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Daily Bible Reading
September 5 - Old & New Testament
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2 Chronicles 23
Chapter 23
Jehoiada Sets Joash on the Throne of Judah
1 (C1)Now in the seventh year, Jehoiada gathered his courage, and took captains of hundreds: Azariah the son of Jeroham, Ishmael the son of Johanan, Azariah the son of Obed, Maaseiah the son of Adaiah, and Elishaphat the son of Zichri, and they entered into a covenant with him.2 And they went throughout Judah and gathered the Levites from all the cities of Judah, and the heads of the fathers' households of (C1)Israel, and they came to Jerusalem.3 Then all the assembly made a covenant with the king in the house of God. And (F1)Jehoiada said to them, "Behold, the king's son shall reign, (C1)as the LORD has spoken concerning the sons of David.4 "This is the thing which you shall do: a third of you, of the priests and Levites (C1)who come in on the Sabbath, shall be gatekeepers,5 and a third shall be at the king's house, and a third at the Gate of the Foundation; and all the people shall be in the courtyards of the house of the LORD.6 "But no one is to enter the house of the LORD except the priests and (C1)the ministering Levites; they may enter, for they are holy. And all the people are to keep the command of the LORD.7 "The Levites will surround the king, each man with his weapons in his hand; and whoever enters the house is to be put to death. Therefore be with the king when he comes in and when he goes out."
8 The Levites and all Judah did according to all that Jehoiada the priest commanded. And each one of them took his men who were to come in on the Sabbath, with those who were to go out on the Sabbath, for Jehoiada the priest did not dismiss any of (C1)the divisions.9 Then Jehoiada the priest gave the captains of hundreds the spears and the shields and quivers which had been King David's, which were in the house of God.10 He stationed all the people, each man with his weapon in his hand, from the right (F1)side of the house to the left (F1)side of the house, by the altar and by the house, around the king.11 Then they brought out the king's son and put the crown on him, and gave him (C1)the testimony and made him king. And Jehoiada and his sons anointed him and said, "(C2)Long live the king!"
Athaliah Murdered
12 When Athaliah heard the noise of the people running and praising the king, she went into the house of the LORD to the people.13 She looked, and behold, the king was standing by his pillar at the entrance, and the captains and the (F1)trumpeters were beside the king. And all the people of the land rejoiced and blew trumpets, the singers with their musical instruments (F2)leading the praise. Then Athaliah tore her clothes and said, "Conspiracy! Conspiracy!"14 And Jehoiada the priest brought out the captains of hundreds who were appointed over the army, and said to them, "Bring her out (F1)between the ranks, and whoever follows her is to be put to death with the sword." For the priest said, "You shall not put her to death in the house of the LORD."15 So they (F1)seized her, and when she arrived at the entrance of (C1)the Horse Gate of the king's house, they (C2)put her to death there.
Reforms Carried Out
16 Then (C1)Jehoiada made a covenant between himself and all the people and the king, that they would be the LORD'S people.17 And all the people went to the house of Baal and tore it down, and they broke in pieces his altars and his images, and (C1)killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.18 Moreover, Jehoiada placed the offices of the house of the LORD under the (F1)authority of (C1)the Levitical priests, (C2)whom David had assigned over the house of the LORD, to offer the burnt offerings of the LORD, as it is written in the Law of Moses—(C3)with rejoicing and singing according to the (F2)order of David.19 He stationed (C1)the gatekeepers of the house of the LORD, so that no one would enter who was in any way unclean.20 (C1)He took the captains of hundreds, the nobles, the rulers of the people, and all the people of the land, and brought the king down from the house of the LORD, and went through the upper gate to the king's house. And they seated the king upon the royal throne.21 So (C1)all of the people of the land rejoiced and the city was at rest. For they had put Athaliah to death with the sword.
Joel 2,3
The Terrible Visitation
1 (C1)Blow a trumpet in Zion,
And sound an alarm on My holy mountain!
Let all the inhabitants of the land tremble,
For the (C2)day of the LORD is coming;
Indeed, it is near,
2 A day of (C1)darkness and gloom,
A day of clouds and thick darkness.
As dawn is spread over the mountains,
So there is a (C2)great and mighty people;
There has (C3)never been anything like it,
Nor will there be again after it
To the years of many generations.
3 A (C1)fire consumes before them,
And behind them a flame devours.
The land is (C2)like the Garden of Eden before them,
But a (C3)desolate wilderness behind them,
And nothing at all escapes them.
4 Their (C1)appearance is like the appearance of horses;
And like war horses, so they run.
5 (F1)With a (C1)noise as of chariots
They leap about on the tops of the mountains,
Like the (F2)crackling of a (C2)flame of fire consuming the stubble,
Like a mighty people drawn up for battle.
