the First Week of Advent
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Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading
August 27 - Old & New Testament
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2 Chronicles 4,5,6
The Altar, Reservoir, and Basins
1 He made a bronze altar(a) 30 feet[a] long, 30 feet[b] wide, and 15 feet[c] high.
2 Then he made the cast metal reservoir,(b) 15 feet[d] from brim to brim, perfectly round. It was 7½ feet[e] high and 45 feet[f] in circumference. 3 The likeness of oxen[g] was below it, completely encircling it, 10 every half yard,[h] completely surrounding the reservoir. The oxen were cast in two rows when the reservoir was cast. 4 It stood on 12 oxen, three facing north, three facing west, three facing south, and three facing east. The reservoir was on top of them and all their hindquarters were toward the center. 5 The reservoir was three inches[i] thick, and its rim was fashioned like the brim of a cup or a lily blossom. It could hold 11,000 gallons.[j]
6 He made 10 basins for washing and he put five on the right and five on the left.(c) The parts of the burnt offering were rinsed in them,(d) but the reservoir was used by the priests for washing.
The Lampstands, Tables, and Courts
7 He made the 10 gold lampstands according to their specifications and put them in the sanctuary, five on the right and five on the left.(e) 8 He made 10 tables and placed them in the sanctuary, five on the right and five on the left.(f) He also made 100 gold bowls.
9 He made the courtyard(g) of the priests and the large court, and doors for the court. He overlaid the doors with bronze. 10 He put the reservoir on the right side, toward the southeast.(h) 11 Then Huram[k](i) made(j) the pots, the shovels, and the bowls.
Completion of the Bronze Furnishings
So Huram finished doing the work that he was doing for King Solomon in God's temple: 12 two pillars; the bowls and the capitals on top of the two pillars; the two gratings for covering both bowls of the capitals that were on top of the pillars; 13 the 400 pomegranates for the two gratings (two rows of pomegranates for each grating covering both capitals' bowls on top of the pillars(k)). 14 He also made the water carts[l](l) and the basins on the water carts. 15 The one reservoir and the 12 oxen underneath it, 16 the pots, the shovels, the forks, and all their utensils—Huram-abi[m](m) made them for King Solomon for the Lord 's temple. All these were made of polished bronze. 17 The king had them cast in clay molds in the Jordan Valley between Succoth and Zeredah. 18 Solomon made all these utensils in such great abundance that the weight of the bronze was not determined.
Completion of the Gold Furnishings
19 Solomon also made all the equipment in God's temple: the gold altar; the tables on which to put the bread of the Presence;(n) 20 the lampstands and their lamps of pure gold to burn in front of the inner sanctuary according to specifications;(o) 21 the flowers, lamps, and gold tongs—of purest gold; 22 the wick trimmers, sprinkling basins, ladles,[n] and firepans—of purest gold; and the entryway to the temple, its inner doors to the most holy place, and the doors of the temple sanctuary—of gold.
1 So all the work Solomon did for the Lord 's temple was completed. Then Solomon brought the consecrated things of his father David—the silver, the gold, and all the utensils—and put them in the treasuries of God's temple.
Preparations for the Temple Dedication
2 At that time(a) Solomon assembled at Jerusalem the elders of Israel—all the tribal heads, the ancestral chiefs of the Israelites—in order to bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord up from the city of David,(b) that is, Zion. 3 So all the men of Israel were assembled in the king's presence at the festival; this was in the seventh month.[a]
4 All the elders of Israel came, and the Levites picked up the ark. 5 They brought up the ark, the tent of meeting, and the holy utensils that were in the tent. The priests and the Levites brought them up. 6 King Solomon and the entire congregation of Israel who had gathered around him were in front of the ark sacrificing sheep and cattle that could not be counted or numbered because there were so many. 7 The priests brought the ark of the Lord 's covenant to its place, into the inner sanctuary of the temple, to the most holy place, beneath the wings of the cherubim.(c) 8 And the cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark so that the cherubim formed a cover above the ark and its poles. 9 The poles were so long that their ends were seen from the holy place[b](d) in front of the inner sanctuary, but they were not seen from outside; they are there to this very day. 10 Nothing was in the ark except the two tablets that Moses had put in it at Horeb,[c](e) where the Lord had made a covenant with the Israelites when they came out of Egypt.
