Let's read the Bible together in the next year. Today our passages are 2 Chronicles 8:11–10:19; Romans 8:9-21; Psalm 18:16-36; and Proverbs 19:26. The readings are the Contemporary English Version.
2 Chronicles 8:11-10:19 (Contemporary English Version)
11Solomon's wife, the daughter of the king of Egypt, moved from the part of Jerusalem called David's City to her new palace that Solomon had built. The sacred chest had been kept in David's City, which made his palace sacred, and so Solomon's wife could no longer live there.
12Solomon offered sacrifices to the LORD on the altar he had built in front of the temple.
13He followed the requirements that Moses had given for sacrifices offered on the Sabbath, on the first day of each month, the Festival of Thin Bread, the Harvest Festival, and the Festival of Shelters.
14Solomon then assigned the priests and the Levites their duties at the temple, and he followed the instructions that his father David had given him. Some of the Levites were to lead music and help the priests in their duties, and others were to guard the temple gates
15and the storage rooms. The priests and Levites followed these instructions exactly.
16Everything Solomon had planned to do was now finished--from the laying of the temple's foundation to its completion.
17Solomon went to Ezion-Geber and Eloth, two Edomite towns on the Red Sea. [a]
18Hiram sent him ships and some of his experienced sailors. They went with Solomon's own sailors to the country of Ophir [b] and brought back about seventeen tons of gold for Solomon.
12Solomon offered sacrifices to the LORD on the altar he had built in front of the temple.
13He followed the requirements that Moses had given for sacrifices offered on the Sabbath, on the first day of each month, the Festival of Thin Bread, the Harvest Festival, and the Festival of Shelters.
14Solomon then assigned the priests and the Levites their duties at the temple, and he followed the instructions that his father David had given him. Some of the Levites were to lead music and help the priests in their duties, and others were to guard the temple gates
15and the storage rooms. The priests and Levites followed these instructions exactly.
16Everything Solomon had planned to do was now finished--from the laying of the temple's foundation to its completion.
17Solomon went to Ezion-Geber and Eloth, two Edomite towns on the Red Sea. [a]
18Hiram sent him ships and some of his experienced sailors. They went with Solomon's own sailors to the country of Ophir [b] and brought back about seventeen tons of gold for Solomon.
2 Chronicles 9
The Queen of Sheba Visits Solomon
(1 Kings 10.1-13)
1The Queen of Sheba heard how famous Solomon was, so she went to Jerusalem to test him with difficult questions. She took along several of her officials, and she loaded her camels with gifts of spices, jewels, and gold. When she arrived, she and Solomon talked about everything she could think of. 2He answered every question, no matter how difficult it was.
3-4The Queen was amazed at Solomon's wisdom. She was breathless when she saw his palace, [c] the food on his table, his officials, all his servants in their uniforms, and the sacrifices he offered at the LORD's temple.
5She said: Solomon, in my own country I had heard about your wisdom and all you've done.
6But I didn't believe it until I saw it with my own eyes! And there's so much I didn't hear about. You are greater than I was told.
7Your people and officials are lucky to be here where they can listen to the wise things you say.
8I praise the LORD your God. He is pleased with you and has made you king of Israel. God loves the people of this country and will never desert them, so he has given them a king who will rule fairly and honestly.
9The Queen of Sheba gave Solomon almost five tons of gold, a large amount of jewels, and the best spices anyone had ever seen.
10-12In return, Solomon gave her everything she wanted--even more than she had given him. Then she and her officials went back to their own country.
Hiram's and Solomon's sailors brought gold, juniper wood, and jewels from the country of Ophir. Solomon used the wood to make steps [d] for the temple and palace, and harps and other stringed instruments for the musicians. Nothing like these had ever been made in Judah.
3-4The Queen was amazed at Solomon's wisdom. She was breathless when she saw his palace, [c] the food on his table, his officials, all his servants in their uniforms, and the sacrifices he offered at the LORD's temple.
5She said: Solomon, in my own country I had heard about your wisdom and all you've done.
6But I didn't believe it until I saw it with my own eyes! And there's so much I didn't hear about. You are greater than I was told.
