woman who is no longer married or the girl who has never been married concerns herself with the Lord’s affairs, with how to be holy both physically and spiritually; but the married woman concerns herself with the world’s affairs, with how to please her husband. 35 I am telling you this for your own benefit, not to put restrictions on you — I am simply concerned that you live in a proper manner and serve the Lord with undivided devotion.
36 Now if a man thinks he is behaving dishonorably by treating his fiancée this way, and if there is strong sexual desire, so that marriage is what ought to happen; then let him do what he wants — he is not sinning: let them get married. 37 But if a man has firmly made up his mind, being under no compulsion but having complete control over his will, if he has decided within himself to keep his fiancée a virgin, he will be doing well. 38 So the man who marries his fiancée will do well, and the man who doesn’t marry will do better.
39 A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives, but if the husband dies she is free to marry anyone she wishes, provided he is a believer in the Lord. 40 However, in my opinion, she will be happier if she remains unmarried, and in saying this I think I have God’s Spirit.
-------
The Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries by Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour in Saint Louis, Missouri, United States [Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).] "Missed Opportunities" for Saturday, August 13, 2016
But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God.[Romans 5:8-9]
Years ago I told the story about a family that found a pretty rock in their creek and used it for years as a doorstop. Only after they sold it to a traveling salesman did they realize they had missed an opportunity to cash in on their giant gold nugget.
Missed opportunities.
We've all had them, including Ronnie Music, Jr., of Waycross, Georgia.
Music's story begins way back in 2015 when he won a Georgia lottery game to the tune of $3 million. Now you know and I know that $3 million doesn't go as far as it used to. Even so, it's the kind of winning that makes the petty-cash box look healthy.
Well, Music had his three-mil, and he had to decide what to do with it. It was a tough decision. No doubt he probably thought about buying a new house, or cars, or a vacation retreat. Maybe he thought about investing in the stock market or providing wonderful gifts to special people in his life. Who knows, he might have even considered a luxury trip around the world.
Yes, there were a lot of good and smart options open to Music after he won that lottery.
I can tell you that Music didn't pursue any of them. No, he went a different path. He decided to use his fortune to start his own business: the selling of crystal meth, a highly illegal, albeit profitable, drug.
Eventually, Music was caught and put on trial where he confessed to drug trafficking and firearms charges. The law could give him the maximum sentence of life in prison for his crimes.
Yes, all of us have missed opportunities but, prayerfully, none of us have walked too long in Music's shoes.
Now I write that previous line knowing full well that there are many millions of folks in this world who are making choices far worse than those made by Ronnie Music, Jr.
Consider, 2,000 years ago, God's Son came into this world and gave Himself as the offering that would rebuild the bridge between heaven and earth, which had been torn down by sin. So we might be saved, Jesus dedicated His entire life to doing all that was necessary to rescuing us from the sins, which had condemned us to hell.
Jesus' life, death and resurrection are undeniable proof that His sacrifice has been accepted, and now anyone who is called by the Holy Spirit to God's freely given faith is forgiven and saved.
An opportunity to be saved is an opportunity which ought to be grasped and cherished. It ought to be, but all too often it is an opportunity which is ignored, disregarded and squandered. It is an opportunity which, when missed, has tragic consequences.
It is for these people we pray.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, all of us miss opportunities, but we pray that the lost of this world will be found. Send Your Holy Spirit and touch hardened hearts with the wonderful message that salvation is theirs, through the Savior's sacrifice. In His Name I pray it. Amen.
But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood, much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God.[Romans 5:8-9]
Years ago I told the story about a family that found a pretty rock in their creek and used it for years as a doorstop. Only after they sold it to a traveling salesman did they realize they had missed an opportunity to cash in on their giant gold nugget.
Missed opportunities.
We've all had them, including Ronnie Music, Jr., of Waycross, Georgia.
Music's story begins way back in 2015 when he won a Georgia lottery game to the tune of $3 million. Now you know and I know that $3 million doesn't go as far as it used to. Even so, it's the kind of winning that makes the petty-cash box look healthy.
Well, Music had his three-mil, and he had to decide what to do with it. It was a tough decision. No doubt he probably thought about buying a new house, or cars, or a vacation retreat. Maybe he thought about investing in the stock market or providing wonderful gifts to special people in his life. Who knows, he might have even considered a luxury trip around the world.
Yes, there were a lot of good and smart options open to Music after he won that lottery.
