Let's read the Bible together in the next year. Today our passages are 2 Samuel 7:1–8:18; John 14:15-31; Psalm 119:33-48; and Proverbs 15:33. The readings are the Contemporary English Version.
2 Samuel 7-8:18 (Contemporary English Version)
2 Samuel 7
The LORD's Message to David
(1 Chronicles 17.1-15)
1King David moved into his new palace, and the LORD let his kingdom be at peace. 2Then one day, as David was talking with Nathan the prophet, David said, "Look around! I live in a palace made of cedar, but the sacred chest has to stay in a tent." 3Nathan replied, "The LORD is with you, so do what you want!"
4That night, the LORD told Nathan 5to go to David and give him this message:
David, you are my servant, so listen to what I say. Why should you build a temple for me? 6I didn't live in a temple when I brought my people out of Egypt, and I don't live in one now. A tent has always been my home wherever I have gone with them. 7I chose leaders and told them to be like shepherds for my people Israel. But did I ever say anything to even one of them about building a cedar temple for me?
8David, this is what I, the LORD All-Powerful, say to you. I brought you in from the fields where you took care of sheep, and I made you the leader of my people. 9Wherever you went, I helped you and destroyed your enemies right in front of your eyes. I have made you one of the most famous people in the world.
10I have given my people Israel a land of their own where they can live in peace, and they won't have to tremble with fear any more. Evil nations won't bother them, as they did 11when I let judges rule my people. And I have kept your enemies from attacking you.
Now I promise that you and your descendants will be kings. 12I'll choose one of your sons to be king when you reach the end of your life and are buried in the tomb of your ancestors. I'll make him a strong ruler, 13and no one will be able to take his kingdom away from him. He will be the one to build a temple for me. 14I will be his father, and he will be my son.
When he does wrong, I'll see that he is corrected, just as children are corrected by their parents. 15But I will never put an end to my agreement with him, as I put an end to my agreement with Saul, who was king before you. 16I will make sure that one of your descendants will always be king.
17Nathan told David exactly what he had heard in the vision.
4That night, the LORD told Nathan 5to go to David and give him this message:
David, you are my servant, so listen to what I say. Why should you build a temple for me? 6I didn't live in a temple when I brought my people out of Egypt, and I don't live in one now. A tent has always been my home wherever I have gone with them. 7I chose leaders and told them to be like shepherds for my people Israel. But did I ever say anything to even one of them about building a cedar temple for me?
8David, this is what I, the LORD All-Powerful, say to you. I brought you in from the fields where you took care of sheep, and I made you the leader of my people. 9Wherever you went, I helped you and destroyed your enemies right in front of your eyes. I have made you one of the most famous people in the world.
10I have given my people Israel a land of their own where they can live in peace, and they won't have to tremble with fear any more. Evil nations won't bother them, as they did 11when I let judges rule my people. And I have kept your enemies from attacking you.
Now I promise that you and your descendants will be kings. 12I'll choose one of your sons to be king when you reach the end of your life and are buried in the tomb of your ancestors. I'll make him a strong ruler, 13and no one will be able to take his kingdom away from him. He will be the one to build a temple for me. 14I will be his father, and he will be my son.
When he does wrong, I'll see that he is corrected, just as children are corrected by their parents. 15But I will never put an end to my agreement with him, as I put an end to my agreement with Saul, who was king before you. 16I will make sure that one of your descendants will always be king.
17Nathan told David exactly what he had heard in the vision.
David Gives Thanks to the LORD
(1 Chronicles 17.16-27)
18David went into the tent he had set up for the sacred chest. Then he sat there and prayed: LORD All-Powerful, my family and I don't deserve what you have already done for us, 19and yet you have promised to do even more. Is this the way you usually treat people? [a] 20I am your servant, and you know my thoughts, so there is nothing more that I need to say. 21You have done this wonderful thing, and you have let me know about it, because you wanted to keep your promise. 22LORD All-Powerful, you are greater than all others. No one is like you, and you alone are God. Everything we have heard about you is true. 23And there is no other nation on earth like Israel, the nation you rescued from slavery in Egypt to be your own. You became famous by using great and wonderful miracles to force other nations and their gods out of your land, so your people could live here. [b] 24You have chosen Israel to be your people forever, and you have become their God. 25And now, LORD God, please do what you have promised me and my descendants. 26Then you will be famous forever, and everyone will say, "The LORD God All-Powerful rules Israel, and David's descendants are his chosen kings." 27After all, you really are Israel's God, the LORD All-Powerful. You've told me that you will let my descendants be kings. That's why I have the courage to pray to you like this, even though I am only your servant.
