Nowata Methodists Podcast

I wonder what prolonged experience to Jesus does to folks. It so rarely really takes place. Despite the fact that churches talk a lot about Jesus, few really spend much time reading about the things he said and did while living among us. What happens to a person when they spend prolonged amounts of time with the Jesus of the bible?

At some point, she realizes that the mood is often somewhat dour. There is a lot of conflict. Even in situations of healing, there are often very difficult teachings or confrontations with authority. The things he says about money and sex are very difficult to accept, especially in this society that normalized greed and lust. We want to imagine that Jesus is quite happy with America. Reading his words will almost certainly lead one to question if there is much for him to really congratulate us for.

Every person who comes to Jesus eventually has to make a decision about if they are going to actually listen, or if they are going to continue insisting that he be someone else. “Are you the one to come, or should we wait for another?” the disciples of John asked. He came. He healed, he spoke, he died, he ascended. And yet so many of his followers act like they are waiting for another. As he says in today’s reading, he will be returning, but nobody is going to see it coming until it is too late. Those of us who listen, who believe…we obey now rather than regretting later.

Luke 13

At that time some of those present told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.

To this He replied, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans, because they suffered this fate? No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you too will all perish.

Or those eighteen who were killed when the tower of Siloam collapsed on them: Do you think that they were more sinful than all the others living in Jerusalem? No, I tell you. But unless you repent, you too will all perish.”

Then Jesus told this parable: “A man had a fig tree that was planted in his vineyard. He went to look for fruit on it, but did not find any.

So he said to the keeper of the vineyard, ‘Look, for the past three years I have come to search for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Therefore cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’

‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone again this year, until I dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine. But if not, you can cut it down.’ ”

One Sabbath Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues, and a woman there had been disabled by a spirit for eighteen years. She was hunched over and could not stand up straight.

When Jesus saw her, He called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your disability.”

Then He placed His hands on her, and immediately she straightened up and began to glorify God.

But the synagogue leader was indignant that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath. “There are six days for work,” he told the crowd. “So come and be healed on those days and not on the Sabbath.”

“You hypocrites!” the Lord replied. “Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it to water?

Then should not this daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be released from her bondage on the Sabbath day?”

When Jesus said this, all His adversaries were humiliated. And the whole crowd rejoiced at all the glorious things He was doing.

Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it?

It is like a mustard seed that a man tossed into his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air nested in its branches.”

Again He asked, “To what can I compare the kingdom of God? It is like leaven that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour, until all of it was leavened.”

Then Jesus traveled throughout the towns and villages, teaching as He made His way toward Jerusalem. “Lord,” someone asked Him, “will only a few people be saved?”

Jesus answered, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.

After the master of the house gets up and shuts the door, you will stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’

But he will reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’

Then you will say, ‘We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.’

And he will answer, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers.’

There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves are thrown out.

People will come from east and west and north and south, and will recline at the table in the kingdom of God.

And indeed, some who are last will be first, and some who are first will be last.”

At that very hour, some Pharisees came to Jesus and told Him, “Leave this place and get away, because Herod wants to kill You.”

But Jesus replied, “Go tell that fox, ‘Look, I will keep driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach My goal.’

Nevertheless, I must keep going today and tomorrow and the next day, for it is not admissible for a prophet to perish outside of Jerusalem.

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling!

Look, your house is left to you desolate. And I tell you that you will not see Me again until you say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.’”

Luke 14

One Sabbath, Jesus went to eat in the home of a leading Pharisee, and those in attendance were watching Him closely. Right there before Him was a man with dropsy.

So Jesus asked the experts in the law and the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?”

But they remained silent.

Then Jesus took hold of the man, healed him, and sent him on his way.

And He asked them, “Which of you whose son or ox falls into a pit on the Sabbath day will not immediately pull him out?”

And they were unable to answer these questions.

When Jesus noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, He told them a parable:

“When you are invited to a wedding banquet, do not sit in the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited.

Then the host who invited both of you will come and tell you, ‘Give this man your seat.’ And in humiliation, you will have to take the last place.

But when you are invited, go and sit in the last place, so that your host will come and tell you, ‘Friend, move up to a better place.’ Then you will be honored in front of everyone at the table with you.

For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Then Jesus said to the man who had invited Him, “When you host a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or brothers or relatives or rich neighbors. Otherwise, they may invite you in return, and you will be repaid.

But when you host a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind,

and you will be blessed. Since they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

When one of those reclining with Him heard this, he said to Jesus, “Blessed is everyone who will eat at the feast in the kingdom of God.”

But Jesus replied, “A certain man prepared a great banquet and invited many guests.

When it was time for the banquet, he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’

But one after another they all began to make excuses. The first one said, ‘I have bought a field, and I need to go see it. Please excuse me.’

Another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I am going to try them out. Please excuse me.’

Still another said, ‘I have married a wife, so I cannot come.’

The servant returned and reported all this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the city, and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’

‘Sir,’ the servant replied, ‘what you ordered has been done, and there is still room.’

So the master told his servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full.

For I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will taste my banquet.’ ”

Large crowds were now traveling with Jesus, and He turned and said to them,

“If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be My disciple.

And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple.

Which of you, wishing to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost to see if he has the resources to complete it?

Otherwise, if he lays the foundation and is unable to finish the work, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This man could not finish what he started to build.’

Or what king on his way to war with another king will not first sit down and consider whether he can engage with ten thousand men the one coming against him with twenty thousand?

And if he is unable, he will send a delegation while the other king is still far off, to ask for terms of peace.

In the same way, any one of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple.

Salt is good, but if the salt loses its savor, with what will it be seasoned? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile, and it is thrown out.

He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Luke 15

Now all the tax collectors and sinners were gathering around to listen to Jesus. So the Pharisees and scribes began to grumble: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

Then Jesus told them this parable:

“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the pasture and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?

And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, comes home, and calls together his friends and neighbors to tell them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep!’

In the same way, I tell you that there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous ones who do not need to repent.

Or what woman who has ten silver coins and loses one of them does not light a lamp, sweep her house, and search carefully until she finds it?

And when she finds it, she calls together her friends and neighbors to say, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost coin.’

In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.”

Then Jesus said, “There was a man who had two sons. The younger son said to him, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

After a few days, the younger son got everything together and journeyed to a distant country, where he squandered his wealth in wild living.

After he had spent all he had, a severe famine swept through that country, and he began to be in need.

So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed the pigs.

He longed to fill his belly with the pods the pigs were eating, but no one would give him a thing.

Finally he came to his senses and said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have plenty of food? But here I am, starving to death!

I will get up and go back to my father and say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.

I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’

So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still in the distance, his father saw him and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.

The son declared, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.

Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again! He was lost and is found!’ So they began to celebrate.

Meanwhile the older son was in the field, and as he approached the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what was going on.

‘Your brother has returned,’ he said, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has him back safe and sound.’

The older son became angry and refused to go in. So his father came out and pleaded with him.

But he answered his father, ‘Look, all these years I have served you and never disobeyed a commandment of yours. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends.

But when this son of yours returns from squandering your wealth with prostitutes, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

‘Son, you are always with me,’ the father said, ‘and all that is mine is yours.

But it was fitting to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ ”

Luke 16

Jesus also said to His disciples, “There was a rich man whose manager was accused of wasting his possessions.

So he called him in to ask, ‘What is this I hear about you? Turn in an account of your management, for you cannot be manager any longer.’

The manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, now that my master is taking away my position? I am too weak to dig and too ashamed to beg.

I know what I will do, so that after my removal from management, people will welcome me into their homes.’

And he called in each one of his master’s debtors. ‘How much do you owe my master?’ he asked the first.

‘A hundred measures of olive oil,’ he answered.

‘Take your bill,’ said the manager. ‘Sit down quickly, and write fifty.’

Then he asked another, ‘And how much do you owe?’

‘A hundred measures of wheat,’ he replied.

‘Take your bill and write eighty,’ he told him.

The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the sons of this age are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the sons of light.

I tell you, use worldly wealth to make friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, they will welcome you into eternal dwellings.

Whoever is faithful with very little will also be faithful with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.

So if you have not been faithful with worldly wealth, who will entrust you with true riches?

And if you have not been faithful with the belongings of another, who will give you belongings of your own?

No servant can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

The Pharisees, who were lovers of money, heard all of this and were scoffing at Jesus.

So He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is prized among men is detestable before God.

The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John. Since that time, the gospel of the kingdom of God is being preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.

But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for a single stroke of a pen to drop out of the Law.

Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery, and he who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Now there was a rich man dressed in purple and fine linen, who lived each day in joyous splendor. And a beggar named Lazarus lay at his gate, covered with sores

and longing to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.

One day the beggar died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. And the rich man also died and was buried.

In Hades, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham from afar, with Lazarus by his side.

So he cried out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue. For I am in agony in this fire.’

But Abraham answered, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things. But now he is comforted here, while you are in agony.

And besides all this, a great chasm has been fixed between us and you, so that even those who wish cannot cross from here to you, nor can anyone cross from there to us.’

‘Then I beg you, father,’ he said, ‘send Lazarus to my father’s house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also end up in this place of torment.’

But Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; let your brothers listen to them.’

‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone is sent to them from the dead, they will repent.’

Then Abraham said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, they will not be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead.’ ”

Luke 17

Jesus said to His disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks will come, but woe to the one through whom they come!

It would be better for him to have a millstone hung around his neck and to be thrown into the sea than to cause one of these little ones to stumble.

Watch yourselves. If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.

Even if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times returns to say, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.”

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”

And the Lord answered, “If you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.

Which of you whose servant comes in from plowing or shepherding in the field will say to him, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’?

Instead, won’t he tell him, ‘Prepare my meal and dress yourself to serve me while I eat and drink; and afterward you may eat and drink’?

Does he thank the servant because he did what he was told?

So you also, when you have done everything commanded of you, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’ ”

While Jesus was on His way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and Galilee. As He entered one of the villages, He was met by ten lepers. They stood at a distance

and raised their voices, shouting, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”

When Jesus saw them, He said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they were on their way, they were cleansed.

When one of them saw that he was healed, he came back, praising God in a loud voice. He fell facedown at Jesus’ feet in thanksgiving to Him—and he was a Samaritan.

“Were not all ten cleansed?” Jesus asked. “Where then are the other nine? Was no one found except this foreigner to return and give glory to God?”

Then Jesus said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well!”

When asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The kingdom of God will not come with observable signs.

Nor will people say, ‘Look, here it is,’ or ‘There it is.’ For you see, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”

Then He said to the disciples, “The time is coming when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man, but you will not see it.

People will tell you, ‘Look, there He is!’ or ‘Look, here He is!’ Do not go out or chase after them.

For just as the lightning flashes and lights up the sky from one end to the other, so will be the Son of Man in His day.

But first He must suffer many things and be rejected by this generation.

Just as it was in the days of Noah, so also will it be in the days of the Son of Man:

People were eating and drinking, marrying and being given in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark. Then the flood came and destroyed them all.

It was the same in the days of Lot: People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building.

But on the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all.

It will be just like that on the day the Son of Man is revealed.

On that day, let no one on the housetop come down to retrieve his possessions. Likewise, let no one in the field return for anything he has left behind. Remember Lot’s wife!

Whoever tries to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it. I tell you, on that night two people will be in one bed: One will be taken and the other left.

Two women will be grinding grain together: One will be taken and the other left.”

“Where, Lord?” they asked.

Jesus answered, “Wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.”

Luke 18

Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected men.

And there was a widow in that town who kept appealing to him, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’

For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect men,

yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice. Then she will stop wearing me out with her perpetual requests.’ ”

And the Lord said, “Listen to the words of the unjust judge. Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He continue to defer their help?

I tell you, He will promptly carry out justice on their behalf. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”

To some who trusted in their own righteousness and viewed others with contempt, He also told this parable:

“Two men went up to the temple to pray. One was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector.

The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like the other men—swindlers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector.

I fast twice a week and pay tithes of all that I acquire.’

But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’

I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Now people were even bringing their babies to Jesus for Him to place His hands on them. And when the disciples saw this, they rebuked those who brought them.

But Jesus called the children to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not hinder them! For the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

Truly I tell you, anyone who does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Then a certain ruler asked Him, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

“Why do you call Me good?” Jesus replied. “No one is good except God alone.

You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false witness, honor your father and mother.’”

“All these I have kept from my youth,” he said.

On hearing this, Jesus told him, “You still lack one thing: Sell everything you own and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow Me.”

But when the ruler heard this, he became very sad, because he was extremely wealthy.

Seeing the man’s sadness, Jesus said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!

Indeed, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”

But Jesus said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”

“Look,” said Peter, “we have left all we had to follow You.”

“Truly I tell you,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God

will fail to receive many times more in this age—and in the age to come, eternal life.”

Then Jesus took the Twelve aside and said to them, “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything the prophets have written about the Son of Man will be fulfilled.

He will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. They will flog Him and kill Him, and on the third day He will rise again.”

But the disciples did not understand any of these things. The meaning was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend what He was saying.

As Jesus drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting beside the road, begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening.

“Jesus of Nazareth is passing by,” they told him.

So he called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Those who led the way admonished him to be silent, but he cried out all the louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

Jesus stopped and directed that the man be brought to Him. When he had been brought near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

“Lord,” he said, “let me see again.”

“Receive your sight!” Jesus replied. “Your faith has healed you.”

Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, glorifying God. And all the people who saw this gave praise to God.

Lots of content to cover today. Do some jumping jacks before you start listening. It’s okay to pause me a few times in order to re-center yourself. Covering this much ground in on reading, especially when it is full of so many teachings and anecdotes, is quite difficult.

I have noticed over the years how many stories Luke has that focus on the role of women in the ministry of Jesus. This reading highlights some women (Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna) who are accompanying him, funding him. It also addresses the sinful woman who anoints his feet at a special dinner.

Jesus is especially uncompromising and, frankly, rude, through much of Luke. While invited to a dinner party, he directly insults his host and everyone like him. Twice in today’s reading, he insults an entire generation, calling them faithless. When one actually reads their bibles, it isn’t hard for them to see why they killed our Lord. He is hard to like.

But oh! do we love him. He died for us, paying the price we could not pay, rewarding us with a blessing we could never earn. This is what real love looks like. It isn’t warm and fuzzy. It is hard and sometimes feels quite mean. It is what we need, rather than what we want. In order to receive it, we have to abandon ourselves, our pride, our preferences. May we be so blessed!

Luke 7

When Jesus had concluded His discourse in the hearing of the people, He went to Capernaum. There a highly valued servant of a centurion was sick and about to die.

When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent some Jewish elders to ask Him to come and heal his servant. They came to Jesus and pleaded with Him earnestly, “This man is worthy to have You grant this, for he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.”

So Jesus went with them. But when He was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends with the message: “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy to have You come under my roof.

That is why I did not consider myself worthy to come to You. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.

For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell one to go, and he goes; and another to come, and he comes. I tell my servant to do something, and he does it.”

When Jesus heard this, He marveled at the centurion. Turning to the crowd following Him, He said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.”

And when the messengers returned to the house, they found the servant in good health.

Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain. His disciples went with Him, accompanied by a large crowd.

As He approached the town gate, He saw a dead man being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with her.

When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said, “Do not weep.”

Then He went up and touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. “Young man,” He said, “I tell you, get up!”

And the dead man sat up and began to speak! Then Jesus gave him back to his mother.

A sense of awe swept over all of them, and they glorified God. “A great prophet has appeared among us!” they said. “God has visited His people!”

And the news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and all the surrounding region.

Then John’s disciples informed him about all these things.

So John called two of his disciples and sent them to ask the Lord, “Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?”

When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to ask, ‘Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?’ ”

At that very hour Jesus healed many people of their diseases, afflictions, and evil spirits, and He gave sight to many who were blind.

So He replied, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.

Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me.”

After John’s messengers had left, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind?

Otherwise, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Look, those who wear elegant clothing and live in luxury are found in palaces.

What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written:

‘Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You,who will prepare Your way before You.’

I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John, yet even the least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

All the people who heard this, even the tax collectors, acknowledged God’s justice. For they had received the baptism of John.

But the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God’s purpose for themselves, because they had not been baptized by John.

“To what, then, can I compare the men of this generation? What are they like? They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another:

‘We played the flute for you,and you did not dance;we sang a dirge,and you did not weep.’

For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’

The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”

Then one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to eat with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table.

When a sinful woman from that town learned that Jesus was dining there, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume.

As she stood behind Him at His feet weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears and wipe them with her hair. Then she kissed His feet and anointed them with the perfume.

When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, He would know who this is and what kind of woman is touching Him—for she is a sinner!”

But Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”

“Tell me, Teacher,” he said.

“Two men were debtors to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.

When they were unable to repay him, he forgave both of them. Which one, then, will love him more?”

“I suppose the one who was forgiven more,” Simon replied.

“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.

And turning toward the woman, He said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give Me water for My feet, but she wet My feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

You did not greet Me with a kiss, but she has not stopped kissing My feet since I arrived. You did not anoint My head with oil, but she has anointed My feet with perfume.

Therefore I tell you, because her many sins have been forgiven, she has loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”

Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”

But those at the table began to say to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”

And Jesus told the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Luke 8

Soon afterward, Jesus traveled from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with Him,

as well as some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out,

Joanna the wife of Herod’s household manager Chuza, Susanna, and many others. These women were ministering to them out of their own means.

While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, He told them this parable:

“A farmer went out to sow his seed. And as he was sowing, some seed fell along the path, where it was trampled, and the birds of the air devoured it.

Some fell on rocky ground, and when it came up, the seedlings withered because they had no moisture.

Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the seedlings.

Still other seed fell on good soil, where it sprang up and produced a crop—a hundredfold.”

As Jesus said this, He called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

Then His disciples asked Him what this parable meant.

He replied, “The knowledge of the mysteries of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,

‘though seeing, they may not see;though hearing, they may not understand.’

Now this is the meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God.

The seeds along the path are those who hear, but the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.

The seeds on rocky ground are those who hear the word and receive it with joy, but they have no root. They believe for a season, but in the time of testing, they fall away.

The seeds that fell among the thorns are those who hear, but as they go on their way, they are choked by the worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, and their fruit does not mature.

But the seeds on good soil are those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, cling to it, and by persevering produce a crop.

No one lights a lamp and covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he sets it on a stand, so those who enter can see the light.

For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be made known and brought to light.

Pay attention, therefore, to how you listen. Whoever has will be given more, but whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has will be taken away from him.”

Then Jesus’ mother and brothers came to see Him, but they were unable to reach Him because of the crowd.

He was told, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see You.”

But He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and carry it out.”

One day Jesus said to His disciples, “Let us cross to the other side of the lake.” So He got into a boat with them and set out.

As they sailed, He fell asleep, and a windstorm came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger.

The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!”

Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters, and they subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” He asked.

Frightened and amazed, they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him!”

Then they sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, across the lake from Galilee.

When Jesus stepped ashore, He was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothing or lived in a house, but he stayed in the tombs.

When the man saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before Him, shouting in a loud voice, “What do You want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You not to torture me!”

For Jesus had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was bound with chains and shackles, he had broken the chains and been driven by the demon into solitary places.

“What is your name?” Jesus asked.

“Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. And the demons kept begging Jesus not to order them to go into the Abyss.

There on the hillside a large herd of pigs was feeding. So the demons begged Jesus to let them enter the pigs, and He gave them permission.