7Your people and officials are lucky to be here where they can listen to the wise things you say.
8I praise the LORD your God. He is pleased with you and has made you king of Israel. God loves the people of this country and will never desert them, so he has given them a king who will rule fairly and honestly.
9The Queen of Sheba gave Solomon almost five tons of gold, a large amount of jewels, and the best spices anyone had ever seen.
10-12In return, Solomon gave her everything she wanted--even more than she had given him. Then she and her officials went back to their own country.
Hiram's and Solomon's sailors brought gold, juniper wood, and jewels from the country of Ophir. Solomon used the wood to make steps [d] for the temple and palace, and harps and other stringed instruments for the musicians. Nothing like these had ever been made in Judah.
Solomon's Wealth
(1 Kings 10.14-29)
13Solomon received about twenty-five tons of gold each year, 14not counting what the merchants and traders brought him. The kings of Arabia and the leaders of Israel also gave him gold and silver.
15Solomon made two hundred gold shields that weighed about seven and a half pounds each.
16He also made three hundred smaller gold shields that weighed almost four pounds, and he put these shields in his palace in Forest Hall.
17His throne was made of ivory and covered with pure gold.
18It had a gold footstool attached to it and armrests on each side. There was a statue of a lion on each side of the throne,
19and there were two lion statues on each of the six steps leading up to the throne. No other throne in the world was like Solomon's.
20Solomon's cups and dishes in Forest Hall were made of pure gold, because silver was almost worthless in those days.
21Solomon had a lot of seagoing ships. [e] Every three years he sent them out with Hiram's ships to bring back gold, silver, and ivory, as well as monkeys and peacocks. [f]
22Solomon was the richest and wisest king in the world.
23-24Year after year, other kings came to hear the wisdom God had given him. And they brought gifts of silver and gold, as well as clothes, weapons, spices, horses, and mules.
25Solomon had four thousand stalls for his horses and chariots, and he owned twelve thousand horses that he kept in Jerusalem and other towns.
26He ruled all the nations from the Euphrates River in the north to the land of Philistia in the south, as far as the border of Egypt.
27While Solomon was king, there was silver everywhere in Jerusalem, and cedar was as common as the sycamore trees in the western foothills.
28Solomon's horses were brought in from other countries, including Musri. [g]
15Solomon made two hundred gold shields that weighed about seven and a half pounds each.
16He also made three hundred smaller gold shields that weighed almost four pounds, and he put these shields in his palace in Forest Hall.
17His throne was made of ivory and covered with pure gold.
18It had a gold footstool attached to it and armrests on each side. There was a statue of a lion on each side of the throne,
19and there were two lion statues on each of the six steps leading up to the throne. No other throne in the world was like Solomon's.
20Solomon's cups and dishes in Forest Hall were made of pure gold, because silver was almost worthless in those days.
21Solomon had a lot of seagoing ships. [e] Every three years he sent them out with Hiram's ships to bring back gold, silver, and ivory, as well as monkeys and peacocks. [f]
22Solomon was the richest and wisest king in the world.
23-24Year after year, other kings came to hear the wisdom God had given him. And they brought gifts of silver and gold, as well as clothes, weapons, spices, horses, and mules.
25Solomon had four thousand stalls for his horses and chariots, and he owned twelve thousand horses that he kept in Jerusalem and other towns.
26He ruled all the nations from the Euphrates River in the north to the land of Philistia in the south, as far as the border of Egypt.
27While Solomon was king, there was silver everywhere in Jerusalem, and cedar was as common as the sycamore trees in the western foothills.
28Solomon's horses were brought in from other countries, including Musri. [g]
Solomon Dies
(1 Kings 11.41-43)
29Everything else Solomon did while he was king is written in the records of Nathan the prophet, Ahijah the prophet from Shiloh, and Iddo the prophet who wrote about Jeroboam son of Nebat. 30After Solomon had ruled forty years from Jerusalem,
31he died and was buried in the city of his father David. His son Rehoboam then became king.
31he died and was buried in the city of his father David. His son Rehoboam then became king.
