Let's read the Bible together in the next year. Today our passages are 2 Samuel 23:24–24:25; Acts 3:1-26; Psalm 123:1-4; and Proverbs 16:21-23. The readings are the Contemporary English Version.
2 Samuel 23:24-24:25 (Contemporary English Version)
24-39Some of the Thirty Warriors were: Asahel the brother of Joab Elhanan the son of Dodo from Bethlehem Shammah from Harod Elika from Harod Helez the Paltite Ira the son of Ikkesh from Tekoa Abiezer from Anathoth Mebunnai [a] the Hushathite Zalmon the Ahohite Maharai from Netophah Heleb the son of Baanah from Netophah Ittai the son of Ribai from Gibeah of the tribe of Benjamin Benaiah from Pirathon Hiddai from the streams on Mount Gaash Abialbon from Beth-Arabah Azmaveth from Bahurim [b] Eliahba from Shaalbon Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai from Maacah Eliam the son of Ahithophel from Gilo Hezro from Carmel Paarai the Arbite Igal the son of Nathan from Zobah Bani the Gadite Zelek from Ammon Naharai from Beeroth, who carried the weapons of Joab the son of Zeruiah Ira the Ithrite Gareb the Ithrite Uriah the Hittite There were thirty-seven in all.
24-39Some of the Thirty Warriors were:
Asahel the brother of Joab
Elhanan the son of Dodo from Bethlehem
Shammah from Harod
Elika from Harod
Helez the Paltite
Ira the son of Ikkesh from Tekoa
Abiezer from Anathoth
Mebunnai [a] the Hushathite Zalmon the Ahohite
Maharai from Netophah
Heleb the son of Baanah from Netophah
Ittai the son of Ribai from Gibeah of the tribe of Benjamin
Benaiah from Pirathon
Hiddai from the streams on Mount Gaash
Abialbon from Beth-Arabah
Azmaveth from Bahurim [b] Eliahba from Shaalbon
Eliphelet the son of Ahasbai from Maacah
Eliam the son of Ahithophel from Gilo
Hezro from Carmel
Paarai the Arbite
Igal the son of Nathan from Zobah
Bani the Gadite
Zelek from Ammon
Naharai from Beeroth, who carried the weapons of Joab the son of Zeruiah
Ira the Ithrite
Gareb the Ithrite
Uriah the Hittite
There were thirty-seven in all.
2 Samuel 24
David Counts the People
(1 Chronicles 21.1-6)
1The LORD was angry at Israel again, and he made David think it would be a good idea to count the people in Israel and Judah. 2So David told Joab and the army officers, [e] "Go to every tribe in Israel, from the town of Dan in the north all the way south to Beersheba, and count everyone who can serve in the army. I want to know how many there are." 3Joab answered, "I hope the LORD your God will give you a hundred times more soldiers than you already have. I hope you will live to see that day! But why do you want to do a thing like this?" 4But when David refused to change his mind, Joab and the army officers went out and started counting the people. 5They crossed the Jordan River and began with [f] Aroer and the town in the middle of the river valley. From there they went toward Gad and on as far as Jazer. 6They went to Gilead and to Kadesh in Syria. [g] Then they went to Dan, Ijon, [h] and on toward Sidon. 7They came to the fortress of Tyre, then went through every town of the Hivites and the Canaanites. Finally, they went to Beersheba in the Southern Desert of Judah. 8After they had gone through the whole land, they went back to Jerusalem. It had taken them nine months and twenty days. 9Joab came and told David, "In Israel there are eight hundred thousand who can serve in the army, and in Judah there are five hundred thousand."
The LORD Punishes David
(1 Chronicles 21.7-17)
10After David had everyone counted, he felt guilty and told the LORD, "What I did was stupid and terribly wrong. LORD, please forgive me." 11Before David even got up the next morning, the LORD had told David's prophet Gad 12-13to take a message to David. Gad went to David and told him: You must choose one of three ways for the LORD to punish you: Will there be seven [i] years when the land won't grow enough food for your people? Or will your enemies chase you and make you run from them for three months? Or will there be three days of horrible disease in your land? Think about it and decide, because I have to give your answer to God, who sent me. 14David was really frightened and said, "It's a terrible choice to make! But the LORD is kind, and I'd rather have him punish us than for anyone else to do it." 15-16So that morning, the LORD sent an angel to spread a horrible disease everywhere in Israel, from Dan to Beersheba. And before it was over, seventy thousand people had died. When the angel was about to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD felt sorry for all the suffering he had caused and told the angel, "That's enough! Don't touch them." This happened at the threshing place that belonged to Araunah the Jebusite. 17David saw the angel killing everyone and told the LORD, "These people are like sheep with me as their shepherd. [j] I have sinned terribly, but they have done nothing wrong. Please, punish me and my family instead of them!"
