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Daily Readings for August 28
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2Kings 1
1.Moab rebelled against Israel after the death of Ahab. 2.Ahaziah fell down through the lattice in his upper room that was in Samaria, and was sick. So he sent messengers, and said to them, "Go, inquire of Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron, whether I will recover of this sickness."
3.But the angel of Yahweh1 said to Elijah the Tishbite, "Arise, go up to meet the messengers of the king of Samaria, and tell them, 'Is it because there is no God2 in Israel, that you go to inquire of Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron? 4.Now therefore thus says Yahweh, "You shall not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but shall surely die."'" Elijah departed.
5.The messengers returned to him, and he said to them, "Why is it that you have returned?"
6.They said to him, "A man came up to meet us, and said to us, 'Go, return to the king who sent you, and tell him, "Thus says Yahweh, 'Is it because there is no God in Israel, that you send to inquire of Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you shall not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but shall surely die.'"'"
7.He said to them, "What kind of man was he who came up to meet you, and told you these words?"
8.They answered him, "He was a hairy man, and wearing a leather belt around his waist."
He said, "It is Elijah the Tishbite."
9.Then the king sent a captain of fifty with his fifty to him. He went up to him; and behold, he was sitting on the top of the hill. He said to him, "Man of God, the king has said, 'Come down!'"
10.Elijah answered to the captain of fifty, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from the sky, and consume you and your fifty!" Fire came down from the sky, and consumed him and his fifty.
11.Again he sent to him another captain of fifty and his fifty. He answered him, "Man of God, the king has said, 'Come down quickly!'"
12.Elijah answered them, "If I am a man of God, let fire come down from the sky, and consume you and your fifty!" The fire of God came down from the sky, and consumed him and his fifty.
13.Again he sent the captain of a third fifty with his fifty. The third captain of fifty went up, and came and fell on his knees before Elijah, and begged him, and said to him, "Man of God, please let my life, and the life of these fifty your servants, be precious in your sight. 14.Behold, fire came down from the sky, and consumed the two former captains of fifty with their fifties. But now let my life be precious in your sight."
15.The angel of Yahweh said to Elijah, "Go down with him. Don't be afraid of him."
He arose, and went down with him to the king. 16.He said to him, "Thus says Yahweh, 'Because you have sent messengers to inquire of Baal Zebub, the god of Ekron, is it because there is no God in Israel to inquire of his word? Therefore you shall not come down from the bed where you have gone up, but shall surely die.'"
17.So he died according to the word of Yahweh which Elijah had spoken. Jehoram began to reign in his place in the second year of Jehoram the son of Jehoshaphat king of Judah; because he had no son. 18.Now the rest of the acts of Ahaziah which he did, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?
2Kings 2
1.It happened, when Yahweh would take up Elijah by a whirlwind into heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. 2.Elijah said to Elisha, "Please wait here, for Yahweh has sent me as far as Bethel."
Elisha said, "As Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel.
3.The sons of the prophets who were at Bethel came out to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that Yahweh will take away your master from your head today?"
He said, "Yes, I know it; hold your peace."
4.Elijah said to him, "Elisha, please wait here, for Yahweh has sent me to Jericho."
He said, "As Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you." So they came to Jericho.
5.The sons of the prophets who were at Jericho came near to Elisha, and said to him, "Do you know that Yahweh will take away your master from your head today?"
He answered, "Yes, I know it. Hold your peace."
6.Elijah said to him, "Please wait here, for Yahweh has sent me to the Jordan."
He said, "As Yahweh lives, and as your soul lives, I will not leave you." They both went on. 7.Fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood opposite them at a distance; and they both stood by the Jordan. 8.Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and struck the waters, and they were divided here and there, so that they two went over on dry ground. 9.It happened, when they had gone over, that Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you, before I am taken from you."
Elisha said, "Please let a double portion of your spirit be on me."
10.He said, "You have asked a hard thing. If you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so."
11.It happened, as they still went on, and talked, that behold, a chariot of fire and horses of fire separated them; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 12.Elisha saw it, and he cried, "My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!"
He saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and tore them in two pieces. 13.He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of the Jordan. 14.He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and struck the waters, and said, "Where is Yahweh, the God of Elijah?" When he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha went over. 15.When the sons of the prophets who were at Jericho over against him saw him, they said, "The spirit of Elijah rests on Elisha." They came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him. 16.They said to him, "See now, there are with your servants fifty strong men. Please let them go and seek your master. Perhaps the Spirit of Yahweh has taken him up, and put him on some mountain, or into some valley.
He said, "You shall not send them."
17.When they urged him until he was ashamed, he said, "Send them."
They sent therefore fifty men; and they searched for three days, but didn't find him. 18.They came back to him, while he stayed at Jericho; and he said to them, "Didn't I tell you, 'Don't go?'"