28LORD All-Powerful, you are God. You have promised me some very good things, and you can be trusted to do what you promise. 29Please bless my descendants and let them always be your chosen kings. You have already promised, and I'm sure that you will bless my family forever.
28LORD All-Powerful, you are God. You have promised me some very good things, and you can be trusted to do what you promise. 29Please bless my descendants and let them always be your chosen kings. You have already promised, and I'm sure that you will bless my family forever.
2 Samuel 8
A List of David's Victories in War
(1 Chronicles 18.1-13)
1Later, David attacked and badly defeated the Philistines. Israel was now free from their control. [c] 2David also defeated the Moabites. Then he made their soldiers lie down on the ground, and he measured them off with a rope. He would measure off two lengths of the rope and have those men killed, then he would measure off one length and let those men live. The people of Moab had to accept David as their ruler and pay taxes to him. 3David set out for the Euphrates River to build a monument [d] there. On his way, [e] he defeated the king of Zobah, whose name was Hadadezer the son of Rehob. 4In the battle, David captured seventeen hundred cavalry [f] and twenty thousand foot soldiers. He also captured war chariots, but he destroyed all but one hundred of them. [g] 5When troops from the Aramean kingdom of Damascus came to help Hadadezer, David killed twenty thousand of them. 6He left some of his soldiers in Damascus, and the Arameans had to accept David as their ruler and pay taxes to him. Everywhere David went, the LORD helped him win battles.
7Hadadezer's officers had carried their arrows in gold cases hung over their shoulders, but David took these cases [h]and brought them to Jerusalem. 8He also took a lot of bronze from the cities of Betah and Berothai, which had belonged to Hadadezer. 9-10King Toi of Hamath and King Hadadezer had been enemies. So when Toi heard that David had attacked and defeated [i] Hadadezer's whole army, he sent his son Joram to praise and congratulate David. Joram also brought him gifts made of silver, gold, and bronze. 11David gave these to the LORD, just as he had done with the silver and gold that he had captured from 12Edom, [j] Moab, Ammon, Philistia, and from King Hadadezer of Zobah. 13David fought the Edomite [k] army in Salt Valley and killed eighteen thousand of their soldiers. When he returned, he built a monument. [l] 14David left soldiers all through Edom, and the people of Edom had to accept him as their ruler. Wherever David went, the LORD helped him.
7Hadadezer's officers had carried their arrows in gold cases hung over their shoulders, but David took these cases [h]and brought them to Jerusalem. 8He also took a lot of bronze from the cities of Betah and Berothai, which had belonged to Hadadezer. 9-10King Toi of Hamath and King Hadadezer had been enemies. So when Toi heard that David had attacked and defeated [i] Hadadezer's whole army, he sent his son Joram to praise and congratulate David. Joram also brought him gifts made of silver, gold, and bronze. 11David gave these to the LORD, just as he had done with the silver and gold that he had captured from 12Edom, [j] Moab, Ammon, Philistia, and from King Hadadezer of Zobah. 13David fought the Edomite [k] army in Salt Valley and killed eighteen thousand of their soldiers. When he returned, he built a monument. [l] 14David left soldiers all through Edom, and the people of Edom had to accept him as their ruler. Wherever David went, the LORD helped him.
A List of David's Officials
(1 Chronicles 18.14-17)
15David ruled all Israel with fairness and justice. 16Joab the son of Zeruiah was the commander in chief of the army.
Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud kept the government records.
17Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abiathar the son of Ahimelech, [m] were the priests. Seraiah was the secretary.
18Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was the commander of [n] David's bodyguard. [o] David's sons were priests.
Footnotes:- 2 Samuel 7:19 Is this. . . people: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- 2 Samuel 7:23 You. . . here: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- 2 Samuel 8:1 Israel. . . control: Or "David also took the town of Metheg-Ammah away from them."
- 2 Samuel 8:3 monument: Kings sometimes set up monuments in lands they had conquered.
- 2 Samuel 8:3 David. . . way: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text. It may have been Hadadezer who was going to the Euphrates River. And he may have gone there either to build a monument or to put down a rebellion.
- 2 Samuel 8:4 seventeen hundred cavalry: Hebrew; one ancient translation and 1 Chronicles 18.4 "a thousand chariots and seven thousand cavalry."
- 2 Samuel 8:4 He also captured. . . them: Or "He crippled all but one hundred of the horses."
- 2 Samuel 8:7 Hadadezer's. . . cases: Or "Hadadezer's soldiers carried gold shields, but David took these shields."
- 2 Samuel 8:9 defeated: Or "killed."
- 2 Samuel 8:12 Edom: Some Hebrew manuscripts and two ancient translations (see also 1 Chronicles 18.11); most Hebrew manuscripts "Aram." In Hebrew the words for "Edom" and "Aram" look almost alike.