6 Before them the people are in (C1)anguish;
All (C2)faces (F1)turn pale.
7 They run like warriors,
They climb the wall like soldiers;
And each of them (C1)marches (F1)in line,
Nor do they lose their way.
8 They do not crowd each other,
Every warrior of them marches in his path;
When they (F1)burst through the (F2)defenses,
They do not break ranks.
9 They storm the city,
They run on the wall;
They climb into the (C1)houses,
They (C2)enter through the windows like a thief.
10 Before them the earth (C1)quakes,
The heavens tremble,
The (C2)sun and the moon become dark,
And the stars lose their brightness.
11 The LORD (C1)utters His voice before (C2)His army;
His camp is indeed very great,
For (C3)mighty is one who carries out His word.
The (C4)day of the LORD is indeed great and very awesome,
And (C5)who can endure it?
12 "Yet even now," declares the LORD,
"(C1)Return to Me with all your heart,
And with (C2)fasting, weeping, and mourning;
13 And (C1)tear your heart and not merely (C2)your garments."
Now return to the LORD your God,
For He is (C3)gracious and compassionate,
Slow to anger, abounding in mercy
And (C4)relenting of catastrophe.
14 Who knows, (C1)He might turn and relent,
And leave a (C2)blessing behind Him,
Resulting in (C3)a grain offering and a drink offering
For the LORD your God.
15 (C1)Blow a trumpet in Zion,
(C2)Consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly,
16 Gather the people, (C1)sanctify the congregation,
Assemble the elders,
Gather the children and the nursing infants.
Have the (C2)groom come out of his room
And the bride out of her bridal chamber.
17 Let the priests, the LORD'S ministers,
Weep (C1)between the porch and the altar,
And let them say, "(F1)(C2)Spare Your people, LORD,
And do not make Your inheritance a (C3)disgrace,
With the nations jeering at them.
Why should those among the peoples say,
'(C4)Where is their God?'"
Deliverance Promised
18 Then the LORD (F1)will be (C1)zealous for His land,
And (F2)will have (C2)compassion for His people.
19 The LORD (F1)will answer and say to His people,
"Behold, I am going to (C1)send you grain, new wine, and oil,
And you will be satisfied in full with (F2)them;
And I will (C2)never again make you a disgrace among the nations.
20 "But I will remove the (C1)northern army far from you,
And I will drive it into a dry and desolate land,
Its advance guard into the (C2)eastern sea,
And its rear guard into the (C3)western sea.
And its (C4)stench will ascend and its odor of decay will come up,
Because it has done great things."
21 (C1)Do not fear, land; shout for joy and rejoice,
For the LORD has done (C2)great things.
22 Do not fear, animals of the field,
For the (C1)pastures of the wilderness have turned green,
For the tree has produced its fruit,
The fig tree and the vine have yielded (F1)in full.
23 So shout for joy, you (C1)sons of Zion,
And (C2)rejoice in the LORD your God;
For He has (C3)given you (F1)the early rain for your vindication.
And He has brought down for you the rain,
The (F2)early and (F3)(C4)latter rain (F4)as before.
24 The threshing floors will be full of grain,
And the vats will (C1)overflow with the new wine and oil.
25 "Then I will compensate you for the years
That the (F1)swarming (C1)locust has eaten,
The creeping locust, the stripping locust, and the gnawing locust—
My great army which I sent among you.
26 "You will have plenty to (C1)eat and be satisfied,
And you will (C2)praise the name of the LORD your God,
Who has (C3)dealt wondrously with you;
Then My people will (C4)never be put to shame.
27 "So you will (C1)know that I am in the midst of Israel,
And that I am the LORD your God
And there is (C2)no other;
And My people will never be (C3)put to shame.
The Promise of the Spirit
28 "(F1)(C1)It will come about after this
That I will (C2)pour out My Spirit on all (F2)(C3)mankind;
And your sons and your daughters will prophesy,
Your old men will have dreams,
Your young men will see visions.
29 "And even on the (C1)male and female servants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days.
The Day of the LORD
30 "I will (F1)(C1)display wonders in the sky and on the earth,
Blood, fire, and columns of smoke.
31 "The (C1)sun will be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the (C2)great and awesome day of the LORD comes.
32 "And it will come about that (C1)everyone who calls on the name of the LORD
Will (F1)be saved;
For (C2)on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
There will be those who (C3)escape,
Just as the LORD has said,
Even among the (C4)survivors whom the LORD calls.
The Nations Will Be Judged
1 "(F1)For behold, (C1)in those days and at that time,
When I (C2)restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem,
2 I will (C1)gather all the nations
And bring them down to the (C2)Valley of (F1)Jehoshaphat.