I can tell you that Music didn't pursue any of them. No, he went a different path. He decided to use his fortune to start his own business: the selling of crystal meth, a highly illegal, albeit profitable, drug.
Eventually, Music was caught and put on trial where he confessed to drug trafficking and firearms charges. The law could give him the maximum sentence of life in prison for his crimes.
Yes, all of us have missed opportunities but, prayerfully, none of us have walked too long in Music's shoes.
Now I write that previous line knowing full well that there are many millions of folks in this world who are making choices far worse than those made by Ronnie Music, Jr.
Consider, 2,000 years ago, God's Son came into this world and gave Himself as the offering that would rebuild the bridge between heaven and earth, which had been torn down by sin. So we might be saved, Jesus dedicated His entire life to doing all that was necessary to rescuing us from the sins, which had condemned us to hell.
Jesus' life, death and resurrection are undeniable proof that His sacrifice has been accepted, and now anyone who is called by the Holy Spirit to God's freely given faith is forgiven and saved.
An opportunity to be saved is an opportunity which ought to be grasped and cherished. It ought to be, but all too often it is an opportunity which is ignored, disregarded and squandered. It is an opportunity which, when missed, has tragic consequences.
It is for these people we pray.
THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, all of us miss opportunities, but we pray that the lost of this world will be found. Send Your Holy Spirit and touch hardened hearts with the wonderful message that salvation is theirs, through the Savior's sacrifice. In His Name I pray it. Amen.
In Christ I remain His servant and yours,
Pastor Ken Klaus
Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Today's Bible in a Year Reading: 1 Chronicles 4-6; 1 Corinthians 7:1-19
1 Chronicles 4:1 The descendants of Y’hudah: Peretz, Hetzron, Karmi, Hur and Shoval. 2 Re’ayah the son of Shoval fathered Yachat; Yachat fathered Achumai and Lahad. These are the families of the Tzor‘ati. 3 These are [the sons] of the father of ‘Eitam: Yizre‘el, Yishma and Yidbash; their sister’s name was Hatzlelponi. 4 P’nu’el fathered Geder, and ‘Ezer fathered Hushah. These are the sons of Hur the firstborn of Efratah, the father of Beit-Lechem.
5 Ashur the father of T’koa had two wives, Hel’ah and Na‘arah. 6 Na‘arah bore him Achuzam, Hefer, Teimni and Achashtari; these were the sons of Na‘arah. 7 The sons of Hel’ah were Tzeret, Tzochar and Etnan. 8 Kotz fathered ‘Anuv, Tzovevah and the families of Acharchel the son of Harum. 9 Ya‘betz was honored more than his brothers; his mother called him Ya‘betz, she explained, “because I bore him in pain [1 Chronicles 4:9 Hebrew: ‘otzev].” 10 Ya‘betz called on the God of Isra’el: “Please bless me by enlarging my territory. May your hand be with me! Keep me from harm, so that it will not cause me pain [1 Chronicles 4:10 Hebrew: ‘atzbi].” God granted his request.
11 K’luv the brother of Shuchah fathered M’chir, who fathered Eshton. 12 Eshton fathered Beit-Rafa, Paseach and T’chinah the father of ‘Ir-Nachash. These are the men of Rekhah.
13 The sons of K’naz: ‘Otni’el and S’rayah. The son of ‘Otni’el: Hatat. 14 M‘onotai fathered ‘Ofrah, and S’rayah fathered Yo’av the father of Gei-Harashim; for they were craftsmen [1 Chronicles 4:14 Hebrew: harashim].
15 The sons of Kalev the son of Y’funeh: ‘Iru, Elah and Na‘am. The son of Elah: K’naz. 16 The sons of Yehallel’el: Zif, Zifah, Tirya and Asar’el. 17-18 The sons of ‘Ezrah: Yeter, Mered, ‘Efer and Yalon. These are the sons of Bityah the daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered took as his wife: she conceived Miryam, Shamai and Yishbach the father of Esht’moa; while his Jewish wife bore Yered the father of G’dor, Hever the father of Sokho and Y’kuti’el the father of Zanoach.
19 The sons of the wife of Hodiyah the sister of Nacham were the father of Ke‘ilah the Garmi and Esht’moa the Ma‘akhati. 20 The sons of Shimon: Amnon, Rinah, Ben-Hanan and Tilon. The sons of Yish‘i: Zochet and Ben-Zochet.