Then the demons came out of the man and went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned.

When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside.

So the people went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus and found the man whom the demons had left, sitting at Jesus’ feet, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

Meanwhile, those who had seen it reported how the demon-possessed man had been healed.

Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to depart from them, because great fear had taken hold of them. So He got into the boat and started back.

The man whom the demons had left begged to go with Jesus. But He sent him away, saying,

“Return home and describe how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and proclaimed all over the town how much Jesus had done for him.

When Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed Him, for they had all been waiting for Him.

Just then a synagogue leader named Jairus came and fell at Jesus’ feet. He begged Him to come to his house, because his only daughter, who was about twelve, was dying.

As Jesus went with him, the crowds pressed around Him,

including a woman who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years. She had spent all her money on physicians, but no one was able to heal her.

She came up behind Jesus and touched the fringe of His cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.

“Who touched Me?” Jesus asked.

But they all denied it. “Master,” said Peter, “the people are crowding and pressing against You.”

But Jesus declared, “Someone touched Me, for I know that power has gone out from Me.”

Then the woman, seeing that she could not escape notice, came trembling and fell down before Him. In the presence of all the people, she explained why she had touched Him and how she had immediately been healed.

“Daughter,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

While He was still speaking, someone arrived from the house of the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he told Jairus. “Do not bother the Teacher anymore.”

But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, “Do not be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.”

When He entered the house, He did not allow anyone to go in with Him except Peter, John, James, and the child’s father and mother.

Meanwhile, everyone was weeping and mourning for her. But Jesus said, “Stop weeping; she is not dead but asleep.” And they laughed at Him, knowing that she was dead.

But Jesus took her by the hand and called out, “Child, get up!” Her spirit returned, and at once she got up. And He directed that she be given something to eat.

Her parents were astounded, but Jesus ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.

Luke 9

Then Jesus called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and power to cure diseases. And He sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.

“Take nothing for the journey,” He told them, “no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no second tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that area.

If anyone does not welcome you, shake the dust off your feet when you leave that town, as a testimony against them.”

So they set out and went from village to village, preaching the gospel and healing people everywhere.

When Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, he was perplexed. For some were saying that John had risen from the dead,

others that Elijah had appeared, and still others that a prophet of old had arisen.

“I beheaded John,” Herod said, “but who is this man I hear such things about?” And he kept trying to see Jesus.

Then the apostles returned and reported to Jesus all that they had done. Taking them away privately, He withdrew to a town called Bethsaida.

But the crowds found out and followed Him. He welcomed them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and He healed those who needed healing.

As the day neared its end, the Twelve came to Jesus and said, “Dismiss the crowd so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside for lodging and provisions. For we are in a desolate place here.”

But Jesus told them, “You give them something to eat.”

“We have only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered, “unless we go and buy food for all these people.”

(There were about five thousand men.)

He told His disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” They did so, and everyone was seated.

Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, Jesus spoke a blessing and broke them. Then He gave them to the disciples to set before the people.

They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.

One day as Jesus was praying in private and the disciples were with Him, He questioned them: “Who do the crowds say I am?”

They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that a prophet of old has arisen.”

“But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “The Christ of God.”

Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone.

“The Son of Man must suffer many things,” He said. “He must be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

Then Jesus said to all of them, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me.

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.

What does it profit a man to gain the whole world, yet lose or forfeit his very self?

If anyone is ashamed of Me and My words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when He comes in His glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.

But I tell you truthfully, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see the kingdom of God.”

About eight days after Jesus had said these things, He took with Him Peter, John, and James, and went up on a mountain to pray.

And as He was praying, the appearance of His face changed, and His clothes became radiantly white. Suddenly two men, Moses and Elijah, began talking with Jesus.

They appeared in glory and spoke about His departure, which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

Meanwhile Peter and his companions were overcome by sleep, but when they awoke, they saw Jesus’ glory and the two men standing with Him.

As Moses and Elijah were leaving, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters —one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.)

While Peter was speaking, a cloud appeared and enveloped them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud.

And a voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is My Son, whom I have chosen. Listen to Him!”

After the voice had spoken, only Jesus was present with them. The disciples kept this to themselves, and in those days they did not tell anyone what they had seen.

The next day, when they came down from the mountain, Jesus was met by a large crowd.

Suddenly a man in the crowd cried out, “Teacher, I beg You to look at my son, for he is my only child.

A spirit keeps seizing him, and he screams abruptly. It throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It keeps mauling him and rarely departs from him.

I begged Your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable.”

“O unbelieving and perverse generation!” Jesus replied. “How long must I remain with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.”

Even while the boy was approaching, the demon slammed him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.

And they were all astonished at the greatness of God.

While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus was doing, He said to His disciples,

“Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.”

But they did not understand this statement. It was veiled from them so that they could not comprehend it, and they were afraid to ask Him about it.

Then an argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. But Jesus, knowing the thoughts of their hearts, had a little child stand beside Him.

And He said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in My name welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes the One who sent Me. For whoever is the least among all of you, he is the greatest.”

“Master,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in Your name, and we tried to stop him, because he does not accompany us.”

“Do not stop him,” Jesus replied, “for whoever is not against you is for you.”

As the day of His ascension approached, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.

He sent messengers on ahead, who went into a village of the Samaritans to make arrangements for Him.

But the people there refused to welcome Him, because He was heading for Jerusalem.

When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do You want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?”

But Jesus turned and rebuked them. And He and His disciples went on to another village.

As they were walking along the road, someone said to Jesus, “I will follow You wherever You go.”

Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay His head.”

Then He said to another man, “Follow Me.”

The man replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.”

But Jesus told him, “Let the dead bury their own dead. You, however, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.”

Still another said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first let me bid farewell to my family.”

Then Jesus declared, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Luke 10

After this, the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them two by two ahead of Him to every town and place He was about to visit.

And He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest.

Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Carry no purse or bag or sandals. Do not greet anyone along the road.

Whatever house you enter, begin by saying, ‘Peace to this house.’ If a man of peace is there, your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you.

Stay at the same house, eating and drinking whatever you are offered. For the worker is worthy of his wages. Do not move around from house to house.

If you enter a town and they welcome you, eat whatever is set before you. Heal the sick who are there and tell them, ‘The kingdom of God is near you.’

But if you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go into the streets and declare,

‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off as a testimony against you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God is near.’

I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.

And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades!

Whoever listens to you listens to Me; whoever rejects you rejects Me; and whoever rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”

The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in Your name.”

So He told them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. Nothing will harm you.

Nevertheless, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

At that time Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was well-pleasing in Your sight.

All things have been entrusted to Me by My Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal Him.”

Then Jesus turned to the disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see.

For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

One day an expert in the law stood up to test Him. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

“What is written in the Law?” Jesus replied. “How do you read it?”

He answered, “ ‘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 ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

“You have answered correctly,” Jesus said. “Do this and you will live.”

But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Jesus took up this question and said, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.

Now by chance a priest was going down the same road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

So too, when a Levite came to that spot and saw him, he passed by on the other side.

But when a Samaritan on a journey came upon him, he looked at him and had compassion.

He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Take care of him,’ he said, ‘and on my return I will repay you for any additional expense.’

Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

“The one who showed him mercy,” replied the expert in the law.

Then Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

As they traveled along, Jesus entered a village where a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.

She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to His message.

But Martha was distracted by all the preparations to be made. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord replied, “you are worried and upset about many things.

But only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 11

One day in a place where Jesus had just finished praying, one of His disciples requested, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

So Jesus told them, “When you pray, say:

‘Father, hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come.

Give us each day our daily bread.

And forgive us our sins,

for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.

And lead us not into temptation.’ ”

Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose one of you goes to his friend at midnight and says, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread,

because a friend of mine has come to me on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him.’

And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Do not bother me. My door is already shut, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’

I tell you, even though he will not get up to provide for him because of his friendship, yet because of the man’s persistence, he will get up and give him as much as he needs.

So I tell you: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.

For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.

What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?

So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

One day Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. And when the demon was gone, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowds were amazed,

but some of them said, “It is by Beelzebul, the prince of the demons, that He drives out demons.” And others tested Him by demanding a sign from heaven.

Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and a house divided against a house will fall.

If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? After all, you say that I drive out demons by Beelzebul.

And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your sons drive them out? So then, they will be your judges.

But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

When a strong man, fully armed, guards his house, his possessions are secure.

But when someone stronger attacks and overpowers him, he takes away the armor in which the man trusted, and then he divides up his plunder.

He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.

When an unclean spirit comes out of a man, it passes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’

On its return, it finds the house swept clean and put in order.

Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and dwell there. And the final plight of that man is worse than the first.”

As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said, “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and blessed are the breasts that nursed You!”

But He replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”

As the crowds were increasing, Jesus said, “This is a wicked generation. It demands a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.

For as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, so the Son of Man will be a sign to this generation.

The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the men of this generation and condemn them; for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and now One greater than Solomon is here.

The men of Nineveh will stand at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now One greater than Jonah is here.

No one lights a lamp and puts it in a cellar or under a basket. Instead, he sets it on a stand, so those who enter can see the light.

Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body is full of darkness.

Be careful, then, that the light within you is not darkness. So if your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, you will be radiant, as though a lamp were shining on you.”

As Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee invited Him to dine with him; so He went in and reclined at the table.

But the Pharisee was surprised to see that Jesus did not first wash before the meal.

“Now then,” said the Lord, “you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.

You fools! Did not the One who made the outside make the inside as well? But give as alms the things that are within you, and you will see that everything is clean for you.

Woe to you Pharisees! You pay tithes of mint, rue, and every herb, but you disregard justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without neglecting the former.

Woe to you Pharisees! You love the chief seats in the synagogues and the greetings in the marketplaces.

Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, which men walk over without even noticing.”

One of the experts in the law told Him, “Teacher, when You say these things, You insult us as well.”

“Woe to you as well, experts in the law!” He replied. “You weigh men down with heavy burdens, but you yourselves will not lift a finger to lighten their load.

Woe to you! You build tombs for the prophets, but it was your fathers who killed them.

So you are witnesses consenting to the deeds of your fathers: They killed the prophets, and you build their tombs.

Because of this, the wisdom of God said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles; some of them they will kill and others they will persecute.’

As a result, this generation will be charged with the blood of all the prophets that has been shed since the foundation of the world,

from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who was killed between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, all of it will be charged to this generation.

Woe to you experts in the law! For you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.”

As Jesus went on from there, the scribes and Pharisees began to oppose Him bitterly and to ply Him with questions about many things,

waiting to catch Him in something He might say.

Luke 12

In the meantime, a crowd of many thousands had gathered, so that they were trampling one another. Jesus began to speak first to His disciples: “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.

There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, and nothing hidden that will not be made known.

What you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the housetops.

I tell you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.

But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear the One who, after you have been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him!

Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.

And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

I tell you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will also confess him before the angels of God.

But whoever denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.

And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven.

When you are brought before synagogues, rulers, and authorities, do not worry about how to defend yourselves or what to say.

For at that time the Holy Spirit will teach you what you should say.”

Someone in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

But Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed Me judge or executor between you?”

And He said to them, “Watch out! Guard yourselves against every form of greed, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Then He told them a parable: “The ground of a certain rich man produced an abundance.

So he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, since I have nowhere to store my crops?’

Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and will build bigger ones, and there I will store up all my grain and my goods.

Then I will say to myself, “You have plenty of good things laid up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry!” ’

But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be required of you. Then who will own what you have accumulated?’

This is how it will be for anyone who stores up treasure for himself but is not rich toward God.”

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.

For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.

Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storehouse or barn; yet God feeds them. How much more valuable you are than the birds!

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? So if you cannot do such a small thing, why do you worry about the rest?

Consider how the lilies grow: They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory was adorned like one of these.

If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith!

And do not be concerned about what you will eat or drink. Do not worry about it. For the Gentiles of the world strive after all these things, and your Father knows that you need them.

But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added unto you.

Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.

Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide yourselves with purses that will not wear out, an inexhaustible treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Be dressed for service and keep your lamps burning.

Then you will be like servants waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once.

Blessed are those servants whom the master finds on watch when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve and will have them recline at the table, and he himself will come and wait on them.

Even if he comes in the second or third watch of the night and finds them alert, those servants will be blessed.

But understand this: If the homeowner had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into.

You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour you do not expect.”

“Lord,” said Peter, “are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?”

And the Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their portion at the proper time?

Blessed is that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

But suppose that servant says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and he begins to beat the menservants and maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk.

The master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not anticipate. Then he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers.

That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows.

But the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded.

I have come to ignite a fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!

Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but division. From now on, five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three.

They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

Then Jesus said to the crowds, “As soon as you see a cloud rising in the west, you say, ‘A shower is coming,’ and that is what happens.

And when the south wind blows, you say, ‘It will be hot,’ and it is.

You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and sky. Why don’t you know how to interpret the present time?

And why don’t you judge for yourselves what is right?

Make every effort to reconcile with your adversary while you are on your way to the magistrate. Otherwise, he may drag you off to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and the officer may throw you into prison.

I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the very last penny.”

"Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.” He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said. He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.” Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment." - Matthew 15:23-28

The Canaanite woman and the feeding of the four thousand. This week we finish up chapter 15 of the Gospel of Matthew.

The chapters in Luke are long and dense, but of course, wonderful. Today we get the story of the nativity, Jesus’ middle years, then his early ministry as he recruits his disciples, heals, and begins teaching his gospel. The gospel. Our gospel.

Remember that ‘gospel’ means ‘good news.’ It isn’t necessarily the news we want to hear, but it is the news we need to hear. Some people receive it as good news. Others, like his audience in Nazareth, receive it very poorly. He tells them, by referencing two incidents in which God showed preference for Gentiles, that he will similarly not play favorites the way that they want him to. They get so angry that they try to throw him off a cliff!

One of the confusions of our era is the mistaken belief that people of the world will always receive the gospel happily. The scriptural witness is rather that people will receive it quite differently from one another. Many will hate you and harm you for uttering the things that Jesus said. He prepares us for these things in his “Sermon on the Plain” in the final chapter today. We should not be surprised when life is difficult, when we are called to be poor, miserable, hungry. We should rather rejoice in living and dying as Christ did, as he is the only way to the Father.

Luke 1

Many have undertaken to compose an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by the initial eyewitnesses and servants of the word.

Therefore, having carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,

so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah, and whose wife Elizabeth was a daughter of Aaron.

Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and decrees of the Lord.

But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and they were both well along in years.

One day while Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,

he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

And at the hour of the incense offering, the whole congregation was praying outside.

Just then an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and gripped with fear.

But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John.

He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice at his birth,

for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He shall never take wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb.

Many of the sons of Israel he will turn back to the Lord their God.

And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

“How can I be sure of this?” Zechariah asked the angel. “I am an old man, and my wife is well along in years.”

“I am Gabriel,” replied the angel. “I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news.

And now you will be silent and unable to speak until the day this comes to pass, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”

Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple.

When he came out and was unable to speak to them, they realized he had seen a vision in the temple. He kept making signs to them but remained speechless.

And when the days of his service were complete, he returned home.

After these days, his wife Elizabeth became pregnant and for five months remained in seclusion. She declared,

“The Lord has done this for me. In these days He has shown me favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”

In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,

to a virgin pledged in marriage to a man named Joseph, who was of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary.

The angel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. So the angel told her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.

Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus.

He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David,

and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”

“How can this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God.

Look, even Elizabeth your relative has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called barren is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.”

“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it happen to me according to your word.” Then the angel left her.

In those days Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judah, where she entered the home of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

In a loud voice she exclaimed, “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! And why am I so honored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

For as soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord’s word to her will be fulfilled.”

Then Mary said:

“My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior!

For He has looked with favor on the humble state of His servant.

From now on all generations will call me blessed.

For the Mighty One has done great things for me.

Holy is His name.

His mercy extends to those who fear Him,

from generation to generation.

He has performed mighty deeds with His arm;

He has scattered those who are proud

in the thoughts of their hearts.

He has brought down rulers from their thrones,

but has exalted the humble.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

but has sent the rich away empty.

He has helped His servant Israel,

remembering to be merciful,

as He promised to our fathers,

to Abraham and his descendants forever.”

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her.

On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah. But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.”

They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who bears this name.” So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child.

Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed.

Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God.

All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events.

And all who heard this wondered in their hearts and asked, “What then will this child become?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.

Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied:

“Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,

because He has visited and redeemed His people.

He has raised up a horn of salvation for us

in the house of His servant David,

as He spoke through His holy prophets,

those of ages past,

salvation from our enemies

and from the hand of all who hate us,

to show mercy to our fathers

and to remember His holy covenant,

the oath He swore to our father Abraham,

to grant us deliverance from hostile hands,

that we may serve Him without fear,

in holiness and righteousness before Him

all the days of our lives.

And you, child, will be called

a prophet of the Most High;

for you will go on before the Lord

to prepare the way for Him,

to give to His people the knowledge of salvation

through the forgiveness of their sins,

because of the tender mercy of our God,

by which the Dawn will visit us from on high,

to shine on those who live in darkness

and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet

into the path of peace.”

And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until the time of his public appearance to Israel.

Luke 2

Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that a census should be taken of the whole empire. This was the first census to take place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.

And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, since he was from the house and line of David.

He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to him in marriage and was expecting a child.

While they were there, the time came for her Child to be born.

And she gave birth to her firstborn, a Son. She wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds residing in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night.

Just then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people:

Today in the city of David a Savior has been born to you. He is Christ the Lord!

And this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to men

on whom His favor rests!”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph and the Baby, who was lying in the manger.

After they had seen the Child, they spread the message they had received about Him. And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, which was just as the angel had told them.

When the eight days until His circumcision had passed, He was named Jesus, the name the angel had given Him before He had been conceived.

And when the time of purification according to the Law of Moses was complete, His parents brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord

(as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male shall be consecrated to the Lord”),

and to offer the sacrifice specified in the Law of the Lord: “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

Now there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him.

The Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ.

Led by the Spirit, he went into the temple courts. And when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for Him what was customary under the Law,

Simeon took Him in his arms and blessed God, saying:

“Sovereign Lord, as You have promised,

You now dismiss Your servant in peace.

For my eyes have seen Your salvation,

which You have prepared in the sight of all people,

a light for revelation to the Gentiles,

and for glory to Your people Israel.”

The Child’s father and mother were amazed at what was spoken about Him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary:

“Behold, this Child is appointed to cause

the rise and fall of many in Israel,

and to be a sign that will be spoken against,

so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed—

and a sword will pierce your soul as well.”

There was also a prophetess named Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher, who was well along in years. She had been married for seven years,

and then was a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple, but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.

Coming forward at that moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the Child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.

When Jesus’ parents had done everything required by the Law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.

And the Child grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him.

Every year His parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up according to the custom of the Feast.

When those days were over and they were returning home, the boy Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem, but His parents were unaware He had stayed.

Assuming He was in their company, they traveled on for a day before they began to look for Him among their relatives and friends.

When they could not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for Him.

Finally, after three days they found Him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.

And all who heard Him were astounded at His understanding and His answers.

When His parents saw Him, they were astonished. “Child, why have You done this to us?” His mother asked. “Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.”

“Why were you looking for Me?” He asked. “Did you not know that I had to be in My Father’s house ?” But they did not understand the statement He was making to them.

Then He went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But His mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

Luke 3

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene,

during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness.

He went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:

“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,

‘Prepare the way for the Lord,

make straight paths for Him.