- 2 Samuel 8:13 Edomite: Some Hebrew manuscripts and two ancient translations (see also 1 Chronicles 18.12); most Hebrew manuscripts "Aramean." In Hebrew the words for "Edomite" and "Aramean" look almost alike.
- 2 Samuel 8:13 built a monument: Or "was famous."
- 2 Samuel 8:17 Abiathar the son of Ahimelech: One ancient translation and 1 Samuel 22.11-23; Hebrew "Ahimelech the son of Abiathar."
- 2 Samuel 8:18 was the commander of: Not in the Hebrew text of this verse, but see 1 Chronicles 18.17.
- 2 Samuel 8:18 David's bodyguard: The Hebrew text has "the Cherethites and the Pelethites," who were foreign soldiers hired by David to be his bodyguard.
Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud kept the government records.
17Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Abiathar the son of Ahimelech, [m] were the priests. Seraiah was the secretary.
18Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was the commander of [n] David's bodyguard. [o] David's sons were priests.
Footnotes:
- 2 Samuel 7:19 Is this. . . people: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- 2 Samuel 7:23 You. . . here: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text.
- 2 Samuel 8:1 Israel. . . control: Or "David also took the town of Metheg-Ammah away from them."
- 2 Samuel 8:3 monument: Kings sometimes set up monuments in lands they had conquered.
- 2 Samuel 8:3 David. . . way: One possible meaning for the difficult Hebrew text. It may have been Hadadezer who was going to the Euphrates River. And he may have gone there either to build a monument or to put down a rebellion.
- 2 Samuel 8:4 seventeen hundred cavalry: Hebrew; one ancient translation and 1 Chronicles 18.4 "a thousand chariots and seven thousand cavalry."
- 2 Samuel 8:4 He also captured. . . them: Or "He crippled all but one hundred of the horses."
- 2 Samuel 8:7 Hadadezer's. . . cases: Or "Hadadezer's soldiers carried gold shields, but David took these shields."
- 2 Samuel 8:9 defeated: Or "killed."
- 2 Samuel 8:12 Edom: Some Hebrew manuscripts and two ancient translations (see also 1 Chronicles 18.11); most Hebrew manuscripts "Aram." In Hebrew the words for "Edom" and "Aram" look almost alike.
- 2 Samuel 8:13 Edomite: Some Hebrew manuscripts and two ancient translations (see also 1 Chronicles 18.12); most Hebrew manuscripts "Aramean." In Hebrew the words for "Edomite" and "Aramean" look almost alike.
- 2 Samuel 8:13 built a monument: Or "was famous."
- 2 Samuel 8:17 Abiathar the son of Ahimelech: One ancient translation and 1 Samuel 22.11-23; Hebrew "Ahimelech the son of Abiathar."
- 2 Samuel 8:18 was the commander of: Not in the Hebrew text of this verse, but see 1 Chronicles 18.17.
- 2 Samuel 8:18 David's bodyguard: The Hebrew text has "the Cherethites and the Pelethites," who were foreign soldiers hired by David to be his bodyguard.
John 14:15-31 (Contemporary English Version)
The Holy Spirit Is Promised
15Jesus said to his disciples: If you love me, you will do as I command. 16Then I will ask the Father to send you the Holy Spirit who will help [a] you and always be with you. 17The Spirit will show you what is true. The people of this world cannot accept the Spirit, because they don't see or know him. But you know the Spirit, who is with you and will keep on living in you. 18I won't leave you like orphans. I will come back to you. 19In a little while the people of this world won't be able to see me, but you will see me. And because I live, you will live. 20Then you will know that I am one with the Father. You will know that you are one with me, and I am one with you. 21If you love me, you will do what I have said, and my Father will love you. I will also love you and show you what I am like.
22The other Judas, not Judas Iscariot, [b] then spoke up and asked, "Lord, what do you mean by saying that you will show us what you are like, but you will not show the people of this world?" 23Jesus replied:
If anyone loves me, they will obey me. Then my Father will love them, and we will come to them and live in them. 24But anyone who doesn't love me, won't obey me. What they have heard me say doesn't really come from me, but from the Father who sent me.
25I have told you these things while I am still with you. 26But the Holy Spirit will come and help [c] you, because the Father will send the Spirit to take my place. The Spirit will teach you everything and will remind you of what I said while I was with you. 27I give you peace, the kind of peace that only I can give. It isn't like the peace that this world can give. So don't be worried or afraid.
28You have already heard me say that I am going and that I will also come back to you. If you really love me, you should be glad that I am going back to the Father, because he is greater than I am.
29I am telling you this before I leave, so that when it does happen, you will have faith in me. 30I cannot speak with you much longer, because the ruler of this world is coming. But he has no power over me. 31I obey my Father, so that everyone in the world might know that I love him.