21 The sons of Shelah the son of Y’hudah: ‘Er the father of Lekha, La‘adah the father of Mareshah and the clans of fine-linen-workers at Beit-Ashbea, 22 Yokim, the men of Kozeva, Saraf the ruler in Mo’av, and Yashuvi-Lechem (the records are ancient). 23 These were potters and inhabitants of N’ta‘im and G’derah; they lived there, occupied with the king’s work.
24 The sons of Shim‘on: N’mu’el, Yamin, Yariv, Zerach and Sha’ul. 25 His son was Shalum, his son was Mivsam, and his son was Mishma. 26 The descendants of Mishma: his son Hamu’el, his son Zakur, his son Shim‘i. 27 Shim‘i had sixteen sons and six daughters, but his brothers did not have many children, so their clans did not increase like those of Y’hudah. 28 They lived at Be’er-Sheva, Moladah, Hatzar-Shu‘al, 29 Bilhah, ‘Etzem, Tolad, 30 B’tu’el, Hormah, Ziklag, 31 Beit-Markavot, Hatzar-Susim, Beit-Bir’i and Sha‘arayim. These were their cities until the reign of David. 32 Their villages were ‘Eitam, ‘Ayin, Rimmon, Tokhen and ‘Ashan, five cities, 33 along with all the villages surrounding these cities, as far as Ba‘al. These are the places where they lived, and they have their official genealogy. 34 Meshovav, Yamlekh, Yoshah the son of Amatzyah, 35 Yo’el, Yehu the son of Yoshivyah the son of S’rayah the son of ‘Asi’el, 36 Elyo‘einai, Ya‘akovah, Y’shochayah, ‘Asayah, ‘Adi’el, Y’simi’el, B’nayah, 37 Ziza the son of Shif‘i the son of Alon the son of Y’da‘yah the son of Shimri the son of Sh’ma‘yah — 38 these mentioned by name were princes in their clans, and their fathers’ houses increased greatly. 39 Seeking pasture for their flocks they went to the entrance of Geder, as far as the east side of the valley. 40 They found rich, good pastures; and the land was spacious, quiet and peaceful. Those who had lived there previously belonged to Ham. 41 Those whose names are written above came during the time of Hizkiyahu king of Y’hudah; they attacked their tents and the Me‘unim who were found there, destroyed them completely, and have lived there in place of them to this day; because there was pasture there for their flocks. 42 Some 500 of them who were descendants of Shim‘on went to Mount Se‘ir under the leadership of P’latyah, Ne‘aryah, Refayah and Uzi’el the sons of Yish‘i. 43 They attacked the remnant of ‘Amalek who had escaped and have lived there to this day.
5:1 The sons of Re’uven the firstborn of Isra’el — he was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Yosef the son of Isra’el, though not in such a way as for him to be regarded in the genealogy as the firstborn. 2 For Y’hudah became greater than his brothers, inasmuch as the ruler came from him; nevertheless, the birthright went to Yosef. 3 So these are the sons of Re’uven the firstborn of Isra’el: Hanokh, Pallu, Hetzron and Karmi.
4 The descendants of Yo’el: his son Sh’ma‘yah, his son Gog, his son Shim‘i, 5 his son Mikhah, his son Re‘ayah, his son Ba‘al, 6 and his son Be’erah. Tilgat-Piln’eser king of Ashur carried him away captive; he was leader of the Re’uveni. 7 His brothers, by their clans, as listed in their genealogical records were: Ye‘i’el the leader, Z’kharyah 8 and Bela the son of ‘Azaz the son of Sh’ma the son of Yo’el. He lived in ‘Aro‘er, with territory extending to N’vo and Ba‘al-M‘on; 9 while to the east he occupied territory that extended to the beginning of the desert as one comes from the Euphrates River; because their cattle multiplied in the land of Gil‘ad. 10 In the time of Sha’ul they went to war with the Hagri’im; after defeating them they occupied their tents throughout all the territory east of Gil‘ad.
11 The descendants of Gad lived across from them, in the territory from Bashan to Salkhah: 12 Yo’el was the leader, Shafam second, then Yanai and Shafat in Bashan. 13 The houses of their fathers’ brothers were: Mikha’el, Meshulam, Sheva, Yorai, Ya‘kan, Zia and ‘Ever — seven altogether. 14 These are the sons of Avichayil the son of Huri the son of Yaroach the son of Gil‘ad the son of Mikha’el the son of Yeshishai the son of Yachdo the son of Buz; 15 Achi the son of ‘Avdi’el the son of Guni was leader of their fathers’ house. 16 They lived in Gil‘ad, in Bashan, in its towns and in all the pasture lands of the plain as far as their borders. 17 All these were listed in genealogies during the times of Yotam king of Y’hudah and Yarov‘am king of Isra’el.