Every valley shall be filled in,

and every mountain and hill made low.

The crooked ways shall be made straight,

and the rough ways smooth.

And all humanity will see God’s salvation.’ ”

Then John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?

Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.

The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”

The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?”

John replied, “Whoever has two tunics should share with him who has none, and whoever has food should do the same.”

Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”

“Collect no more than you are authorized,” he answered.

Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”

“Do not take money by force or false accusation,” he said. “Be content with your wages.”

The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John could be the Christ.

John answered all of them: “I baptize you with water, but One more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

With these and many other exhortations, John proclaimed the good news to the people.

But when he rebuked Herod the tetrarch regarding his brother’s wife Herodias and all the evils he had done, Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.

When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as He was praying, heaven was opened,

and the Holy Spirit descended on Him in a bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”

Jesus Himself was about thirty years old when He began His ministry.

He was regarded as the son of Joseph,

the son of Heli,

the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi,

the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph,

the son of Mattathias, the son of Amos, the son of Nahum,

the son of Esli, the son of Naggai,

the son of Maath, the son of Mattathias, the son of Semein,

the son of Josech, the son of Joda,

the son of Joanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbabel,

the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri,

the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam,

the son of Elmadam, the son of Er,

the son of Joshua, the son of Eliezer, the son of Jorim,

the son of Matthat, the son of Levi,

the son of Simeon, the son of Judah, the son of Joseph,

the son of Jonam, the son of Eliakim,

the son of Melea, the son of Menna, the son of Mattatha,

the son of Nathan, the son of David,

the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz,

the son of Sala, the son of Nahshon,

the son of Amminadab, the son of Admin, the son of Arni,

the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,

the son of Jacob, the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham,

the son of Terah, the son of Nahor,

the son of Serug, the son of Reu, the son of Peleg,

the son of Eber, the son of Shelah,

the son of Cainan, the son of Arphaxad, the son of Shem,

the son of Noah, the son of Lamech,

the son of Methuselah, the son of Enoch, the son of Jared,

the son of Mahalalel, the son of Cainan,

the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam,

the son of God.

Luke 4

Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness,

where for forty days He was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and when they had ended, He was hungry.

The devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”

But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”

Then the devil led Him up to a high place and showed Him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.

“I will give You authority over all these kingdoms and all their glory,” he said. “For it has been relinquished to me, and I can give it to anyone I wish. So if You worship me, it will all be Yours.”

But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.’”

Then the devil led Him to Jerusalem and set Him on the pinnacle of the temple. “If You are the Son of God,” he said, “throw Yourself down from here. For it is written:

‘He will command His angels concerning You

to guard You carefully;

and they will lift You up in their hands,

so that You will not strike Your foot against a stone.’”

But Jesus answered, “It also says, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

When the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time.

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and the news about Him spread throughout the surrounding region. He taught in their synagogues and was glorified by everyone.

Then Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath. And when He stood up to read,

the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. Unrolling it, He found the place where it was written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me,

because He has anointed Me

to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to release the oppressed,

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Then He rolled up the scroll, returned it to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him,

and He began by saying, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

All spoke well of Him and marveled at the gracious words that came from His lips. “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” they asked.

Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to Me: ‘Physician, heal yourself! Do here in Your hometown what we have heard that You did in Capernaum.’ ”

Then He added, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in his hometown.

But I tell you truthfully that there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and great famine swept over all the land.

Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to the widow of Zarephath in Sidon.

And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet. Yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”

On hearing this, all the people in the synagogue were enraged.

They got up, drove Him out of the town, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw Him over the cliff.

But Jesus passed through the crowd and went on His way.

Then He went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath He began to teach the people. They were astonished at His teaching, because His message had authority.

In the synagogue there was a man possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon. He cried out in a loud voice,

“Ha! What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”

But Jesus rebuked the demon. “Be silent!” He said. “Come out of him!” At this, the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without harming him.

All the people were overcome with amazement and asked one another, “What is this message? With authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!”

And the news about Jesus spread throughout the surrounding region.

After Jesus had left the synagogue, He went to the home of Simon, whose mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever. So they appealed to Jesus on her behalf,

and He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And she got up at once and began to serve them.

At sunset, all who were ill with various diseases were brought to Jesus, and laying His hands on each one, He healed them.

Demons also came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But He rebuked the demons and would not allow them to speak, because they knew He was the Christ.

At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place, and the crowds were looking for Him. They came to Him and tried to keep Him from leaving.

But Jesus told them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well, because that is why I was sent.”

And He continued to preach in the synagogues of Judea.

Luke 5

On one occasion, while Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret with the crowd pressing in on Him to hear the word of God,

He saw two boats at the edge of the lake. The fishermen had left them and were washing their nets.

Jesus got into the boat belonging to Simon and asked him to put out a little from shore. And sitting down, He taught the people from the boat.

When Jesus had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”

“Master,” Simon replied, “we have worked hard all night without catching anything. But because You say so, I will let down the nets.”

When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to tear.

So they signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink.

When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees. “Go away from me, Lord,” he said, “for I am a sinful man.”

For he and his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were his partners James and John, the sons of Zebedee.

“Do not be afraid,” Jesus said to Simon. “From now on you will catch men.” And when they had brought their boats ashore, they left everything and followed Him.

While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell facedown and begged Him, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”

Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” He said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him.

“Do not tell anyone,” Jesus instructed him. “But go, show yourself to the priest and present the offering Moses prescribed for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.”

But the news about Jesus spread all the more, and great crowds came to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses. Yet He frequently withdrew to the wilderness to pray.

One day Jesus was teaching, and the Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. People had come from Jerusalem and from every village of Galilee and Judea, and the power of the Lord was present for Him to heal the sick.

Just then some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They tried to bring him inside to set him before Jesus,

but they could not find a way through the crowd. So they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus.

When Jesus saw their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

But the scribes and Pharisees began thinking to themselves, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”

Knowing what they were thinking, Jesus replied, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk?’

But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on the earth to forgive sins...” He said to the paralytic, “I tell you, get up, pick up your mat, and go home.”

And immediately the man stood up before them, took what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God.

Everyone was taken with amazement and glorified God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”

After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax booth. “Follow Me,” He told him, and Levi got up, left everything, and followed Him.

Then Levi hosted a great banquet for Jesus at his house. A large crowd of tax collectors was there, along with others who were eating with them.

But the Pharisees and their scribes complained to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”

Jesus answered, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Then they said to Him, “John’s disciples and those of the Pharisees frequently fast and pray, but Yours keep on eating and drinking.”

Jesus replied, “Can you make the guests of the bridegroom fast while He is with them? But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.”

He also told them a parable: “No one tears a piece of cloth from a new garment and sews it on an old one. If he does, he will tear the new garment as well, and the patch from the new will not match the old.

And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the new wine will burst the skins, the wine will spill, and the wineskins will be ruined.

Instead, new wine is poured into new wineskins. And no one after drinking old wine wants new, for he says, ‘The old is better.’ ”

Luke 6

One Sabbath Jesus was passing through the grainfields, and His disciples began to pick the heads of grain, rub them in their hands, and eat them.

But some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

Jesus replied, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?

He entered the house of God, took the consecrated bread and gave it to his companions, and ate what is lawful only for the priests to eat.”

Then Jesus declared, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

On another Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered.

Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, the scribes and Pharisees were watching Him closely to see if He would heal on the Sabbath.

But Jesus knew their thoughts and said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and stand among us.” So he got up and stood there.

Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”

And after looking around at all of them, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and it was restored.

But the scribes and Pharisees were filled with rage and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.

In those days Jesus went out to the mountain to pray, and He spent the night in prayer to God.

When daylight came, He called His disciples to Him and chose twelve of them, whom He also designated as apostles:

Simon, whom He named Peter, and his brother Andrew; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; Matthew and Thomas; James son of Alphaeus and Simon called the Zealot;

Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.

Then Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of His disciples was there, along with a great number of people from all over Judea, Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon.

They had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases, and those troubled by unclean spirits were healed.

The entire crowd was trying to touch Him, because power was coming from Him and healing them all.

Looking up at His disciples, Jesus said:

“Blessed are you who are poor,

for yours is the kingdom of God.

Blessed are you who hunger now,

for you will be filled.

Blessed are you who weep now,

for you will laugh.

Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil because of the Son of Man.

Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For their fathers treated the prophets in the same way.

But woe to you who are rich,

for you have already received your comfort.

Woe to you who are well fed now,

for you will hunger.

Woe to you who laugh now,

for you will mourn and weep.

Woe to you when all men speak well of you,

for their fathers treated the false prophets in the same way.

But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone takes your cloak, do not withhold your tunic as well.

Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what is yours, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.

If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same.

And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, expecting nothing in return. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven.

Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Jesus also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?

A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.

Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to notice the beam in your own eye?

How can you say, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while you yourself fail to see the beam in your own eye? You hypocrite! First take the beam out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.

For each tree is known by its own fruit. Indeed, figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor grapes from brambles.

The good man brings good things out of the good treasure of his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil treasure of his heart. For out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks.

Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I say? I will show you what he is like who comes to Me and hears My words and acts on them:

He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid his foundation on the rock. When the flood came, the torrent crashed against that house but could not shake it, because it was well built.

But the one who hears My words and does not act on them is like a man who built his house on ground without a foundation. The torrent crashed against that house, and immediately it fell—and great was its destruction!”

Micah is a short book corresponding to a prophet of the same name who made prophesies of condemnation and promise to the people of the Jews. It is from Micah that we receive the blessed prophecy of the nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ in the town of Bethlehem. It is Micah who promises the dispersion of the Jews, followed by the great restoration of the Jewish people on Zion, as the Lord calls not just the Jews, but all the nations, to serve him on his holy mountain.

In this time of Jewish restoration and expansion, it is hard to read these scriptures divorced from the context of this world. God is faithful and just, with foreknowledge and providence. He has fulfilled many of these prophesies, and he will bring the rest to fruition. On the Last Day we will stand in awe of his faithfulness, the wondrous ways in which he bore fruit in every word of his testimony.

Micah 1

This is the word of the LORD that came to Micah the Moreshite in the days of Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah—what he saw regarding Samaria and Jerusalem:

Hear, O peoples, all of you;

listen, O earth, and everyone in it!

May the Lord GOD bear witness against you,

the Lord from His holy temple.

For behold, the LORD comes forth

from His dwelling place;

He will come down and tread

on the high places of the earth.

The mountains will melt beneath Him,

and the valleys will split apart,

like wax before the fire,

like water rushing down a slope.

All this is for the transgression of Jacob

and the sins of the house of Israel.

What is the transgression of Jacob?

Is it not Samaria?

And what is the high place of Judah?

Is it not Jerusalem?

Therefore I will make Samaria

a heap of rubble in the open field,

a planting area for a vineyard.

I will pour her stones into the valley

and expose her foundations.

All her carved images will be smashed to pieces;

all her wages will be burned in the fire,

and I will destroy all her idols.

Since she collected the wages of a prostitute,

they will be used again on a prostitute.

Because of this I will lament and wail;

I will walk barefoot and naked.

I will howl like a jackal

and mourn like an ostrich.

For her wound is incurable;

it has reached even Judah;

it has approached the gate of my people,

as far as Jerusalem itself.

Do not tell it in Gath; do not weep at all.

Roll in the dust in Beth-leaphrah.

Depart in shameful nakedness,

O dwellers of Shaphir.

The dwellers of Zaanan

will not come out.

Beth-ezel is in mourning;

its support is taken from you.

For the dwellers of Maroth pined for good,

but calamity came down from the LORD,

even to the gate of Jerusalem.

Harness your chariot horses,

O dweller of Lachish.

You were the beginning of sin to the Daughter of Zion,

for the transgressions of Israel were found in you.

Therefore, send farewell gifts to Moresheth-gath;

the houses of Achzib will prove deceptive

to the kings of Israel.

I will again bring a conqueror against you,

O dweller of Mareshah.

The glory of Israel will come to Adullam.

Shave yourselves bald and cut off your hair

in mourning for your precious children;

make yourselves as bald as an eagle,

for they will go from you into exile.

Micah 2

Woe to those who devise iniquity

and plot evil on their beds!

At morning’s light they accomplish it

because the power is in their hands.

They covet fields and seize them;

they take away houses.

They deprive a man of his home,

a fellow man of his inheritance.

Therefore this is what the LORD says:

“I am planning against this nation a disaster

from which you cannot free your necks.

Then you will not walk so proudly,

for it will be a time of calamity.

In that day they will take up a proverb against you

and taunt you with this bitter lamentation:

‘We are utterly ruined!

He has changed the portion of my people.

How He has removed it from me!

He has allotted our fields to traitors.’ ”

Therefore, you will have no one in the assembly of the LORD

to divide the land by lot.

“Do not preach,” they preach.

“Do not preach these things;

disgrace will not overtake us.”

Should it be said, O house of Jacob,

“Is the Spirit of the LORD impatient?

Are these the things He does?”

Do not My words bring good

to him who walks uprightly?

But of late My people have risen up

like an enemy:

You strip off the splendid robe

from unsuspecting passersby

like men returning from battle.

You drive the women of My people

from their pleasant homes.

You take away My blessing

from their children forever.

Arise and depart,

for this is not your place of rest,

because its defilement brings destruction—

a grievous destruction!

If a man of wind were to come

and say falsely,

“I will preach to you of wine and strong drink,”

he would be just the preacher for this people!

I will surely gather all of you, O Jacob;

I will collect the remnant of Israel.

I will bring them together like sheep in a pen,

like a flock in the midst of its pasture—

a noisy throng.

One who breaks open the way

will go up before them;

they will break through the gate,

and go out by it.

Their King will pass through before them,

the LORD as their leader.

Micah 3

Then I said:

“Hear now, O leaders of Jacob,

you rulers of the house of Israel.

Should you not know justice?

You hate good and love evil.

You tear the skin from my people

and strip the flesh from their bones.

You eat the flesh of my people

after stripping off their skin

and breaking their bones.

You chop them up like flesh for the cooking pot,

like meat in a cauldron.”

Then they will cry out to the LORD,

but He will not answer them.

At that time He will hide His face from them

because of the evil they have done.

This is what the LORD says:

“As for the prophets

who lead My people astray,

who proclaim peace

while they chew with their teeth,

but declare war against one

who puts nothing in their mouths:

Therefore night will come over you without visions,

and darkness without divination.

The sun will set on these prophets,

and the daylight will turn black over them.

Then the seers will be ashamed

and the diviners will be disgraced.

They will all cover their mouths

because there is no answer from God.”

As for me, however, I am filled with power

by the Spirit of the LORD,

with justice and courage,

to declare to Jacob his transgression

and to Israel his sin.

Now hear this, O leaders of the house of Jacob

and rulers of the house of Israel,

who despise justice

and pervert all that is right,

who build Zion with bloodshed

and Jerusalem with iniquity.

Her leaders judge for a bribe,

her priests teach for a price,

and her prophets practice divination for money.

Yet they lean upon the LORD, saying,

“Is not the LORD among us?

No disaster can come upon us.”

Therefore, because of you,

Zion will be plowed like a field,

Jerusalem will become a heap of rubble,

and the temple mount a wooded ridge.

Micah 4

In the last days the mountain of the house of the LORD

will be established as the chief of the mountains;

it will be raised above the hills,

and the peoples will stream to it.

And many nations will come and say:

“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD,

to the house of the God of Jacob.

He will teach us His ways,

so that we may walk in His paths.”

For the law will go forth from Zion

and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Then He will judge between many peoples

and arbitrate for strong nations far and wide.

Then they will beat their swords into plowshares

and their spears into pruning hooks.

Nation will no longer take up the sword against nation,

nor will they train anymore for war.

And each man will sit under his own vine

and under his own fig tree,

with no one to frighten him.

For the mouth of the LORD of Hosts has spoken.

Though each of the peoples

may walk in the name of his god,

yet we will walk in the name of the LORD our God

forever and ever.

“On that day,” declares the LORD,

“I will gather the lame;

I will assemble the outcast,

even those whom I have afflicted.

And I will make the lame into a remnant,

and the outcast into a strong nation.

Then the LORD will rule over them in Mount Zion

from that day and forever.

And you, O watchtower of the flock,

O stronghold of the Daughter of Zion—

the former dominion will be restored to you;

sovereignty will come to the Daughter of Jerusalem.”

Why do you now cry aloud?

Is there no king among you?

Has your counselor perished

so that anguish grips you like a woman in labor?

Writhe in agony, O Daughter of Zion,

like a woman in labor.

For now you will leave the city

and camp in the open fields.

You will go to Babylon;

there you will be rescued;

there the LORD will redeem you

from the hand of your enemies!

But now many nations

have assembled against you,

saying, “Let her be defiled,

and let us feast our eyes on Zion.”

But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD

or understand His plan,

for He has gathered them

like sheaves to the threshing floor.

Rise and thresh, O Daughter of Zion,

for I will give you horns of iron

and hooves of bronze

to break to pieces many peoples.

Then you will devote their gain to the LORD,

their wealth to the Lord of all the earth.

Micah 5

Now, O daughter of troops,

mobilize your troops;

for a siege is laid against us!

With a rod they will strike the cheek

of the judge of Israel.

But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

who are small among the clans of Judah,

out of you will come forth for Me

One to be ruler over Israel —

One whose origins are of old,

from the days of eternity.

Therefore Israel will be abandoned

until she who is in labor has given birth;

then the rest of His brothers will return

to the children of Israel.

He will stand and shepherd His flock

in the strength of the LORD,

in the majestic name of the LORD His God.

And they will dwell securely,

for then His greatness will extend

to the ends of the earth.

And He will be our peace

when Assyria invades our land

and tramples our citadels.

We will raise against it seven shepherds,

even eight leaders of men.

And they will rule the land of Assyria with the sword,

and the land of Nimrod with the blade drawn.

So He will deliver us

when Assyria invades our land

and marches into our borders.

Then the remnant of Jacob will be

in the midst of many peoples

like dew from the LORD,

like showers on the grass,

which do not wait for man

or linger for mankind.

Then the remnant of Jacob will be among the nations,

in the midst of many peoples,

like a lion among the beasts of the forest,

like a young lion among flocks of sheep,

which tramples and tears as it passes through,

with no one to rescue them.

Your hand will be lifted over your foes,

and all your enemies will be cut off.

“In that day,”

declares the LORD,

“I will remove your horses from among you

and wreck your chariots.

I will remove the cities of your land

and tear down all your strongholds.

I will cut the sorceries from your hand,

and you will have no fortune-tellers.

I will also cut off the carved images

and sacred pillars from among you,

so that you will no longer bow down

to the work of your own hands.

I will root out the Asherah poles from your midst

and demolish your cities.

I will take vengeance in anger and wrath

upon the nations that have not obeyed Me.”

Micah 6

Hear now what the LORD says:

“Arise, plead your case before the mountains,

and let the hills hear your voice.

Hear, O mountains, the LORD’s indictment,

you enduring foundations of the earth.

For the LORD has a case against His people,

and He will argue it against Israel:

‘My people, what have I done to you?

Testify against Me how I have wearied you!

For I brought you up from the land of Egypt

and redeemed you from the house of slavery.

I sent Moses before you,

as well as Aaron and Miriam.

My people, remember what Balak king of Moab counseled

and what Balaam son of Beor answered.

Remember your journey from Shittim to Gilgal,

so that you may acknowledge the righteousness of the LORD.’ ”

With what shall I come before the LORD

when I bow before the God on high?

