the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading
May 29 - Bible-in-a-Year
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1 Samuel 13
Chapter 13
Saul's Failure
1 Saul was 30 years[a] old when he became king, and he reigned 42 years[b] over Israel.[c] 2 He chose 3,000 men from Israel for himself: 2,000 were with Saul at Michmash(a) and in Bethel's hill country, and 1,000 were with Jonathan in Gibeah(b) of Benjamin. He sent the rest of the troops away, each to his own tent.
3 Jonathan attacked the Philistine garrison[d](c) that was in Geba,(d) and the Philistines heard about it. So Saul blew the ram's horn throughout the land(e) saying, "Let the Hebrews hear!"[e](f) 4 And all Israel heard the news, "Saul has attacked the Philistine garrison,[f] and Israel is now repulsive to the Philistines." Then the troops were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.
5 The Philistines also gathered to fight against Israel: 3,000[g] chariots, 6,000 horsemen, and troops as numerous as the sand on the seashore.(g) They went up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven.[h](h)
6 The men of Israel saw that they were in trouble because the troops were in a difficult situation. They hid in caves, thickets, among rocks, and in holes and cisterns.(i) 7 Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead.
Saul, however, was still at Gilgal, and all his troops were gripped with fear. 8 He waited seven days for the appointed time that Samuel had set,(j) but Samuel didn't come to Gilgal, and the troops were deserting him. 9 So Saul said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings." Then he offered the burnt offering.
10 Just as he finished offering the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. So Saul went out to greet him, 11 and Samuel asked, "What have you done?"
Saul answered, "When I saw that the troops were deserting me and you didn't come within the appointed days and the Philistines were gathering at Michmash, 12 I thought: The Philistines will now descend on me at Gilgal, and I haven't sought the Lord 's favor. So I forced myself to offer the burnt offering."
13 Samuel said to Saul, "You have been foolish.(k) You have not kept the command which the Lord your God gave you.(l) It was at this time that the Lord would have permanently established your reign over Israel,(m) 14 but now your reign will not endure.(n) The Lord has found a man loyal to Him,[i](o) and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not done what the Lord commanded." 15 Then Samuel went[j] from Gilgal to Gibeah in Benjamin. Saul registered the troops who were with him, about 600 men.
16 Saul, his son Jonathan, and the troops who were with them were staying in Geba(p) of Benjamin, and the Philistines were camped at Michmash. 17 Raiding parties(q) went out from the Philistine camp in three divisions. One division headed toward the Ophrah(r) road leading to the land of Shual. 18 The next division headed toward the Beth-horon(s) road, and the last division headed down the border road that looks out over the Valley of Zeboim(t) toward the wilderness.
19 No blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel,(u) because the Philistines had said, "Otherwise, the Hebrews will make swords or spears." 20 So all the Israelites went to the Philistines to sharpen their plows, mattocks, axes, and sickles.[k] 21 The price was two-thirds of a shekel[l] for plows and mattocks, and one-third of a shekel for pitchforks and axes, and for putting a point on an oxgoad. 22 So on the day of battle not a sword or spear could be found in the hand of any of the troops who were with Saul(v) and Jonathan; only Saul and his son Jonathan had weapons.
Jonathan's Victory over the Philistines
23 Now a Philistine garrison(w) took control of the pass at Michmash.
Psalms 58
Chapter 58
Psalm 58
A Cry against Injustice
For the choir director: "Do Not Destroy."[a] A Davidic Miktam.
1 Do you really speak righteously, you mighty ones?[b]
Do you judge people fairly?(a)
2 No, you practice injustice in your hearts;
with your hands you weigh out violence in the land.(b)
3 The wicked go astray from the womb;
liars err from birth.(c)
4 They have venom like the venom of a snake,
like the deaf cobra that stops up its ears,(d)
5 that does not listen to the sound of the charmers
who skillfully weave spells.(e)
6 God, knock the teeth out of their mouths;
Lord
, tear out the young lions' fangs.(f)
7 They will vanish like water that flows by;
they will aim their useless arrows.[c][d](g)
8 Like a slug that moves along in slime,
like a woman's miscarried child,
they will not see the sun.(h)
9 Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns—
whether green or burning—
He will sweep them away.[e](i)
10 The righteous one will rejoice
when he sees the retribution;(j)
he will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.(k)
11 Then people will say,
"Yes, there is a reward for the righteous!
There is a God who judges on earth!"(l)
Romans 4
Chapter 4
Abraham Justified by Faith
1 What then can we say that Abraham, our physical ancestor,[a](a) has found? 2 If Abraham was justified[b] by works,(b) he has something to brag about—but not before God.[c] 3 For what does the Scripture say?
Abraham believed God,
and it was credited to him for righteousness.
(c)[d]
4 Now to the one who works,(d) pay is not considered as a gift, but as something owed. 5 But to the one who does not work, but believes on Him who declares the ungodly to be righteous,[e](e) his faith is credited for righteousness.
David Celebrating the Same Truth
6 Likewise, David also speaks of the blessing of the man God credits righteousness to apart from works:
7
How joyful are those whose lawless acts are forgiven
and whose sins are covered!
8
How joyful is the man
the Lord will never charge with sin!
(f)[f]
Abraham Justified before Circumcision
9 Is this blessing only for the circumcised,(g) then? Or is it also for the uncircumcised? For we say, Faith was credited to Abraham for righteousness. (h)[g] 10 In what way then was it credited—while he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while he was circumcised, but uncircumcised. 11 And he received the sign of circumcision(i) as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith[h](j) while still uncircumcised. This was to make him the father(k) of all who believe(l) but are not circumcised, so that righteousness may be credited to them also. 12 And he became the father of the circumcised, who are not only circumcised but who also follow in the footsteps of the faith our father Abraham had while he was still uncircumcised.
The Promise Granted through Faith
13 For the promise to Abraham(m) or to his descendants that he would inherit the world(n) was not through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.[i] 14 If those who are of the law are heirs,(o) faith is made empty and the promise is canceled. 15 For the law produces wrath.(p) And where there is no law,(q) there is no transgression.
16 This is why the promise is by faith, so that it may be according to grace,(r) to guarantee it to all the descendants(s)—not only to those who are of the law[j] but also to those who are of Abraham's faith. He is the father of us all 17 in God's sight. As it is written: I have made you the father of many nations. (t)[k] He believed in God, who gives life to the dead(u) and calls(v) things into existence that do not exist.(w) 18 He believed, hoping against hope, so that he became the father of many nations (x)[l] according to what had been spoken: So will your descendants be. (y)[m] 19 He considered[n] his own body to be already dead(z) (since he was about 100 years old)(aa) and also considered the deadness of Sarah's womb,(ab) without weakening in the faith. 20 He did not waver in unbelief at God's promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,(ac) 21 because he was fully convinced(ad) that what He had promised He was also able to perform.(ae) 22 Therefore, it was credited to him for righteousness. (af)[o] 23 Now it was credited to him was not written for Abraham alone,(ag) 24 but also for us. It will be credited to us who believe in Him(ah) who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.(ai) 25 He was delivered up for[p] our trespasses(aj) and raised for[q] our justification.[r](ak)
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