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Daily Readings for September 5
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2Kings 10
1.Now Ahab had seventy sons in Samaria. Jehu wrote letters, and sent to Samaria, to the rulers of Jezreel, even the elders, and to those who brought up the sons of Ahab, saying, 2."Now as soon as this letter comes to you, since your master's sons are with you, and there are with you chariots and horses, a fortified city also, and armor. 3.Select the best and fittest of your master's sons, set him on his father's throne, and fight for your master's house."
4.But they were exceedingly afraid, and said, "Behold, the two kings didn't stand before him! How then shall we stand?" 5.He who was over the household, and he who was over the city, the elders also, and those who raised the children, sent to Jehu, saying, "We are your servants, and will do all that you ask us. We will not make any man king. You do that which is good in your eyes."
6.Then he wrote a letter the second time to them, saying, "If you are on my side, and if you will listen to my voice, take the heads of the men your master's sons, and come to me to Jezreel by tomorrow this time."
Now the king's sons, being seventy persons, were with the great men of the city, who brought them up. 7.It happened, when the letter came to them, that they took the king's sons, and killed them, even seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent them to him to Jezreel. 8.A messenger came, and told him, "They have brought the heads of the king's sons."
He said, "Lay them in two heaps at the entrance of the gate until the morning." 9.It happened in the morning, that he went out, and stood, and said to all the people, "You are righteous. Behold, I conspired against my master, and killed him; but who struck all these? 10.Know now that nothing shall fall to the earth of the word of Yahweh, which Yahweh spoke concerning the house of Ahab. For Yahweh has done that which he spoke by his servant Elijah."
11.So Jehu struck all that remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, with all his great men, his familiar friends, and his priests, until he left him none remaining.
12.He arose and departed, and went to Samaria. As he was at the shearing house of the shepherds on the way, 13.Jehu met with the brothers of Ahaziah king of Judah, and said, "Who are you?"
They answered, "We are the brothers of Ahaziah. We are going down to greet the children of the king and the children of the queen."
14.He said, "Take them alive!"
They took them alive, and killed them at the pit of the shearing house, even forty-two men. He didn't leave any of them. 15.When he had departed from there, he met Jehonadab the son of Rechab coming to meet him. He greeted him, and said to him, "Is your heart right, as my heart is with your heart?"
Jehonadab answered, "It is."
"If it is, give me your hand." He gave him his hand; and he took him up to him into the chariot. 16.He said, "Come with me, and see my zeal for Yahweh." So they made him ride in his chariot. 17.When he came to Samaria, he struck all who remained to Ahab in Samaria, until he had destroyed him, according to the word of Yahweh, which he spoke to Elijah. 18.Jehu gathered all the people together, and said to them, "Ahab served Baal a little; but Jehu will serve him much. 19.Now therefore call to me all the prophets of Baal, all of his worshippers, and all of his priests. Let none be absent; for I have a great sacrifice to Baal. Whoever is absent, he shall not live." But Jehu did it in subtlety, intending that he might destroy the worshippers of Baal.
20.Jehu said, "Sanctify a solemn assembly for Baal!"
They proclaimed it. 21.Jehu sent through all Israel; and all the worshippers of Baal came, so that there was not a man left that didn't come. They came into the house of Baal; and the house of Baal was filled from one end to another. 22.He said to him who was over the vestry, "Bring out robes for all the worshippers of Baal!"
He brought robes out to them. 23.Jehu went with Jehonadab the son of Rechab into the house of Baal. Then he said to the worshippers of Baal, "Search, and look that there are here with you none of the servants of Yahweh, but the worshippers of Baal only."
24.They went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had appointed him eighty men outside, and said, "If any of the men whom I bring into your hands escape, he who lets him go, his life shall be for the life of him."
25.It happened, as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, that Jehu said to the guard and to the captains, "Go in, and kill them! Let none escape." They struck them with the edge of the sword; and the guard and the captains cast them out, and went to the city of the house of Baal. 26.They brought out the pillars that were in the house of Baal, and burned them. 27.They broke down the pillar of Baal, and broke down the house of Baal, and made it a latrine, to this day. 28.Thus Jehu destroyed Baal out of Israel.
