1 Chronicles 16:36-19:19
36 And they left Asaph and his brothers there, before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, to minister continually from day to day according to the service of each day. 37 And Obed-Edom and his brothers were sixty-eight; Obed-Edom the son of Jeduthun, and Hosah were gatekeepers; 38 Zadok the priest and the brethren of the priests stood before the tabernacle of the Lord in the high place in Gibeon, 39 to offer whole burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of whole burnt offering every morning and evening; and to do according to all things written in the Law of the Lord that He commanded the sons of Israel by the hand of Moses the servant of God. 40 And with him were Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest chosen out by name to give thanks to the Lord, for His mercy is forever; 41 and with them Heman and Jeduthun, to sound aloud with trumpets and cymbals and the musical instruments of God. Now the sons of Jeduthun were gatekeepers.
42 Then all the people departed, every man to his house; and David returned to bless his house.
God’s Promise to David
1 Now it came to pass when David was dwelling in his house, David said to Nathan the prophet, “See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under tent curtains.” 2 Then Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.” 3 But it happened that night that the word of God came to Nathan, saying, 4 “Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord, “You shall not build Me a house to dwell in, 5 for I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought up Israel until this day; but I was in a tabernacle, even a tent, 6 in all the places through which I went with all Israel. Have I ever spoken to one leader of Israel whom I appointed to shepherd my people, saying, ‘Why have you not built me a house made of cedar?’ ” ’
7 “Now therefore, you shall say this day to My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord Almighty, “I took you from the sheepfold, from following the flock, to be ruler over My people Israel. 8 And I was with you wherever you have gone, and cut off all your enemies from before you, and made you a name like the name of the great men who are on the earth. 9 Moreover, I will appoint a place for My people Israel and will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their own and move no more; nor shall the sons of wickedness oppress them anymore, as previously, 10 and from the days when I appointed judges to be over My people Israel. Also I will subdue all your enemies, and I will increase you, and the Lord will build you a house. 11 It shall be when your days are fulfilled, and you shall be laid to rest with your fathers, that I will set up your seed after you, he who will be out of your belly; I will establish his kingdom. 12 He shall build Me a house, and I will establish his throne forever. 13 I will be his Father, and he shall be My son; and I will not take My mercy from him, as I took it from those who were before you. 14 And I will establish him in My house and in My kingdom forever; his throne shall be established forever.” ’ ” 15 So Nathan spoke to David according to all these words and according to all his vision.
David Gives Thanks to God
16 Then King David went in and sat before the Lord, and said, “O Lord God, who am I? And what is my house, that You have loved me forever? 17 O God, these things are insignificant in Your presence. O Lord God, You spoke about the house of Your servant from long ago, and have looked upon me as a man looks upon his fellow, and exalted me. 18 Yet what will David add that would bring glory to You? For You know Your servant. 19 And according to Your own heart, You have done all this greatness. 20 O Lord, according to all we have heard with our ears, there is none like You, nor is there any God besides You. 21 There is not another nation upon the earth such as Your people Israel, whereas God led him in the way, to redeem a people for Himself, to establish for Himself a great and glorious name, to cast out nations from before Your people whom You redeemed out of Egypt. 22 For You have appointed Your people Israel Your very own people forever; and You, O Lord, became God to them.
23 “And now, O Lord, the word which You have spoken regarding Your servant and upon his house, let it be guaranteed forever, 24 saying, ‘O Lord, O Lord, the Almighty is the God of Israel.’ And the house of Your servant David has been set aright before You. 25 For You, O my God, have revealed to Your servant that You will build him a house. Therefore Your servant has found it in his heart to pray before You. 26 And now, Lord, You are God, and have promised this goodness to Your servant. 27 And now You have started to bless the house of Your servant, so it may continue before You forever. O Lord, You blessed it, and bless it forever.”
David’s Victories in Battle
1 After this it came to pass that David attacked the Philistines, subdued them, and took Gath and its towns from the hand of the Philistines. 2 Then he struck Moab, and the children of Moab brought tribute to David. 3 And David struck Hadadezer, king of Zobah Hamath, as he went to establish his power by the River Euphrates. 4 David took from them in advance one thousand chariots, seven thousand horsemen, and twenty thousand foot soldiers. Moreover, David disabled all the chariots—but one hundred chariots were kept in reserve for them.
5 When the Syrians of Damascus came to help Hadadezer, king of Zobah, David killed twenty-two thousand of the Syrians. 6 Then David put a garrison in Damascus of Syria; and the Syrians became David’s servants and brought tribute. So the Lord preserved David wherever he went. 7 And David took the collars of gold that were on the servants of Hadadezer and brought them to Jerusalem. 8 Also from those places passed over and from the chosen cities of Hadadezer, David brought a large amount of bronze, with which Solomon made the bronze Sea, the pillars, and the articles of bronze.
9 Now when Tou king of Hamath heard that David had defeated all the army of Hadadezer king of Zobah, 10 he sent Hadoram his son, to King David to ask him for peace and to bless him because he had fought against Hadadezer and defeated him, for Hadadezer was an enemy of Tou, and with him he sent all kinds of articles of silver and gold. 11 These King David also dedicated to the Lord, along with the silver and gold he had brought from all these nations, from Edom, from Moab, from the people of Ammon, from the Philistines, and from Amalek. 12 Moreover, Abishai the son of Zeruiah killed eighteen thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt. 13 He also put garrisons in Edom, and all the Edomites became David’s servants. And the Lord preserved David wherever he went.
14 David reigned over all Israel, and administered judgment and justice to all his people. 15 Joab the son of Zeruiah was over the army; Jehoshaphat the son of Ahilud was recorder; 16 Zadok the son of Ahitub and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were the priests; Shavsha was the scribe; 17 Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David’s sons were the king’s first successors.