18 The descendants of Re’uven, the Gadi and the half-tribe of M’nasheh included 44,760 brave men who were available for warfare, able to take up shield and sword, shoot with the bow, or make use of other war skills. 19 These made war with the Hagri’im, Y’tur, Nafish and Nodav. 20 They received help against them, so that the Hagri’im and all who were allied with them suffered defeat at their hands; because they cried out to God while they were fighting, and he did as they requested, because they put their trust in him. 21 From their livestock they carried off 50,000 camels, 250,000 sheep and 2,000 donkeys; they also took captive 100,000 persons. 22 Many were slaughtered, because the war was of God, and they lived in their territory until the captivity.
23 The descendants of the half-tribe of M’nasheh lived and increased in the territory from Bashan to Ba‘al-Hermon, S’nir and Mount Hermon. 24 The leaders of their fathers’ houses were: ‘Efer, Yish‘i, Eli’el, ‘Azri’el, Yirmeyah, Hodavyah and Yachdi’el, strong, brave, famous men, leaders of their fathers’ houses. 25 But they broke faith with the God of their ancestors and prostituted themselves to the gods of the peoples of the land, whom God had destroyed ahead of them. 26 So the God of Isra’el stirred up the spirit of Pul king of Ashur and the spirit of Tilgat-Piln’eser king of Ashur; and he carried them away as captives — the Re’uveni, the Gadi and the half-tribe of M’nasheh — and brought them to Halach, Havor, Hara and to the Gozan River, where they are to this day.
27 (6:1) The sons of Levi: Gershon, K’hat and M’rari. 28 (6:2) The sons of K’hat: ‘Amram, Yitz’har, Hevron and ‘Uzi’el. 29 (6:3) The children of ‘Amram: Aharon, Moshe and Miryam. The sons of Aharon: Nadav, Avihu, El‘azar and Itamar. 30 (6:4) El‘azar fathered Pinchas, Pinchas fathered Avishua, 31 (6:5) Avishua fathered Buki, Buki fathered ‘Uzi, 32 (6:6) ‘Uzi fathered Z’rachyah, Z’rachyah fathered M’rayot, 33 (6:7) M’rayot fathered Amaryah, Amaryah fathered Achituv, 34 (6:8) Achituv fathered Tzadok, Tzadok fathered Achima‘atz, 35 (6:9) Achima‘atz fathered ‘Azaryah, ‘Azaryah fathered Yochanan, 36 (6:10) and Yochanan fathered ‘Azaryah. He functioned as cohen in the house that Shlomo built in Yerushalayim. 37 (6:11) ‘Azaryah fathered Amaryah, Amaryah fathered Achituv, 38 (6:12) Achituv fathered Tzadok, Tzadok fathered Shalum, 39 (6:13) Shalum fathered Hilkiyah, Hilkiyah fathered ‘Azaryah, 40 (6:14) ‘Azaryah fathered S’rayah, S’rayah fathered Y’hotzadak, 41 (6:15) and Y’hotzadak went into captivity when Adonai carried Y’hudah and Yerushalayim away at the hands of N’vukhadnetzar.
6:1 (16) The sons of Levi: Gershom, K’hat and M’rari. 2 (17) These are the names of the sons of Gershom: Livni and Shim‘i. 3 (18) The sons of K’hat: ‘Amram, Yitz’har, Hevron and ‘Uzi’el. 4 (19) The sons of M’rari: Machli and Mushi.
These are the families of the L’vi’im according to father’s clans: 5 (20) [The descendants] of Gershom: his son Livni, his son Yachat, his son Zimah, 6 (21) his son Yo’ach, his son ‘Iddo, his son Zerach, his son Ye’atrai.
7 (22) The descendants of K’hat: his son ‘Amminadav, his son Korach, his son Asir, 8 (23) his son Elkanah, his son Evyasaf, his son Asir, 9 (24) his son Tachat, his son Uri’el, his son ‘Uziyah and his son Sha’ul. 10 (25) The sons of Elkanah: ‘Amasai and Achimot. 11 (26) As for Elkanah, the sons of Elkanah: his son Tzofai, his son Nachat, 12 (27) his son Eli’av, his son Yerocham and his son Elkanah. 13 (28) The sons of Sh’mu’el: Vashni the firstborn, then Aviyah.