29.However from the sins of Jeroboam the son of Nebat, with which he made Israel to sin, Jehu didn't depart from after them, the golden calves that were in Bethel, and that were in Dan. 30.Yahweh said to Jehu, "Because you have done well in executing that which is right in my eyes, and have done to the house of Ahab according to all that was in my heart, your sons of the fourth generation shall sit on the throne of Israel."
31.But Jehu took no heed to walk in the law of Yahweh, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He didn't depart from the sins of Jeroboam, with which he made Israel to sin. 32.In those days Yahweh began to cut off from Israel; and Hazael struck them in all the borders of Israel; 33.from the Jordan eastward, all the land of Gilead, the Gadites, and the Reubenites, and the Manassites, from Aroer, which is by the valley of the Arnon, even Gilead and Bashan. 34.Now the rest of the acts of Jehu, and all that he did, and all his might, aren't they written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel? 35.Jehu slept with his fathers; and they buried him in Samaria. Jehoahaz his son reigned in his place. 36.The time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years.
Ezekiel 1
1.Now it happened in the thirtieth year, in the fourth [month], in the fifth [day] of the month, as I was among the captives by the river Chebar, that the heavens were opened, and I saw visions of God1. 2.In the fifth [day] of the month, which was the fifth year of king Jehoiachin's captivity, 3.the word of Yahweh2 came expressly to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar; and the hand of Yahweh was there on him. 4.I looked, and behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, a great cloud, with flashing lightning, and a brightness around it, and out of its midst as it were glowing metal, out of the midst of the fire. 5.Out of its midst came the likeness of four living creatures. This was their appearance: they had the likeness of a man. 6.Everyone had four faces, and each one of them had four wings. 7.Their feet were straight feet; and the sole of their feet was like the sole of a calf's foot; and they sparkled like burnished brass. 8.They had the hands of a man under their wings on their four sides; and the four of them had their faces and their wings [thus]: 9.their wings were joined one to another; they didn't turn when they went; each one went straight forward. 10.As for the likeness of their faces, they had the face of a man; and the four of them had the face of a lion on the right side; and the four of them had the face of an ox on the left side; the four of them also had the face of an eagle. 11.Such were their faces. Their wings were spread out above. Two wings of each one touched another, and two covered their bodies. 12.Each one went straight forward: where the spirit was to go, they went; they didn't turn when they went. 13.As for the likeness of the living creatures, their appearance was like burning coals of fire, like the appearance of torches: [the fire] went up and down among the living creatures; and the fire was bright, and out of the fire went forth lightning. 14.The living creatures ran and returned as the appearance of a flash of lightning. 15.Now as I saw the living creatures, behold, one wheel on the earth beside the living creatures, for each of the four faces of it. 16.The appearance of the wheels and their work was like a beryl: and the four of them had one likeness; and their appearance and their work was as it were a wheel within a wheel. 17.When they went, they went in their four directions: they didn't turn when they went. 18.As for their rims, they were high and dreadful; and the four of them had their rims full of eyes all around. 19.When the living creatures went, the wheels went beside them; and when the living creatures were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up. 20.Wherever the spirit was to go, they went; there was the spirit to go: and the wheels were lifted up beside them; for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. 21.When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up beside them: for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. 22.Over the head of the living creature there was the likeness of an expanse, like the awesome crystal to look on, stretched forth over their heads above. 23.Under the expanse were their wings straight, the one toward the other: each one had two which covered on this side, and every one had two which covered on that side, their bodies. 24.When they went, I heard the noise of their wings like the noise of great waters, like the voice of the Almighty, a noise of tumult like the noise of an army: when they stood, they let down their wings. 25.There was a voice above the expanse that was over their heads: when they stood, they let down their wings. 26.Above the expanse that was over their heads was the likeness of a throne, as the appearance of a sapphire3 stone; and on the likeness of the throne was a likeness as the appearance of a man on it above. 27.I saw as it were glowing metal, as the appearance of fire within it all around, from the appearance of his waist and upward; and from the appearance of his waist and downward I saw as it were the appearance of fire, and there was brightness around him. 28.As the appearance of the rainbow that is in the cloud in the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of Yahweh. When I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard a voice of one that spoke.
2Corinthians 5
1.For we know that if the earthly house of our tent is dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal, in the heavens. 2.For most certainly in this we groan, longing to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven; 3.if so be that being clothed we will not be found naked. 4.For indeed we who are in this tent do groan, being burdened; not that we desire to be unclothed, but that we desire to be clothed, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5.Now he who made us for this very thing is God, who also gave to us the down payment of the Spirit.
6.Therefore, we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord; 7.for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8.We are courageous, I say, and are willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be at home with the Lord. 9.Therefore also we make it our aim, whether at home or absent, to be well pleasing to him. 10.For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. 11.Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are revealed to God; and I hope that we are revealed also in your consciences. 12.For we are not commending ourselves to you again, but speak as giving you occasion of boasting on our behalf, that you may have something to answer those who boast in appearance, and not in heart. 13.For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God. Or if we are of sober mind, it is for you. 14.For the love of Christ constrains us; because we judge thus, that one died for all, therefore all died. 15.He died for all, that those who live should no longer live to themselves, but to him who for their sakes died and rose again. 16.Therefore we know no one after the flesh from now on. Even though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now we know him so no more. 17.Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new. 18.But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19.namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation. 20.We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21.For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2Corinthians 6
1.Working together, we entreat also that you not receive the grace of God in vain, 2.for he says, "At an acceptable time I listened to you, in a day of salvation I helped you."4
Behold, now is the acceptable time. Behold, now is the day of salvation. 3.We give no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our service may not be blamed, 4.but in everything commending ourselves, as servants of God, in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, 5.in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in watchings, in fastings; 6.in pureness, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love, 7.in the word of truth, in the power of God; by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, 8.by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report; as deceivers, and yet true; 9.as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and not killed; 10.as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.
11.Our mouth is open to you, Corinthians. Our heart is enlarged. 12.You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. 13.Now in return, I speak as to my children, you also be open wide. 14.Don't be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15.What agreement has Christ with Belial? Or what portion has a believer with an unbeliever? 16.What agreement has a temple of God with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, "I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they will be my people."5 17.Therefore, "'Come out from among them, and be separate,' says the Lord. 'Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you.6 18.I will be to you a Father. You will be to me sons and daughters,'
says the Lord Almighty."7
2Corinthians 7
1.Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2.Open your hearts to us. We wronged no one. We corrupted no one. We took advantage of no one. 3.I say this not to condemn you, for I have said before, that you are in our hearts to die together and live together. 4.Great is my boldness of speech toward you. Great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort. I overflow with joy in all our affliction. 5.For even when we had come into Macedonia, our flesh had no relief, but we were afflicted on every side. Fightings were outside. Fear was inside. 6.Nevertheless, he who comforts the lowly, God, comforted us by the coming of Titus; 7.and not by his coming only, but also by the comfort with which he was comforted in you, while he told us of your longing, your mourning, and your zeal for me; so that I rejoiced still more.
8.For though I made you sorry with my letter, I do not regret it, though I did regret it. For I see that my letter made you sorry, though just for a while. 9.I now rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that you were made sorry to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly way, that you might suffer loss by us in nothing. 10.For godly sorrow works repentance to salvation, which brings no regret. But the sorrow of the world works death. 11.For behold, this same thing, that you were made sorry in a godly way, what earnest care it worked in you. Yes, what defense, indignation, fear, longing, zeal, and vengeance! In everything you demonstrated yourselves to be pure in the matter. 12.So although I wrote to you, I wrote not for his cause that did the wrong, nor for his cause that suffered the wrong, but that your earnest care for us might be revealed in you in the sight of God. 13.Therefore we have been comforted. In our comfort we rejoiced the more exceedingly for the joy of Titus, because his spirit has been refreshed by you all. 14.For if in anything I have boasted to him on your behalf, I was not disappointed. But as we spoke all things to you in truth, so our glorying also which I made before Titus was found to be truth. 15.His affection is more abundantly toward you, while he remembers all of your obedience, how with fear and trembling you received him. 16.I rejoice that in everything I am confident concerning you.