Luke 11:37-54
[37]
While Jesus was speaking, a Pharisee asked him to dine with him, so he
went in and reclined at table. [38] The Pharisee was astonished to see
that he did not first wash before dinner. [39] And the Lord said to him,
“Now you Pharisees cleanse the outside of the cup and of the dish, but
inside you are full of greed and wickedness. [40] You fools! Did not he
who made the outside make the inside also? [41] But give as alms those
things that are within, and behold, everything is clean for you.
[42]
“But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and every herb,
and neglect justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done,
without neglecting the others. [43] Woe to you Pharisees! For you love
the best seat in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. [44]
Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them
without knowing it.”
[45]
One of the lawyers answered him, “Teacher, in saying these things you
insult us also.” [46] And he said, “Woe to you lawyers also! For you
load people with burdens hard to bear, and you yourselves do not touch
the burdens with one of your fingers. [47] Woe to you! For you build the
tombs of the prophets whom your fathers killed. [48] So you are
witnesses and you consent to the deeds of your fathers, for they killed
them, and you build their tombs. [49] Therefore also the Wisdom of God
said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, some of whom they will
kill and persecute,’ [50] so that the blood of all the prophets, shed
from the foundation of the world, may be charged against this
generation, [51] from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah, who
perished between the altar and the sanctuary. Yes, I tell you, it will
be required of this generation. [52] Woe to you lawyers! For you have
taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you
hindered those who were entering.”
[53]
As he went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to
press him hard and to provoke him to speak about many things, [54] lying
in wait for him, to catch him in something he might say.
2 Thessalonians 1:8-12
[8]
in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and
on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. [9] They will
suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of
the Lord and from the glory of his might, [10] when he comes on that day
to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have
believed, because our testimony to you was believed. [11] To this end
we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling
and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his
power, [12] so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you,
and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus
Christ.
Psalm 145
A Song of Praise. Of David.
[1] I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever.
[2] Every day I will bless you
and praise your name forever and ever.
[3] Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised,
and his greatness is unsearchable.
[4] One generation shall commend your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.
[5] On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
[6] They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
and I will declare your greatness.
[7] They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness
and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
[8] The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
[9] The LORD is good to all,
and his mercy is over all that he has made.
[10] All your works shall give thanks to you, O LORD,
and all your saints shall bless you!
[11] They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom
and tell of your power,
[12] to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds,
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
[13] Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures throughout all generations.
[The LORD is faithful in all his words
and kind in all his works.]
[14] The LORD upholds all who are falling
and raises up all who are bowed down.
[15] The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food in due season.
[16] You open your hand;
you satisfy the desire of every living thing.
[17] The LORD is righteous in all his ways
and kind in all his works.
[18] The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
[19] He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
he also hears their cry and saves them.
[20] The LORD preserves all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.
[21] My mouth will speak the praise of the LORD,
and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.
2 Chronicles 20
[1]
After this the Moabites and Ammonites, and with them some of the
Meunites, came against Jehoshaphat for battle. [2] Some men came and
told Jehoshaphat, “A great multitude is coming against you from Edom,
from beyond the sea; and, behold, they are in Hazazon-tamar” (that is,
Engedi). [3] Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the
LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. [4] And Judah
assembled to seek help from the LORD; from all the cities of Judah they
came to seek the LORD.
[5]
And Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the
house of the LORD, before the new court, [6] and said, “O LORD, God of
our fathers, are you not God in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms
of the nations. In your hand are power and might, so that none is able
to withstand you. [7] Did you not, our God, drive out the inhabitants of
this land before your people Israel, and give it forever to the
descendants of Abraham your friend? [8] And they have lived in it and
have built for you in it a sanctuary for your name, saying, [9] ‘If
disaster comes upon us, the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine,
we will stand before this house and before you—for your name is in this
house—and cry out to you in our affliction, and you will hear and save.’
[10] And now behold, the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir, whom you
would not let Israel invade when they came from the land of Egypt, and
whom they avoided and did not destroy—[11] behold, they reward us by
coming to drive us out of your possession, which you have given us to
inherit. [12] O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we
are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do
not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.”
[13]
Meanwhile all Judah stood before the LORD, with their little ones,
their wives, and their children. [14] And the Spirit of the LORD came
upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, son of Benaiah, son of Jeiel, son of
Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly.
[15] And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and
King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the LORD to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do
not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but
God’s. [16] Tomorrow go down against them. Behold, they will come up by
the ascent of Ziz. You will find them at the end of the valley, east of
the wilderness of Jeruel. [17] You will not need to fight in this
battle. Stand firm, hold your position, and see the salvation of the
LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem.’ Do not be afraid and do not
be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the LORD will be with
you.”
[18]
Then Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all
Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell down before the LORD,
worshiping the LORD. [19] And the Levites, of the Kohathites and the
Korahites, stood up to praise the LORD, the God of Israel, with a very
loud voice.
[20]
And they rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of
Tekoa. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me,
Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and
you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.”