Should I come to Him with burnt offerings,

with year-old calves?

Would the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,

with ten thousand rivers of oil?

Shall I present my firstborn for my transgression,

the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

He has shown you, O man, what is good.

And what does the LORD require of you

but to act justly, to love mercy,

and to walk humbly with your God?

The voice of the LORD calls out to the city

(and it is sound wisdom to fear Your name):

“Heed the rod

and the One who ordained it.

Can I forget any longer,

O house of the wicked,

the treasures of wickedness

and the short ephah, which is accursed?

Can I excuse dishonest scales

or bags of false weights?

For the wealthy of the city

are full of violence,

and its residents speak lies;

their tongues are deceitful in their mouths.

Therefore I am striking you severely,

to ruin you because of your sins.

You will eat but not be satisfied,

and your hunger will remain with you.

What you acquire, you will not preserve;

and what you save, I will give to the sword.

You will sow but not reap;

you will press olives but not anoint yourselves with oil;

you will tread grapes but not drink the wine.

You have kept the statutes of Omri

and all the practices of Ahab’s house;

you have followed their counsel.

Therefore I will make you a desolation,

and your inhabitants an object of contempt;

you will bear the scorn of the nations.”

Micah 7

Woe is me!

For I am like one gathering summer fruit

at the gleaning of the vineyard;

there is no cluster to eat,

no early fig that I crave.

The godly man has perished from the earth;

there is no one upright among men.

They all lie in wait for blood;

they hunt one another with a net.

Both hands are skilled at evil;

the prince and the judge demand a bribe.

When the powerful utters his evil desire,

they all conspire together.

The best of them is like a brier;

the most upright is sharper than a hedge of thorns.

The day for your watchmen has come,

the day of your visitation.

Now is the time of their confusion.

Do not rely on a friend;

do not trust in a companion.

Seal the doors of your mouth

from her who lies in your arms.

For a son dishonors his father,

a daughter rises against her mother,

and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.

A man’s enemies are the members

of his own household.

But as for me, I will look to the LORD;

I will wait for the God of my salvation.

My God will hear me.

Do not gloat over me, my enemy!

Though I have fallen, I will arise;

though I sit in darkness,

the LORD will be my light.

Because I have sinned against Him,

I must endure the rage of the LORD,

until He argues my case

and executes justice for me.

He will bring me into the light;

I will see His righteousness.

Then my enemy will see

and will be covered with shame—

she who said to me,

“Where is the LORD your God?”

My eyes will see her;

at that time she will be trampled

like mud in the streets.

The day for rebuilding your walls will come—

the day for extending your boundary.

On that day they will come to you

from Assyria and the cities of Egypt,

even from Egypt to the Euphrates,

from sea to sea and mountain to mountain.

Then the earth will become desolate

because of its inhabitants,

as the fruit of their deeds.

Shepherd with Your staff Your people,

the flock of Your inheritance.

They live alone in a woodland,

surrounded by pastures.

Let them graze in Bashan and Gilead,

as in the days of old.

As in the days when you came out of Egypt,

I will show My wonders.

Nations will see and be ashamed,

deprived of all their might.

They will put their hands over their mouths,

and their ears will become deaf.

They will lick the dust like a snake,

like reptiles slithering on the ground.

They will crawl from their holes

in the presence of the LORD our God;

they will tremble in fear of You.

Who is a God like You,

who pardons iniquity

and passes over the transgression

of the remnant of His inheritance—

who does not retain His anger forever,

because He delights in loving devotion?

He will again have compassion on us;

He will vanquish our iniquities.

You will cast out all our sins

into the depths of the sea.

You will show faithfulness to Jacob

and loving devotion to Abraham,

as You swore to our fathers

from the days of old.

Psalm 18, as well as all the other psalms, was authored by King David. In today’s reading, we get the original of Psalm 18, and we get some other wonderful depictions of the Lord descending to earth. The hidden pillars of the earth, its foundations, it innards are exposed as the Lord, our God of justice, descends to kill the wicked. These depictions of our God are so strange to our ears that many in the church today are somewhat uncomfortable with this notion. Even so, these are common images for ancients. They should be for us, as well.

Every good legacy comes to an end. While the Lord made an everlasting covenant with David, it was fulfilled by God’s blessing to Solomon and, finally, in his commission of his only begotten Son to bless the household of David. As the mighty men of David are described, I yearn to know more stories of these ancient men who fought giants and prevailed. I wish I could travel back in time and see this momentous events as they prevailed against man and beast alike.

Today the righteous of the Lord continue to prevail in battle against enemies, but our enemies are spiritual powers. That means that some of our mightiest warriors are actually little old ladies, mighty in prayer. That means some of our more vicious assassins are actually humble children, whose prayers are delivered by angels to the throne of their Heavenly Father. Mightier than any of the Old Testament heroes are the martyrs doing holy combat by the shedding of their own blood, transported to the altar in God’s presence, where they pray continually. Come, Lord Jesus!

2 Samuel 19

Then it was reported to Joab, “The king is weeping and mourning over Absalom.” 

And that day’s victory was turned into mourning for all the people, because on that day they were told, “The king is grieving over his son.” 

So they returned to the city quietly that day, as people steal away in humiliation after fleeing a battle. 

But the king covered his face and cried out at the top of his voice, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!” 

Then Joab went into the house and said to the king, “Today you have disgraced all your servants who have saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, of your wives, and of your concubines. 

You love those who hate you and hate those who love you! For you have made it clear today that the commanders and soldiers mean nothing to you. I know today that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead, it would have pleased you! 

Now therefore get up! Go out and speak comfort to your servants, for I swear by the LORD that if you do not go out, not a man will remain with you tonight. This will be worse for you than all the adversity that has befallen you from your youth until now!” 

So the king got up and sat in the gate, and all the people were told: “Behold, the king is sitting in the gate.” So they all came before the king. 

Meanwhile, the Israelites had fled, each man to his home. 

And all the people throughout the tribes of Israel were arguing, “The king rescued us from the hand of our enemies and delivered us from the hand of the Philistines, but now he has fled the land because of Absalom. 

But Absalom, the man we anointed over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about restoring the king?” 

Then King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: “Say to the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to restore the king to his palace, since the talk of all Israel has reached the king at his quarters? 

You are my brothers, my own flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to restore the king?’ 

And say to Amasa, ‘Aren’t you my flesh and blood? May God punish me, and ever so severely, if from this time you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab!’ ” 

So he swayed the hearts of all the men of Judah as though they were one man, and they sent word to the king: “Return, you and all your servants.” 

So the king returned, and when he arrived at the Jordan, the men of Judah came to Gilgal to meet him and escort him across the Jordan. 

Then Shimei son of Gera, a Benjamite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David, along with a thousand men of Benjamin, as well as Ziba the steward of the house of Saul and his fifteen sons and twenty servants. 

They rushed down to the Jordan before the king and crossed at the ford to carry over the king’s household and to do what was good in his sight. 

When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell down before the king and said, “My lord, do not hold me guilty, and do not remember your servant’s wrongdoing on the day my lord the king left Jerusalem. May the king not take it to heart. 

For your servant knows that I have sinned, so here I am today as the first of all the house of Joseph to come down to meet my lord the king.” 

But Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’s anointed?” 

And David replied, “Sons of Zeruiah, what have I to do with you, that you should be my adversaries today? Should any man be put to death in Israel today? Am I not indeed aware that today I am king over Israel?” 

So the king said to Shimei, “You shall not die.” And the king swore an oath to him. 

Then Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, went down to meet the king. He had not cared for his feet or trimmed his mustache or washed his clothes from the day the king had left until the day he returned safely. 

And he came from Jerusalem to meet the king, who asked him, “Mephibosheth, why did you not go with me?” 

“My lord the king,” he replied, “because I am lame, I said, ‘I will have my donkey saddled  so that I may ride on it and go with the king.’ But my servant Ziba deceived me, and he has slandered your servant to my lord the king. 

Yet my lord the king is like the angel  of God, so do what is good in your eyes. 

For all the house of my grandfather deserves death from my lord the king, yet you have set your servant among those who eat at your table. What further right, then, do I have to keep appealing to the king?” 

The king replied, “Why say any more? I hereby declare that you and Ziba are to divide the land.” 

And Mephibosheth said to the king, “Instead, since my lord the king has safely come to his own house, let Ziba take it all!” 

Now Barzillai the Gileadite had come down from Rogelim to cross the Jordan with the king and send him on his way from there. 

Barzillai was quite old, eighty years of age, and since he was a very wealthy man, he had provided for the king while he stayed in Mahanaim. 

The king said to Barzillai, “Cross over with me, and I will provide for you at my side in Jerusalem.” 

But Barzillai replied, “How many years of my life remain, that I should go up to Jerusalem with the king? 

I am now eighty years old. Can I discern what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or drinks? Can I still hear the voice of singing men and women? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? 

Your servant could go with the king only a short distance past the Jordan; why should the king repay me with such a reward? 

Please let your servant return, that I may die in my own city near the tomb of my father and mother. But here is your servant Chimham. Let him cross over with my lord the king, and do for him what is good in your sight.” 

The king replied, “Chimham will cross over with me, and I will do for him what seems good in your sight, and I will do for you whatever you desire of me.” 

So all the people crossed the Jordan, and then the king crossed over. The king kissed Barzillai and blessed him, and Barzillai returned home. 

Then the king went on to Gilgal, and Chimham crossed over with him. All the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel escorted the king. 

Soon all the men of Israel came to the king and asked, “Why did our brothers, the men of Judah, take you away secretly and bring the king and his household across the Jordan, together with all of David’s men?” 

And all the men of Judah replied to the men of Israel, “We did this because the king is our relative. Why does this anger you? Have we ever eaten at the king’s expense or received anything for ourselves?” 

“We have ten shares in the king,” answered the men of Israel, “so we have more claim to David than you. Why then do you despise us? Were we not the first to speak of restoring our king?” 

But the men of Judah pressed even harder than the men of Israel.

2 Samuel 20

Now a worthless man named Sheba son of Bichri, a Benjamite, happened to be there, and he blew the ram’s horn and shouted: 

“We have no share in David, no inheritance in Jesse’s son. Every man to his tent, O Israel!” 

So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bichri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem. 

When David returned to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to care for the palace, and he placed them in a house under guard. He provided for them, but he no longer slept with them. They were confined until the day of their death, living as widows. 

Then the king said to Amasa, “Summon the men of Judah to come to me within three days, and be here yourself.” 

So Amasa went to summon Judah, but he took longer than the time allotted him. 

And David said to Abishai, “Now Sheba the son of Bichri will do us more harm than Absalom. Take your lord’s servants and pursue him, or he will find fortified cities and elude us.” 

So Joab’s men, along with the Cherethites, the Pelethites, and all the mighty men, marched out of Jerusalem in pursuit of Sheba son of Bichri. 

And while they were at the great stone in Gibeon, Amasa joined them. 

Now Joab was dressed in military attire, with a dagger strapped to his belt. And as he stepped forward, he slipped the dagger from its sheath. 

“Are you well, my brother?” Joab asked Amasa. And with his right hand Joab grabbed Amasa by the beard to kiss him. 

Amasa was not on guard against the dagger in Joab’s hand, and Joab stabbed him in the stomach and spilled out his intestines on the ground. And Joab did not need to strike him again, for Amasa was dead. Then Joab and his brother Abishai pursued Sheba son of Bichri. 

One of Joab’s young men stood near Amasa and said, “Whoever favors Joab, and whoever is for David, let him follow Joab!” 

But Amasa wallowed in his blood in the middle of the road, and when the man saw that all the troops were stopping there, he dragged the body off the road into a field and threw a garment over it. 

As soon as Amasa’s body was removed from the road, all the men went on with Joab to pursue Sheba son of Bichri. 

Sheba passed through all the tribes of Israel to Abel-beth-maacah  and through the entire region of the Berites, who gathered together and followed him. 

And Joab’s troops came and besieged Sheba in Abel-beth-maacah and built a siege ramp against the outer rampart of the city. 

As all the troops with Joab were battering the wall to topple it, a wise woman called out from the city, “Listen! Listen! Please tell Joab to come here so that I may speak with him.” 

When he had come near to her, the woman asked, “Are you Joab?” 

“I am,” he replied. 

“Listen to the words of your servant,” she said. 

“I am listening,” he answered. 

Then the woman said, “Long ago they used to say, ‘Seek counsel at Abel,’ and that is how disputes were settled. 

I am among the peaceable and faithful in Israel, but you are trying to destroy a city that is a mother in Israel. Why would you swallow up the LORD’s inheritance?” 

“Far be it!” Joab declared. “Far be it from me to swallow up or destroy! 

That is not the case. But a man named Sheba son of Bichri, from the hill country of Ephraim, has lifted up his hand against the king, against David. Deliver him alone, and I will depart from the city.” 

“Look,” the woman replied, “his head will be thrown to you over the wall.” 

Then the woman went to all the people with her wise counsel, and they cut off the head of Sheba son of Bichri and threw it to Joab. So he blew the ram’s horn and his men dispersed from the city, each to his own home. And Joab returned to the king in Jerusalem. 

Now Joab was over the whole army of Israel; Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites; 

Adoram was in charge of the forced labor; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder; Sheva  was the scribe; Zadok and Abiathar were priests; and Ira the Jairite  was David’s priest.

2 Samuel 21

During the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD. 

And the LORD said, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites.” 

At this, David summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not Israelites, but a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had taken an oath concerning them, but in his zeal for Israel and Judah, Saul had sought to kill them.) 

So David asked the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? How can I make amends so that you may bless the inheritance of the LORD?” 

The Gibeonites said to him, “We need no silver or gold from Saul or his house, nor should you put to death anyone in Israel for us.” 

“Whatever you ask, I will do for you,” he replied. 

And they answered the king, “As for the man who consumed us and plotted against us to exterminate us from existing within any border of Israel, 

let seven of his male descendants be delivered to us so that we may hang them  before the LORD at Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of the LORD.” 

“I will give them to you,” said the king. 

Now the king spared Mephibosheth son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the oath before the LORD between David and Jonathan son of Saul. 

But the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons whom Rizpah daughter of Aiah had borne to Saul, as well as the five sons whom Merab  daughter of Saul had borne to Adriel son of Barzillai the Meholathite. 

And he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on the hill before the LORD. So all seven of them fell together; they were put to death in the first days of the harvest, at the beginning of the barley harvest. 

And Rizpah the daughter of Aiah took sackcloth and spread it out for herself on a rock. From the beginning of the harvest until the rain from heaven poured down on the bodies, she did not allow the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night. 

When David was told what Saul’s concubine Rizpah, daughter of Aiah, had done, 

he went and took the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan from the men of Jabesh-gilead, who had stolen them from the public square of Beth-shan where the Philistines had hung the bodies after they had struck down Saul at Gilboa. 

So David had the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan brought from there, along with the bones of those who had been hanged. 

And they buried the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan in Zela in the land of Benjamin, in the tomb of Saul’s father Kish. 

After they had done everything the king had commanded, God answered their prayers for the land. 

Once again the Philistines waged war against Israel, and David and his servants went down and fought against the Philistines; but David became exhausted. 

Then Ishbi-benob, a descendant of Rapha, whose bronze spear weighed three hundred shekels  and who was bearing a new sword, resolved to kill David. 

But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to his aid, struck the Philistine, and killed him. 

Then David’s men swore to him, “You must never again go out with us to battle, so that the lamp of Israel may not be extinguished.” 

Some time later at Gob, there was another battle with the Philistines. At that time Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Saph, one of the descendants of Rapha. 

Once again there was a battle with the Philistines at Gob, and Elhanan son of Jair  the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath  the Gittite, the shaft of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam. 

And there was still another battle at Gath, where there was a man of great stature with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all. He too was descended from Rapha, 

and when he taunted Israel, Jonathan the son of David’s brother Shimei  killed him. 

So these four descendants of Rapha in Gath fell at the hands of David and his servants.

2 Samuel 22

And David sang this song to the LORD on the day the LORD had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said: 

“The LORD is my rock, 

my fortress, and my deliverer. 

My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, 

my shield, and the horn of my salvation. 

My stronghold, my refuge, and my Savior, 

You save me from violence. 

I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; 

so shall I be saved from my enemies. 

For the waves of death engulfed me; 

the torrents of chaos overwhelmed me. 

The cords of Sheol entangled me; 

the snares of death confronted me. 

In my distress I called upon the LORD; 

I cried out to my God. 

And from His temple He heard my voice, 

and my cry for help reached His ears. 

Then the earth shook and quaked; 

the foundations of the heavens  trembled; 

they were shaken because He burned with anger. 

Smoke rose from His nostrils, 

and consuming fire came from His mouth; 

glowing coals blazed forth. 

He parted the heavens and came down 

with dark clouds beneath His feet. 

He mounted a cherub and flew; 

He soared  on the wings of the wind. 

He made darkness a canopy around Him, 

a gathering of water and thick clouds. 

From the brightness of His presence 

coals of fire  blazed forth. 

The LORD thundered from heaven; 

the voice of the Most High resounded. 

He shot His arrows and scattered the foes; 

He hurled lightning and routed them. 

The channels of the sea appeared, 

and the foundations of the world were exposed 

at the rebuke of the LORD, 

at the blast of the breath of His nostrils. 

He reached down from on high and took hold of me; 

He drew me out of deep waters. 

He rescued me from my powerful enemy, 

from foes too mighty for me. 

They confronted me in my day of calamity, 

but the LORD was my support. 

He brought me out into the open; 

He rescued me because He delighted in me. 

The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness; 

He has repaid me according to the cleanness of my hands. 

For I have kept the ways of the LORD 

and have not wickedly departed from my God. 

For all His ordinances are before me; 

I have not disregarded His statutes. 

And I have been blameless before Him 

and kept myself from iniquity. 

So the LORD has repaid me according to my righteousness, 

according to my cleanness in His sight. 

To the faithful You show Yourself faithful, 

to the blameless You show Yourself blameless; 

to the pure You show Yourself pure, 

but to the crooked You show Yourself shrewd. 

You save an afflicted people, 

but Your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down. 

For You, O LORD, are my lamp; 

the LORD lights up my darkness. 

For in You I can charge an army; 

with my God I can scale a wall. 

As for God, His way is perfect; 

the word of the LORD is flawless. 

He is a shield to all 

who take refuge in Him. 

For who is God besides the LORD? 

And who is the Rock except our God? 

God is my strong fortress 

and He makes my way clear. 

He makes my feet like those of a deer 

and stations me upon the heights. 

He trains my hands for battle; 

my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 

You have given me Your shield of salvation, 

and Your gentleness exalts me. 

You broaden the path beneath me 

so that my ankles do not give way. 

I pursued my enemies and destroyed them; 

I did not turn back until they were consumed. 

I devoured and crushed them so they could not rise; 

they have fallen under my feet. 

You have armed me with strength for battle; 

You have subdued my foes beneath me. 

You have made my enemies retreat before me; 

I put an end to those who hated me. 

They looked, but there was no one to save them— 

to the LORD, but He did not answer. 

I ground them as the dust of the earth; 

I crushed and trampled them like mud in the streets. 

You have delivered me from the strife of my people; 

You have preserved me as the head of nations; 

a people I had not known shall serve me. 

Foreigners cower before me; 

when they hear me, they obey me. 

Foreigners lose heart 

and come trembling  from their strongholds. 

The LORD lives, and blessed be my Rock! 