2 Chronicles 10
Some of the People Rebel against Rehoboam
(1 Kings 12.1-20)
1Rehoboam went to Shechem where everyone was waiting to crown him king. 2Jeroboam son of Nebat heard what was happening, and he returned from Egypt, where he had gone to hide from Solomon.
3The people from the northern tribes of Israel sent for him. Then together they went to Rehoboam and said,
4"Your father Solomon forced us to work very hard. But if you make our work easier, we will serve you and do whatever you ask."
5Rehoboam replied, "Come back in three days for my answer." So the people left.
6Rehoboam went to some leaders who had been his father's senior officials, and he asked them, "What should I tell these people?"
7They answered, "If you want them to serve and obey you, then you should be kind and promise to make their work easier."
8But Rehoboam refused their advice and went to the younger men who had grown up with him and were now his officials.
9He asked, "What do you think I should say to these people who asked me to make their work easier?"
10His younger advisors said:
Here's what we think you should say to them: "Compared to me, my father was weak. [h]
11He made you work hard, but I'll make you work even harder. He punished you with whips, but I'll use whips with pieces of sharp metal!"
12Three days later, Jeroboam and the others came back.
13Rehoboam ignored the advice of the older advisors. He spoke bluntly
14and told them exactly what his own advisors had suggested. He said: "My father made you work hard, but I'll make you work even harder. He punished you with whips, but I'll use whips with pieces of sharp metal!"
15-19When the people realized that Rehoboam would not listen to them, they shouted: "We don't have to be loyal to David's family. We can do what we want. Come on, people of Israel, let's go home! Rehoboam can rule his own people."
Adoniram [i] was in charge of the work force, and Rehoboam sent him to talk to the people. But they stoned him to death. Then Rehoboam ran to his chariot and hurried back to Jerusalem. Everyone from Israel's northern tribes went home, leaving Rehoboam to rule only the people from Judah. And since that day, the people of Israel have been opposed to David's descendants in Judah. [j] All of this happened just as Ahijah the LORD's prophet from Shiloh had told Jeroboam.
Footnotes:- 2 Chronicles 8:17 Red Sea: Hebrew yam suph, here referring to the Gulf of Aqaba, since the term is extended to include the northeastern arm of the Red Sea (see also the note at Exodus 13.18).
- 2 Chronicles 8:18 Ophir: The location of this place is not known.
- 2 Chronicles 9:3 his palace: Or "the temple."
- 2 Chronicles 9:10 steps: Or "stools" or "railings."
- 2 Chronicles 9:21 seagoing ships: The Hebrew text has "ships of Tarshish," which may have been a Phoenician city in Spain. "Ships of Tarshish" probably means large, seagoing ships.
- 2 Chronicles 9:21 peacocks: Or "baboons."
- 2 Chronicles 9:28 Musri: See the note at 1.16,17.
- 2 Chronicles 10:10 Compared. . . weak: Hebrew "My little finger is bigger than my father's waist."
- 2 Chronicles 10:15 Adoniram: The Hebrew text has "Hadoram," another spelling of the name.
- 2 Chronicles 10:15 the people of Israel have been opposed. . . Judah: From this time on, "Israel" usually refers only to the northern kingdom. The southern kingdom is called "Judah."
3The people from the northern tribes of Israel sent for him. Then together they went to Rehoboam and said,
4"Your father Solomon forced us to work very hard. But if you make our work easier, we will serve you and do whatever you ask."
5Rehoboam replied, "Come back in three days for my answer." So the people left.
6Rehoboam went to some leaders who had been his father's senior officials, and he asked them, "What should I tell these people?"
7They answered, "If you want them to serve and obey you, then you should be kind and promise to make their work easier."
8But Rehoboam refused their advice and went to the younger men who had grown up with him and were now his officials.
9He asked, "What do you think I should say to these people who asked me to make their work easier?"
10His younger advisors said:
Here's what we think you should say to them: "Compared to me, my father was weak. [h]
11He made you work hard, but I'll make you work even harder. He punished you with whips, but I'll use whips with pieces of sharp metal!"
