May 14

Mark 13:32-37

No One Knows That Day or Hour

[32] “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. [33] Be on guard, keep awake. For you do not know when the time will come. [34] It is like a man going on a journey, when he leaves home and puts his servants in charge, each with his work, and commands the doorkeeper to stay awake. [35] Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning—[36] lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. [37] And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”

2 Corinthians 12:1-10

Paul’s Visions and His Thorn

[1] I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. [2] I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. [3] And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows—[4] and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. [5] On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses—[6] though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. [7] So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. [8] Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. [9] But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. [10] For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Psalm 107

Book Five

Let the Redeemed of the LORD Say So

    [1] Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,

        for his steadfast love endures forever! 

    [2] Let the redeemed of the LORD say so,

        whom he has redeemed from trouble 

    [3] and gathered in from the lands,

        from the east and from the west,

        from the north and from the south.

    [4] Some wandered in desert wastes,

        finding no way to a city to dwell in; 

    [5] hungry and thirsty,

        their soul fainted within them. 

    [6] Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,

        and he delivered them from their distress. 

    [7] He led them by a straight way

        till they reached a city to dwell in. 

    [8] Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,

        for his wondrous works to the children of man! 

    [9] For he satisfies the longing soul,

        and the hungry soul he fills with good things.

    [10] Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,

        prisoners in affliction and in irons, 

    [11] for they had rebelled against the words of God,

        and spurned the counsel of the Most High. 

    [12] So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor;

        they fell down, with none to help. 

    [13] Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,

        and he delivered them from their distress. 

    [14] He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,

        and burst their bonds apart. 

    [15] Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,

        for his wondrous works to the children of man! 

    [16] For he shatters the doors of bronze

        and cuts in two the bars of iron.

    [17] Some were fools through their sinful ways,

        and because of their iniquities suffered affliction; 

    [18] they loathed any kind of food,

        and they drew near to the gates of death. 

    [19] Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,

        and he delivered them from their distress. 

    [20] He sent out his word and healed them,

        and delivered them from their destruction. 

    [21] Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,

        for his wondrous works to the children of man! 

    [22] And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,

        and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!

    [23] Some went down to the sea in ships,

        doing business on the great waters; 

    [24] they saw the deeds of the LORD,

        his wondrous works in the deep. 

    [25] For he commanded and raised the stormy wind,

        which lifted up the waves of the sea. 

    [26] They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths;

        their courage melted away in their evil plight; 

    [27] they reeled and staggered like drunken men

        and were at their wits’ end. 

    [28] Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,

        and he delivered them from their distress. 

    [29] He made the storm be still,

        and the waves of the sea were hushed. 

    [30] Then they were glad that the waters were quiet,

        and he brought them to their desired haven. 

    [31] Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love,

        for his wondrous works to the children of man! 

    [32] Let them extol him in the congregation of the people,

        and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

    [33] He turns rivers into a desert,

        springs of water into thirsty ground, 

    [34] a fruitful land into a salty waste,

        because of the evil of its inhabitants. 

    [35] He turns a desert into pools of water,

        a parched land into springs of water. 

    [36] And there he lets the hungry dwell,

        and they establish a city to live in; 

    [37] they sow fields and plant vineyards

        and get a fruitful yield. 

    [38] By his blessing they multiply greatly,

        and he does not let their livestock diminish.

    [39] When they are diminished and brought low

        through oppression, evil, and sorrow, 

    [40] he pours contempt on princes

        and makes them wander in trackless wastes; 

    [41] but he raises up the needy out of affliction

        and makes their families like flocks. 

    [42] The upright see it and are glad,

        and all wickedness shuts its mouth.

    [43] Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things;

        let them consider the steadfast love of the LORD.

2 Samuel 1

David Hears of Saul’s Death

[1] After the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking down the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. [2] And on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul’s camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground and paid homage. [3] David said to him, “Where do you come from?” And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” [4] And David said to him, “How did it go? Tell me.” And he answered, “The people fled from the battle, and also many of the people have fallen and are dead, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.” [5] Then David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?” [6] And the young man who told him said, “By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear, and behold, the chariots and the horsemen were close upon him. [7] And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’ [8] And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ [9] And he said to me, ‘Stand beside me and kill me, for anguish has seized me, and yet my life still lingers.’ [10] So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the armlet that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”

[11] Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. [12] And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the LORD and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. [13] And David said to the young man who told him, “Where do you come from?” And he answered, “I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite.” [14] David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?” [15] Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him.” And he struck him down so that he died. [16] And David said to him, “Your blood be on your head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the LORD’s anointed.’”

David’s Lament for Saul and Jonathan

[17] And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and Jonathan his son, [18] and he said it should be taught to the people of Judah; behold, it is written in the Book of Jashar. He said:

    [19] “Your glory, O Israel, is slain on your high places!