10After David had everyone counted, he felt guilty and told the LORD, "What I did was stupid and terribly wrong. LORD, please forgive me." 11Before David even got up the next morning, the LORD had told David's prophet Gad 12-13to take a message to David. Gad went to David and told him:
You must choose one of three ways for the LORD to punish you: Will there be seven [i] years when the land won't grow enough food for your people? Or will your enemies chase you and make you run from them for three months? Or will there be three days of horrible disease in your land? Think about it and decide, because I have to give your answer to God, who sent me. 14David was really frightened and said, "It's a terrible choice to make! But the LORD is kind, and I'd rather have him punish us than for anyone else to do it."
15-16So that morning, the LORD sent an angel to spread a horrible disease everywhere in Israel, from Dan to Beersheba. And before it was over, seventy thousand people had died.
When the angel was about to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD felt sorry for all the suffering he had caused and told the angel, "That's enough! Don't touch them." This happened at the threshing place that belonged to Araunah the Jebusite.
17David saw the angel killing everyone and told the LORD, "These people are like sheep with me as their shepherd. [j] I have sinned terribly, but they have done nothing wrong. Please, punish me and my family instead of them!"
David Buys Araunah's Threshing Place
(1 Chronicles 21.18--22.1)
18-19That same day the prophet Gad came and told David, "Go to the threshing place that belongs to Araunah and build an altar there for the LORD." So David went. 20Araunah looked and saw David and his soldiers coming up toward him. He went over to David, bowed down low,21and said, "Your Majesty! Why have you come to see me?" David answered, "I've come to buy your threshing place. I have to build the LORD an altar here, so this disease will stop killing the people." 22Araunah said, "Take whatever you want and offer your sacrifice. Here are some oxen for the sacrifice. You can use the threshing-boards [k] and the wooden yokes for the fire. 23Take them--they're yours! I hope the LORD your God will be pleased with you." 24But David answered, "No! I have to pay you what they're worth. I can't offer the LORD my God a sacrifice that I got for nothing." So David bought the threshing place and the oxen for fifty pieces of silver. 25Then he built an altar for the LORD. He sacrificed animals and burned them on the altar. The LORD answered the prayers of the people, and no one else died from the terrible disease. Footnotes:- 2 Samuel 23:24 Mebunnai: Or "Sibbecai" (see 1 Chronicles 11.26-47).
- 2 Samuel 23:24 Bahurim: Or "Barhum."
- 2 Samuel 23:24 Jashen: Hebrew "sons of Jashen."
- 2 Samuel 23:24 Jonathan. . . Hararite: Some manuscripts of one ancient translation (see 1 Chronicles 26-47). In the Hebrew text Jonathan and Shammah are separate members of the list.
- 2 Samuel 24:2 Joab. . . officers: Some manuscripts of one ancient translation (see 24.4); 1 Chronicles 21.2; Hebrew "Joab, the officer of the army."
- 2 Samuel 24:5 began with: Some manuscripts of one ancient translation; Hebrew "set up camp in."
- 2 Samuel 24:6 Kadesh in Syria: Or "the lower slopes of Mount Hermon."
- 2 Samuel 24:6 Dan, Ijon: Or "Danjaan," an unknown place.
- 2 Samuel 24:12 seven: Hebrew; some manuscripts of one ancient translation "three" (see 1 Chronicles 21.12).
- 2 Samuel 24:17 as their shepherd: The Dead Sea Scrolls, and some manuscripts of two ancient translations (see 1 Chronicles 21.17); these words are not in the Standard Hebrew Text of this verse.
- 2 Samuel 24:22 threshing-boards: Heavy boards with bits of rock or metal on the bottom. They were dragged across the grain to separate the husks from the kernels.
18-19That same day the prophet Gad came and told David, "Go to the threshing place that belongs to Araunah and build an altar there for the LORD." So David went.
20Araunah looked and saw David and his soldiers coming up toward him. He went over to David, bowed down low,21and said, "Your Majesty! Why have you come to see me?"
David answered, "I've come to buy your threshing place. I have to build the LORD an altar here, so this disease will stop killing the people."