[21] And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those
who were to sing to the LORD and praise him in holy attire, as they went
before the army, and say,
“Give thanks to the LORD,
for his steadfast love endures forever.”
[22] And when they began to sing and praise, the LORD set an ambush
against the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against
Judah, so that they were routed. [23] For the men of Ammon and Moab rose
against the inhabitants of Mount Seir, devoting them to destruction,
and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they all
helped to destroy one another.
[24]
When Judah came to the watchtower of the wilderness, they looked toward
the horde, and behold, there were dead bodies lying on the ground; none
had escaped. [25] When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take their
spoil, they found among them, in great numbers, goods, clothing, and
precious things, which they took for themselves until they could carry
no more. They were three days in taking the spoil, it was so much. [26]
On the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Beracah, for there
they blessed the LORD. Therefore the name of that place has been called
the Valley of Beracah to this day. [27] Then they returned, every man of
Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat at their head, returning to
Jerusalem with joy, for the LORD had made them rejoice over their
enemies. [28] They came to Jerusalem with harps and lyres and trumpets,
to the house of the LORD. [29] And the fear of God came on all the
kingdoms of the countries when they heard that the LORD had fought
against the enemies of Israel. [30] So the realm of Jehoshaphat was
quiet, for his God gave him rest all around.
[31]
Thus Jehoshaphat reigned over Judah. He was thirty-five years old when
he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-five years in Jerusalem. His
mother’s name was Azubah the daughter of Shilhi. [32] He walked in the
way of Asa his father and did not turn aside from it, doing what was
right in the sight of the LORD. [33] The high places, however, were not
taken away; the people had not yet set their hearts upon the God of
their fathers.
[34]
Now the rest of the acts of Jehoshaphat, from first to last, are
written in the chronicles of Jehu the son of Hanani, which are recorded
in the Book of the Kings of Israel.
[35]
After this Jehoshaphat king of Judah joined with Ahaziah king of
Israel, who acted wickedly. [36] He joined him in building ships to go
to Tarshish, and they built the ships in Ezion-geber. [37] Then Eliezer
the son of Dodavahu of Mareshah prophesied against Jehoshaphat, saying,
“Because you have joined with Ahaziah, the LORD will destroy what you
have made.” And the ships were wrecked and were not able to go to
Tarshish.
2 Chronicles 21
[1]
Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in
the city of David, and Jehoram his son reigned in his place. [2] He had
brothers, the sons of Jehoshaphat: Azariah, Jehiel, Zechariah, Azariah,
Michael, and Shephatiah; all these were the sons of Jehoshaphat king of
Israel. [3] Their father gave them great gifts of silver, gold, and
valuable possessions, together with fortified cities in Judah, but he
gave the kingdom to Jehoram, because he was the firstborn. [4] When
Jehoram had ascended the throne of his father and was established, he
killed all his brothers with the sword, and also some of the princes of
Israel. [5] Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he
reigned eight years in Jerusalem. [6] And he walked in the way of the
kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for the daughter of Ahab
was his wife. And he did what was evil in the sight of the LORD. [7]
Yet the LORD was not willing to destroy the house of David, because of
the covenant that he had made with David, and since he had promised to
give a lamp to him and to his sons forever.
[8]
In his days Edom revolted from the rule of Judah and set up a king of
their own. [9] Then Jehoram passed over with his commanders and all his
chariots, and he rose by night and struck the Edomites who had
surrounded him and his chariot commanders. [10] So Edom revolted from
the rule of Judah to this day. At that time Libnah also revolted from
his rule, because he had forsaken the LORD, the God of his fathers.
[11]
Moreover, he made high places in the hill country of Judah and led the
inhabitants of Jerusalem into whoredom and made Judah go astray. [12]
And a letter came to him from Elijah the prophet, saying, “Thus says the
LORD, the God of David your father, ‘Because you have not walked in the
ways of Jehoshaphat your father, or in the ways of Asa king of Judah,
[13] but have walked in the way of the kings of Israel and have enticed
Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem into whoredom, as the house of
Ahab led Israel into whoredom, and also you have killed your brothers,
of your father’s house, who were better than you, [14] behold, the LORD
will bring a great plague on your people, your children, your wives, and
all your possessions, [15] and you yourself will have a severe sickness
with a disease of your bowels, until your bowels come out because of
the disease, day by day.’”
[16]
And the LORD stirred up against Jehoram the anger of the Philistines
and of the Arabians who are near the Ethiopians. [17] And they came up
against Judah and invaded it and carried away all the possessions they
found that belonged to the king’s house, and also his sons and his
wives, so that no son was left to him except Jehoahaz, his youngest son.
[18]
And after all this the LORD struck him in his bowels with an incurable
disease. [19] In the course of time, at the end of two years, his bowels
came out because of the disease, and he died in great agony. His people
made no fire in his honor, like the fires made for his fathers. [20] He
was thirty-two years old when he began to reign, and he reigned eight
years in Jerusalem. And he departed with no one’s regret. They buried
him in the city of David, but not in the tombs of the kings.