11 Now all the priests who were present had consecrated themselves regardless of their divisions.(f) When the priests came out of the holy place, 12 the Levitical singers dressed in fine linen and carrying cymbals, harps, and lyres(g) were standing east of the altar, and with them were 120 priests blowing trumpets.(h) The Levitical singers were descendants of Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun and their sons(i) and relatives. 13 The trumpeters and singers joined together to praise and thank the Lord with one voice. They raised their voices, accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and musical instruments,(j) in praise to the Lord :
For He is good;
His faithful love endures forever.(k)
The temple, the Lord 's temple, was filled with a cloud.(l) 14 And because of the cloud, the priests were not able to continue ministering, for the glory of the Lord filled God's temple.(m)
Solomon's Dedication of the Temple
1 Then Solomon said:(a)
The
Lord
said He would dwell in thick darkness,(b)
2 but I have built an exalted temple for You,
a place for Your residence forever.
3 Then the king turned and blessed the entire congregation of Israel while they were standing. 4 He said:
May the
Lord
God of Israel be praised!
He spoke directly to my father David,
and He has fulfilled the promise
by His power.
He said,
5 "Since the day I brought My people Israel
out of the land of Egypt,(c)
I have not chosen a city to build a temple in
among any of the tribes of Israel,
so that My name would be there,
and I have not chosen a man
to be ruler over My people Israel.
6 But I have chosen Jerusalem
so that My name will be there,(d)
and I have chosen David
to be over My people Israel."(e)
7 Now it was in the heart of my father David
to build a temple for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel.(f)
8 However, Yahweh said to my father David,
"Since it was your desire to build a temple for My name,
you have done well to have this desire.
9 Yet, you are not the one to build the temple,
but your son, your own offspring,
will build the temple for My name."
10 So Yahweh has fulfilled what He promised.
I have taken the place of my father David
and I sit on the throne of Israel, as Yahweh promised.
I have built the temple for the name of Yahweh, the God of Israel.
11 I have put the ark there,
where Yahweh's covenant is
that He made with the Israelites.(g)
Solomon's Prayer
12 Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the entire congregation of Israel and spread out his hands. 13 For Solomon had made a bronze platform 7½ feet[a] long, 7½ feet[b] wide, and 4½ feet[c] high and put it in the court. He stood on it,(h) knelt down in front of the entire congregation of Israel, and spread out his hands toward heaven.(i) 14 He said:
Lord
God of Israel,
there is no God like You
in heaven or on earth,(j)
keeping His gracious covenant
with Your servants who walk before You
with their whole heart.(k)
15 You have kept what You promised
to Your servant, my father David.
You spoke directly to him,
and You fulfilled Your promise by Your power,
as it is today.(l)
16 Therefore,
Lord
God of Israel,
keep what You promised
to Your servant, my father David:
"You will never fail to have a man
to sit before Me on the throne of Israel,(m)
if only your sons guard their way to walk in My Law
as you have walked before Me."
17 Now,
Lord
God of Israel, please confirm
what You promised to Your servant David.
18 But will God indeed live on earth with man?
Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain You,(n)
much less this temple I have built.
19 Listen[d] to Your servant's prayer and his petition,
Lord
my God,
so that You may hear the cry and the prayer
that Your servant prays before You,
20 so that Your eyes watch over this temple
day and night,
toward the place where You said
You would put Your name;(o)
and so that You may hear the prayer
Your servant prays toward this place.
21 Hear the petitions of Your servant
and Your people Israel,
which they pray toward this place.
May You hear in Your dwelling place in heaven.
May You hear and forgive.
22 If a man sins against his neighbor
and is forced to take an oath[e]
and he comes to take an oath
before Your altar in this temple,
23 may You hear in heaven and act.
May You judge Your servants,
condemning the wicked man by bringing
what he has done on his own head
and providing justice for the righteous
by rewarding him according to his righteousness.
24 If Your people Israel are defeated before an enemy,
because they have sinned against You,
and they return to You and praise Your name,
and they pray and plead for mercy
before You in this temple,
25 may You hear in heaven
and forgive the sin of Your people Israel.
May You restore them to the land
You gave them and their ancestors.
26 When the skies are shut and there is no rain
because they have sinned against You,
and they pray toward this place
and praise Your name,
and they turn from their sins
because You are afflicting[f](p) them,
27 may You hear in heaven
and forgive the sin of Your servants
and Your people Israel,
so that You may teach them the good way
they should walk in.
May You send rain on Your land
that You gave Your people for an inheritance.
28 When there is famine on the earth,
when there is pestilence,
when there is blight, mildew, locust, or grasshopper,
when their enemies besiege them
in the region of their fortified cities,[g](q)
when there is any plague or illness,
29 whatever prayer or petition
anyone from your people Israel might have—
each man knowing his own affliction[h] and suffering,
and spreading out his hands toward this temple—
30 may You hear in heaven, Your dwelling place,
and may You forgive and repay the man
according to all his ways, since You know his heart,
for You alone know the human heart,(r)
31 so that they may fear You
and walk in Your ways
all the days they live on the land
You gave our ancestors.
