October 19

John 6:16-24

Jesus Walks on Water

[16] When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, [17] got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. [18] The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. [19] When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. [20] But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” [21] Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

I Am the Bread of Life

[22] On the next day the crowd that remained on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not entered the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone. [23] Other boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks. [24] So when the crowd saw that Jesus was not there, nor his disciples, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.

1 Peter 3:1-7

Wives and Husbands

[1] Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, [2] when they see your respectful and pure conduct. [3] Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—[4] but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious. [5] For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, [6] as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord. And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening.

[7] Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

Song of Solomon 4:1-7

Solomon Admires His Bride’s Beauty

He

    [1] Behold, you are beautiful, my love,

        behold, you are beautiful!

    Your eyes are doves

        behind your veil.

    Your hair is like a flock of goats

        leaping down the slopes of Gilead. 

    [2] Your teeth are like a flock of shorn ewes

        that have come up from the washing,

    all of which bear twins,

        and not one among them has lost its young. 

    [3] Your lips are like a scarlet thread,

        and your mouth is lovely.

    Your cheeks are like halves of a pomegranate

        behind your veil. 

    [4] Your neck is like the tower of David,

        built in rows of stone;

    on it hang a thousand shields,

        all of them shields of warriors. 

    [5] Your two breasts are like two fawns,

        twins of a gazelle,

        that graze among the lilies. 

    [6] Until the day breathes

        and the shadows flee,

    I will go away to the mountain of myrrh

        and the hill of frankincense. 

    [7] You are altogether beautiful, my love;

        there is no flaw in you.

Jeremiah 50

Judgment on Babylon

[1] The word that the LORD spoke concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chaldeans, by Jeremiah the prophet:

    [2] “Declare among the nations and proclaim,

        set up a banner and proclaim,

        conceal it not, and say:

    ‘Babylon is taken,

        Bel is put to shame,

        Merodach is dismayed.

    Her images are put to shame,

        her idols are dismayed.’

    [3] “For out of the north a nation has come up against her, which shall make her land a desolation, and none shall dwell in it; both man and beast shall flee away.

[4] “In those days and in that time, declares the LORD, the people of Israel and the people of Judah shall come together, weeping as they come, and they shall seek the LORD their God. [5] They shall ask the way to Zion, with faces turned toward it, saying, ‘Come, let us join ourselves to the LORD in an everlasting covenant that will never be forgotten.’

[6] “My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray, turning them away on the mountains. From mountain to hill they have gone. They have forgotten their fold. [7] All who found them have devoured them, and their enemies have said, ‘We are not guilty, for they have sinned against the LORD, their habitation of righteousness, the LORD, the hope of their fathers.’

[8] “Flee from the midst of Babylon, and go out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as male goats before the flock. [9] For behold, I am stirring up and bringing against Babylon a gathering of great nations, from the north country. And they shall array themselves against her. From there she shall be taken. Their arrows are like a skilled warrior who does not return empty-handed. [10] Chaldea shall be plundered; all who plunder her shall be sated, declares the LORD.

    [11] “Though you rejoice, though you exult,

        O plunderers of my heritage,

    though you frolic like a heifer in the pasture,

        and neigh like stallions, 

    [12] your mother shall be utterly shamed,

        and she who bore you shall be disgraced.

    Behold, she shall be the last of the nations,

        a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert. 

    [13] Because of the wrath of the LORD she shall not be inhabited

        but shall be an utter desolation;

    everyone who passes by Babylon shall be appalled,

        and hiss because of all her wounds. 

    [14] Set yourselves in array against Babylon all around,

        all you who bend the bow;

    shoot at her, spare no arrows,

        for she has sinned against the LORD. 

    [15] Raise a shout against her all around;

        she has surrendered;

    her bulwarks have fallen;

        her walls are thrown down.

    For this is the vengeance of the LORD:

        take vengeance on her;

        do to her as she has done. 

    [16] Cut off from Babylon the sower,

        and the one who handles the sickle in time of harvest;

    because of the sword of the oppressor,

        every one shall turn to his own people,

        and every one shall flee to his own land.