14 (29) The descendants of M’rari: Machli, his son Livni, his son Shim‘i, his son ‘Uzah, 15 (30) his son Shim‘a, his son Hagiyah and his son ‘Asayah. 16 (31) David appointed them to be in charge of the service of song in the house of Adonai after the ark had found a permanent resting place. 17 (32) They served as singers before the tabernacle of the tent of meeting, until Shlomo had built the house of Adonai in Yerushalayim; and they carried out their tasks in a prescribed order.
18 (33) Those who carried out these tasks and their descendants were — starting with descendants of the K’hati — Heman the singer, the son of Yo’el the son of Sh’mu’el, 19 (34) the son of Elkanah, the son of Yerocham, the son of Eli’el, the son of Toach, 20 (35) the son of Tzuf, the son of Elkanah, the son of Machat, the son of ‘Amasai, 21 (36) the son of Elkanah, the son of Yo’el, the son of ‘Azaryah, the son of Tz’fanyah, 22 (37) the son of Tachat, the son of Asir, the son of Evyasaf, the son of Korach, 23 (38) the son of Yitz’har, the son of K’hat, the son of Levi, the son of Isra’el.
24 (39) His brother Asaf, who stood on his right, was Asaf the son of Berekhyah, the son of Shim‘a, 25 (40) the son of Mikha’el, the son of Ba‘aseyah, the son of Malkiyah, 26 (41) the son of Etni, the son of Zerach the son of ‘Adayah, 27 (42) the son of Eitan, the son of Zimah, the son of Shim‘i, 28 (43) the son of Yachat, the son of Gershom, the son of Levi.
29 (44) On the left were their kinsmen the descendants of M’rari: Eitan the son of Kishi, the son of ‘Avdi, the son of Malukh, 30 (45) the son of Hashavyah, the son of Amatzyah, the son of Hilkiyah, 31 (46) the son of Amtzi, the son of Bani, the son of Shemer, 32 (47) the son of Machli, the son of Mushi, the son of M’rari, the son of Levi.
33 (48) Their kinsmen the L’vi’im were put in charge of all the service of the tabernacle of the house of God.
34 (49) But Aharon and his sons were the ones who offered on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense for all the service of the Especially Holy Place and to make atonement for Isra’el, in keeping with all that Moshe the servant of God had ordered to be done. 35 (50) These are the descendants of Aharon: his son El‘azar, his son Pinchas, his son Avishua, 36 (51) his son Buki, his son ‘Uzi, his son Z’rachyah, 37 (52) his son M’rayot, his son Amaryah, his son Achituv, 38 (53) his son Tzadok and his son Achima‘atz.
39 (54) These were the settlements of the descendants of Aharon according to the territories assigned them: to the descendants of Aharon, of the clans of the K’hati — for the first lot fell to them — 40 (55) they gave Hevron in the land of Y’hudah with the open land surrounding it, 41 (56) but the fields and the dependent villages of the city they gave to Kalev the son of Y’funeh. 42 (57) To the descendants of Aharon they gave the city of refuge Hevron, also Livnah with its surrounding open land, Yatir, Esht’moa with its surrounding open land, 43 (58) Hilen with its surrounding open land, D’vir with its surrounding open land, 44 (59) ‘Ashan with its surrounding open land, Beit-Shemesh with its surrounding open land; 45 (60) and out of the tribe of Binyamin: Geva with its surrounding open land, ‘Alemet with its surrounding open land and ‘Anatot with its surrounding open land. All the cities for all their clans amounted to thirteen cities.
46 (61) The rest of the descendants of K’hat were assigned by lot, clan by clan, ten cities from the half-tribe of M’nasheh. 47 (62) The descendants of Gershom were assigned, clan by clan, thirteen cities from the tribes of Yissakhar, Asher, Naftali and M’nasheh in Bashan. 48 (63) To the descendants of M’rari were assigned by lot, clan by clan, twelve cities from the tribes of Re’uven, Gad and Z’vulun. 49 (64) So the people of Isra’el gave the L’vi’im these cities with the surrounding open land. 50 (65) From the tribes of the descendants of Y’hudah, Shim‘on and Binyamin they assigned these cities mentioned by name.
