Luke 9:1-17
[1]
And he called the twelve together and gave them power and authority
over all demons and to cure diseases, [2] and he sent them out to
proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. [3] And he said to them, “Take
nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and
do not have two tunics. [4] And whatever house you enter, stay there,
and from there depart. [5] And wherever they do not receive you, when
you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony
against them.” [6] And they departed and went through the villages,
preaching the gospel and healing everywhere.
[7]
Now Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was
perplexed, because it was said by some that John had been raised from
the dead, [8] by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one
of the prophets of old had risen. [9] Herod said, “John I beheaded, but
who is this about whom I hear such things?” And he sought to see him.
[10]
On their return the apostles told him all that they had done. And he
took them and withdrew apart to a town called Bethsaida. [11] When the
crowds learned it, they followed him, and he welcomed them and spoke to
them of the kingdom of God and cured those who had need of healing. [12]
Now the day began to wear away, and the twelve came and said to him,
“Send the crowd away to go into the surrounding villages and countryside
to find lodging and get provisions, for we are here in a desolate
place.” [13] But he said to them, “You give them something to eat.” They
said, “We have no more than five loaves and two fish—unless we are to
go and buy food for all these people.” [14] For there were about five
thousand men. And he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in
groups of about fifty each.” [15] And they did so, and had them all sit
down. [16] And taking the five loaves and the two fish, he looked up to
heaven and said a blessing over them. Then he broke the loaves and gave
them to the disciples to set before the crowd. [17] And they all ate and
were satisfied. And what was left over was picked up, twelve baskets of
broken pieces.
Colossians 4:1-9
[1] Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
[2]
Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.
[3] At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door
for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am
in prison—[4] that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.
[5]
Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. [6]
Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may
know how you ought to answer each person.
[7]
Tychicus will tell you all about my activities. He is a beloved brother
and faithful minister and fellow servant in the Lord. [8] I have sent
him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that
he may encourage your hearts, [9] and with him Onesimus, our faithful
and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will tell you of everything
that has taken place here.
Psalm 132
A Song of Ascents.
[1] Remember, O LORD, in David’s favor,
all the hardships he endured,
[2] how he swore to the LORD
and vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob,
[3] “I will not enter my house
or get into my bed,
[4] I will not give sleep to my eyes
or slumber to my eyelids,
[5] until I find a place for the LORD,
a dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.”
[6] Behold, we heard of it in Ephrathah;
we found it in the fields of Jaar.
[7] “Let us go to his dwelling place;
let us worship at his footstool!”
[8] Arise, O LORD, and go to your resting place,
you and the ark of your might.
[9] Let your priests be clothed with righteousness,
and let your saints shout for joy.
[10] For the sake of your servant David,
do not turn away the face of your anointed one.
[11] The LORD swore to David a sure oath
from which he will not turn back:
“One of the sons of your body
I will set on your throne.
[12] If your sons keep my covenant
and my testimonies that I shall teach them,
their sons also forever
shall sit on your throne.”
[13] For the LORD has chosen Zion;
he has desired it for his dwelling place:
[14] “This is my resting place forever;
here I will dwell, for I have desired it.
[15] I will abundantly bless her provisions;
I will satisfy her poor with bread.
[16] Her priests I will clothe with salvation,
and her saints will shout for joy.
[17] There I will make a horn to sprout for David;
I have prepared a lamp for my anointed.
[18] His enemies I will clothe with shame,
but on him his crown will shine.”
1 Chronicles 17
[1]
Now when David lived in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet,
“Behold, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the
LORD is under a tent.” [2] And Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in
your heart, for God is with you.”
[3]
But that same night the word of the LORD came to Nathan, [4] “Go and
tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD: It is not you who will build
me a house to dwell in. [5] For I have not lived in a house since the
day I brought up Israel to this day, but I have gone from tent to tent
and from dwelling to dwelling. [6] In all places where I have moved with
all Israel, did I speak a word with any of the judges of Israel, whom I
commanded to shepherd my people, saying, “Why have you not built me a
house of cedar?”’ [7] Now, therefore, thus shall you say to my servant
David, ‘Thus says the LORD of hosts, I took you from the pasture, from
following the sheep, to be prince over my people Israel, [8] and I have
been with you wherever you have gone and have cut off all your enemies
from before you. And I will make for you a name, like the name of the
great ones of the earth. [9] And I will appoint a place for my people
Israel and will plant them, that they may dwell in their own place and
be disturbed no more. And violent men shall waste them no more, as
formerly, [10] from the time that I appointed judges over my people
Israel. And I will subdue all your enemies. Moreover, I declare to you
that the LORD will build you a house. [11] When your days are fulfilled
to walk with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one
of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. [12] He shall build
a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever. [13] I will be
to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. I will not take my
steadfast love from him, as I took it from him who was before you, [14]
but I will confirm him in my house and in my kingdom forever, and his
throne shall be established forever.’” [15] In accordance with all these
words, and in accordance with all this vision, Nathan spoke to David.
[16]
Then King David went in and sat before the LORD and said, “Who am I, O
LORD God, and what is my house, that you have brought me thus far? [17]
And this was a small thing in your eyes, O God. You have also spoken of
your servant’s house for a great while to come, and have shown me future
generations, O LORD God! [18] And what more can David say to you for
honoring your servant? For you know your servant. [19] For your
servant’s sake, O LORD, and according to your own heart, you have done
all this greatness, in making known all these great things. [20] There
is none like you, O LORD, and there is no God besides you, according to
all that we have heard with our ears. [21] And who is like your people
Israel, the one nation on earth whom God went to redeem to be his
people, making for yourself a name for great and awesome things, in
driving out nations before your people whom you redeemed from Egypt?