Then I will (C3)enter into judgment with them there
On behalf of My people and My inheritance, Israel,
Whom they have (C4)scattered among the nations;
And they have (C5)divided up My land.
3 "They have also (C1)cast lots for My people,
(F1)(C2)Traded a boy for a prostitute,
And sold a girl for wine so that they may drink.
9 (C1)Proclaim this among the nations:
(C2)Prepare for holy war; (C3)stir up the warriors!
Have all the soldiers come forward, have them come up!
10 (C1)Beat your plowshares into swords,
And your pruning hooks into spears;
(C2)Let the weak man say, "I am a warrior."
11 (F1)(C1)Hurry and come, all you surrounding nations,
And gather yourselves there.
Bring down, LORD, Your (C2)warriors.
12 Let the nations be awakened
And come up to the (C1)Valley of (F1)Jehoshaphat,
For there I will sit to (C2)judge
All the surrounding nations.
13 (C1)Put in the sickle, for the (C2)harvest is ripe.
Come, (C3)tread the grapes, for the (C4)wine press is full;
The vats overflow, for their (C5)wickedness is great.
14 (C1)Multitudes, multitudes in the (C2)valley of (F1)decision!
For the (C3)day of the LORD is near in the valley of (F1)decision.
15 The (C1)sun and moon have become dark,
And the stars have lost their brightness.
16 The LORD (C1)roars from Zion
And (C2)utters His voice from Jerusalem,
And the (C3)heavens and the earth quake.
But the LORD is a (C4)refuge for His people,
And a (C5)stronghold for the sons of Israel.
17 Then you will (C1)know that I am the LORD your God,
Dwelling on Zion, My (C2)holy mountain.
So Jerusalem will be (C3)holy,
And (C4)strangers will no longer pass through it.
Judah Will Be Blessed
18 And on that day
The (C1)mountains will drip with (F1)sweet wine,
And the hills will (C2)flow with milk,
And all the (C3)brooks of Judah will flow with water;
And a (C4)spring will go out from the house of the LORD
And water the Valley of (F2)Shittim.
19 Egypt will become a wasteland,
And Edom will become a desolate wilderness,
Because of the (C1)violence (F1)done to the sons of Judah,
In whose land they have shed innocent blood.
20 But Judah will be (C1)inhabited forever,
And Jerusalem for all generations.
21 And I will (C1)avenge their blood which I have not avenged,
For the LORD dwells in Zion.
2 Corinthians 10
Chapter 10
Paul Confronts the Corinthians
1 Now (C1)I, Paul, myself (C2)urge you by the (C3)meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who (C4)am (F1)meek when face to face with you, but bold toward you when absent!2 I ask that (C1)when I am present I need not be bold with the confidence with which I intend to be courageous against (C2)some, who regard us as if we walked (C3)according to the flesh.3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage battle (C1)according to the flesh,4 for the (C1)weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but (F1)divinely powerful (C2)for the destruction of fortresses.5 We are destroying arguments and all (C1)arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the (C2)obedience of Christ,6 and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever (C1)your obedience is complete.
7 (F1)(C1)You are looking at (F2)things as they are outwardly. (C2)If anyone is confident in himself that he is Christ's, have him consider this again within himself, that just as he is Christ's, (C3)so too are we.8 For if (C1)I boast somewhat (F1)more about our (C2)authority, which the Lord gave for building you up and not for destroying you, I will not be put to shame,9 (F1)for I do not want to seem as if I would terrify you by my letters.10 For they say, "His letters are weighty and strong, but his (F1)personal presence is (C1)unimpressive and (C2)his speech contemptible."11 Have such a person consider this, that what we are in word by letters when absent, such persons we are also in deed when present.
12 For we do not presume to rank or compare ourselves with (F1)some of those who (C1)commend themselves; but when they (F2)measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they have no understanding.13 But we will not boast (C1)beyond our measure, but (F1)(C2)within the measure of the (F2)domain which God assigned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you.14 For we are not overextending ourselves, as if we did not reach to you, for (C1)we were the first to come even as far as you in the (C2)gospel of Christ;15 not boasting (C1)beyond our measure, that is, in (C2)other people's labors, but with the hope that as (C3)your faith grows, we will be, (F1)within our (F2)domain, (C4)enlarged even more by you,16 so as to (C1)preach the gospel even to (C2)the regions beyond you, and not to boast (F1)(C3)in what has been accomplished in the domain of another.17 But (C1)THE ONE WHO BOASTS IS TO BOAST IN THE LORD.18 For it is not the one who (C1)commends himself that is approved, but the one (C2)whom the Lord commends.
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