51 (66) Some of the clans of the descendants of K’hat were given cities in territory from the tribe of Efrayim. 52 (67) They gave them the city of refuge Sh’khem in the hills of Efrayim with the surrounding open land, also Gezer with the surrounding open land, 53 (68) Yokme‘am with the surrounding open land, Beit-Horon with the surrounding open land, 54 (69) Ayalon with the surrounding open land, and Gat-Rimmon with the surrounding open land; 55 (70) and out of the half-tribe of M’nasheh: ‘Aner with the surrounding open land and Bil‘am with the surrounding open land, for the rest of the clans of the descendants of K’hat.
56 (71) The descendants of Gershom were given, from the clans of the half-tribe of M’nasheh: Golan in Bashan with the surrounding open land and ‘Ashtarot with the surrounding open land; 57 (72) and from the tribe of Yissakhar: Kedesh with the surrounding open land, Davrat with the surrounding open land, 58 (73) Ramot with the surrounding open land and ‘Anem with the surrounding open land; 59 (74) and from the tribe of Asher: Mashal with the surrounding open land, ‘Avdon with the surrounding open land, 60 (75) Hukok with the surrounding open land and Rechov with the surrounding open land; 61 (76) and from the tribe of Naftali: Kedesh in the Galil with the surrounding open land, Hamon with the surrounding open land and Kiryatayim with the surrounding open land.
62 (77) To the rest [of the L’vi’im], the descendants of M’rari, were given, from the tribe of Z’vulun: Rimmono with the surrounding open land and Tavor with the surrounding open land; 63 (78) and beyond the Yarden at Yericho, on the east side of the Yarden, they were given, from the tribe of Re’uven: Betzer in the desert with the surrounding open land, Yahatz with the surrounding open land, 64 (79) K’demot with the surrounding open land and Mefa‘at with the surrounding open land; 65 (80) and from the tribe of Gad: Ramot in Gil‘ad with the surrounding open land, Machanayim with the surrounding open land, 66 (81) Heshbon with the surrounding open land and Ya‘zer with the surrounding open land.
1 Corinthians 7:1 Now to deal with the questions you wrote about: “Is it good for a man to keep away from women?” 2 Well, because of the danger of sexual immorality, let each man have his own wife and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should give his wife what she is entitled to in the marriage relationship, and the wife should do the same for her husband. 4 The wife is not in charge of her own body, but her husband is; likewise, the husband is not in charge of his own body, but his wife is. 5 Do not deprive each other, except for a limited time, by mutual agreement, and then only so as to have extra time for prayer; but afterwards, come together again. Otherwise, because of your lack of self-control, you may succumb to the Adversary’s temptation. 6 I am giving you this as a suggestion, not as a command. 7 Actually, I wish everyone were like me; but each has his own gift from God, one this, another that.
8 Now to the single people and the widows I say that it is fine if they remain unmarried like me; 9 but if they can’t exercise self-control, they should get married; because it is better to get married than to keep burning with sexual desire.
10 To those who are married I have a command, and it is not from me but from the Lord: a woman is not to separate herself from her husband 11 But if she does separate herself, she is to remain single or be reconciled with her husband. Also, a husband is not to leave his wife.
12 To the rest I say — I, not the Lord: if any brother has a wife who is not a believer, and she is satisfied to go on living with him, he should not leave her. 13 Also, if any woman has an unbelieving husband who is satisfied to go on living with her, she is not to leave him. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been set aside for God by the wife, and the unbelieving wife has been set aside for God by the brother — otherwise your children would be “unclean,” but as it is, they are set aside for God. 15 But if the unbelieving spouse separates himself, let him be separated. In circumstances like these, the brother or sister is not enslaved — God has called you to a life of peace. 16 For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
17 Only let each person live the life the Lord has assigned him and live it in the condition he was in when God called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the congregations. 18 Was someone already circumcised when he was called? Then he should not try to remove the marks of his circumcision. Was someone uncircumcised when he was called? He shouldn’t undergo b’rit-milah. 19 Being circumcised means nothing, and being uncircumcised means nothing; what does mean something is keeping God’s commandments.
-------CHANGE THEIR WORLD. CHANGE YOURS.
THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING.
The Lutheran Hour Ministries
660 Mason Ridge Ctr Drive
Saint Louis, Missouri 63141 United States
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