22Araunah said, "Take whatever you want and offer your sacrifice. Here are some oxen for the sacrifice. You can use the threshing-boards [k] and the wooden yokes for the fire. 23Take them--they're yours! I hope the LORD your God will be pleased with you." 24But David answered, "No! I have to pay you what they're worth. I can't offer the LORD my God a sacrifice that I got for nothing." So David bought the threshing place and the oxen for fifty pieces of silver. 25Then he built an altar for the LORD. He sacrificed animals and burned them on the altar.
The LORD answered the prayers of the people, and no one else died from the terrible disease.
Footnotes:
- 2 Samuel 23:24 Mebunnai: Or "Sibbecai" (see 1 Chronicles 11.26-47).
- 2 Samuel 23:24 Bahurim: Or "Barhum."
- 2 Samuel 23:24 Jashen: Hebrew "sons of Jashen."
- 2 Samuel 23:24 Jonathan. . . Hararite: Some manuscripts of one ancient translation (see 1 Chronicles 26-47). In the Hebrew text Jonathan and Shammah are separate members of the list.
- 2 Samuel 24:2 Joab. . . officers: Some manuscripts of one ancient translation (see 24.4); 1 Chronicles 21.2; Hebrew "Joab, the officer of the army."
- 2 Samuel 24:5 began with: Some manuscripts of one ancient translation; Hebrew "set up camp in."
- 2 Samuel 24:6 Kadesh in Syria: Or "the lower slopes of Mount Hermon."
- 2 Samuel 24:6 Dan, Ijon: Or "Danjaan," an unknown place.
- 2 Samuel 24:12 seven: Hebrew; some manuscripts of one ancient translation "three" (see 1 Chronicles 21.12).
- 2 Samuel 24:17 as their shepherd: The Dead Sea Scrolls, and some manuscripts of two ancient translations (see 1 Chronicles 21.17); these words are not in the Standard Hebrew Text of this verse.
- 2 Samuel 24:22 threshing-boards: Heavy boards with bits of rock or metal on the bottom. They were dragged across the grain to separate the husks from the kernels.
Acts 3:1-26 (Contemporary English Version)
Acts 3
Peter and John Heal a Lame Man
1The time of prayer [a] was about three o'clock in the afternoon, and Peter and John were going into the temple. 2A man who had been born lame was being carried to the temple door. Each day he was placed beside this door, known as the Beautiful Gate. He sat there and begged from the people who were going in. 3The man saw Peter and John entering the temple, and he asked them for money. 4But they looked straight at him and said, "Look up at us!" 5The man stared at them and thought he was going to get something. 6But Peter said, "I don't have any silver or gold! But I will give you what I do have. In the name of Jesus Christ from Nazareth, get up and start walking." 7Peter then took him by the right hand and helped him up. At once the man's feet and ankles became strong, 8and he jumped up and started walking. He went with Peter and John into the temple, walking and jumping and praising God. 9Everyone saw him walking around and praising God. 10They knew that he was the beggar who had been lying beside the Beautiful Gate, and they were completely surprised. They could not imagine what had happened to the man.
1The time of prayer [a] was about three o'clock in the afternoon, and Peter and John were going into the temple. 2A man who had been born lame was being carried to the temple door. Each day he was placed beside this door, known as the Beautiful Gate. He sat there and begged from the people who were going in. 3The man saw Peter and John entering the temple, and he asked them for money. 4But they looked straight at him and said, "Look up at us!"
5The man stared at them and thought he was going to get something. 6But Peter said, "I don't have any silver or gold! But I will give you what I do have. In the name of Jesus Christ from Nazareth, get up and start walking." 7Peter then took him by the right hand and helped him up.
At once the man's feet and ankles became strong, 8and he jumped up and started walking. He went with Peter and John into the temple, walking and jumping and praising God. 9Everyone saw him walking around and praising God. 10They knew that he was the beggar who had been lying beside the Beautiful Gate, and they were completely surprised. They could not imagine what had happened to the man.