And may God, the Rock of my salvation, be exalted— 

the God who avenges me 

and brings down nations beneath me, 

who frees me from my enemies. 

You exalt me above my foes; 

You rescue me from violent men. 

Therefore I will praise You, O LORD, among the nations; 

I will sing praises to Your name. 

Great salvation He brings to His king. 

He shows loving devotion to His anointed, 

to David and his descendants forever.”

2 Samuel 23

These are the last words of David: 

“The oracle of David son of Jesse, 

the oracle of the man raised on high, 

the one anointed by the God of Jacob, 

and the sweet psalmist of Israel: 

The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; 

His word was on my tongue. 

The God of Israel spoke; 

the Rock of Israel said to me, 

‘He who rules the people with justice, 

who rules in the fear of God, 

is like the light of the morning 

at sunrise of a cloudless dawn, 

the glistening after the rain 

on the sprouting grass of the earth.’ 

Is not my house right with God? 

For He has established with me 

an everlasting covenant, 

ordered and secured in every part. 

Will He not bring about my full salvation 

and my every desire? 

But the worthless are all like thorns raked aside, 

for they can never be gathered by hand. 

The man who touches them must be armed with iron 

or with the shaft of a spear. 

The fire burns them to ashes 

in the place where they lie.” 

These are the names of David’s mighty men: 

Josheb-basshebeth the Tahchemonite  was chief of the Three. He wielded his spear against  eight hundred men, whom he killed at one time. 

Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo  the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he went with David to taunt the Philistines who had gathered for battle at Pas-dammim. The men of Israel retreated, but Eleazar stood his ground and struck the Philistines until his hand grew weary and stuck to his sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. Then the troops returned to him, but only to plunder the dead. 

And after him was Shammah son of Agee the Hararite. When the Philistines had banded together near a field full of lentils, Israel’s troops fled from them. 

But Shammah took his stand in the middle of the field, defended it, and struck down the Philistines. So the LORD brought about a great victory. 

At harvest time, three of the thirty chief men went down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim. 

At that time David was in the stronghold, and the garrison of the Philistines was at Bethlehem. 

David longed for water and said, “Oh, that someone would get me a drink of water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem!” 

So the three mighty men broke through the Philistine camp, drew water from the well near the gate of Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it; instead, he poured it out to the LORD, saying, “Far be it from me, O LORD, to do this! Is this not the blood of the men who risked their lives?” So he refused to drink it. 

Such were the exploits of the three mighty men. 

Now Abishai, the brother of Joab and son of Zeruiah, was chief of the Three, and he lifted his spear against three hundred men, killed them, and won a name along with the Three. 

Was he not more honored than the Three? And he became their commander, even though he was not included among the Three. 

And Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a man of valor  from Kabzeel, a man of many exploits. He struck down two champions  of Moab, and on a snowy day he went down into a pit and killed a lion. 

He also killed an Egyptian, a huge man. Although the Egyptian had a spear in his hand, Benaiah went against him with a club, snatched the spear from his hand, and killed the Egyptian with his own spear. 

These were the exploits of Benaiah son of Jehoiada, who won a name alongside the three mighty men. 

He was most honored among the Thirty, but he did not become one of the Three. And David appointed him over his guard. 

Now these were members of the Thirty: 

Asahel the brother of Joab, 

Elhanan son of Dodo of Bethlehem, 

Shammah the Harodite, 

Elika the Harodite, 

Helez the Paltite, 

Ira son of Ikkesh the Tekoite, 

Abiezer the Anathothite, 

Mebunnai  the Hushathite, 

Zalmon the Ahohite, 

Maharai the Netophathite, 

Heled  son of Baanah the Netophathite, 

Ittai  son of Ribai from Gibeah of the Benjamites, 

Benaiah the Pirathonite, 

Hiddai  from the brooks  of Gaash, 

Abi-albon the Arbathite, 

Azmaveth the Barhumite, 

Eliahba the Shaalbonite, 

the sons of Jashen, 

Jonathan son of Shammah  the Hararite, 

Ahiam son of Sharar  the Hararite, 

Eliphelet son of Ahasbai the Maacathite, 

Eliam son of Ahithophel the Gilonite, 

Hezro the Carmelite, 

Paarai the Arbite, 

Igal son of Nathan of Zobah, 

Bani the Gadite, 

Zelek the Ammonite, 

Naharai the Beerothite, the armor-bearer of Joab son of Zeruiah, 

Ira the Ithrite, 

Gareb the Ithrite, 

and Uriah the Hittite. 

There were thirty-seven in all.

2 Samuel 24

Again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He stirred up David against them, saying, “Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.” 

So the king said to Joab the commander of his army, who was with him, “Go now throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and register the troops, so that I may know their number.” 

But Joab replied to the king, “May the LORD your God multiply the troops a hundred times over, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?” 

Nevertheless, the king’s word prevailed against Joab and against the commanders of the army. So Joab and the commanders of the army departed from the presence of the king to count the troops of Israel. 

They crossed the Jordan and camped near Aroer, south of the town in the middle of the valley, and proceeded toward Gad and Jazer. 

Then they went to Gilead and the land of Tahtim-hodshi, and on to Dan-jaan and around to Sidon. 

They went toward the fortress of Tyre and all the cities of the Hivites and Canaanites. Finally, they went on to the Negev of Judah, to Beersheba. 

At the end of nine months and twenty days, having gone through the whole land, they returned to Jerusalem. 

And Joab reported to the king the total number of the troops. In Israel there were 800,000 men of valor who drew the sword, and in Judah there were 500,000. 

After David had numbered the troops, his conscience was stricken and he said to the LORD, “I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O LORD, I beg You to take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.” 

When David got up in the morning, a revelation from the LORD had come to Gad the prophet, David’s seer: 

“Go and tell David that this is what the LORD says: ‘I am offering you three options. Choose one of them, and I will carry it out against you.’ ” 

So Gad went and said to David, “Do you choose to endure three  years of famine in your land, three months of fleeing the pursuit of your enemies, or three days of plague upon your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should reply to Him who sent me.” 

David answered Gad, “I am deeply distressed. Please, let us fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men.” 

So the LORD sent a plague upon Israel from that morning until the appointed time, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died. 

But when the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD relented from the calamity and said to the angel who was destroying the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand now!” At that time the angel of the LORD was by the threshing floor of Araunah  the Jebusite. 

When David saw the angel striking down the people, he said to the LORD, “Surely I, the shepherd, have sinned and acted wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? Please, let Your hand fall upon me and my father’s house.” 

And that day Gad came to David and said to him, “Go up and build an altar to the LORD on the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite.” 

So David went up at the word of Gad, just as the LORD had commanded. 

When Araunah looked out and saw the king and his servants coming toward him, he went out and bowed facedown before the king. 

“Why has my lord the king come to his servant?” Araunah said. 

“To buy your threshing floor,” David replied, “that I may build an altar to the LORD, so that the plague upon the people may be halted.” 

Araunah said to David, “My lord the king may take whatever seems good and offer it up. Here are the oxen for a burnt offering and the threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood. 

O king, Araunah gives all these to the king.” He also said to the king, “May the LORD your God accept you.” 

“No,” replied the king, “I insist on paying a price, for I will not offer to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” 

So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. 

And there he built an altar to the LORD and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. 

Then the LORD answered the prayers on behalf of the land, and the plague upon Israel was halted.

Psalm 18

I love You, O LORD, my strength. 

The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer. 

My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, 

my shield, and the horn of my salvation, 

my stronghold. 

I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; 

so shall I be saved from my enemies. 

The cords of death encompassed me; 

the torrents of chaos overwhelmed me. 

The cords of Sheol entangled me; 

the snares of death confronted me. 

In my distress I called upon the LORD; 

I cried to my God for help. 

From His temple He heard my voice, 

and my cry for His help reached His ears. 

Then the earth shook and quaked, 

and the foundations of the mountains trembled; 

they were shaken because He burned with anger. 

Smoke rose from His nostrils, 

and consuming fire came from His mouth; 

glowing coals blazed forth. 

He parted the heavens and came down 

with dark clouds beneath His feet. 

He mounted a cherub and flew; 

He soared on the wings of the wind. 

He made darkness His hiding place, 

and storm clouds a canopy around Him. 

From the brightness of His presence 

His clouds advanced— 

hailstones and coals of fire. 

The LORD thundered from heaven; 

the voice of the Most High resounded— 

hailstones and coals of fire. 

He shot His arrows and scattered the foes; 

He hurled lightning and routed them. 

The channels of the sea appeared, 

and the foundations of the world were exposed, 

at Your rebuke, O LORD, 

at the blast of the breath of Your nostrils. 

He reached down from on high and took hold of me; 

He drew me out of deep waters. 

He rescued me from my powerful enemy, 

from foes too mighty for me. 

They confronted me in my day of calamity, 

but the LORD was my support. 

He brought me out into the open; 

He rescued me because He delighted in me. 

The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness; 

He has repaid me according to the cleanness of my hands. 

For I have kept the ways of the LORD 

and have not wickedly departed from my God. 

For all His ordinances are before me; 

I have not disregarded His statutes. 

And I have been blameless before Him 

and kept myself from iniquity. 

So the LORD has repaid me according to my righteousness, 

according to the cleanness of my hands in His sight. 

To the faithful You show Yourself faithful, 

to the blameless You show Yourself blameless; 

to the pure You show Yourself pure, 

but to the crooked You show Yourself shrewd. 

For You save an afflicted people, 

but You humble those with haughty eyes. 

For You, O LORD, light my lamp; 

my God lights up my darkness. 

For in You I can charge an army, 

and with my God I can scale a wall. 

As for God, His way is perfect; 

the word of the LORD is flawless. 

He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him. 

For who is God besides the LORD? 

And who is the Rock except our God? 

It is God who arms me with strength 

and makes my way clear. 

He makes my feet like those of a deer 

and stations me upon the heights. 

He trains my hands for battle; 

my arms can bend a bow of bronze. 

You have given me Your shield of salvation; 

Your right hand upholds me, 

and Your gentleness exalts me. 

You broaden the path beneath me 

so that my ankles do not give way. 

I pursued my enemies and overtook them; 

I did not turn back until they were consumed. 

I crushed them so they could not rise; 

they have fallen under my feet. 

You have armed me with strength for battle; 

You have subdued my foes beneath me. 

You have made my enemies retreat before me; 

I put an end to those who hated me. 

They cried for help, but there was no one to save them— 

to the LORD, but He did not answer. 

I ground them as dust in the face of the wind; 

I trampled them  like mud in the streets. 

You have delivered me from the strife of the people; 

You have made me the head of nations; 

a people I had not known shall serve me. 

When they hear me, they obey me; 

foreigners cower before me. 

Foreigners lose heart 

and come trembling from their strongholds. 

The LORD lives, and blessed be my Rock! 

And may the God of my salvation be exalted— 

the God who avenges me 

and subdues nations beneath me, 

who delivers me from my enemies. 

You exalt me above my foes; 

You rescue me from violent men. 

Therefore I will praise You, O LORD, among the nations; 

I will sing praises to Your name. 

Great salvation He brings to His king. 

He shows loving devotion to His anointed, 

to David and his descendants forever.

Psalm 50

The Mighty One, God the LORD, 

speaks and summons the earth 

from where the sun rises to where it sets. 

From Zion, perfect in beauty, 

God shines forth. 

Our God approaches and will not be silent! 

Consuming fire precedes Him, 

and a tempest rages around Him. 

He summons the heavens above, 

and the earth, that He may judge His people: 

“Gather to Me My saints, 

who made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.” 

And the heavens proclaim His righteousness, 

for God Himself is Judge. 

Selah 

“Hear, O My people, and I will speak, 

O Israel, and I will testify against you: 

I am God, your God. 

I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices, 

and your burnt offerings are ever before Me. 

I have no need for a bull from your stall 

or goats from your pens, 

for every beast of the forest is Mine— 

the cattle on a thousand hills. 

I know every bird in the mountains, 

and the creatures of the field are Mine. 

If I were hungry, I would not tell you, 

for the world is Mine, and the fullness thereof. 

Do I eat the flesh of bulls, 

or drink the blood of goats? 

Sacrifice a thank offering to God, 

and fulfill your vows to the Most High. 

Call upon Me in the day of trouble; 

I will deliver you, and you will honor Me.” 

To the wicked, however, God says, 

“What right have you to recite My statutes 

and to bear My covenant on your lips? 

For you hate My instruction 

and cast My words behind you. 

When you see a thief, you befriend him, 

and throw in your lot with adulterers. 

You unleash your mouth for evil 

and unharness your tongue for deceit. 

You sit and malign your brother; 

you slander your own mother’s son. 

You have done these things, and I kept silent; 

you thought I was  just like you. 

But now I rebuke you 

and accuse you to your face. 

Now consider this, you who forget God, 

lest I tear you to pieces, 

with no one to rescue you: 

He who sacrifices a thank offering honors Me, 

and to him who rights his way, 

I will show the salvation of God.”

Psalm 59

Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; 

protect me from those who rise against me. 

Deliver me from workers of iniquity, 

and save me from men of bloodshed. 

See how they lie in wait for me. 

Fierce men conspire against me 

for no transgression or sin of my own, O LORD. 

For no fault of my own, 

they move swiftly to attack me. 

Arise to help me, and take notice. 

O LORD God of Hosts, the God of Israel, 

rouse Yourself to punish all the nations; 

show no mercy to the wicked traitors. 

Selah 

They return in the evening, snarling like dogs 

and prowling around the city. 

See what they spew from their mouths— 

sharp words from their lips: 

“For who can hear us?” 

But You, O LORD, laugh at them; 

You scoff at all the nations. 

I will keep watch for You, O my strength, 

because You, O God, are my fortress. 

My God of loving devotion will come to meet me; 

God will let me stare down my foes. 

Do not kill them, 

or my people will forget. 

Scatter them by Your power, 

and bring them down, 

O Lord, our shield. 

By the sins of their mouths 

and the words of their lips, 

let them be trapped in their pride, 

in the curses and lies they utter. 

Consume them in wrath; 

consume them till they are no more, 

so it may be known to the ends of the earth 

that God rules over Jacob. 

Selah 

They return in the evening, 

snarling like dogs 

and prowling around the city. 

They scavenge for food, 

and growl if they are not satisfied. 

But I will sing of Your strength 

and proclaim Your loving devotion in the morning. 

For You are my fortress, 

my refuge in times of trouble. 

To You, O my strength, I sing praises, 

for You, O God, are my fortress, 

my God of loving devotion.

Poison has a way of spreading. Amnon’s wicked rape of his sister Tamar resulted in a murderous heart in his brother Absalom. The vengeance wasn’t satisfied after Amnon was murdered, nor when Absalom was received back into the capitol city. Rather, the bitterness grew in Absalom’s heart as he fostered a true insurrection and rebellion against his own father, King David. Even after Absalom’s end, did the poison stop spreading?

The truth is that this poison entered the world the moment that Adam and Eve partook of the fruit. It has caused all kinds of heartache and bloodshed ever since. Cycles of violence and retribution have consistently taken place across history. On a group level, group trauma leads to group psychosis and the perpetuation of dysfunction. In the Old Testament, the best that could be done was to create a system of sacrifices, sanctuary cities, and scapegoats. In the New Covenant, these cycles of trauma and dysfunction are finally put to an end in Christ. Because of his work on the cross, we can finally rest by putting our trust in him. In many ways, the Old Testament is an account of how miserable life is outside of Christ, explaining the yearning the ancients had, and that we have today, for God to bring his Kingdom to earth. Those of us who believe in the truth of the scriptures are a new creation, no longer enslaved to the trauma of the past.

2 Samuel 16

When David had gone a little beyond the summit, Ziba the servant of Mephibosheth was there to meet him. He had a pair of saddled donkeys loaded with two hundred loaves of bread, a hundred clusters of raisins, a hundred summer fruits, and a skin of wine. 

“Why do you have these?” asked the king. 

Ziba replied, “The donkeys are for the king’s household to ride, the bread and summer fruit are for the young men to eat, and the wine is to refresh those who become exhausted in the wilderness.” 

“Where is your master’s grandson?” asked the king. 

And Ziba answered, “Indeed, he is staying in Jerusalem, for he has said, ‘Today, the house of Israel will restore to me the kingdom of my grandfather.’ ” 

So the king said to Ziba, “All that belongs to Mephibosheth is now yours!” 

“I humbly bow before you,” said Ziba. “May I find favor in your eyes, my lord the king!” 

As King David approached Bahurim, a man from the family of the house of Saul was just coming out. His name was Shimei son of Gera, and as he approached, he kept yelling out curses. 

He threw stones at David and at all the servants of the king, though the troops and all the mighty men were on David’s right and left. 

And as he yelled curses, Shimei said, “Get out, get out, you worthless man of bloodshed! 

The LORD has paid you back for all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned, and the LORD has delivered the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, you have come to ruin because you are a man of bloodshed!” 

Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head!” 

But the king replied, “What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? If he curses me because the LORD told him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why did you do this?’ ” 

Then David said to Abishai and to all his servants, “Behold, my own son, my own flesh and blood, seeks my life. How much more, then, this Benjamite! Leave him alone and let him curse me, for the LORD has told him so. 

Perhaps the LORD will see my affliction and repay me with good for the cursing I receive today.” 

So David and his men proceeded along the road as Shimei went along the ridge of the hill opposite him. As Shimei went, he yelled curses, threw stones, and flung dust at David. 

Finally, the king and all the people with him arrived, exhausted. And there he refreshed himself. 

Then Absalom and all the men of Israel came to Jerusalem, and Ahithophel was with him. 

And David’s friend Hushai the Archite went to Absalom and said to him, “Long live the king! Long live the king!” 

“Is this the loyalty you show your friend?” Absalom replied. “Why did you not go with your friend?” 

“Not at all,” Hushai answered. “For the one chosen by the LORD, by the people, and by all the men of Israel—his I will be, and with him I will remain. 

Furthermore, whom should I serve if not the son? As I served in your father’s presence, so also I will serve in yours.” 

Then Absalom said to Ahithophel, “Give me counsel. What should we do?” 

Ahithophel replied, “Sleep with your father’s concubines, whom he has left to keep the palace. When all Israel hears that you have become a stench to your father, then the hands of all who are with you will be strengthened.” 

So they pitched a tent for Absalom on the roof, and he slept with his father’s concubines in the sight of all Israel. 

Now in those days the advice of Ahithophel was like the consultation of the word of God. Such was the regard that both David and Absalom had for Ahithophel’s advice.

2 Samuel 17

Furthermore, Ahithophel said to Absalom, “Let me choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David. 

I will attack him while he is weak and weary; I will throw him into a panic, and all the people with him will flee; I will strike down only the king and bring all the people back to you as a bride returning to her husband. You seek the life of only one man; then all the people will be at peace.” 

This proposal seemed good to Absalom and all the elders of Israel. 

Then Absalom said, “Summon Hushai the Archite as well, and let us hear what he too has to say.” 

So Hushai came to Absalom, who told him, “Ahithophel has spoken this proposal. Should we carry it out? If not, what do you say?” 

Hushai replied, “This time the advice of Ahithophel is not sound.” 

He continued, “You know your father and his men. They are mighty men, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Moreover, your father is a man of war who will not spend the night with the troops. 

Surely by now he is hiding in a cave or some other location. If some of your troops fall first, whoever hears of it will say, ‘There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.’ 