19.The men of the city said to Elisha, "Behold, please, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord sees; but the water is bad, and the land miscarries."
20.He said, "Bring me a new jar, and put salt in it." They brought it to him. 21.He went out to the spring of the waters, and threw salt into it, and said, "Thus says Yahweh, 'I have healed these waters. There shall not be from there any more death or miscarrying.'" 22.So the waters were healed to this day, according to the word of Elisha which he spoke.
23.He went up from there to Bethel. As he was going up by the way, some youths came out of the city and mocked him, and said to him, "Go up, you baldy! Go up, you baldhead!" 24.He looked behind him and saw them, and cursed them in the name of Yahweh. Two female bears came out of the woods, and mauled forty-two of those youths. 25.He went from there to Mount Carmel, and from there he returned to Samaria.
Jeremiah 50
1.The word that Yahweh spoke concerning Babylon, concerning the land of the Chaldeans, by Jeremiah the prophet. 2.Declare among the nations and publish, and set up a standard; publish, and don't conceal: say, Babylon is taken, Bel is disappointed, Merodach is dismayed; her images are disappointed, her idols are dismayed. 3.For out of the north there comes up a nation against her, which shall make her land desolate, and none shall dwell therein: they are fled, they are gone, both man and animal. 4.In those days, and in that time, says Yahweh, the children of Israel shall come, they and the children of Judah together; they shall go on their way weeping, and shall seek Yahweh their God. 5.They shall inquire concerning Zion with their faces turned toward it, [saying], Come, and join yourselves to Yahweh in an everlasting covenant that shall not be forgotten. 6.My people have been lost sheep: their shepherds have caused them to go astray; they have turned them away on the mountains; they have gone from mountain to hill; they have forgotten their resting place. 7.All who found them have devoured them; and their adversaries said, We are not guilty, because they have sinned against Yahweh, the habitation of righteousness, even Yahweh, the hope of their fathers. 8.Flee out of the midst of Babylon, and go forth out of the land of the Chaldeans, and be as the male goats before the flocks. 9.For, behold, I will stir up and cause to come up against Babylon a company of great nations from the north country; and they shall set themselves in array against her; from there she shall be taken: their arrows shall be as of an expert mighty man; none shall return in vain. 10.Chaldea shall be a prey: all who prey on her shall be satisfied, says Yahweh. 11.Because you are glad, because you rejoice, O you who plunder my heritage, because you are wanton as a heifer that treads out [the grain], and neigh as strong horses; 12.your mother shall be utterly disappointed; she who bore you shall be confounded: behold, she shall be the least of the nations, a wilderness, a dry land, and a desert. 13.Because of the wrath of Yahweh she shall not be inhabited, but she shall be wholly desolate: everyone who goes by Babylon shall be astonished, and hiss at all her plagues. 14.Set yourselves in array against Babylon all around, all you who bend the bow; shoot at her, spare no arrows: for she has sinned against Yahweh. 15.Shout against her all around: she has submitted herself; her bulwarks are fallen, her walls are thrown down; for it is the vengeance of Yahweh: take vengeance on her; as she has done, do to her. 16.Cut off the sower from Babylon, and him who handles the sickle in the time of harvest: for fear of the oppressing sword they shall turn everyone to his people, and they shall flee everyone to his own land. 17.Israel is a hunted sheep; the lions have driven him away: first, the king of Assyria devoured him; and now at last Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has broken his bones. 18.Therefore thus says Yahweh of Armies, the God of Israel: Behold, I will punish the king of Babylon and his land, as I have punished the king of Assyria. 19.I will bring Israel again to his pasture, and he shall feed on Carmel and Bashan, and his soul shall be satisfied on the hills of Ephraim and in Gilead. 20.In those days, and in that time, says Yahweh, the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found: for I will pardon them whom I leave as a remnant. 21.Go up against the land of Merathaim, even against it, and against the inhabitants of Pekod: kill and utterly destroy after them, says Yahweh, and do according to all that I have commanded you. 22.A sound of battle is in the land, and of great destruction. 23.How is the hammer of the whole earth cut apart and broken! how is Babylon become a desolation among the nations! 24.I have laid a snare for you, and you are also taken, Babylon, and you weren't aware: you are found, and also caught, because you have striven against Yahweh. 25.Yahweh has opened his armory, and has brought forth the weapons of his indignation; for the Lord, Yahweh of Armies, has a work [to do] in the land of the Chaldeans. 26.Come against her from the utmost border; open her storehouses; cast her up as heaps, and destroy her utterly; let nothing of her be left. 27.Kill all her bulls; let them go down to the slaughter: woe to them! for their day has come, the time of their visitation. 28.The voice of those who flee and escape out of the land of Babylon, to declare in Zion the vengeance of Yahweh our God, the vengeance of his temple. 29.Call together the archers against Babylon, all those who bend the bow; encamp against her all around; let none of it escape: recompense her according to her work; according to all that she has done, do to her; for she has been proud against Yahweh, against the Holy One of Israel. 30.Therefore her young men will fall in her streets, and all her men of war will be brought to silence in that day, says Yahweh. 