[22] And you made your people Israel to be your people forever, and you,
O LORD, became their God. [23] And now, O LORD, let the word that you
have spoken concerning your servant and concerning his house be
established forever, and do as you have spoken, [24] and your name will
be established and magnified forever, saying, ‘The LORD of hosts, the
God of Israel, is Israel’s God,’ and the house of your servant David
will be established before you. [25] For you, my God, have revealed to
your servant that you will build a house for him. Therefore your servant
has found courage to pray before you. [26] And now, O LORD, you are
God, and you have promised this good thing to your servant. [27] Now you
have been pleased to bless the house of your servant, that it may
continue forever before you, for it is you, O LORD, who have blessed,
and it is blessed forever.”
1 Chronicles 18
[1]
After this David defeated the Philistines and subdued them, and he took
Gath and its villages out of the hand of the Philistines.
[2] And he defeated Moab, and the Moabites became servants to David and brought tribute.
[3]
David also defeated Hadadezer king of Zobah-Hamath, as he went to set
up his monument at the river Euphrates. [4] And David took from him
1,000 chariots, 7,000 horsemen, and 20,000 foot soldiers. And David
hamstrung all the chariot horses, but left enough for 100 chariots. [5]
And when the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer king of Zobah,
David struck down 22,000 men of the Syrians. [6] Then David put
garrisons in Syria of Damascus, and the Syrians became servants to David
and brought tribute. And the LORD gave victory to David wherever he
went. [7] And David took the shields of gold that were carried by the
servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. [8] And from
Tibhath and from Cun, cities of Hadadezer, David took a large amount of
bronze. With it Solomon made the bronze sea and the pillars and the
vessels of bronze.
[9]
When Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated the whole army of
Hadadezer, king of Zobah, [10] he sent his son Hadoram to King David,
to ask about his health and to bless him because he had fought against
Hadadezer and defeated him; for Hadadezer had often been at war with
Tou. And he sent all sorts of articles of gold, of silver, and of
bronze. [11] These also King David dedicated to the LORD, together with
the silver and gold that he had carried off from all the nations, from
Edom, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, and Amalek.
[12]
And Abishai, the son of Zeruiah, killed 18,000 Edomites in the Valley
of Salt. [13] Then he put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became
David’s servants. And the LORD gave victory to David wherever he went.
[14]
So David reigned over all Israel, and he administered justice and
equity to all his people. [15] And Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the
army; and Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; [16] and Zadok the
son of Ahitub and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar were priests; and
Shavsha was secretary; [17] and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the
Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were the chief
officials in the service of the king.
1 Chronicles 19
[1]
Now after this Nahash the king of the Ammonites died, and his son
reigned in his place. [2] And David said, “I will deal kindly with Hanun
the son of Nahash, for his father dealt kindly with me.” So David sent
messengers to console him concerning his father. And David’s servants
came to the land of the Ammonites to Hanun to console him. [3] But the
princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun, “Do you think, because David has
sent comforters to you, that he is honoring your father? Have not his
servants come to you to search and to overthrow and to spy out the
land?” [4] So Hanun took David’s servants and shaved them and cut off
their garments in the middle, at their hips, and sent them away; [5] and
they departed. When David was told concerning the men, he sent
messengers to meet them, for the men were greatly ashamed. And the king
said, “Remain at Jericho until your beards have grown and then return.”
[6]
When the Ammonites saw that they had become a stench to David, Hanun
and the Ammonites sent 1,000 talents of silver to hire chariots and
horsemen from Mesopotamia, from Aram-maacah, and from Zobah. [7] They
hired 32,000 chariots and the king of Maacah with his army, who came and
encamped before Medeba. And the Ammonites were mustered from their
cities and came to battle. [8] When David heard of it, he sent Joab and
all the army of the mighty men. [9] And the Ammonites came out and drew
up in battle array at the entrance of the city, and the kings who had
come were by themselves in the open country.
[10]
When Joab saw that the battle was set against him both in front and in
the rear, he chose some of the best men of Israel and arrayed them
against the Syrians. [11] The rest of his men he put in the charge of
Abishai his brother, and they were arrayed against the Ammonites. [12]
And he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help
me, but if the Ammonites are too strong for you, then I will help you.
[13] Be strong, and let us use our strength for our people and for the
cities of our God, and may the LORD do what seems good to him.” [14] So
Joab and the people who were with him drew near before the Syrians for
battle, and they fled before him. [15] And when the Ammonites saw that
the Syrians fled, they likewise fled before Abishai, Joab’s brother, and
entered the city. Then Joab came to Jerusalem.
[16]
But when the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they
sent messengers and brought out the Syrians who were beyond the
Euphrates, with Shophach the commander of the army of Hadadezer at their
head. [17] And when it was told to David, he gathered all Israel
together and crossed the Jordan and came to them and drew up his forces
against them. And when David set the battle in array against the
Syrians, they fought with him. [18] And the Syrians fled before Israel,
and David killed of the Syrians the men of 7,000 chariots and 40,000
foot soldiers, and put to death also Shophach the commander of their
army. [19] And when the servants of Hadadezer saw that they had been
defeated by Israel, they made peace with David and became subject to
him. So the Syrians were not willing to save the Ammonites anymore.