32 Even for the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel
but has come from a distant land
because of Your great name
and Your mighty hand and outstretched arm:(s)
when he comes and prays toward this temple,
33 may You hear in heaven in Your dwelling place,
and do all the foreigner asks You.
Then all the peoples of the earth will know Your name,
to fear You as Your people Israel do
and know that this temple I have built
is called by Your name.(t)
34 When Your people go out to fight against their enemies,
wherever You send them,
and they pray to You
in the direction of this city You have chosen(u)
and the temple that I have built for Your name,
35 may You hear their prayer and petition in heaven
and uphold their cause.
36 When they sin against You—
for there is no one who does not sin(v)—
and You are angry with them
and hand them over to the enemy,
and their captors deport them
to a distant or nearby country,
37 and when they come to their senses
in the land where they were deported
and repent and petition You in their captors' land,
saying: "We have sinned and done wrong;
we have been wicked,"
38 and when they return to You with their whole mind and heart
in the land of their captivity where they were taken captive,
and when they pray in the direction of their land
that You gave their ancestors,
and the city You have chosen,
and toward the temple I have built for Your name,
39 may You hear their prayer and petitions in heaven,
Your dwelling place,
and uphold their cause.[i]
May You forgive Your people
who sinned against You.
40 Now, my God,
please let Your eyes be open
and Your ears attentive
to the prayer of this place.(w)
41 Now therefore:(x)
Arise,
Lord
God, come to Your resting place,
You and Your powerful ark.
May Your priests,
Lord
God, be clothed with salvation,
and may Your godly people rejoice in goodness.
42
Lord
God, do not reject Your anointed one;[j]
remember the loyalty of Your servant David.(y)
2 Corinthians 1
Chapter 1
Greeting
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by God's will,(a) and Timothy(b) our[a] brother:
To God's church at Corinth,(c) with all the saints who are throughout Achaia.(d)
2 Grace to you and peace(e) from God our Father(f) and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The God of Comfort
3 Praise(g) the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies(h) and the God of all comfort.(i) 4 He comforts us in all our affliction,[b] so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any kind of affliction, through the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For as the sufferings(j) of Christ(k) overflow to us, so through Christ our comfort also overflows.(l) 6 If we are afflicted,(m) it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is experienced in your endurance of the same sufferings that we suffer.(n) 7 And our hope(o) for you is firm, because we know that as you share(p) in the sufferings, so you will share in the comfort.
8 For we don't want you to be unaware, brothers, of our affliction that took place in Asia:(q) we were completely overwhelmed—beyond our strength(r)—so that we even despaired(s) of life. 9 Indeed, we personally had a death sentence within ourselves, so that we would not trust in ourselves but in God(t) who raises(u) the dead. 10 He has delivered(v) us from such a terrible death,(w) and He will deliver us. We have put our hope in Him that He will deliver us again 11 while you join in helping us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our[c] behalf for the gift that came to us through the prayers of many.
A Clear Conscience
12 For this is our confidence: The testimony(x) of our conscience(y) is that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you, with God-given sincerity and purity, not by fleshly[d] wisdom(z) but by God's grace.(aa) 13 Now we are writing nothing to you other than what you can read and also understand. I hope you will understand completely— 14 as you have partially understood us—that we are your reason for pride,(ab) as you are ours,(ac) in the day of our[e] Lord Jesus.(ad)
A Visit Postponed
15 I planned with this confidence to come to you first,(ae) so you could have a double benefit,[f] 16 and to go on to Macedonia(af) with your help, then come to you again from Macedonia and be given a start by you(ag) on my journey(ah) to Judea.(ai) 17 So when I planned this, was I irresponsible? Or what I plan, do I plan in a purely human[g](aj) way so that I say "Yes, yes" and "No, no" simultaneously? 18 As God is faithful,(ak) our message to you is not "Yes and no." 19 For the Son of God,(al) Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us—by me and Silvanus[h](am) and Timothy—did not become "Yes and no"; on the contrary, a final "Yes" has come in Him.(an) 20 For every one of God's promises(ao) is "Yes" in Him. Therefore, the "Amen"(ap) is also spoken through Him by us for God's glory.(aq) 21 Now it is God who strengthens us, with you, in Christ and has anointed(ar) us. 22 He has also sealed us and given us the Spirit as a down payment(as) in our hearts.(at)
23 I call on God as a witness,(au) on my life, that it was to spare you that I did not come to Corinth.(av) 24 I do not mean that we have control of[i] your faith, but we are workers with you for your joy, because you stand(aw) by faith.
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