Peter Speaks in the Temple
11While the man kept holding on to Peter and John, the whole crowd ran to them in amazement at the place known as Solomon's Porch. [b] 12Peter saw that a crowd had gathered, and he said: Friends, why are you surprised at what has happened? Why are you staring at us? Do you think we have some power of our own? Do you think we were able to make this man walk because we are so religious? 13The God that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and our other ancestors worshiped has brought honor to his Servant [c] Jesus. He is the one you betrayed. You turned against him when he was being tried by Pilate, even though Pilate wanted to set him free. 14You rejected Jesus, who was holy and good. You asked for a murderer to be set free, 15and you killed the one who leads people to life. But God raised him from death, and all of us can tell you what he has done. 16You see this man, and you know him. He put his faith in the name of Jesus and was made strong. Faith in Jesus made this man completely well while everyone was watching. 17My friends, I am sure that you and your leaders didn't know what you were doing. 18But God had his prophets tell that his Messiah would suffer, and now he has kept that promise. 19So turn to God! Give up your sins, and you will be forgiven. 20Then that time will come when the Lord will give you fresh strength. He will send you Jesus, his chosen Messiah. 21But Jesus must stay in heaven until God makes all things new, just as his holy prophets promised long ago. 22Moses said, "The Lord your God will choose one of your own people to be a prophet, just as he chose me. Listen to everything he tells you. 23No one who disobeys that prophet will be one of God's people any longer." 24Samuel and all the other prophets who came later also spoke about what is now happening. 25You are really the ones God told his prophets to speak to. And you were given the promise that God made to your ancestors. He said to Abraham, "All nations on earth will be blessed because of someone from your family." 26God sent his chosen Son [d] to you first, because God wanted to bless you and make each one of you turn away from your sins. Footnotes:
11While the man kept holding on to Peter and John, the whole crowd ran to them in amazement at the place known as Solomon's Porch. [b] 12Peter saw that a crowd had gathered, and he said: Friends, why are you surprised at what has happened? Why are you staring at us? Do you think we have some power of our own? Do you think we were able to make this man walk because we are so religious? 13The God that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and our other ancestors worshiped has brought honor to his Servant [c] Jesus. He is the one you betrayed. You turned against him when he was being tried by Pilate, even though Pilate wanted to set him free. 14You rejected Jesus, who was holy and good. You asked for a murderer to be set free, 15and you killed the one who leads people to life. But God raised him from death, and all of us can tell you what he has done. 16You see this man, and you know him. He put his faith in the name of Jesus and was made strong. Faith in Jesus made this man completely well while everyone was watching. 17My friends, I am sure that you and your leaders didn't know what you were doing. 18But God had his prophets tell that his Messiah would suffer, and now he has kept that promise. 19So turn to God! Give up your sins, and you will be forgiven. 20Then that time will come when the Lord will give you fresh strength. He will send you Jesus, his chosen Messiah. 21But Jesus must stay in heaven until God makes all things new, just as his holy prophets promised long ago.
22Moses said, "The Lord your God will choose one of your own people to be a prophet, just as he chose me. Listen to everything he tells you. 23No one who disobeys that prophet will be one of God's people any longer."
24Samuel and all the other prophets who came later also spoke about what is now happening. 25You are really the ones God told his prophets to speak to. And you were given the promise that God made to your ancestors. He said to Abraham, "All nations on earth will be blessed because of someone from your family." 26God sent his chosen Son [d] to you first, because God wanted to bless you and make each one of you turn away from your sins.
Footnotes:
Psalm 123:1-4 (Contemporary English Version)
Psalm 123
(A song for worship.)
A Prayer for Mercy
1Our LORD and our God, I turn my eyes to you, on your throne in heaven. 2Servants look to their master, but we will look to you, until you have mercy on us. 3Please have mercy, LORD! We have been insulted more than we can stand, 4and we can't take more abuse from those proud, conceited people.
1Our LORD and our God, I turn my eyes to you,
on your throne in heaven.
2Servants look to their master,
but we will look to you,
until you have mercy on us.
3Please have mercy, LORD!
We have been insulted
more than we can stand,
4and we can't take more abuse
from those proud,
conceited people.
Proverbs 16:21-23 (Contemporary English Version)
21Good judgment proves that you are wise, and if you speak kindly, you can teach others. 22Good sense is a fountain that gives life, but fools are punished by their foolishness. 23You can persuade others if you are wise and speak sensibly.
21Good judgment proves
that you are wise,
and if you speak kindly,
you can teach others.
22Good sense is a fountain
that gives life,
but fools are punished
by their foolishness.
23You can persuade others
if you are wise
and speak sensibly.
Thought for the Day
“That's why you must encourage and help each other, just as you are already doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11 - Contemporary English Version) A relationship with Jesus Christ isn't actually about me; rather, it's about us. You see, we've been called together to be his body; therefore, we should encourage one another as much as we can.
Quote for the Day
American anthropologist and folklorist, Ruth Benedict wrote, "The purpose of anthropology is to make the world safe for human differences."
A Joke for Today
As the storm raged, the captain realized his ship was sinking fast. He called out, "Anyone here know how to pray?" One man stepped forward. "Aye, Captain, I know how to pray." "Good," said the captain, "You pray while the rest of us put on our life jackets. We're one short."
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 God would protect our service men and women both home and abroad.
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