Monday, November 6, 2023

1 Chronicles 14

¹Now Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, along with cedar logs, stonemasons and carpenters to build a palace for him. ²And David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel and that his kingdom had been highly exalted for the sake of his people Israel.

³In Jerusalem David took more wives and became the father of more sons and daughters. ⁴These are the names of the children born to him there: Shammua, Shobab, Nathan, Solomon, ⁵Ibhar, Elishua, Elpelet, ⁶Nogah, Nepheg, Japhia, ⁷Elishama, Beeliada and Eliphelet.

⁸When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over all Israel, they went up in full force to search for him, but David heard about it and went out to meet them. ⁹Now the Philistines had come and raided the Valley of Rephaim; ¹⁰so David inquired of God: "Shall I go and attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to me?"

The LORD answered him, "Go, I will hand them over to you."

¹¹So David and his men went up to Baal Perazim, and there he defeated them. He said, "As waters break out, God has broken out against my enemies by my hand." So that place was called Baal Perazim. ¹²The Philistines had abandoned their gods there, and David gave orders to burn them in the fire.

¹³Once more the Philistines raided the valley; ¹⁴so David inquired of God again, and God answered him, "Do not go straight up, but circle around them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. ¹⁵As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move out to battle, because that will mean God has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army." ¹⁶So David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army, all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

¹⁷So David's fame spread throughout every land, and the LORD made all the nations fear him.

 

 

Psalm 118

¹Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. ²Let Israel say: "His love endures forever." ³Let the house of Aaron say: "His love endures forever." ⁴Let those who fear the LORD say: "His love endures forever." ⁵In my anguish I cried to the LORD, and he answered by setting me free. ⁶The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? ⁷The LORD is with me; he is my helper. I will look in triumph on my enemies. ⁸It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. ⁹It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. ¹⁰All the nations surrounded me, but in the name of the LORD I cut them off. ¹¹They surrounded me on every side, but in the name of the LORD I cut them off. ¹²They swarmed around me like bees, but they died out as quickly as burning thorns; in the name of the LORD I cut them off. ¹³I was pushed back and about to fall, but the LORD helped me. ¹⁴The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. ¹⁵Shouts of joy and victory resound in the tents of the righteous: "The LORD's right hand has done mighty things! ¹⁶The LORD's right hand is lifted high; the LORD's right hand has done mighty things!" ¹⁷I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the LORD has done. ¹⁸The LORD has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death. ¹⁹Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the LORD. ²⁰This is the gate of the LORD through which the righteous may enter. ²¹I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. ²²The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; ²³the LORD has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. ²⁴This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. ²⁵O LORD, save us; O LORD, grant us success. ²⁶Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD. From the house of the LORD we bless you. ²⁷The LORD is God, and he has made his light shine upon us. With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession up to the horns of the altar. ²⁸You are my God, and I will give you thanks; you are my God, and I will exalt you. ²⁹Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

 

 

Mark 14:3–21

³While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.

⁴Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? ⁵It could have been sold for more than a year's wages and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly.

⁶"Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. ⁷The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. ⁸She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. ⁹I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."

¹⁰Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. ¹¹They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

¹²On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus' disciples asked him, "Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?"

¹³So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. ¹⁴Say to the owner of the house he enters, 'The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' ¹⁵He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there."

¹⁶The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

¹⁷When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. ¹⁸While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me--one who is eating with me."

¹⁹They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, "Surely not I?"

²⁰"It is one of the Twelve," he replied, "one who dips bread into the bowl with me. ²¹The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."