31.Behold, I am against you, you proud one, says the Lord, Yahweh of Armies; for your day has come, the time that I will visit you. 32.The proud one shall stumble and fall, and none shall raise him up; and I will kindle a fire in his cities, and it shall devour all who are around him. 33.Thus says Yahweh of Armies: The children of Israel and the children of Judah are oppressed together; and all who took them captive hold them fast; they refuse to let them go. 34.Their Redeemer is strong; Yahweh of Armies is his name: he will thoroughly plead their cause, that he may give rest to the earth, and disquiet the inhabitants of Babylon. 35.A sword is on the Chaldeans, says Yahweh, and on the inhabitants of Babylon, and on her princes, and on her wise men. 36.A sword is on the boasters, and they shall become fools; a sword is on her mighty men, and they shall be dismayed. 37.A sword is on their horses, and on their chariots, and on all the mixed people who are in the midst of her; and they shall become as women: a sword is on her treasures, and they shall be robbed. 38.A drought is on her waters, and they shall be dried up; for it is a land of engraved images, and they are mad over idols. 39.Therefore the wild animals of the desert with the wolves shall dwell there, and the ostriches shall dwell therein: and it shall be no more inhabited forever; neither shall it be lived in from generation to generation. 40.As when God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah and the neighbor cities of it, says Yahweh, so shall no man dwell there, neither shall any son of man live therein. 41.Behold, a people comes from the north; and a great nation and many kings shall be stirred up from the uttermost parts of the earth. 42.They lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roars like the sea; and they ride on horses, everyone set in array, as a man to the battle, against you, daughter of Babylon. 43.The king of Babylon has heard the news of them, and his hands wax feeble: anguish has taken hold of him, [and] pangs as of a woman in travail. 44.Behold, [the enemy] shall come up like a lion from the pride of the Jordan against the strong habitation: for I will suddenly make them run away from it; and whoever is chosen, him will I appoint over it: for who is like me? and who will appoint me a time? and who is the shepherd who can stand before me? 45.Therefore hear the counsel of Yahweh, that he has taken against Babylon; and his purposes, that he has purposed against the land of the Chaldeans: Surely they shall drag them away, [even] the little ones of the flock; surely he shall make their habitation desolate over them. 46.At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth trembles, and the cry is heard among the nations.
1Corinthians 10
1.Now I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2.and were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3.and all ate the same spiritual food; 4.and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. 5.However with most of them, God was not well pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6.Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7.Neither be idolaters, as some of them were. As it is written, "The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play."11 8.Neither let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them committed, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell. 9.Neither let us test the Lord, as some of them tested, and perished by the serpents. 10.Neither grumble, as some of them also grumbled, and perished by the destroyer. 11.Now all these things happened to them by way of example, and they were written for our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come. 12.Therefore let him who thinks he stands be careful that he doesn't fall.
13.No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. 14.Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry. 15.I speak as to wise men. Judge what I say. 16.The cup of blessing which we bless, isn't it a sharing of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, isn't it a sharing of the body of Christ? 17.Because there is one loaf of bread, we, who are many, are one body; for we all partake of the one loaf of bread. 18.Consider Israel according to the flesh. Don't those who eat the sacrifices participate in the altar?
19.What am I saying then? That a thing sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20.But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons, and not to God, and I don't desire that you would have fellowship with demons. 21.You can't both drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You can't both partake of the table of the Lord, and of the table of demons. 22.Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he? 23."All things are lawful for me," but not all things are profitable. "All things are lawful for me," but not all things build up. 24.Let no one seek his own, but each one his neighbor's good. 25.Whatever is sold in the butcher shop, eat, asking no question for the sake of conscience, 26.for "the earth is the Lord's, and its fullness."12 27.But if one of those who don't believe invites you to a meal, and you are inclined to go, eat whatever is set before you, asking no questions for the sake of conscience. 28.But if anyone says to you, "This was offered to idols," don't eat it for the sake of the one who told you, and for the sake of conscience. For "the earth is the Lord's, and all its fullness." 29.Conscience, I say, not your own, but the other's conscience. For why is my liberty judged by another conscience? 30.If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced for that for which I give thanks? 31.Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32.Give no occasions for stumbling, either to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the assembly of God; 33.even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved.