Let's read the Bible together in the next year. Today our passages are 1 Samuel 17:1–18:4; John 8:21-30; Psalm 111:1-10; and Proverbs 15:11. The readings are the Contemporary English Version.
1 Samuel 17-18:4 (Contemporary English Version)
1 Samuel 17
Goliath Challenges Israel's Army
1The Philistines got ready for war and brought their troops together to attack the town of Socoh in Judah. They set up camp at Ephes-Dammim, between Socoh and Azekah. a<="" value="[a]" >[] 2-3King Saul and the Israelite army set up camp on a hill overlooking Elah Valley, and they got ready to fight the Philistine army that was on a hill on the other side of the valley. 4The Philistine army had a hero named Goliath who was from the town of Gath and was over nine feet [b<="">] tall. 5-6He wore a bronze helmet and had bronze armor to protect his chest and legs. The chest armor alone weighed about one hundred twenty-five pounds. He carried a bronze sword strapped on his back, 7and his spear was so big that the iron spearhead alone weighed more than fifteen pounds. A soldier always walked in front of Goliath to carry his shield. 8Goliath went out and shouted to the army of Israel: Why are you lining up for battle? I'm the best soldier in our army, and all of you are in Saul's army. Choose your best soldier to come out and fight me! 9If he can kill me, our people will be your slaves. But if I kill him, your people will be our slaves. 10Here and now I challenge Israel's whole army! Choose someone to fight me!
11Saul and his men heard what Goliath said, but they were so frightened of Goliath that they couldn't do a thing.
David Decides to Challenge Goliath
12David's father Jesse was an old man, who belonged to the Ephrath clan and lived in Bethlehem in Judah. Jesse had eight sons: 13-14the oldest was Eliab, the next was Abinadab, and Shammah was the third. The three of them had gone off to fight in Saul's army.
David was Jesse's youngest son. 15He took care of his father's sheep, and he went back and forth between Bethlehem and Saul's camp.
16Goliath came out and gave his challenge every morning and every evening for forty days.
17One day, Jesse told David, "Hurry and take this sack of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread to your brothers at the army camp. 18And here are ten large chunks of cheese to take to their commanding officer. Find out how your brothers are doing and bring back something that shows that they're all right. 19They're with Saul's army, fighting the Philistines in Elah Valley."
20David obeyed his father. He got up early the next morning and left someone else in charge of the sheep; then he loaded the supplies and started off. He reached the army camp just as the soldiers were taking their places and shouting the battle cry. 21The army of Israel and the Philistine army stood there facing each other.
22David left his things with the man in charge of supplies and ran up to the battle line to ask his brothers if they were well. 23While David was talking with them, Goliath came out from the line of Philistines and started boasting as usual. David heard him.
24When the Israelite soldiers saw Goliath, they were scared and ran off. 25They said to each other, "Look how he keeps coming out to insult us. The king is offering a big reward to the man who kills Goliath. That man will even get to marry the king's daughter, and no one in his family will ever have to pay taxes again."
26David asked some soldiers standing nearby, "What will a man get for killing this Philistine and stopping him from insulting our people? Who does that worthless Philistine think he is? He's making fun of the army of the living God!"
27The soldiers told David what the king would give the man who killed Goliath.
28David's oldest brother Eliab heard him talking with the soldiers. Eliab was angry at him and said, "What are you doing here, anyway? Who's taking care of that little flock of sheep out in the desert? You spoiled brat! You came here just to watch the fighting, didn't you?"
29"Now what have I done?" David answered. "Can't I even ask a question?" 30Then he turned and asked another soldier the same thing he had asked the others, and he got the same answer.
31Some soldiers overheard David talking, so they told Saul what David had said. Saul sent for David, and David came. 32"Your Majesty," he said, "this Philistine shouldn't turn us into cowards. I'll go out and fight him myself!"
33"You don't have a chance against him," Saul replied. "You're only a boy, and he's been a soldier all his life."
34But David told him:
Your Majesty, I take care of my father's sheep. And when one of them is dragged off by a lion or a bear, 35I go after it and beat the wild animal until it lets the sheep go. If the wild animal turns and attacks me, I grab it by the throat and kill it.
36Sir, I have killed lions and bears that way, and I can kill this worthless Philistine. He shouldn't have made fun of the army of the living God! 37The LORD has rescued me from the claws of lions and bears, and he will keep me safe from the hands of this Philistine.
"All right," Saul answered, "go ahead and fight him. And I hope the LORD will help you."
38Saul had his own military clothes and armor put on David, and he gave David a bronze helmet to wear. 39David strapped on a sword and tried to walk around, but he was not used to wearing those things.
"I can't move with all this stuff on," David said. "I'm just not used to it."
David took off the armor 40and picked up his shepherd's stick. He went out to a stream and picked up five smooth rocks and put them in his leather bag. Then with his sling in his hand, he went straight toward Goliath.
11Saul and his men heard what Goliath said, but they were so frightened of Goliath that they couldn't do a thing.
David Decides to Challenge Goliath
12David's father Jesse was an old man, who belonged to the Ephrath clan and lived in Bethlehem in Judah. Jesse had eight sons: 13-14the oldest was Eliab, the next was Abinadab, and Shammah was the third. The three of them had gone off to fight in Saul's army.
David was Jesse's youngest son. 15He took care of his father's sheep, and he went back and forth between Bethlehem and Saul's camp.
16Goliath came out and gave his challenge every morning and every evening for forty days.
17One day, Jesse told David, "Hurry and take this sack of roasted grain and these ten loaves of bread to your brothers at the army camp. 18And here are ten large chunks of cheese to take to their commanding officer. Find out how your brothers are doing and bring back something that shows that they're all right. 19They're with Saul's army, fighting the Philistines in Elah Valley."
20David obeyed his father. He got up early the next morning and left someone else in charge of the sheep; then he loaded the supplies and started off. He reached the army camp just as the soldiers were taking their places and shouting the battle cry. 21The army of Israel and the Philistine army stood there facing each other.
22David left his things with the man in charge of supplies and ran up to the battle line to ask his brothers if they were well. 23While David was talking with them, Goliath came out from the line of Philistines and started boasting as usual. David heard him.
24When the Israelite soldiers saw Goliath, they were scared and ran off. 25They said to each other, "Look how he keeps coming out to insult us. The king is offering a big reward to the man who kills Goliath. That man will even get to marry the king's daughter, and no one in his family will ever have to pay taxes again."
26David asked some soldiers standing nearby, "What will a man get for killing this Philistine and stopping him from insulting our people? Who does that worthless Philistine think he is? He's making fun of the army of the living God!"
27The soldiers told David what the king would give the man who killed Goliath.
28David's oldest brother Eliab heard him talking with the soldiers. Eliab was angry at him and said, "What are you doing here, anyway? Who's taking care of that little flock of sheep out in the desert? You spoiled brat! You came here just to watch the fighting, didn't you?"
29"Now what have I done?" David answered. "Can't I even ask a question?" 30Then he turned and asked another soldier the same thing he had asked the others, and he got the same answer.
31Some soldiers overheard David talking, so they told Saul what David had said. Saul sent for David, and David came. 32"Your Majesty," he said, "this Philistine shouldn't turn us into cowards. I'll go out and fight him myself!"
33"You don't have a chance against him," Saul replied. "You're only a boy, and he's been a soldier all his life."
34But David told him:
Your Majesty, I take care of my father's sheep. And when one of them is dragged off by a lion or a bear, 35I go after it and beat the wild animal until it lets the sheep go. If the wild animal turns and attacks me, I grab it by the throat and kill it.
36Sir, I have killed lions and bears that way, and I can kill this worthless Philistine. He shouldn't have made fun of the army of the living God! 37The LORD has rescued me from the claws of lions and bears, and he will keep me safe from the hands of this Philistine.
"All right," Saul answered, "go ahead and fight him. And I hope the LORD will help you."
38Saul had his own military clothes and armor put on David, and he gave David a bronze helmet to wear. 39David strapped on a sword and tried to walk around, but he was not used to wearing those things.
"I can't move with all this stuff on," David said. "I'm just not used to it."
David took off the armor 40and picked up his shepherd's stick. He went out to a stream and picked up five smooth rocks and put them in his leather bag. Then with his sling in his hand, he went straight toward Goliath.
David Kills Goliath
41Goliath came toward David, walking behind the soldier who was carrying his shield. 42When Goliath saw that David was just a healthy, good-looking boy, he made fun of him. 43"Do you think I'm a dog?" Goliath asked. "Is that why you've come after me with a stick?" He cursed David in the name of the Philistine gods 44and shouted, "Come on! When I'm finished with you, I'll feed you to the birds and wild animals!" 45David answered:
You've come out to fight me with a sword and a spear and a dagger. But I've come out to fight you in the name of the LORD All-Powerful. He is the God of Israel's army, and you have insulted him too!
46Today the LORD will help me defeat you. I'll knock you down and cut off your head, and I'll feed the bodies of the other Philistine soldiers to the birds and wild animals. Then the whole world will know that Israel has a real God. 47Everybody here will see that the LORD doesn't need swords or spears to save his people. The LORD always wins his battles, and he will help us defeat you.
48When Goliath started forward, David ran toward him. 49He put a rock in his sling and swung the sling around by its straps. When he let go of one strap, the rock flew out and hit Goliath on the forehead. It cracked his skull, and he fell facedown on the ground. 50David defeated Goliath with a sling and a rock. He killed him without even using a sword.
51David ran over and pulled out Goliath's sword. Then he used it to cut off Goliath's head.
When the Philistines saw what had happened to their hero, they started running away. 52But the soldiers of Israel and Judah let out a battle cry and went after them as far as Gath [c<="">] and Ekron. The bodies of the Philistines were scattered all along the road from Shaaraim to Gath and Ekron. 53When the Israelite army returned from chasing the Philistines, they took what they wanted from the enemy camp. 54David took Goliath's head to Jerusalem, but he kept Goliath's weapons in his own tent.
You've come out to fight me with a sword and a spear and a dagger. But I've come out to fight you in the name of the LORD All-Powerful. He is the God of Israel's army, and you have insulted him too!
46Today the LORD will help me defeat you. I'll knock you down and cut off your head, and I'll feed the bodies of the other Philistine soldiers to the birds and wild animals. Then the whole world will know that Israel has a real God. 47Everybody here will see that the LORD doesn't need swords or spears to save his people. The LORD always wins his battles, and he will help us defeat you.
48When Goliath started forward, David ran toward him. 49He put a rock in his sling and swung the sling around by its straps. When he let go of one strap, the rock flew out and hit Goliath on the forehead. It cracked his skull, and he fell facedown on the ground. 50David defeated Goliath with a sling and a rock. He killed him without even using a sword.
51David ran over and pulled out Goliath's sword. Then he used it to cut off Goliath's head.
When the Philistines saw what had happened to their hero, they started running away. 52But the soldiers of Israel and Judah let out a battle cry and went after them as far as Gath [c<="">] and Ekron. The bodies of the Philistines were scattered all along the road from Shaaraim to Gath and Ekron. 53When the Israelite army returned from chasing the Philistines, they took what they wanted from the enemy camp. 54David took Goliath's head to Jerusalem, but he kept Goliath's weapons in his own tent.
David Becomes One of Saul's Officers
55After King Saul had watched David go out to fight Goliath, Saul turned to the commander of his army and said, "Abner, who is that young man?" "Your Majesty," Abner answered, "I swear by your life that I don't know."
56"Then find out!" Saul told him.
57When David came back from fighting Goliath, he was still carrying Goliath's head.
Abner took David to Saul, 58and Saul asked, "Who are you?"
"I am David the son of Jesse, a loyal Israelite from Bethlehem."
56"Then find out!" Saul told him.
57When David came back from fighting Goliath, he was still carrying Goliath's head.
Abner took David to Saul, 58and Saul asked, "Who are you?"
"I am David the son of Jesse, a loyal Israelite from Bethlehem."
1 Samuel 18
1David and Saul finished talking, and soon David and Jonathan [d<="">] became best friends. Jonathan thought as much of David as he did of himself. 2From that time on, Saul kept David in his service and would not let David go back to his own family. 3Jonathan liked David so much that they promised to always be loyal friends. 4Jonathan took off the robe that he was wearing and gave it to David. He also gave him his military clothes, [e<="">] his sword, his bow and arrows, and his belt.
Footnotes:- 1 Samuel 17:1 Socoh and Azekah: Socoh was controlled by the Israelites, while Azekah was in Philistine hands.
- 1 Samuel 17:4 over nine feet: The Standard Hebrew Text; the Dead Sea Scrolls and some manuscripts of one ancient translation have "almost seven feet."
- 1 Samuel 17:52 Gath: One ancient translation; Hebrew "a valley."
- 1 Samuel 18:1 Jonathan: Saul's oldest son (see chapter 14).
- 1 Samuel 18:4 military clothes: Or "armor."
Footnotes:
- 1 Samuel 17:1 Socoh and Azekah: Socoh was controlled by the Israelites, while Azekah was in Philistine hands.
- 1 Samuel 17:4 over nine feet: The Standard Hebrew Text; the Dead Sea Scrolls and some manuscripts of one ancient translation have "almost seven feet."
- 1 Samuel 17:52 Gath: One ancient translation; Hebrew "a valley."
- 1 Samuel 18:1 Jonathan: Saul's oldest son (see chapter 14).
- 1 Samuel 18:4 military clothes: Or "armor."
John 8:21-30 (Contemporary English Version)
You Cannot Go Where I Am Going
21Jesus also told them, "I am going away, and you will look for me. But you cannot go where I am going, and you will die with your sins unforgiven." 22The Jewish leaders asked, "Does he intend to kill himself? Is that what he means by saying we cannot go where he is going?"
23Jesus answered, "You are from below, but I am from above. You belong to this world, but I don't. 24That is why I said you will die with your sins unforgiven. If you don't have faith in me for who I am, a<="" value="[a]" >[] you will die, and your sins will not be forgiven." 25"Who are you?" they asked Jesus.
Jesus answered, "I am exactly who I told you at the beginning. 26There is a lot more I could say to condemn you. But the one who sent me is truthful, and I tell the people of this world only what I have heard from him."
27No one understood that Jesus was talking to them about the Father.
28Jesus went on to say, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, [b<="">] you will know who I am. You will also know that I don't do anything on my own. I say only what my Father taught me. 29The one who sent me is with me. I always do what pleases him, and he will never leave me." 30After Jesus said this, many of the people put their faith in him.
Footnotes:
23Jesus answered, "You are from below, but I am from above. You belong to this world, but I don't. 24That is why I said you will die with your sins unforgiven. If you don't have faith in me for who I am, a<="" value="[a]" >[] you will die, and your sins will not be forgiven." 25"Who are you?" they asked Jesus.
Jesus answered, "I am exactly who I told you at the beginning. 26There is a lot more I could say to condemn you. But the one who sent me is truthful, and I tell the people of this world only what I have heard from him."
27No one understood that Jesus was talking to them about the Father.
28Jesus went on to say, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, [b<="">] you will know who I am. You will also know that I don't do anything on my own. I say only what my Father taught me. 29The one who sent me is with me. I always do what pleases him, and he will never leave me." 30After Jesus said this, many of the people put their faith in him.
Footnotes:
Psalm 111:1-10 (Contemporary English Version)
Psalm 111
Praise the LORD for All He Has Done
1Shout praises to the LORD! With all my heart
I will thank the LORD
when his people meet.
2The LORD has done
many wonderful things!
Everyone who is pleased
with God's marvelous deeds
will keep them in mind.
3Everything the LORD does
is glorious and majestic,
and his power to bring justice
will never end.
4The LORD God is famous
for his wonderful deeds,
and he is kind and merciful.
5He gives food to his worshipers
and always keeps his agreement
with them.
6He has shown his mighty power
to his people
and has given them the lands
of other nations.
7God is always honest and fair,
and his laws can be trusted.
8They are true and right
and will stand forever.
9God rescued his people,
and he will never break
his agreement with them.
He is fearsome and holy.
10Respect and obey the LORD!
This is the first step
to wisdom and good sense. a<="" value="[a]" >[] God will always be respected.
Footnotes:- Psalm 111:10 This. . . sense: Or " This is what wisdom and good sense are all about."
I will thank the LORD
when his people meet.
2The LORD has done
many wonderful things!
Everyone who is pleased
with God's marvelous deeds
will keep them in mind.
3Everything the LORD does
is glorious and majestic,
and his power to bring justice
will never end.
4The LORD God is famous
for his wonderful deeds,
and he is kind and merciful.
5He gives food to his worshipers
and always keeps his agreement
with them.
6He has shown his mighty power
to his people
and has given them the lands
of other nations.
7God is always honest and fair,
and his laws can be trusted.
8They are true and right
and will stand forever.
9God rescued his people,
and he will never break
his agreement with them.
He is fearsome and holy.
10Respect and obey the LORD!
This is the first step
to wisdom and good sense. a<="" value="[a]" >[] God will always be respected.
Footnotes:
- Psalm 111:10 This. . . sense: Or " This is what wisdom and good sense are all about."
Proverbs 15:11 (Contemporary English Version)
11If the LORD can see everything
in the world of the dead,
he can see in our hearts.
in the world of the dead,
he can see in our hearts.
Thought for the Day
“No one can explain how a baby breathes before it is born. So how can anyone explain what God does? After all, he created everything.” (Ecclesiastes 11:5 - Contemporary English Version) Since we're limited, we'll never be able to understand everything. And even though we'll always push our own limits, we can feel genuine hope knowing that our destinies are in the hands of the one who's perfect in both his freedom and his love.
Quote for the Day
French physicist, a pioneer in crystallography, magnetism, piezoelectricity, and radioactivity, Pierre Curie wrote, “Alfred Nobel's discoveries are characteristic; powerful explosives can help men perform admirable tasks. They are also a means to terrible destruction in the hands of the great criminals who lead peoples to war.”
A Joke for Today
With all the new technology regarding fertility, an 88-year-old woman was able to give birth to a baby recently.
When she was discharged from the hospital and went home, various relatives came to visit. May we see the new baby? one of them asked.
Not yet, said the mother. I'll make coffee and we can visit for a while first.
Another half hour passed before another relative asked, May we see the new baby now?
No, not yet, said the mother.
A while later and again the guests asked, May we see the baby now?
No, not yet, replied the mother.
Growing impatient, they asked, Well, when can we see the baby?
When it cries! she told them.
"When it cries? they gasped. Why do we have to wait until it cries?
Because, I forgot where I put it.
A Prayer Request
As Christians, we can offer specific daily prayers for our community, nation and world. Below is the need that we're laying before God today.
That our leaders work for unity and cooperation.
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