Then even the most valiant soldier with the heart of a lion will melt with fear, because all Israel knows that your father is a mighty man who has valiant men with him. 

Instead, I advise that all Israel from Dan to Beersheba—a multitude like the sand on the seashore—be gathered to you, and that you yourself lead them into battle. 

Then we will attack David wherever we find him, and we will descend on him like dew on the ground. And of all the men with him, not even one will remain. 

If he retreats to a city, all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it down to the valley until not even a pebble can be found.” 

Then Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than that of Ahithophel.” For the LORD had purposed to thwart the good counsel of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom. 

So Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, “This is what Ahithophel has advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and this is what I have advised. 

Now send quickly and tell David, ‘Do not spend the night at the fords of the wilderness, but be sure to cross over. Otherwise the king and all the people with him will be swallowed up.’ ” 

Now Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En-rogel, where a servant girl would come and pass along information to them. They in turn would go and inform King David, for they dared not be seen entering the city. 

But a young man did see them and told Absalom. So the two left quickly and came to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it. 

Then the man’s wife took a covering and spread it over the mouth of the well, scattering grain over it so nobody would know a thing. 

When Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house, they asked, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” 

“They have crossed over the brook,” she replied. The men searched but did not find them, so they returned to Jerusalem. 

After the men had gone, Ahimaaz and Jonathan climbed up out of the well and went to inform King David, saying, “Get up and cross over the river at once, for Ahithophel has given this advice against you.” 

So David and all the people with him got up and crossed the Jordan. By daybreak, there was no one left who had not crossed the Jordan. 

When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his affairs in order and hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father’s tomb. 

Then David went to Mahanaim, and Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel. 

Absalom had appointed Amasa over the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Ithra, the Ishmaelite  who had married Abigail, the daughter of Nahash  and sister of Zeruiah the mother of Joab. 

So the Israelites and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead. 

When David came to Mahanaim, he was met by Shobi son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, Machir son of Ammiel from Lo-debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim. 

They brought beds, basins, and earthen vessels, as well as wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans, lentils,   honey, curds, sheep, and cheese from the herd for David and his people to eat. For they said, “The people have become hungry, exhausted, and thirsty in the wilderness.”

2 Samuel 18

Then David reviewed his troops and appointed over them commanders of hundreds and of thousands. 

He sent out the troops, a third under Joab, a third under Joab’s brother Abishai son of Zeruiah, and a third under Ittai the Gittite. And the king said to the troops, “I will surely march out with you as well.” 

But the people pleaded, “You must not go out! For if we have to flee, they will pay no attention to us. Even if half of us die, they will not care; but you are worth ten thousand of us. It is better for now if you support us from the city.” 

“I will do whatever seems best to you,” the king replied. So he stood beside the gate, while all the troops marched out by hundreds and by thousands. 

Now the king had commanded Joab, Abishai, and Ittai, “Treat the young man Absalom gently for my sake.” And all the people heard the king’s orders to each of the commanders regarding Absalom. 

So David’s army marched into the field to engage Israel in the battle, which took place in the forest of Ephraim. 

There the people of Israel were defeated by David’s servants, and the slaughter was great that day—twenty thousand men. 

The battle spread over the whole countryside, and that day the forest devoured more people than the sword. 

Now Absalom was riding on his mule when he met the servants of David, and as the mule went under the thick branches of a large oak, Absalom’s head was caught fast in the tree. The mule under him kept going, so that he was suspended in midair. 

When one of the men saw this, he told Joab, “I just saw Absalom hanging in an oak tree!” 

“You just saw him!” Joab exclaimed. “Why did you not strike him to the ground right there? I would have given you ten shekels of silver  and a warrior’s belt!” 

The man replied, “Even if a thousand shekels of silver  were weighed out into my hands, I would not raise my hand against the son of the king. For we heard the king command you and Abishai and Ittai, ‘Protect the young man Absalom for my sake.’ 

If I had jeopardized my own life —and nothing is hidden from the king—you would have abandoned me.” 

But Joab declared, “I am not going to wait like this with you!” And he took three spears in his hand and thrust them through the heart of Absalom while he was still alive in the oak tree. 

And ten young men who carried Joab’s armor surrounded Absalom, struck him, and killed him. 

Then Joab blew the ram’s horn, and the troops broke off their pursuit of Israel because Joab had restrained them. 

They took Absalom, cast him into a large pit in the forest, and piled a huge mound of stones over him. Meanwhile, all the Israelites fled, each to his home. 

During his lifetime, Absalom had set up for himself a pillar in the King’s Valley, for he had said, “I have no son to preserve the memory of my name.” So he gave the pillar his name, and to this day it is called Absalom’s Monument. 

Then Ahimaaz son of Zadok said, “Please let me run and tell the king the good news that the LORD has avenged him of his enemies.” 

But Joab replied, “You are not the man to take good news today. You may do it another day, but you must not do so today, because the king’s son is dead.” 

So Joab said to a Cushite, “Go, tell the king what you have seen.” The Cushite bowed to Joab and took off running. 

Ahimaaz son of Zadok, however, persisted and said to Joab, “Regardless of whatever may happen, please let me also run behind the Cushite!” 

“My son,” Joab replied, “why do you want to run, since you will not receive a reward?” 

“No matter what, I want to run!” he replied. 

“Then run!” Joab told him. 

So Ahimaaz ran by way of the plain  and outran the Cushite. 

Now David was sitting between the two gates when the watchman went up to the roof of the gateway by the wall, looked out, and saw a man running alone. 

So he called out and told the king. 

“If he is alone,” the king replied, “he bears good news.” 

As the first runner drew near, the watchman saw another man running, and he called out to the gatekeeper, “Look! Another man is running alone!” 

“This one also brings good news,” said the king. 

The watchman said, “The first man appears to me to be running like Ahimaaz son of Zadok.” 

“This is a good man,” said the king. “He comes with good news.” 

Then Ahimaaz called out to the king, “All is well!” And he bowed facedown before the king. 

He continued, “Blessed be the LORD your God! He has delivered up the men who raised their hands against my lord the king.” 

The king asked, “Is the young man Absalom all right?” 

And Ahimaaz replied, “When Joab sent the king’s servant and your servant, I saw a great tumult, but I do not know what it was.” 

“Move aside,” said the king, “and stand here.” 

So he stepped aside. 

Just then the Cushite came and said, “May my lord the king hear the good news: Today the LORD has avenged you of all who rose up against you!” 

The king asked the Cushite, “Is the young man Absalom all right?” 

And the Cushite replied, “May what has become of the young man happen to the enemies of my lord the king and to all who rise up against you to harm you.” 

The king was shaken and went up to the gate chamber and wept. And as he walked, he cried out, “O my son Absalom! My son, my son Absalom! If only I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”

Psalm 4

Answer me when I call, 

O God of my righteousness! 

You have relieved my distress; 

show me grace and hear my prayer. 

How long, O men, will my honor be maligned? 

How long will you love vanity and seek after lies ? 

Selah 

Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for Himself; 

the LORD hears when I call to Him. 

Be angry, yet do not sin; 

on your bed, search your heart and be still. 

Selah 

Offer the sacrifices of the righteous 

and trust in the LORD. 

Many ask, “Who can show us the good?” 

Shine the light of Your face upon us, O LORD. 

You have filled my heart with more joy 

than when grain and new wine abound. 

I will lie down and sleep in peace, 

for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 5

Answer me when I call, 

O God of my righteousness! 

You have relieved my distress; 

show me grace and hear my prayer. 

How long, O men, will my honor be maligned? 

How long will you love vanity and seek after lies ? 

Selah 

Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for Himself; 

the LORD hears when I call to Him. 

Be angry, yet do not sin; 

on your bed, search your heart and be still. 

Selah 

Offer the sacrifices of the righteous 

and trust in the LORD. 

Many ask, “Who can show us the good?” 

Shine the light of Your face upon us, O LORD. 

You have filled my heart with more joy 

than when grain and new wine abound. 

I will lie down and sleep in peace, 

for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 7

Answer me when I call, 

O God of my righteousness! 

You have relieved my distress; 

show me grace and hear my prayer. 

How long, O men, will my honor be maligned? 

How long will you love vanity and seek after lies ? 

Selah 

Know that the LORD has set apart the godly for Himself; 

the LORD hears when I call to Him. 

Be angry, yet do not sin; 

on your bed, search your heart and be still. 

Selah 

Offer the sacrifices of the righteous 

and trust in the LORD. 

Many ask, “Who can show us the good?” 

Shine the light of Your face upon us, O LORD. 

You have filled my heart with more joy 

than when grain and new wine abound. 

I will lie down and sleep in peace, 

for You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

King David is at center stage in today’s readings. As the author of the two psalms we cover today, we get snapshots of him being caught in grievous sin and the ensuing tragedy. The Lord, though he does not forsake his covenant with David, now returns evil for his evil. David, though he is loved by God, fails to be the redemptive figure needed by his people. Jesus fulfills that which was lacking him him.

As we read these things, it is important to remember that, though this is history, it is also about us. In the context of a modern world that is still enslaved to the same sins of every era, we would be wrong to think ourselves any more advanced than they. Messed up family dynamics continue to take place, even in “advanced” nations like ours. There is nothing new under the sun. The scriptures should give us the humility to realize that these stories are about us every bit as much as people in any other time and place. The scriptures are universally true. That is what points to Christ as a universal Savior.

2 Samuel 11

In the spring, at the time when kings march out to war, David sent out Joab and his servants with the whole army of Israel. They destroyed the Ammonites and besieged Rabbah, but David remained in Jerusalem. 

One evening David got up from his bed and strolled around on the roof of the palace. And from the roof he saw a woman bathing—a very beautiful woman. 

So David sent and inquired about the woman, and he was told, “This is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam  and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” 

Then David sent messengers to get her, and when she came to him, he slept with her. (Now she had just purified herself from her uncleanness.) Then she returned home. 

And the woman conceived and sent word to David, saying, “I am pregnant.” 

At this, David sent orders to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hittite.” So Joab sent him to David. 

When Uriah came to him, David asked how Joab and the troops were doing with the war. Then he said to Uriah, “Go down to your house and wash your feet.” 

So Uriah left the palace, and a gift from the king followed him. But Uriah slept at the door of the palace with all his master’s servants; he did not go down to his house. 

And David was told, “Uriah did not go home.” 

“Haven’t you just arrived from a journey?” David asked Uriah. “Why didn’t you go home?” 

Uriah answered, “The ark and Israel and Judah are dwelling in tents, and my master Joab and his soldiers are camped in the open field. How can I go to my house to eat and drink and sleep with my wife? As surely as you live, and as your soul lives, I will not do such a thing!” 

“Stay here one more day,” David said to Uriah, “and tomorrow I will send you back.” So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem that day and the next. 

Then David invited Uriah to eat and drink with him, and he got Uriah drunk. And in the evening Uriah went out to lie down on his cot with his master’s servants, but he did not go home. 

The next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. 

In the letter he wrote: “Put Uriah at the front of the fiercest battle; then withdraw from him, so that he may be struck down and killed.” 

So as Joab besieged the city, he assigned Uriah to a place where he saw the strongest enemy soldiers. 

And when the men of the city came out and fought against Joab, some of David’s servants fell, and Uriah the Hittite also died. 

Joab sent to David a full account of the battle and instructed the messenger, “When you have finished giving the king all the details of the battle, if the king’s anger flares, he may ask you, ‘Why did you get so close to the city to fight? Did you not realize they would shoot from atop the wall? 

Who was the one to strike Abimelech son of Jerubbesheth ? Was it not a woman who dropped an upper millstone on him from the wall, so that he died in Thebez? Why did you get so close to the wall?’ 

If so, then you are to say, ‘Your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead as well.’ ” 

So the messenger set out and reported to David all that Joab had sent him to say. 

The messenger said to David, “The men overpowered us and came out against us in the field, but we drove them back to the entrance of the gate. 

Then the archers shot at your servants from the wall, and some of the king’s servants were killed. And your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead as well.” 

Then David told the messenger, “Say this to Joab: ‘Do not let this matter upset you, for the sword devours one as well as another. Strengthen your attack against the city and demolish it.’ Encourage him with these words.” 

When Uriah’s wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. 

And when the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. 

But the thing that David had done was evil in the sight of the LORD.

2 Samuel 12

Then the LORD sent Nathan to David, and when he arrived, he said, “There were two men in a certain city, one rich and the other poor. The rich man had a great number of sheep and cattle, but the poor man had nothing except one small ewe lamb that he had bought. He raised it, and it grew up with him and his children. It shared his food and drank from his cup; it slept in his arms  and was like a daughter to him. 

Now a traveler came to the rich man, who refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the poor man’s lamb and prepared it for his guest.” 

David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan: “As surely as the LORD lives, the man who did this deserves to die! 

Because he has done this thing and has shown no pity, he must pay for the lamb four times over.” 

Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. 

I gave your master’s house to you and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah, and if that was not enough, I would have given you even more. 

Why then have you despised the command of the LORD by doing evil in His sight? You put Uriah the Hittite to the sword and took his wife as your own, for you have slain him with the sword of the Ammonites. 

Now, therefore, the sword will never depart from your house, because you have despised Me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your own.’ 

This is what the LORD says: ‘I will raise up adversity against you from your own house. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to another, and he will lie with them in broad daylight. 

You have acted in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.’ ” 

Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” 

“The LORD has taken away your sin,” Nathan replied. “You will not die. 

Nevertheless, because by this deed you have shown utter contempt for the word of the LORD, the son born to you will surely die.” 

After Nathan had gone home, the LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill. 

David pleaded with God for the boy. He fasted and went into his house and spent the night lying in sackcloth  on the ground. 

The elders of his household stood beside him to help him up from the ground, but he was unwilling and would not eat anything with them. 

On the seventh day the child died. But David’s servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they said, “Look, while the child was alive, we spoke to him, and he would not listen to us. So how can we tell him the child is dead? He may even harm himself.” 

When David saw that his servants were whispering to one another, he perceived that the child was dead. So he asked his servants, “Is the child dead?” 

“He is dead,” they replied. 

Then David got up from the ground, washed and anointed himself, changed his clothes, and went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they set food before him, and he ate. 

“What is this you have done?” his servants asked. “While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but when he died, you got up and ate.” 

David answered, “While the child was alive, I fasted and wept, for I said, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let him live.’ 

But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.” 

Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and lay with her. So she gave birth to a son, and they  named him Solomon. 

Now the LORD loved the child and sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah because the LORD loved him. 

Meanwhile, Joab fought against Rabbah of the Ammonites and captured the royal fortress. 

Then Joab sent messengers to David to say, “I have fought against Rabbah and have captured the water supply of the city. 

Now, therefore, assemble the rest of the troops, lay siege to the city, and capture it. Otherwise I will capture the city, and it will be named after me.” 

So David assembled all the troops and went to Rabbah; and he fought against it and captured it. 

Then he took the crown from the head of their king. It weighed a talent of gold  and was set with precious stones, and it was placed on David’s head. And David took a great amount of plunder from the city. 

David brought out the people who were there and put them to work with saws, iron picks, and axes, and he made them work at the brick kilns. He did the same to all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all his troops returned to Jerusalem.

2 Samuel 13

After some time, David’s son Amnon fell in love with Tamar, the beautiful sister of David’s son Absalom. 

Amnon was sick with frustration over his sister Tamar, for she was a virgin, and it seemed implausible for him to do anything to her. 

Now Amnon had a friend named Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah. Jonadab was a very shrewd man, so he asked Amnon, “Why are you, the son of the king, so depressed morning after morning? Won’t you tell me?” 

Amnon replied, “I am in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.” 

Jonadab told him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend you are ill. When your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Please let my sister Tamar come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare it in my sight so I may watch her and eat it from her hand.’ ” 

So Amnon lay down and feigned illness. When the king came to see him, Amnon said, “Please let my sister Tamar come and make a couple of cakes in my sight, so that I may eat from her hand.” 

Then David sent word to Tamar at the palace: “Please go to the house of Amnon your brother and prepare a meal for him.” 

So Tamar went to the house of her brother Amnon, who was lying down. She took some dough, kneaded it, made cakes in his sight, and baked them. 

Then she brought the pan and set it down before him, but he refused to eat. “Send everyone away!” said Amnon. And everyone went out. 

Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food into the bedroom, so that I may eat it from your hand.” 

Tamar took the cakes she had made and went to her brother Amnon’s bedroom. 

And when she had brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her and said, “Come lie with me, my sister!” 

“No, my brother!” she cried. “Do not humiliate me, for such a thing should never be done in Israel. Do not do this disgraceful thing! 

Where could I ever take my shame? And you would be like one of the fools in Israel! Please speak to the king, for he will not withhold me from you.” 

But Amnon refused to listen to her, and being stronger, he violated her and lay with her. 

Then Amnon hated Tamar with such intensity that his hatred was greater than the love he previously had. “Get up!” he said to her. “Be gone!” 

“No,” she replied, “sending me away is worse than this great wrong you have already done to me!” 

But he refused to listen to her. 

Instead, he called to his attendant and said, “Throw this woman out and bolt the door behind her!” 

So Amnon’s attendant threw her out and bolted the door behind her. Now Tamar was wearing a robe of many colors, because this is what the king’s virgin daughters wore. 

And Tamar put ashes on her head and tore her robe. And putting her hand on her head, she went away crying bitterly. 

Her brother Absalom said to her, “Has your brother Amnon been with you? Be quiet for now, my sister. He is your brother. Do not take this thing to heart.” 

So Tamar lived as a desolate woman in the house of her brother Absalom. 

When King David heard all this, he was furious. And Absalom never said a word to Amnon, either good or bad, because he hated Amnon for disgracing his sister Tamar. 

Two years later, when Absalom’s sheepshearers were at Baal-hazor near Ephraim, he invited all the sons of the king. 

And he went to the king and said, “Your servant has just hired shearers. Will the king and his servants please come with me?” 

“No, my son,” the king replied, “we should not all go, or we would be a burden to you.” Although Absalom urged him, he was not willing to go, but gave him his blessing. 

“If not,” said Absalom, “please let my brother Amnon go with us.” 

“Why should he go with you?” the king asked. 

But Absalom urged him, so the king sent Amnon and the rest of his sons. 

Now Absalom had ordered his young men, “Watch Amnon until his heart is merry with wine, and when I order you to strike Amnon down, you are to kill him. Do not be afraid. Have I not commanded you? Be courageous and valiant!” 

So Absalom’s young men did to Amnon just as Absalom had ordered. Then all the other sons of the king got up, and each one fled on his mule. 

While they were on the way, a report reached David: “Absalom has struck down all the sons of the king; not one of them is left!” 

Then the king stood up, tore his clothes, and lay down on the ground; and all his servants stood by with their clothes torn. 

But Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah, spoke up: “My lord must not think they have killed all the sons of the king, for only Amnon is dead. In fact, Absalom has planned this since the day Amnon violated his sister Tamar. 

So now, my lord the king, do not take to heart the report that all the sons of the king are dead. Only Amnon is dead.” 

Meanwhile, Absalom had fled. When the young man standing watch looked up, he saw many people coming down the road west of him, along the side of the hill. And the watchman went and reported to the king, “I see men coming from the direction of Horonaim, along the side of the hill.” 

So Jonadab said to the king, “Look, the sons of the king have arrived! It is just as your servant said.” 

And as he finished speaking, the sons of the king came in, wailing loudly. Then the king and all his servants also wept very bitterly. 