12Three days later, Jeroboam and the others came back.
13Rehoboam ignored the advice of the older advisors. He spoke bluntly
14and told them exactly what his own advisors had suggested. He said: "My father made you work hard, but I'll make you work even harder. He punished you with whips, but I'll use whips with pieces of sharp metal!"
15-19When the people realized that Rehoboam would not listen to them, they shouted: "We don't have to be loyal to David's family. We can do what we want. Come on, people of Israel, let's go home! Rehoboam can rule his own people."
Adoniram [i] was in charge of the work force, and Rehoboam sent him to talk to the people. But they stoned him to death. Then Rehoboam ran to his chariot and hurried back to Jerusalem. Everyone from Israel's northern tribes went home, leaving Rehoboam to rule only the people from Judah. And since that day, the people of Israel have been opposed to David's descendants in Judah. [j] All of this happened just as Ahijah the LORD's prophet from Shiloh had told Jeroboam.
Footnotes:
- 2 Chronicles 8:17 Red Sea: Hebrew yam suph, here referring to the Gulf of Aqaba, since the term is extended to include the northeastern arm of the Red Sea (see also the note at Exodus 13.18).
- 2 Chronicles 8:18 Ophir: The location of this place is not known.
- 2 Chronicles 9:3 his palace: Or "the temple."
- 2 Chronicles 9:10 steps: Or "stools" or "railings."
- 2 Chronicles 9:21 seagoing ships: The Hebrew text has "ships of Tarshish," which may have been a Phoenician city in Spain. "Ships of Tarshish" probably means large, seagoing ships.
- 2 Chronicles 9:21 peacocks: Or "baboons."
- 2 Chronicles 9:28 Musri: See the note at 1.16,17.
- 2 Chronicles 10:10 Compared. . . weak: Hebrew "My little finger is bigger than my father's waist."
- 2 Chronicles 10:15 Adoniram: The Hebrew text has "Hadoram," another spelling of the name.
- 2 Chronicles 10:15 the people of Israel have been opposed. . . Judah: From this time on, "Israel" usually refers only to the northern kingdom. The southern kingdom is called "Judah."
Romans 8:9-21 (Contemporary English Version)
9You are no longer ruled by your desires, but by God's Spirit, who lives in you. People who don't have the Spirit of Christ in them don't belong to him. 10But Christ lives in you. So you are alive because God has accepted you, even though your bodies must die because of your sins. 11Yet God raised Jesus to life! God's Spirit now lives in you, and he will raise you to life by his Spirit.
12My dear friends, we must not live to satisfy our desires. 13If you do, you will die. But you will live, if by the help of God's Spirit you say "No" to your desires. 14Only those people who are led by God's Spirit are his children. 15God's Spirit doesn't make us slaves who are afraid of him. Instead, we become his children and call him our Father. [a]16God's Spirit makes us sure that we are his children. 17His Spirit lets us know that together with Christ we will be given what God has promised. We will also share in the glory of Christ, because we have suffered with him.
12My dear friends, we must not live to satisfy our desires. 13If you do, you will die. But you will live, if by the help of God's Spirit you say "No" to your desires. 14Only those people who are led by God's Spirit are his children. 15God's Spirit doesn't make us slaves who are afraid of him. Instead, we become his children and call him our Father. [a]16God's Spirit makes us sure that we are his children. 17His Spirit lets us know that together with Christ we will be given what God has promised. We will also share in the glory of Christ, because we have suffered with him.
A Wonderful Future for God's People
18I am sure that what we are suffering now cannot compare with the glory that will be shown to us. 19In fact, all creation is eagerly waiting for God to show who his children are. 20Meanwhile, creation is confused, but not because it wants to be confused. God made it this way in the hope 21that creation would be set free from decay and would share in the glorious freedom of his children. Footnotes:- Romans 8:15 our Father: The Greek text uses the Aramaic word " Abba" (meaning " father" ), which shows the close relation between the children and their father.
Footnotes:
- Romans 8:15 our Father: The Greek text uses the Aramaic word " Abba" (meaning " father" ), which shows the close relation between the children and their father.
