Luke 4:13-30
[13] And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.
[14]
And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report
about him went out through all the surrounding country. [15] And he
taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all.
[16]
And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his
custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to
read. [17] And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He
unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,
[18] “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
[19] to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
[20] And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant
and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.
[21] And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been
fulfilled in your hearing.” [22] And all spoke well of him and marveled
at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said,
“Is not this Joseph’s son?” [23] And he said to them, “Doubtless you
will quote to me this proverb, ‘“Physician, heal yourself.” What we have
heard you did at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.’” [24]
And he said, “Truly, I say to you, no prophet is acceptable in his
hometown. [25] But in truth, I tell you, there were many widows in
Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens were shut up three years
and six months, and a great famine came over all the land, [26] and
Elijah was sent to none of them but only to Zarephath, in the land of
Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. [27] And there were many lepers in
Israel in the time of the prophet Elisha, and none of them was cleansed,
but only Naaman the Syrian.” [28] When they heard these things, all in
the synagogue were filled with wrath. [29] And they rose up and drove
him out of the town and brought him to the brow of the hill on which
their town was built, so that they could throw him down the cliff. [30]
But passing through their midst, he went away.
Ephesians 6:1-9
[1]
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. [2] “Honor
your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise),
[3] “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the
land.” [4] Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring
them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
[5]
Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a
sincere heart, as you would Christ, [6] not by the way of eye-service,
as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God
from the heart, [7] rendering service with a good will as to the Lord
and not to man, [8] knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will
receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. [9]
Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that
he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no
partiality with him.
Psalm 119:89-96
[89] Forever, O LORD, your word
is firmly fixed in the heavens.
[90] Your faithfulness endures to all generations;
you have established the earth, and it stands fast.
[91] By your appointment they stand this day,
for all things are your servants.
[92] If your law had not been my delight,
I would have perished in my affliction.
[93] I will never forget your precepts,
for by them you have given me life.
[94] I am yours; save me,
for I have sought your precepts.
[95] The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,
but I consider your testimonies.
[96] I have seen a limit to all perfection,
but your commandment is exceedingly broad.
1 Kings 19
[1]
Ahab told Jezebel all that Elijah had done, and how he had killed all
the prophets with the sword. [2] Then Jezebel sent a messenger to
Elijah, saying, “So may the gods do to me and more also, if I do not
make your life as the life of one of them by this time tomorrow.” [3]
Then he was afraid, and he arose and ran for his life and came to
Beersheba, which belongs to Judah, and left his servant there.
[4]
But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness and came and
sat down under a broom tree. And he asked that he might die, saying, “It
is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life, for I am no better than my
fathers.” [5] And he lay down and slept under a broom tree. And behold,
an angel touched him and said to him, “Arise and eat.” [6] And he
looked, and behold, there was at his head a cake baked on hot stones and
a jar of water. And he ate and drank and lay down again. [7] And the
angel of the LORD came again a second time and touched him and said,
“Arise and eat, for the journey is too great for you.” [8] And he arose
and ate and drank, and went in the strength of that food forty days and
forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God.
[9]
There he came to a cave and lodged in it. And behold, the word of the
LORD came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
[10] He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts.
For the people of Israel have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your
altars, and killed your prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am
left, and they seek my life, to take it away.” [11] And he said, “Go out
and stand on the mount before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed
by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces
the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after
the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. [12] And
after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And
after the fire the sound of a low whisper. [13] And when Elijah heard
it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the
entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him and said,
“What are you doing here, Elijah?” [14] He said, “I have been very
jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts. For the people of Israel have
forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your
prophets with the sword, and I, even I only, am left, and they seek my
life, to take it away.” [15] And the LORD said to him, “Go, return on
your way to the wilderness of Damascus. And when you arrive, you shall
anoint Hazael to be king over Syria. [16] And Jehu the son of Nimshi you
shall anoint to be king over Israel, and Elisha the son of Shaphat of
Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place. [17] And the
one who escapes from the sword of Hazael shall Jehu put to death, and
the one who escapes from the sword of Jehu shall Elisha put to death.
[18] Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have
not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”
[19]
So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was
plowing with twelve yoke of oxen in front of him, and he was with the
twelfth. Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him. [20] And he
left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Let me kiss my father and
my mother, and then I will follow you.” And he said to him, “Go back
again, for what have I done to you?” [21] And he returned from following
him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their
flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they
ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him.
1 Kings 20
[1]
Ben-hadad the king of Syria gathered all his army together. Thirty-two
kings were with him, and horses and chariots. And he went up and closed
in on Samaria and fought against it. [2] And he sent messengers into the
city to Ahab king of Israel and said to him, “Thus says Ben-hadad: [3]
‘Your silver and your gold are mine; your best wives and children also
are mine.’” [4] And the king of Israel answered, “As you say, my lord, O
king, I am yours, and all that I have.” [5] The messengers came again
and said, “Thus says Ben-hadad: ‘I sent to you, saying, “Deliver to me
your silver and your gold, your wives and your children.” [6]
Nevertheless I will send my servants to you tomorrow about this time,
and they shall search your house and the houses of your servants and lay
hands on whatever pleases you and take it away.’”
[7]
Then the king of Israel called all the elders of the land and said,
“Mark, now, and see how this man is seeking trouble, for he sent to me
for my wives and my children, and for my silver and my gold, and I did
not refuse him.” [8] And all the elders and all the people said to him,
“Do not listen or consent.” [9] So he said to the messengers of
Ben-hadad, “Tell my lord the king, ‘All that you first demanded of your
servant I will do, but this thing I cannot do.’” And the messengers
departed and brought him word again. [10] Ben-hadad sent to him and
said, “The gods do so to me and more also, if the dust of Samaria shall
suffice for handfuls for all the people who follow me.” [11] And the
king of Israel answered, “Tell him, ‘Let not him who straps on his armor
boast himself as he who takes it off.’” [12] When Ben-hadad heard this
message as he was drinking with the kings in the booths, he said to his
men, “Take your positions.” And they took their positions against the
city.
[13]
And behold, a prophet came near to Ahab king of Israel and said, “Thus
says the LORD, Have you seen all this great multitude? Behold, I will
give it into your hand this day, and you shall know that I am the LORD.”
[14] And Ahab said, “By whom?” He said, “Thus says the LORD, By the
servants of the governors of the districts.” Then he said, “Who shall
begin the battle?” He answered, “You.” [15] Then he mustered the
servants of the governors of the districts, and they were 232. And after
them he mustered all the people of Israel, seven thousand.
[16]
And they went out at noon, while Ben-hadad was drinking himself drunk
in the booths, he and the thirty-two kings who helped him. [17] The
servants of the governors of the districts went out first. And Ben-hadad
sent out scouts, and they reported to him, “Men are coming out from
Samaria.” [18] He said, “If they have come out for peace, take them
alive. Or if they have come out for war, take them alive.”
[19]
So these went out of the city, the servants of the governors of the
districts and the army that followed them. [20] And each struck down his
man. The Syrians fled, and Israel pursued them, but Ben-hadad king of
Syria escaped on a horse with horsemen. [21] And the king of Israel went
out and struck the horses and chariots, and struck the Syrians with a
great blow.
[22]
Then the prophet came near to the king of Israel and said to him,
“Come, strengthen yourself, and consider well what you have to do, for
in the spring the king of Syria will come up against you.”
[23]
And the servants of the king of Syria said to him, “Their gods are gods
of the hills, and so they were stronger than we. But let us fight
against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than they.
[24] And do this: remove the kings, each from his post, and put
commanders in their places, [25] and muster an army like the army that
you have lost, horse for horse, and chariot for chariot. Then we will
fight against them in the plain, and surely we shall be stronger than
they.” And he listened to their voice and did so.
[26]
In the spring, Ben-hadad mustered the Syrians and went up to Aphek to
fight against Israel. [27] And the people of Israel were mustered and
were provisioned and went against them. The people of Israel encamped
before them like two little flocks of goats, but the Syrians filled the
country. [28] And a man of God came near and said to the king of Israel,
“Thus says the LORD, ‘Because the Syrians have said, “The LORD is a god
of the hills but he is not a god of the valleys,” therefore I will give
all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am
the LORD.’” [29] And they encamped opposite one another seven days. Then
on the seventh day the battle was joined. And the people of Israel
struck down of the Syrians 100,000 foot soldiers in one day. [30] And
the rest fled into the city of Aphek, and the wall fell upon 27,000 men
who were left.
Ben-hadad
also fled and entered an inner chamber in the city. [31] And his
servants said to him, “Behold now, we have heard that the kings of the
house of Israel are merciful kings. Let us put sackcloth around our
waists and ropes on our heads and go out to the king of Israel. Perhaps
he will spare your life.” [32] So they tied sackcloth around their
waists and put ropes on their heads and went to the king of Israel and
said, “Your servant Ben-hadad says, ‘Please, let me live.’” And he said,
“Does he still live? He is my brother.” [33] Now the men were watching
for a sign, and they quickly took it up from him and said, “Yes, your
brother Ben-hadad.” Then he said, “Go and bring him.” Then Ben-hadad
came out to him, and he caused him to come up into the chariot. [34] And
Ben-hadad said to him, “The cities that my father took from your father
I will restore, and you may establish bazaars for yourself in Damascus,
as my father did in Samaria.” And Ahab said, “I will let you go on
these terms.” So he made a covenant with him and let him go.
[35]
And a certain man of the sons of the prophets said to his fellow at the
command of the LORD, “Strike me, please.” But the man refused to strike
him. [36] Then he said to him, “Because you have not obeyed the voice
of the LORD, behold, as soon as you have gone from me, a lion shall
strike you down.” And as soon as he had departed from him, a lion met
him and struck him down. [37] Then he found another man and said,
“Strike me, please.” And the man struck him—struck him and wounded him.
[38] So the prophet departed and waited for the king by the way,
disguising himself with a bandage over his eyes. [39] And as the king
passed, he cried to the king and said, “Your servant went out into the
midst of the battle, and behold, a soldier turned and brought a man to
me and said, ‘Guard this man; if by any means he is missing, your life
shall be for his life, or else you shall pay a talent of silver.’ [40]
And as your servant was busy here and there, he was gone.” The king of
Israel said to him, “So shall your judgment be; you yourself have
decided it.” [41] Then he hurried to take the bandage away from his
eyes, and the king of Israel recognized him as one of the prophets. [42]
And he said to him, “Thus says the LORD, ‘Because you have let go out
of your hand the man whom I had devoted to destruction, therefore your
life shall be for his life, and your people for his people.’” [43] And
the king of Israel went to his house vexed and sullen and came to
Samaria.