Now Absalom fled and went to Talmai son of Ammihud, the king of Geshur. But David mourned for his son every day. 

After Absalom had fled and gone to Geshur, he stayed there three years. And King David  longed to go to Absalom, for he had been consoled over Amnon’s death.

2 Samuel 14

Now Joab son of Zeruiah perceived that the king’s heart longed for Absalom. 

So Joab sent to Tekoa to bring a wise woman from there. He told her, “Please pretend to be a mourner; put on clothes for mourning and do not anoint yourself with oil. Act like a woman who has mourned for the dead a long time. 

Then go to the king and speak these words to him.” And Joab put the words in her mouth. 

When the woman from Tekoa went to the king, she fell facedown in homage and said, “Help me, O king!” 

“What troubles you?” the king asked her. 

“Indeed,” she said, “I am a widow, for my husband is dead. 

And your maidservant had two sons who were fighting in the field with no one to separate them, and one struck the other and killed him. 

Now the whole clan has risen up against your maidservant and said, ‘Hand over the one who struck down his brother, that we may put him to death for the life of the brother whom he killed. Then we will cut off the heir as well!’ So they would extinguish my one remaining ember by not preserving my husband’s name or posterity on the earth.” 

“Go home,” the king said to the woman, “and I will give orders on your behalf.” 

But the woman of Tekoa said to the king, “My lord the king, may any blame be on me and on my father’s house, and may the king and his throne be guiltless.” 

“If anyone speaks to you,” said the king, “bring him to me, and he will not trouble you again!” 

“Please,” she replied, “may the king invoke the LORD your God to prevent the avenger of blood from increasing the devastation, so that my son may not be destroyed!” 

“As surely as the LORD lives,” he vowed, “not a hair of your son’s head will fall to the ground.” 

Then the woman said, “Please, may your servant speak a word to my lord the king?” 

“Speak,” he replied. 

The woman asked, “Why have you devised a thing like this against the people of God? When the king says this, does he not convict himself, since he has not brought back his own banished son? 

For surely we will die and be like water poured out on the ground, which cannot be recovered. Yet God does not take away a life; but He devises ways that the banished one may not be cast out from Him. 

Now therefore, I have come to present this matter to my lord the king because the people have made me afraid. Your servant thought, ‘I will speak to the king. Perhaps he will grant the request of his maidservant. 

For the king will hear and deliver his maidservant from the hand of the man who would cut off both me and my son from God’s inheritance.’ 

And now your servant says, ‘May the word of my lord the king bring me rest, for my lord the king is able to discern good and evil, just like the angel  of God. May the LORD your God be with you.’ ” 

Then the king said to the woman, “I am going to ask you something; do not conceal it from me!” 

“Let my lord the king speak,” she replied. 

So the king asked, “Is the hand of Joab behind all this?” 

The woman answered, “As surely as you live, my lord the king, no one can turn to the right or to the left from anything that my lord the king says. Yes, your servant Joab is the one who gave me orders; he told your maidservant exactly what to say. 

Joab your servant has done this to bring about this change of affairs, but my lord has wisdom like the wisdom of the angel of God, to know everything that happens in the land.” 

Then the king said to Joab, “I hereby grant this request. Go, bring back the young man Absalom.” 

Joab fell facedown in homage and blessed the king. “Today,” said Joab, “your servant knows that he has found favor with you, my lord the king, because the king has granted his request.” 

So Joab got up, went to Geshur, and brought Absalom to Jerusalem. 

But the king added, “He may return to his house, but he must not see my face.” So Absalom returned to his own house, but he did not see the king. 

Now there was not a man in all Israel as handsome and highly praised as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the top of his head, he did not have a single flaw. 

And when he cut the hair of his head—he shaved it every year because his hair got so heavy—he would weigh it out to be two hundred shekels, according to the royal standard. 

Three sons were born to Absalom, and a daughter named Tamar, who was a beautiful woman. 

Now Absalom lived in Jerusalem two years without seeing the face of the king. Then he sent for Joab to send him to the king, but Joab refused to come to him. 

So Absalom sent a second time, but Joab still would not come. 

Then Absalom said to his servants, “Look, Joab’s field is next to mine, and he has barley there. Go and set it on fire!” 

And Absalom’s servants set the field on fire. 

Then Joab came to Absalom’s house and demanded, “Why did your servants set my field on fire?” 

“Look,” said Absalom, “I sent for you and said, ‘Come here. I want to send you to the king to ask: Why have I come back from Geshur? It would be better for me if I were still there.’ So now, let me see the king’s face, and if there is iniquity in me, let him kill me.” 

So Joab went and told the king, and David summoned Absalom, who came to him and bowed facedown before him. Then the king kissed Absalom.

2 Samuel 15

Some time later, Absalom provided for himself a chariot with horses and fifty men to run ahead of him. He would get up early and stand beside the road leading to the city gate. 

Whenever anyone had a grievance to bring before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out and ask, “What city are you from?” And if he replied, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel,” 

Absalom would say, “Look, your claims are good and right, but the king has no deputy to hear you.” 

And he would add, “If only someone would appoint me judge in the land, then everyone with a grievance or dispute could come to me, and I would give him justice.” 

Also, when anyone approached to bow down to him, Absalom would reach out his hand, take hold of him, and kiss him. 

Absalom did this to all the Israelites who came to the king for justice. In this way he stole the hearts of the men of Israel. 

After four  years had passed, Absalom said to the king, “Please let me go to Hebron to fulfill a vow I have made to the LORD. 

For your servant made a vow while dwelling in Geshur of Aram, saying: ‘If indeed the LORD brings me back to Jerusalem, I will worship the LORD in Hebron.’” 

“Go in peace,” said the king. So Absalom got up and went to Hebron. 

Then Absalom sent spies throughout the tribes of Israel with this message: “When you hear the sound of the horn, you are to say, ‘Absalom reigns in Hebron!’ ” 

Two hundred men from Jerusalem accompanied Absalom. They had been invited as guests and they went along innocently, for they knew nothing about the matter. 

While Absalom was offering the sacrifices, he sent for Ahithophel the Gilonite, David’s counselor, to come from his hometown of Giloh. 

So the conspiracy gained strength, and Absalom’s following kept increasing. 

Then a messenger came to David and reported, “The hearts of the men of Israel are with Absalom.” 

And David said to all the servants with him in Jerusalem, “Arise and let us flee, or we will not escape from Absalom! We must leave quickly, or he will soon overtake us, heap disaster on us, and put the city to the sword.” 

The king’s servants replied, “Whatever our lord the king decides, we are your servants.” 

Then the king set out, and his entire household followed him. But he left behind ten concubines to take care of the palace. 

So the king set out with all the people following him. He stopped at the last house, and all his servants marched past him—all the Cherethites and Pelethites, and six hundred Gittites who had followed him from Gath. 

Then the king said to Ittai the Gittite, “Why should you also go with us? Go back and stay with the new king, since you are both a foreigner and an exile from your homeland. 

In fact, you arrived only yesterday; should I make you wander around with us today while I do not know where I am going? Go back and take your brothers with you. May the LORD show you loving devotion and faithfulness.” 

But Ittai answered the king, “As surely as the LORD lives, and as my lord the king lives, wherever my lord the king may be, whether it means life or death, there will your servant be!” 

“March on then,” said David to Ittai. So Ittai the Gittite marched past with all his men and all the little ones who were with him. 

Everyone in the countryside was weeping loudly as all the people passed by. And as the king crossed the Kidron Valley, all the people also passed toward the way of the wilderness. 

Zadok was also there, and all the Levites with him were carrying the ark of the covenant of God. And they set down the ark of God, and Abiathar offered sacrifices  until the people had passed out of the city. 

Then the king said to Zadok, “Return the ark of God to the city. If I find favor in the eyes of the LORD, He will bring me back and let me see both it and His dwelling place again. 

But if He should say, ‘I do not delight in you,’ then here I am; let Him do to me whatever seems good to Him.” 

The king also said to Zadok the priest, “Are you not a seer? Return to the city in peace—you with your son Ahimaaz, and Abiathar with his son Jonathan. 

See, I will wait at the fords of the wilderness until word comes from you to inform me.” 

So Zadok and Abiathar returned the ark of God to Jerusalem and stayed there. 

But David continued up the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went up. His head was covered, and he was walking barefoot. And all the people with him covered their heads and went up, weeping as they went. 

Now someone told David: “Ahithophel is among the conspirators with Absalom.” 

So David pleaded, “O LORD, please turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness!” 

When David came to the summit, where he used to worship God, Hushai the Archite was there to meet him with his robe torn and dust on his head. 

David said to him, “If you go on with me, you will be a burden to me. 

But you can thwart the counsel of Ahithophel for me if you return to the city and say to Absalom: ‘I will be your servant, my king; in the past I was your father’s servant, but now I will be your servant.’ 

Will not Zadok and Abiathar the priests be there with you? Report to them everything you hear from the king’s palace. 

Indeed, their two sons, Ahimaaz son of Zadok and Jonathan son of Abiathar, are there with them. Send them to me with everything you hear.” 

So David’s friend Hushai arrived in Jerusalem just as Absalom was entering the city.

Psalm 51

Have mercy on me, O God, 

according to Your loving devotion; 

according to Your great compassion, 

blot out my transgressions. 

Wash me clean of my iniquity 

and cleanse me from my sin. 

For I know my transgressions, 

and my sin is always before me. 

Against You, You only, have I sinned 

and done what is evil in Your sight, 

so that You may be proved right when You speak 

and blameless when You judge. 

Surely I was brought forth in iniquity; 

I was sinful when my mother conceived me. 

Surely You desire truth in the inmost being; 

You teach me wisdom in the inmost place. 

Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean; 

wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 

Let me hear joy and gladness; 

let the bones You have crushed rejoice. 

Hide Your face from my sins 

and blot out all my iniquities. 

Create in me a clean heart, O God, 

and renew a right spirit within me. 

Cast me not away from Your presence; 

take not Your Holy Spirit from me. 

Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, 

and sustain me with a willing spirit. 

Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, 

and sinners will return to You. 

Deliver me from bloodguilt, O God, 

the God of my salvation, 

and my tongue will sing of Your righteousness. 

O Lord, open my lips, 

and my mouth will declare Your praise. 

For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; 

You take no pleasure in burnt offerings. 

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; 

a broken and a contrite heart, 

O God, You will not despise. 

In Your good pleasure, cause Zion to prosper; 

build up the walls of Jerusalem. 

Then You will delight in righteous sacrifices, 

in whole burnt offerings; 

then bulls will be offered on Your altar.

Psalm 3

O LORD, how my foes have increased! 

How many rise up against me! 

Many say of me, 

“God will not deliver him.” 

Selah  

But You, O LORD, are a shield around me, 

my glory, and the One who lifts my head. 

To the LORD I cry aloud, 

and He answers me from His holy mountain. 

Selah 

I lie down and sleep; 

I wake again, for the LORD sustains me. 

I will not fear the myriads 

set against me on every side. 

Arise, O LORD! 

Save me, O my God! 

Strike all my enemies on the jaw; 

break the teeth of the wicked. 

Salvation belongs to the LORD; 

may Your blessing be on Your people. 

Selah

In some ways, the reign of King David is the high water mark of Israelite history. As I personally read through the Old Testament, I cannot help but rejoice in the mutual blessing of King David and his Lord. David was blessed by the Lord, even as he blessed the Lord. The relationship between God and man has always been mutual in some ways. We are most blessed when we have a right heart toward the Lord, blessing him in all we do. And we are never more cursed than when we turn away from him.

Similarly, we see the bitter seeds of bitterness planted in David’s marriage with Michal, which is embodied for the rest of her life in Michal’s barrenness. Blessing and cursing are choices. We choose how to interpret one another. Many see the harshness of life and curse the Lord for allowing evil things to transpire. Others see his loving kindness and bless his name even despite many sufferings. The Lord is the same in both cases, but different people to choose to receive him differently. Likewise, there are many people who are unhappily married to people that they are blessed to have. It is a choice to be ungrateful and entitled. May we be a people who choose gratitude and service rather than bitterness and resentment.

2 Samuel 6

David again assembled the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand in all. 

And he and all his troops set out for Baale of Judah  to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name— the name of the LORD of Hosts, who is enthroned between the cherubim that are on it. 

They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart, bringing with it the ark of God. And Ahio was walking in front of the ark. 

David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the LORD with all kinds of wood instruments, harps, stringed instruments, tambourines, sistrums, and cymbals. 

When they came to the threshing floor of Nacon, Uzzah reached out and took hold of the ark of God, because the oxen had stumbled. 

And the anger of the LORD burned against Uzzah, and God struck him down on the spot for his irreverence, and he died there beside the ark of God. 

Then David became angry because the LORD had burst forth against Uzzah; so he named that place Perez-uzzah, as it is called to this day. 

That day David feared the LORD and asked, “How can the ark of the LORD ever come to me?” 

So he was unwilling to move the ark of the LORD to the City of David; instead, he took it aside to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 

Thus the ark of the LORD remained in the house of Obed-edom the Gittite for three months, and the LORD blessed him and all his household. 

Now it was reported to King David, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” 

So David went and had the ark of God brought up from the house of Obed-edom into the City of David with rejoicing. 

When those carrying the ark of the LORD had advanced six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf. 

And David, wearing a linen ephod, danced with all his might before the LORD, while he and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouting and the sounding of the ram’s horn. 

As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked down from a window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart. 

So they brought the ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. 

When David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of Hosts. 

Then he distributed to every man and woman among the multitude of Israel a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. And all the people departed, each for his own home. 

As soon as David returned home to bless his own household, Saul’s daughter Michal came out to meet him. “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today!” she said. “He has uncovered himself today in the sight of the maidservants of his subjects, like a vulgar person would do.” 

But David said to Michal, “I was dancing before the LORD, who chose me over your father and all his house when He appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel. I will celebrate before the LORD, and I will humiliate and humble myself even more than this. Yet I will be honored by the maidservants of whom you have spoken.” 

And Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

2 Samuel 7

After the king had settled into his palace and the LORD had given him rest from all his enemies around him, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a house of cedar, while the ark of God remains in a tent.” 

And Nathan replied to the king, “Go and do all that is in your heart, for the LORD is with you.” 

But that night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, saying, “Go and tell My servant David that this is what the LORD says: Are you the one to build for Me a house to dwell in? 

For I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt until this day, but I have moved about with a tent as My dwelling. 

In all My journeys with all the Israelites, have I ever asked any of the leaders  I appointed to shepherd My people Israel, ‘Why haven’t you built Me a house of cedar?’ 

Now then, you are to tell My servant David that this is what the LORD of Hosts says: I took you from the pasture, from following the flock, to be the ruler over My people Israel. 

I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make for you a name like the greatest in the land. 

And I will provide a place for My people Israel and will plant them so that they may dwell in a place of their own and be disturbed no more. No longer will the sons of wickedness oppress them as they did at the beginning and have done since the day I appointed judges over My people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies. 

The LORD declares to you that He Himself will establish a house for you. 

And when your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. 

He will build a house for My Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 

I will be his Father, and he will be My son. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. 

But My loving devotion will never be removed from him as I removed it from Saul, whom I moved out of your way. 

Your house and kingdom will endure forever before Me, and your throne will be established forever.” 

So Nathan relayed to David all the words of this entire vision. 

Then King David went in, sat before the LORD, and said, “Who am I, O Lord GOD, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far? 

And as if this was a small thing in Your eyes, O Lord GOD, You have also spoken about the future of the house of Your servant. Is this Your custom with man, O Lord GOD? 

What more can David say to You? For You know Your servant, O Lord GOD. 

For the sake of Your word and according to Your own heart, You have accomplished this great thing and revealed it to Your servant. 

How great You are, O Lord GOD! For there is none like You, and there is no God but You, according to everything we have heard with our own ears. 

And who is like Your people Israel—the one nation on earth whom God went out to redeem as a people for Himself and to make a name for Himself? You performed great and awesome wonders by driving out nations and their gods from before Your people, whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt. 

For You have established Your people Israel as Your very own forever, and You, O LORD, have become their God. 

And now, O LORD God, confirm forever the word You have spoken concerning Your servant and his house. Do as You have promised, so that Your name will be magnified forever when it is said, ‘The LORD of Hosts is God over Israel.’ And the house of Your servant David will be established before You. 

For You, O LORD of Hosts, the God of Israel, have revealed this to Your servant when You said, ‘I will build a house for you.’ Therefore Your servant has found the courage to offer this prayer to You. 

And now, O Lord GOD, You are God! Your words are true, and You have promised this goodness to Your servant. 

Now therefore, may it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You. For You, O Lord GOD, have spoken, and with Your blessing the house of Your servant will be blessed forever.”

2 Samuel 8

Some time later, David defeated the Philistines, subdued them, and took Metheg-ammah  from the hand of the Philistines. 

David also defeated the Moabites, made them lie down on the ground, and measured them off with a cord. He measured off with two lengths those to be put to death, and with one length those to be spared. So the Moabites became subject to David and brought him tribute. 

David also defeated Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah, who had marched out to restore his dominion along the Euphrates River. 

David captured from him a thousand chariots, seven thousand charioteers, and twenty thousand foot soldiers, and he hamstrung all the horses except a hundred he kept for the chariots. 

When the Arameans of Damascus came to help King Hadadezer of Zobah, David struck down twenty-two thousand men. 

Then he placed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became subject to David and brought him tribute. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went. 

And David took the gold shields that belonged to the officers of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. 

And from Betah  and Berothai, cities of Hadadezer, King David took a large amount of bronze. 

When King Toi  of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, he sent his son Joram  to greet King David and bless him for fighting and defeating Hadadezer, who had been at war with Toi. Joram brought with him articles of silver and gold and bronze, and King David dedicated these to the LORD, along with the silver and gold he had dedicated from all the nations he had subdued— from Edom  and Moab, from the Ammonites and Philistines and Amalekites, and from the spoil of Hadadezer son of Rehob, king of Zobah. 

And David made a name for himself when he returned from striking down eighteen thousand Edomites  in the Valley of Salt. 

He placed garrisons throughout Edom, and all the Edomites were subject to David. So the LORD made David victorious wherever he went. 

Thus David reigned over all Israel and administered justice and righteousness for all his people: 

Joab son of Zeruiah was over the army; 

Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the recorder; 

Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were priests; 

Seraiah  was the scribe; 

Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and Pelethites; 

and David’s sons were priestly leaders.

2 Samuel 9

Then David asked, “Is there anyone left from the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for the sake of Jonathan?” 

And there was a servant of Saul’s family named Ziba. They summoned him to David, and the king inquired, “Are you Ziba?” 

“I am your servant,” he replied. 

So the king asked, “Is there anyone left of Saul’s family to whom I can show the kindness of God?” 

Ziba answered, “There is still Jonathan’s son, who is lame in both feet.” 

“Where is he?” replied the king. 

And Ziba said, “Indeed, he is in Lo-debar at the house of Machir son of Ammiel.” 

So King David had him brought from the house of Machir son of Ammiel in Lo-debar. 

And when Mephibosheth  son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, came to David, he fell facedown in reverence. 

Then David said, “Mephibosheth!” 

“I am your servant,” he replied. 

“Do not be afraid,” said David, “for surely I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.” 

Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog like me?” 

Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba and said to him, “I have given to your master’s grandson all that belonged to Saul and to all his house. 

You and your sons and servants are to work the ground for him and bring in the harvest, so that your master’s grandson may have food to eat. But Mephibosheth, your master’s grandson, is always to eat at my table.” 

Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. And Ziba said to the king, “Your servant will do all that my lord the king has commanded.” 

So Mephibosheth ate at David’s table  like one of the king’s own sons. 

And Mephibosheth had a young son named Mica, and all who dwelt in the house of Ziba were servants of Mephibosheth. 

So Mephibosheth lived in Jerusalem, because he always ate at the king’s table, and he was lame in both feet.

2 Samuel 10

Some time later, the king of the Ammonites died and was succeeded by his son Hanun. And David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.” 

So David sent some of his servants to console Hanun concerning his father. But when they arrived in the land of the Ammonites, 

the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, “Just because David has sent you comforters, do you really believe he is showing respect for your father? Has not David instead sent his servants to explore the city, spy it out, and overthrow it?” 

So Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their garments at the hips, and sent them away. 

When this was reported to David, he sent messengers to meet the men, since they had been thoroughly humiliated. The king told them, “Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return.” 

When the Ammonites realized that they had become a stench to David, they hired twenty thousand Aramean foot soldiers from Beth-rehob and Zoba, as well as a thousand men from the king of Maacah and twelve thousand men from Tob. 

On hearing this, David sent Joab and the entire army of mighty men. 

The Ammonites marched out and arrayed themselves for battle at the entrance of the city gate, while the Arameans of Zobah and Rehob and the men of Tob and Maacah were by themselves in the open country. 

When Joab saw the battle lines before him and behind him, he selected some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them against the Arameans. 

And he placed the rest of the forces under the command of his brother Abishai, who arrayed them against the Ammonites. 

“If the Arameans are too strong for me,” said Joab, “then you will come to my rescue. And if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will come to your rescue. 

Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. May the LORD do what is good in His sight.” 

So Joab and his troops advanced to fight the Arameans, who fled before him. 

When the Ammonites saw that the Arameans had fled, they too fled before Abishai, and they entered the city. So Joab returned from fighting against the Ammonites and came to Jerusalem. 

When the Arameans saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they regrouped. 

Hadadezer sent messengers to bring more Arameans from beyond the Euphrates, and they came to Helam with Shobach  the commander of Hadadezer’s army leading them. 

When this was reported to David, he gathered all Israel, crossed the Jordan, and went to Helam. Then the Arameans arrayed themselves against David and fought against him. 

But the Arameans fled before Israel, and David killed seven hundred charioteers and forty thousand foot soldiers. He also struck down Shobach the commander of their army, who died there. 

When all the kings who were subject to Hadadezer saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they made peace with Israel and became subject to them. So the Arameans were afraid to help the Ammonites anymore.

Psalm 20

May the LORD answer you in the day of trouble; 

may the name of the God of Jacob protect you. 

May He send you help from the sanctuary 

and sustain you from Zion. 

May He remember all your gifts 

and look favorably on your burnt offerings. 

Selah 

May He give you the desires of your heart 

and make all your plans succeed. 

May we shout for joy at your victory 

and raise a banner in the name of our God. 

May the LORD grant all your petitions. 

Now I know that the LORD saves His anointed; 

He answers him from His holy heaven 

with the saving power of His right hand. 

Some trust in chariots and others in horses, 

but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. 

They collapse and fall, 

but we rise up and stand firm. 

O LORD, save  the king. 

Answer us on the day we call.

Psalm 21

O LORD, the king rejoices in Your strength. 

How greatly he exults in Your salvation! 

You have granted his heart’s desire 

and have not withheld the request of his lips. 

Selah 

For You welcomed him with rich blessings; 

You placed on his head a crown of pure gold. 

He asked You for life, and You granted it— 

length of days, forever and ever. 

Great is his glory in Your salvation; 

You bestow on him splendor and majesty. 

For You grant him blessings forever; 

You cheer him with joy in Your presence. 

For the king trusts in the LORD; 

through the loving devotion of the Most High, 

he will not be shaken. 

Your hand will apprehend all Your enemies; 

Your right hand will seize those who hate You. 

You will place them in a fiery furnace 

at the time of Your appearing. 

In His wrath the LORD will engulf them, 

and the fire will consume them. 

You will wipe their descendants from the earth, 

and their offspring from the sons of men. 

Though they intend You harm, 

the schemes they devise will not prevail. 

For You will put them to flight 

when Your bow is trained upon them. 

Be exalted, O LORD, in Your strength; 

we will sing and praise Your power.

1 Samuel ended with King Saul and his son Jonathan being killed in battle with the Philistines. Meanwhile David had been sent back to Ziklag to find that his wives and all the city had been abducted. While he was chasing down the plunderers and regaining his loved ones, Saul and Jonathan died among their countrymen.

2 Samuel begins with David learning of their demise and slowly gaining control of the realm. It also begins a feud between Abner and the sons of Zeruiah, which comes to a pretty tragic end. Get ready for a lot more palace intrigue. David’s reign is marked with great prosperity, as well as great sin. What wisdom is there in all of this? For those of us who similarly live in a world drenched in sin and violence?

Here we go…

2 Samuel 1

After the death of Saul, David returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites and stayed in Ziklag two days. 

On the third day a man with torn clothes and dust on his head arrived from Saul’s camp. When he came to David, he fell to the ground to pay him homage. 

“Where have you come from?” David asked. 

“I have escaped from the Israelite camp,” he replied. 

“What was the outcome?” David asked. “Please tell me.” 

“The troops fled from the battle,” he replied. “Many of them fell and died. And Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.” 

Then David asked the young man who had brought him the report, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?” 

“I happened to be on Mount Gilboa,” he replied, “and there was Saul, leaning on his spear, with the chariots and the cavalry closing in on him. 

When he turned around and saw me, he called out and I answered, ‘Here I am!’ 

‘Who are you?’ he asked. 

So I told him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ 

Then he begged me, ‘Stand over me and kill me, for agony has seized me, but my life still lingers.’ 

So I stood over him and killed him, because I knew that after he had fallen he could not survive. And I took the crown that was on his head and the band that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.” 

Then David took hold of his own clothes and tore them, and all the men who were with him did the same. 

They mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and his son Jonathan, and for the people of the LORD and the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. 

And David inquired of the young man who had brought him the report, “Where are you from?” 

“I am the son of a foreigner,” he answered. “I am an Amalekite.” 

So David asked him, “Why were you not afraid to lift your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?” 

Then David summoned one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him!” So the young man struck him down, and he died. 

For David had said to the Amalekite, “Your blood be on your own head because your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I killed the LORD’s anointed.’ ” 

Then David took up this lament for Saul and his son Jonathan, and he ordered that the sons of Judah be taught the Song of the Bow. It is written in the Book of Jashar: 

“Your glory, O Israel, lies slain on your heights. 

How the mighty have fallen! 

Tell it not in Gath; 

proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon, 

lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, 

and the daughters of the uncircumcised exult. 

O mountains of Gilboa, 

may you have no dew or rain, 

no fields yielding offerings of grain. 

For there the shield of the mighty was defiled, 

the shield of Saul, no longer anointed with oil. 

From the blood of the slain, 

from the fat of the mighty, 

the bow of Jonathan did not retreat, 

and the sword of Saul did not return empty. 

Saul and Jonathan, beloved and delightful in life, 

were not divided in death. 

They were swifter than eagles, 

they were stronger than lions. 

O daughters of Israel, 

weep for Saul, 

who clothed you in scarlet and luxury, 

who decked your garments with ornaments of gold. 

How the mighty have fallen in the thick of battle! 

Jonathan lies slain on your heights. 

I grieve for you, Jonathan, my brother. 

You were delightful to me; 

your love to me was extraordinary, 

surpassing the love of women. 

How the mighty have fallen 

and the weapons of war have perished!”

2 Samuel 2

Some time later, David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” 

“Go up,” the LORD answered. 

Then David asked, “Where should I go?” 

“To Hebron,” replied the LORD. 

So David went there with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 

David also took the men who were with him, each with his household, and they settled in the towns near Hebron. 

Then the men of Judah came to Hebron, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul.” 

So David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead to tell them, “The LORD bless you, because you showed this kindness to Saul your lord when you buried him. 

Now may the LORD show you loving devotion  and faithfulness, and I will also show you the same favor because you have done this. 

Now then, be strong and courageous, for though Saul your lord is dead, the house of Judah has anointed me as their king.” 

Meanwhile, Abner son of Ner, the commander of Saul’s army, took Saul’s son Ish-bosheth, moved him to Mahanaim, and made him king over Gilead, Asher, Jezreel, Ephraim, and Benjamin—over all Israel. 

Saul’s son Ish-bosheth was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned for two years. 

The house of Judah, however, followed David. 

And the length of time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months. 

One day Abner son of Ner and the servants of Ish-bosheth son of Saul marched out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. 

So Joab son of Zeruiah, along with the servants of David, marched out and met them by the pool of Gibeon. And the two camps took up positions on opposite sides of the pool. 

Then Abner said to Joab, “Let us have the young men get up and compete before us.” 

“Let them get up,” Joab replied. 

So they got up and were counted off—twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth son of Saul, and twelve for David. 

Then each man grabbed his opponent by the head and thrust his sword into his opponent’s side, and they all fell together. So this place, which is in Gibeon, is called Helkath-hazzurim. 

The battle that day was intense, and Abner and the men of Israel were defeated by the servants of David. 

The three sons of Zeruiah were there: Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was fleet of foot like a wild gazelle, and he chased Abner, not turning to the right or to the left in his pursuit. 

And Abner glanced back and said, “Is that you, Asahel?” 

“It is,” Asahel replied. 

So Abner told him, “Turn to your right or to your left, seize one of the young men, and take his equipment for yourself.” 

But Asahel would not stop chasing him. 

Once again, Abner warned Asahel, “Stop chasing me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How could I show my face to your brother Joab?” 

But Asahel refused to turn away; so Abner thrust the butt of his spear into his stomach, and it came out his back, and he fell dead on the spot. And every man paused when he came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died. 

But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. By sunset, they had gone as far as the hill of Ammah opposite Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon. 

The Benjamites rallied to Abner, formed a single unit, and took their stand atop a hill. 

Then Abner called out to Joab: “Must the sword devour forever? Do you not realize that this will only end in bitterness? How long before you tell the troops to stop pursuing their brothers?” 

“As surely as God lives,” Joab replied, “if you had not spoken up, the troops would have continued pursuing their brothers until morning.” 

So Joab blew the ram’s horn, and all the troops stopped; they no longer pursued Israel or continued to fight. 

And all that night Abner and his men marched through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, marched all morning, and arrived at Mahanaim. 

When Joab returned from pursuing Abner, he gathered all the troops. 

In addition to Asahel, nineteen of David’s servants were missing, but they had struck down 360 Benjamites who were with Abner. 

Later, they took Asahel and buried him in his father’s tomb in Bethlehem. Then Joab and his men marched all night and reached Hebron at daybreak.

2 Samuel 3

Now the war between the house of Saul and the house of David was protracted. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul grew weaker and weaker. 

And sons were born to David in Hebron: 

His firstborn was Amnon, by Ahinoam of Jezreel; his second was Chileab, by Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel; his third was Absalom, the son of Maacah daughter of King Talmai of Geshur; his fourth was Adonijah, the son of Haggith; his fifth was Shephatiah, the son of Abital; and his sixth was Ithream, by David’s wife Eglah. 

These sons were born to David in Hebron. 

During the war between the house of Saul and the house of David, Abner had continued to strengthen his position in the house of Saul. 

Meanwhile, Saul had a concubine named Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah. So Ish-bosheth questioned Abner, “Why did you sleep with my father’s concubine?” 

Abner was furious over Ish-bosheth’s accusation. “Am I the head of a dog that belongs to Judah?” he asked. “All this time I have been loyal to the house of your father Saul, to his brothers, and to his friends. I have not delivered you into the hand of David, but now you accuse me of wrongdoing with this woman! 

May God punish Abner, and ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD has sworn to him: to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.” 

And for fear of Abner, Ish-bosheth did not dare to say another word to him. 

Then Abner sent messengers in his place to say to David, “To whom does the land belong? Make your covenant with me, and surely my hand will be with you to bring all Israel over to you.” 

“Good,” replied David, “I will make a covenant with you. But there is one thing I require of you: Do not appear before me unless you bring Saul’s daughter Michal when you come to see me.” 

Then David sent messengers to say to Ish-bosheth son of Saul, “Give me back my wife, Michal, whom I betrothed to myself for a hundred Philistine foreskins.” 

So Ish-bosheth sent and took Michal from her husband Paltiel  son of Laish. 

Her husband followed her, weeping all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, “Go back.” So he returned home. 

Now Abner conferred with the elders of Israel and said, “In the past you sought David as your king. 

Now take action, because the LORD has said to David, ‘Through My servant David I will save My people Israel from the hands of the Philistines and of all their enemies.’ ” 

Abner also spoke to the Benjamites and went to Hebron to tell David all that seemed good to Israel and to the whole house of Benjamin. 

When Abner and twenty of his men came to David at Hebron, David held a feast for them. 

Then Abner said to David, “Let me go at once, and I will gather all Israel to my lord the king, that they may make a covenant with you, and that you may rule over all that your heart desires.” 

So David dismissed Abner, and he went in peace. 

Just then David’s soldiers and Joab returned from a raid, bringing with them a great plunder. But Abner was not with David in Hebron because David had sent him on his way in peace. 

When Joab and all his troops arrived, he was informed, “Abner son of Ner came to see the king, who sent him on his way in peace.” 

So Joab went to the king and said, “What have you done? Look, Abner came to you. Why did you dismiss him? Now he is getting away! 

Surely you realize that Abner son of Ner came to deceive you and to track your movements and all that you are doing.” 

As soon as Joab had left David, he sent messengers after Abner, who brought him back from the well of Sirah; but David was unaware of it. 

When Abner returned to Hebron, Joab pulled him aside into the gateway, as if to speak to him privately, and there Joab stabbed him in the stomach. So Abner died on account of the blood of Joab’s brother Asahel. 

Afterward, David heard about this and said, “I and my kingdom are forever guiltless before the LORD concerning the blood of Abner son of Ner. 

May it whirl over the heads of Joab and the entire house of his father, and may the house of Joab never be without one having a discharge or skin disease, or one who leans on a staff or falls by the sword or lacks food.” 

(Joab and his brother Abishai murdered Abner because he had killed their brother Asahel in the battle at Gibeon.) 

Then David ordered Joab and all the people with him, “Tear your clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourn before Abner.” And King David himself walked behind the funeral bier. 

When they buried Abner in Hebron, the king wept aloud at Abner’s tomb, and all the people wept. And the king sang this lament for Abner: 

“Should Abner die the death of a fool? Your hands were not bound, your feet were not fettered. As a man falls before the wicked, so also you fell.” 

And all the people wept over him even more. 

Then all the people came and urged David to eat something while it was still day, but David took an oath, saying, “May God punish me, and ever so severely, if I taste bread or anything else before the sun sets!” 

All the people took note and were pleased. In fact, everything the king did pleased them. 

So on that day all the troops and all Israel were convinced that the king had no part in the murder of Abner son of Ner. 

Then the king said to his servants, “Do you not realize that a great prince has fallen today in Israel? 

And I am weak this day, though anointed as king, and these men, the sons of Zeruiah, are too fierce for me. May the LORD repay the evildoer according to his evil!”

2 Samuel 4

Now when Ish-bosheth son of Saul heard that Abner had died in Hebron, he lost courage, and all Israel was dismayed. 

Saul’s son had two men who were leaders of raiding parties. One was named Baanah and the other Rechab; they were sons of Rimmon the Beerothite of the tribe of Benjamin—Beeroth is considered part of Benjamin, because the Beerothites fled to Gittaim and have lived there as foreigners to this day. 

And Jonathan son of Saul had a son who was lame in his feet. He was five years old when the report about Saul and Jonathan came from Jezreel. His nurse picked him up and fled, but as she was hurrying to escape, he fell and became lame. His name was Mephibosheth. 

Now Rechab and Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, set out and arrived at the house of Ish-bosheth in the heat of the day, while the king was taking his midday nap. 

They entered the interior of the house as if to get some wheat, and they stabbed him in the stomach. Then Rechab and his brother Baanah slipped away. 

They had entered the house while Ish-bosheth was lying on his bed, and having stabbed and killed him, they beheaded him, took his head, and traveled all night by way of the Arabah. 

They brought the head of Ish-bosheth to David at Hebron and said to the king, “Here is the head of Ish-bosheth son of Saul, your enemy who sought your life. Today the LORD has granted vengeance to my lord the king against Saul and his offspring.” 

But David answered Rechab and his brother Baanah, the sons of Rimmon the Beerothite, “As surely as the LORD lives, who has redeemed my life from all distress, when someone told me, ‘Look, Saul is dead,’ and thought he was a bearer of good news, I seized him and put him to death at Ziklag. That was his reward for his news! 

How much more, when wicked men kill a righteous man in his own house and on his own bed, shall I not now require his blood from your hands and remove you from the earth!” 

So David commanded his young men, and they killed Rechab and Baanah. They cut off their hands and feet and hung their bodies by the pool in Hebron, but they took the head of Ish-bosheth and buried it in Abner’s tomb in Hebron.

2 Samuel 5

Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood. 

Even in times past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And to you the LORD said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’ ” 

So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, where King David made with them a covenant before the LORD. And they anointed him king over Israel. 

David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years. 

In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty-three years over all Israel and Judah. 

Now the king and his men marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites who inhabited the land. The Jebusites said to David: “You will never get in here. Even the blind and lame can repel you.” For they thought, “David cannot get in here.” 

Nevertheless, David captured the fortress of Zion (that is, the City of David). 

On that day he said, “Whoever attacks the Jebusites must use the water shaft to reach the lame and blind who are despised by David.” That is why it is said, “The blind and the lame will never enter the palace.” 

So David took up residence in the fortress and called it the City of David. He built it up all the way around, from the supporting terraces  inward. 

And David became greater and greater, for the LORD God of Hosts was with him. 

Now Hiram king of Tyre sent envoys to David, along with cedar logs, carpenters, and stonemasons, and they built a palace for David. 

And David realized that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and had exalted his kingdom for the sake of His people Israel. 

After he had arrived from Hebron, David took more concubines and wives from Jerusalem, and more sons and daughters were born to him. 

These are the names of the children born to him in Jerusalem: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, Ibhar, Elishua, Nepheg, Japhia, Elishama, Eliada, and Eliphelet. 

When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they all went in search of him; but David learned of this and went down to the stronghold. 

Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” 

“Go,” replied the LORD, “for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hand.” 

So David went to Baal-perazim, where he defeated the Philistines and said, “Like a bursting flood, the LORD has burst out against my enemies before me.” So he called that place Baal-perazim. 

There the Philistines abandoned their idols, and David and his men carried them away. 

Once again the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. 

So David inquired of the LORD, who answered, “Do not march straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. 

As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because this will mean that the LORD has marched out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” 

So David did as the LORD had commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon  to Gezer.

Psalm 13

How long, O LORD? 

Will You forget me forever? 

How long will You hide Your face from me? 

How long must I wrestle in my soul, 

with sorrow in my heart each day? 

How long will my enemy dominate me? 

Consider me and respond, O LORD my God. 

Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death, 

lest my enemy say, “I have overcome him,” 

and my foes rejoice when I fall. 

But I have trusted in Your loving devotion; 

my heart will rejoice in Your salvation. 

I will sing to the LORD, 

for He has been good to me.