David Conquers Ammon and Syria
1 It happened after this that Nahash the king of the sons of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place. 2 Then David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, because his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent messengers to comfort him concerning his father.
And David’s servants came to Hanun in the land of the people of Ammon to comfort him. 3 And the princes of the people of Ammon said to Hanun, “Do you think that David really honors your father because he has sent comforters to you? Did his servants not come to you to search and to overthrow and to spy out the land?” 4 Therefore, Hanun took David’s servants, shaved them, removed the half of their garments as far as their tunic, and sent them away. 5 Then some reported to David about these men, and he sent someone to meet them, for these men were greatly ashamed. And the king said, “Wait at Jericho until your beards have grown, and then return.”
6 When the sons of Ammon saw that the people of David had been shamed, Hanun and the people of Ammon sent a thousand talents of silver to hire for themselves chariots and horsemen from Mesopotamia, from Syrian Maacah, and from Zobah. 7 So they hired for themselves thirty-two thousand chariots, with the king of Maacah and his people, who came and encamped before Medeba. Also the people of Ammon gathered together from their cities and came to battle. 8 Now when David heard of it, he sent Joab and all the army of the mighty men. 9 Then the people of Ammon came out and put themselves in battle array before the gate of the city, and the kings who had come were by themselves in the field.
10 When Joab saw that the battle line was against him before and behind, he chose some of Israel’s best, and put them in battle array against the Syrians. 11 And the rest of the people he put under the command of Abishai his brother, and they set themselves in battle array against the people of Ammon. 12 Then he said, “If the Syrians are too strong for me, then you shall help me; but if the people of Ammon are too strong for you, then I will help you. 13 Be of good courage, and let us be strong for our people and for the cities of our God. And the Lord will do what is good in His sight.”
14 So Joab and the people who were with him drew near for the battle against the Syrians, and they fled before him. 15 When the people of Ammon saw that the Syrians were fleeing, they also fled before Abishai his brother, and entered the city. So Joab went to Jerusalem.
16 Now when the Syrians saw that they had been defeated by Israel, they sent messengers and brought the Syrians who were beyond the river, and Shophach the commander of Hadadezer’s army went before them. 17 When it was told to David, he gathered all Israel, crossed over the Jordan, and came upon them. He set up in battle array against them, and the Syrians fought against him. 18 And the Syrians fled before Israel; and David killed seven thousand riders of chariots and forty thousand Syrian foot soldiers, and killed Shophach the commander of the army. 19 And when the servants of Hadadezer saw that they had fallen before Israel, they made peace with David and became his servants. So the Syrians were no longer willing to help the people of Ammon.
Psalm 118:1–16
1 Alleluia.
Blessed are the blameless in the way
Who walk in the law of the Lord.
2 Blessed are those who search out His testimonies;
They shall search for Him with their whole heart.
3 For those who work lawlessness
Do not walk in His ways.
4 You commanded us regarding Your commandments,
That we should be very diligent to keep them.
5 Would that my ways were led,
That I might keep Your ordinances.
6 Then I would not be ashamed
When I regard all Your commandments.
7 I will give thanks to You, O Lord, with an upright heart,
When I learn the judgments of Your righteousness.
8 I shall keep Your ordinances;
Do not utterly forsake me.
9 How shall a young man keep his way straight?
When he keeps Your words.
10 I searched for You with my whole heart;
Do not drive me away from Your commandments.
11 I hid Your teachings in my heart
So as not to sin against You.
12 Blessed are You, O Lord;
Teach me Your ordinances.
13 With my lips I declared
All the judgments of Your mouth.
14 I delight in the way of Your testimonies
As much as in all riches.
15 I shall meditate on Your commandments,
And I shall understand Your ways.
16 I shall meditate on Your ordinances;
I shall not forget Your words.
Proverbs 25:17–21
17 There is prosperity for kings in patience,
And a mild tongue breaks bones.
18 When you find honey, eat what is sufficient,
Lest being filled, you should vomit it up.
19 Seldom visit your own friend’s house,
Lest he become fed up with your company and hate you.
20 As a club, a sword, and a pointed arrow,
So also is the man who testifies as a false witness against his friend.
21 The tooth of an evil man and the foot of a lawless man
Shall perish in an evil day.
John 8:31–59
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.
32 “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants, and have never been in bondage to anyone. How can You say, ‘You will be made free’?”
34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.
35 “And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.
36 “Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
Abraham’s Seed and Satan’s
37 “I know that you are Abraham’s descendants, but you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you.
38 “I speak what I have seen with My Father, and you do what you have seen with your father.”
39 They answered and said to Him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would do the works of Abraham.
40 “But now you seek to kill Me, a Man who has told you the truth which I heard from God. Abraham did not do this.
41 “You do the deeds of your father.” Then they said to Him, “We were not born of fornication; we have one Father—God.”
42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and came from God; nor have I come of Myself, but He sent Me.
43 “Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word.
44 “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
45 “But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.
46 “Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me?
47 “He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God.”
Before Abraham Was, I AM
48 Then the Jews answered and said to Him, “Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon?”
49 Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor My Father, and you dishonor Me.
50 “And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges.
51 “Most assuredly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death.”
52 Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.’
53 “Are You greater than our father Abraham, who is dead? And the prophets are dead. Who do You make Yourself out to be?”
54 Jesus answered, “If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God.
55 “Yet you have not known Him, but I know Him. And if I say, ‘I do not know Him,’ I shall be a liar like you; but I do know Him and keep His word.
56 “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.”
57 Then the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?”
58 Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.”
59 Then they took up stones to throw at Him; but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.