Psalm 18:16-36 (Contemporary English Version)
16You reached down from heaven,
and you lifted me
from deep in the ocean.
17You rescued me from enemies,
who were hateful
and too powerful for me.
18On the day disaster struck,
they came and attacked,
but you defended me.
19When I was fenced in,
you freed and rescued me
because you love me.
20You are good to me, LORD,
because I do right,
and you reward me
because I am innocent.
21I do what you want
and never turn to do evil.
22I keep your laws in mind
and never look away
from your teachings.
23I obey you completely
and guard against sin.
24You have been good to me
because I do right;
you have rewarded me
for being innocent
by your standards.
25You are always loyal
to your loyal people,
and you are faithful
to the faithful.
26With all who are sincere,
you are sincere,
but you treat the unfaithful
as their deeds deserve.
27You rescue the humble,
but you put down all
who are proud.
28You, the LORD God,
keep my lamp burning
and turn darkness to light.
29You help me defeat armies
and capture cities.
30Your way is perfect, LORD,
and your word is correct.
You are a shield for those
who run to you for help.
31You alone are God!
Only you are a mighty rock. [a] 32You give me strength
and guide me right.
33You make my feet run as fast
as those of a deer,
and you help me stand
on the mountains.
34You teach my hands to fight
and my arms to use
a bow of bronze.
35You alone are my shield.
Your right hand supports me,
and by coming to help me,
you have made me famous.
36You clear the way for me,
and now I won't stumble.
Footnotes:- Psalm 18:31 mighty rock: See the note at 18.2.
and you lifted me
from deep in the ocean.
17You rescued me from enemies,
who were hateful
and too powerful for me.
18On the day disaster struck,
they came and attacked,
but you defended me.
19When I was fenced in,
you freed and rescued me
because you love me.
20You are good to me, LORD,
because I do right,
and you reward me
because I am innocent.
21I do what you want
and never turn to do evil.
22I keep your laws in mind
and never look away
from your teachings.
23I obey you completely
and guard against sin.
24You have been good to me
because I do right;
you have rewarded me
for being innocent
by your standards.
25You are always loyal
to your loyal people,
and you are faithful
to the faithful.
26With all who are sincere,
you are sincere,
but you treat the unfaithful
as their deeds deserve.
27You rescue the humble,
but you put down all
who are proud.
28You, the LORD God,
keep my lamp burning
and turn darkness to light.
29You help me defeat armies
and capture cities.
30Your way is perfect, LORD,
and your word is correct.
You are a shield for those
who run to you for help.
31You alone are God!
Only you are a mighty rock. [a] 32You give me strength
and guide me right.
33You make my feet run as fast
as those of a deer,
and you help me stand
on the mountains.
34You teach my hands to fight
and my arms to use
a bow of bronze.
35You alone are my shield.
Your right hand supports me,
and by coming to help me,
you have made me famous.
36You clear the way for me,
and now I won't stumble.
Footnotes:
- Psalm 18:31 mighty rock: See the note at 18.2.
Proverbs 19:26 (Contemporary English Version)
26Children who bring disgrace
rob their father
and chase their mother away.
rob their father
and chase their mother away.
Thought for the Day
“But Jesus said, ;Let the children come to me, and don't try to stop them! People who are like these children belong to God's kingdom.'” (Matthew 19:14 - Contemporary English Version) The Kingdom of Heaven doesn't belong to the rich and powerful but to the humble and meek. As a matter of fact, in God's rule, greatness is shown by a willingness to serve others.
Quote for the Day
Italian-British architect noted for his modernist and functionalist designs in high-tech architecture, Richard Rogers wrote, “Architecture is always political.”
A Joke for Today
Two rural church deacons who were having a sociable beer in the local tavern when they saw their minister drive by and take a good long look at their pickup trucks parked outside.
One deacon ducked down and said, "I hope the reverend didn't see us or recognize my pickup."
The other replied indifferently, "What difference does it make. God knows we're in here... and he's the only one who counts."
The first deacon countered, "But God won't tell my wife."
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 those in national authority would be given godly counsel and God-fearing advisors.
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