    [17] “Israel is a hunted sheep driven away by lions. First the king of Assyria devoured him, and now at last Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has gnawed his bones. [18] Therefore, thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Behold, I am bringing punishment on the king of Babylon and his land, as I punished the king of Assyria. [19] I will restore Israel to his pasture, and he shall feed on Carmel and in Bashan, and his desire shall be satisfied on the hills of Ephraim and in Gilead. [20] In those days and in that time, declares the LORD, iniquity shall be sought in Israel, and there shall be none, and sin in Judah, and none shall be found, for I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant.

    [21] “Go up against the land of Merathaim,

        and against the inhabitants of Pekod.

    Kill, and devote them to destruction,

    declares the LORD,

        and do all that I have commanded you. 

    [22] The noise of battle is in the land,

        and great destruction! 

    [23] How the hammer of the whole earth

        is cut down and broken!

    How Babylon has become

        a horror among the nations! 

    [24] I set a snare for you and you were taken, O Babylon,

        and you did not know it;

    you were found and caught,

        because you opposed the LORD. 

    [25] The LORD has opened his armory

        and brought out the weapons of his wrath,

    for the Lord GOD of hosts has a work to do

        in the land of the Chaldeans. 

    [26] Come against her from every quarter;

        open her granaries;

    pile her up like heaps of grain, and devote her to destruction;

        let nothing be left of her. 

    [27] Kill all her bulls;

        let them go down to the slaughter.

    Woe to them, for their day has come,

        the time of their punishment.

    [28] “A voice! They flee and escape from the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of the LORD our God, vengeance for his temple.

[29] “Summon archers against Babylon, all those who bend the bow. Encamp around her; let no one escape. Repay her according to her deeds; do to her according to all that she has done. For she has proudly defied the LORD, the Holy One of Israel. [30] Therefore her young men shall fall in her squares, and all her soldiers shall be destroyed on that day, declares the LORD.

    [31] “Behold, I am against you, O proud one,

        declares the Lord GOD of hosts,

    for your day has come,

        the time when I will punish you. 

    [32] The proud one shall stumble and fall,

        with none to raise him up,

    and I will kindle a fire in his cities,

        and it will devour all that is around him.

    [33] “Thus says the LORD of hosts: The people of Israel are oppressed, and the people of Judah with them. All who took them captive have held them fast; they refuse to let them go. [34] Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name. He will surely plead their cause, that he may give rest to the earth, but unrest to the inhabitants of Babylon.

    [35] “A sword against the Chaldeans, declares the LORD,

        and against the inhabitants of Babylon,

        and against her officials and her wise men! 

    [36] A sword against the diviners,

        that they may become fools!

    A sword against her warriors,

        that they may be destroyed! 

    [37] A sword against her horses and against her chariots,

        and against all the foreign troops in her midst,

        that they may become women!

    A sword against all her treasures,

        that they may be plundered! 

    [38] A drought against her waters,

        that they may be dried up!

    For it is a land of images,

        and they are mad over idols.

    [39] “Therefore wild beasts shall dwell with hyenas in Babylon, and ostriches shall dwell in her. She shall never again have people, nor be inhabited for all generations. [40] As when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and their neighboring cities, declares the LORD, so no man shall dwell there, and no son of man shall sojourn in her.

    [41] “Behold, a people comes from the north;

        a mighty nation and many kings

        are stirring from the farthest parts of the earth. 

    [42] They lay hold of bow and spear;

        they are cruel and have no mercy.

    The sound of them is like the roaring of the sea;

        they ride on horses,

    arrayed as a man for battle

        against you, O daughter of Babylon!

    [43] “The king of Babylon heard the report of them,

        and his hands fell helpless;

    anguish seized him,

        pain as of a woman in labor.

    [44] “Behold, like a lion coming up from the thicket of the Jordan against a perennial pasture, I will suddenly make them run away from her, and I will appoint over her whomever I choose. For who is like me? Who will summon me? What shepherd can stand before me? [45] Therefore hear the plan that the LORD has made against Babylon, and the purposes that he has formed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely the little ones of their flock shall be dragged away; surely their fold shall be appalled at their fate. [46] At the sound of the capture of Babylon the earth shall tremble, and her cry shall be heard among the nations.”