It is time for us to go now.
Footnotes:- John 14:16 help: The Greek word may mean " comfort," " encourage," or " defend."
- John 14:22 Iscariot: See the note at 6.71.
- John 14:26 help: See the note at 14.16.
22The other Judas, not Judas Iscariot, [b] then spoke up and asked, "Lord, what do you mean by saying that you will show us what you are like, but you will not show the people of this world?" 23Jesus replied:
If anyone loves me, they will obey me. Then my Father will love them, and we will come to them and live in them. 24But anyone who doesn't love me, won't obey me. What they have heard me say doesn't really come from me, but from the Father who sent me.
25I have told you these things while I am still with you. 26But the Holy Spirit will come and help [c] you, because the Father will send the Spirit to take my place. The Spirit will teach you everything and will remind you of what I said while I was with you. 27I give you peace, the kind of peace that only I can give. It isn't like the peace that this world can give. So don't be worried or afraid.
28You have already heard me say that I am going and that I will also come back to you. If you really love me, you should be glad that I am going back to the Father, because he is greater than I am.
29I am telling you this before I leave, so that when it does happen, you will have faith in me. 30I cannot speak with you much longer, because the ruler of this world is coming. But he has no power over me. 31I obey my Father, so that everyone in the world might know that I love him.
It is time for us to go now.
Footnotes:
- John 14:16 help: The Greek word may mean " comfort," " encourage," or " defend."
- John 14:22 Iscariot: See the note at 6.71.
- John 14:26 help: See the note at 14.16.
Psalm 119:33-48 (Contemporary English Version)
33Point out your rules to me,
and I won't disobey
even one of them.
34Help me to understand your Law;
I promise to obey it
with all my heart.
35Direct me by your commands!
I love to do what you say.
36Make me want to obey you,
rather than to be rich.
37Take away my foolish desires,
and let me find life
by walking with you.
38I am your servant!
Do for me what you promised
to those who worship you.
39Your wonderful teachings
protect me from the insults
that I hate so much.
40I long for your teachings.
Be true to yourself
and let me live.
41Show me your love
and save me, LORD,
as you have promised.
42Then I will have an answer
for everyone
who insults me
for trusting your word.
43I rely on your laws!
Don't take away my chance
to speak your truth.
44I will keep obeying your Law
forever and ever.
45I have gained perfect freedom
by following your teachings,
46and I trust them so much
that I tell them to kings.
47I love your commands!
They bring me happiness.
48I love and respect them
and will keep them in mind.
and I won't disobey
even one of them.
34Help me to understand your Law;
I promise to obey it
with all my heart.
35Direct me by your commands!
I love to do what you say.
36Make me want to obey you,
rather than to be rich.
37Take away my foolish desires,
and let me find life
by walking with you.
38I am your servant!
Do for me what you promised
to those who worship you.
39Your wonderful teachings
protect me from the insults
that I hate so much.
40I long for your teachings.
Be true to yourself
and let me live.
41Show me your love
and save me, LORD,
as you have promised.
42Then I will have an answer
for everyone
who insults me
for trusting your word.
43I rely on your laws!
Don't take away my chance
to speak your truth.
44I will keep obeying your Law
forever and ever.
45I have gained perfect freedom
by following your teachings,
46and I trust them so much
that I tell them to kings.
47I love your commands!
They bring me happiness.
48I love and respect them
and will keep them in mind.
Proverbs 15:33 (Contemporary English Version)
33Showing respect to the LORD
will make you wise,
and being humble
will bring honor to you.
will make you wise,
and being humble
will bring honor to you.
Thought for the Day
“My dear friends, you should be quick to listen and slow to speak or to get angry.” (James 1:19 - Contemporary English Version) Before we express an opinion, it just makes sense to pause and listen before we speak. You see, if we do, we'll avoid the embarrassment of being viewed as either ignorant or a liar.
Quote for the Day
American-born and naturalized Swiss singer, Tina Turner wrote, "Sometimes you've got to let everything go - purge yourself. If you are unhappy with anything... whatever is bringing you down, get rid of it. Because you'll find that when you're free, your true creativity, your true self comes out."
A Joke for Today
A man placed some flowers on the grave of his dearly departed mother and started back toward his car when his attention was diverted to another man kneeling at a grave. The man seemed to be praying with profound intensity and kept repeating, "Why did you have to die? Why did you have to die?"
The first man approached him and said, "Sir, I don't wish to interfere with your private grief, but this demonstration of pain is more than I've ever seen before. For whom do you mourn so deeply? A child? A parent?"
The mourner took a moment to collect himself, then replied, "My wife's first husband."
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 the arts would be open to biblical world views and principles.
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