        How the mighty have fallen! 

    [20] Tell it not in Gath,

        publish it not in the streets of Ashkelon,

    lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice,

        lest the daughters of the uncircumcised exult.

    [21] “You mountains of Gilboa,

        let there be no dew or rain upon you,

        nor fields of offerings!

    For there the shield of the mighty was defiled,

        the shield of Saul, not anointed with oil.

    [22] “From the blood of the slain,

        from the fat of the mighty,

    the bow of Jonathan turned not back,

        and the sword of Saul returned not empty.

    [23] “Saul and Jonathan, beloved and lovely!

        In life and in death they were not divided;

    they were swifter than eagles;

        they were stronger than lions.

    [24] “You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,

        who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet,

        who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.

    [25] “How the mighty have fallen

        in the midst of the battle!

    “Jonathan lies slain on your high places. 

    [26]     I am distressed for you, my brother Jonathan;

    very pleasant have you been to me;

        your love to me was extraordinary,

        surpassing the love of women.

    [27] “How the mighty have fallen,

        and the weapons of war perished!”

2 Samuel 2

David Anointed King of Judah

[1] After this David inquired of the LORD, “Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah?” And the LORD said to him, “Go up.” David said, “To which shall I go up?” And he said, “To Hebron.” [2] So David went up there, and his two wives also, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. [3] And David brought up his men who were with him, everyone with his household, and they lived in the towns of Hebron. [4] And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. 

When they told David, “It was the men of Jabesh-gilead who buried Saul,”  [5] David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh-gilead and said to them, “May you be blessed by the LORD, because you showed this loyalty to Saul your lord and buried him. [6] Now may the LORD show steadfast love and faithfulness to you. And I will do good to you because you have done this thing. [7] Now therefore let your hands be strong, and be valiant, for Saul your lord is dead, and the house of Judah has anointed me king over them.”

Ish-bosheth Made King of Israel

[8] But Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul’s army, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim, [9] and he made him king over Gilead and the Ashurites and Jezreel and Ephraim and Benjamin and all Israel. [10] Ish-bosheth, Saul’s son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. [11] And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.

The Battle of Gibeon

[12] Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon. [13] And Joab the son of Zeruiah and the servants of David went out and met them at the pool of Gibeon. And they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool. [14] And Abner said to Joab, “Let the young men arise and compete before us.” And Joab said, “Let them arise.” [15] Then they arose and passed over by number, twelve for Benjamin and Ish-bosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David. [16] And each caught his opponent by the head and thrust his sword in his opponent’s side, so they fell down together. Therefore that place was called Helkath-hazzurim, which is at Gibeon. [17] And the battle was very fierce that day. And Abner and the men of Israel were beaten before the servants of David.

[18] And the three sons of Zeruiah were there, Joab, Abishai, and Asahel. Now Asahel was as swift of foot as a wild gazelle. [19] And Asahel pursued Abner, and as he went, he turned neither to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner. [20] Then Abner looked behind him and said, “Is it you, Asahel?” And he answered, “It is I.” [21] Abner said to him, “Turn aside to your right hand or to your left, and seize one of the young men and take his spoil.” But Asahel would not turn aside from following him. [22] And Abner said again to Asahel, “Turn aside from following me. Why should I strike you to the ground? How then could I lift up my face to your brother Joab?” [23] But he refused to turn aside. Therefore Abner struck him in the stomach with the butt of his spear, so that the spear came out at his back. And he fell there and died where he was. And all who came to the place where Asahel had fallen and died, stood still.

[24] But Joab and Abishai pursued Abner. And as the sun was going down they came to the hill of Ammah, which lies before Giah on the way to the wilderness of Gibeon. [25] And the people of Benjamin gathered themselves together behind Abner and became one group and took their stand on the top of a hill. [26] Then Abner called to Joab, “Shall the sword devour forever? Do you not know that the end will be bitter? How long will it be before you tell your people to turn from the pursuit of their brothers?” [27] And Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely the men would not have given up the pursuit of their brothers until the morning.” [28] So Joab blew the trumpet, and all the men stopped and pursued Israel no more, nor did they fight anymore.

[29] And Abner and his men went all that night through the Arabah. They crossed the Jordan, and marching the whole morning, they came to Mahanaim. [30] Joab returned from the pursuit of Abner. And when he had gathered all the people together, there were missing from David’s servants nineteen men besides Asahel. [31] But the servants of David had struck down of Benjamin 360 of Abner’s men. [32] And they took up Asahel and buried him in the tomb of his father, which was at Bethlehem. And Joab and his men marched all night, and the day broke upon them at Hebron.