Tuesday, January 31, 2012 - David Song of Praise (June 4 Reading)

Tuesday, January 31, 2012 -

4:30 a.m. Pray/Devotion

5:30 a.m.-7:00 a.m. - Cardio/Stretch, Upper Body Resistance

2 Samuel 22:1-23:23; Acts 2:1-47; Psalm 122:1-9; Proverbs 16:19-20

2 Samuel 22-23:23

New Living Translation (NLT)

2 Samuel 22

David’s Song of Praise

 ¹ David sang this song to the LORD on the day the LORD rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul. ² He sang:    “The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;
    ³ my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.
   He is my shield, the power that saves me,
      and my place of safety.
   He is my refuge, my savior,
      the one who saves me from violence.
 ⁴ I called on the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
      and he saved me from my enemies.
 ⁵ “The waves of death overwhelmed me;
      floods of destruction swept over me.
 ⁶ The grave^[a] wrapped its ropes around me;
      death laid a trap in my path.
 ⁷ But in my distress I cried out to the LORD;
      yes, I cried to my God for help.
   He heard me from his sanctuary;
      my cry reached his ears.
 ⁸ “Then the earth quaked and trembled.
      The foundations of the heavens shook;
      they quaked because of his anger.
 ⁹ Smoke poured from his nostrils;
      fierce flames leaped from his mouth.
      Glowing coals blazed forth from him.
 ¹⁰ He opened the heavens and came down;
      dark storm clouds were beneath his feet.
 ¹¹ Mounted on a mighty angelic being,^[b] he flew,
      soaring^[c] on the wings of the wind.
 ¹² He shrouded himself in darkness,
      veiling his approach with dense rain clouds.
 ¹³ A great brightness shone around him,
      and burning coals^[d] blazed forth.
 ¹⁴ The LORD thundered from heaven;
      the voice of the Most High resounded.
 ¹⁵ He shot arrows and scattered his enemies;
      his lightning flashed, and they were confused.
 ¹⁶ Then at the command of the LORD,
      at the blast of his breath,
   the bottom of the sea could be seen,
      and the foundations of the earth were laid bare.
 ¹⁷ “He reached down from heaven and rescued me;
      he drew me out of deep waters.
 ¹⁸ He rescued me from my powerful enemies,
      from those who hated me and were too strong for me.
 ¹⁹ They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress,
      but the LORD supported me.
 ²⁰ He led me to a place of safety;
      he rescued me because he delights in me.
 ²¹ The LORD rewarded me for doing right;
      he restored me because of my innocence.
 ²² For I have kept the ways of the LORD;
      I have not turned from my God to follow evil.
 ²³ I have followed all his regulations;
      I have never abandoned his decrees.
 ²⁴ I am blameless before God;
      I have kept myself from sin.
 ²⁵ The LORD rewarded me for doing right.
      He has seen my innocence.
 ²⁶ “To the faithful you show yourself faithful;
      to those with integrity you show integrity.
 ²⁷ To the pure you show yourself pure,
      but to the wicked you show yourself hostile.
 ²⁸ You rescue the humble,
      but your eyes watch the proud and humiliate them.
 ²⁹ O LORD, you are my lamp.
      The LORD lights up my darkness.
 ³⁰ In your strength I can crush an army;
      with my God I can scale any wall.
 ³¹ “God’s way is perfect.
      All the LORD’s promises prove true.
      He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.
 ³² For who is God except the LORD?
      Who but our God is a solid rock?
 ³³ God is my strong fortress,
      and he makes my way perfect.
 ³⁴ He makes me as surefooted as a deer,
      enabling me to stand on mountain heights.
 ³⁵ He trains my hands for battle;
      he strengthens my arm to draw a bronze bow.
 ³⁶ You have given me your shield of victory;
      your help^[e] has made me great.
 ³⁷ You have made a wide path for my feet
      to keep them from slipping.
 ³⁸ “I chased my enemies and destroyed them;
      I did not stop until they were conquered.
 ³⁹ I consumed them;
      I struck them down so they did not get up;
      they fell beneath my feet.
 ⁴⁰ You have armed me with strength for the battle;
      you have subdued my enemies under my feet.
 ⁴¹ You placed my foot on their necks.
      I have destroyed all who hated me.
 ⁴² They looked for help, but no one came to their rescue.
      They even cried to the LORD, but he refused to answer.
 ⁴³ I ground them as fine as the dust of the earth;
      I trampled them^[f] in the gutter like dirt.
 ⁴⁴ “You gave me victory over my accusers.
      You preserved me as the ruler over nations;
      people I don’t even know now serve me.
 ⁴⁵ Foreign nations cringe before me;
      as soon as they hear of me, they submit.
 ⁴⁶ They all lose their courage
      and come trembling^[g] from their strongholds.
 ⁴⁷ “The LORD lives! Praise to my Rock!
      May God, the Rock of my salvation, be exalted!
 ⁴⁸ He is the God who pays back those who harm me;
      he brings down the nations under me
    ⁴⁹ and delivers me from my enemies.
   You hold me safe beyond the reach of my enemies;
      you save me from violent opponents.
 ⁵⁰ For this, O LORD, I will praise you among the nations;
      I will sing praises to your name.
 ⁵¹ You give great victories to your king;
      you show unfailing love to your anointed,
      to David and all his descendants forever.”

2 Samuel 23

David’s Last Words

 ¹ These are the last words of David:    “David, the son of Jesse, speaks—
      David, the man who was raised up so high,
   David, the man anointed by the God of Jacob,
      David, the sweet psalmist of Israel.^[h]
 2 “The Spirit of the LORD speaks through me;
      his words are upon my tongue.
 ³ The God of Israel spoke.
      The Rock of Israel said to me:
   ‘The one who rules righteously,
      who rules in the fear of God,
 ⁴ is like the light of morning at sunrise,
      like a morning without clouds,
   like the gleaming of the sun
      on new grass after rain.’
 ⁵ “Is it not my family God has chosen?
      Yes, he has made an everlasting covenant with me.
   His agreement is arranged and guaranteed in every detail.
      He will ensure my safety and success.
 ⁶ But the godless are like thorns to be thrown away,
      for they tear the hand that touches them.
 ⁷ One must use iron tools to chop them down;
      they will be totally consumed by fire.”

David’s Mightiest Warriors

 ⁸ These are the names of David’s mightiest warriors. The first was Jashobeam the Hacmonite,^[i] who was leader of the Three^[j]—the three mightiest warriors among David’s men. He once used his spear to kill 800 enemy warriors in a single battle.^{[k]  9} Next in rank among the Three was Eleazar son of Dodai, a descendant of Ahoah. Once Eleazar and David stood together against the Philistines when the entire Israelite army had fled. ¹⁰ He killed Philistines until his hand was too tired to lift his sword, and the LORD gave him a great victory that day. The rest of the army did not return until it was time to collect the plunder!
 ¹¹ Next in rank was Shammah son of Agee from Harar. One time the Philistines gathered at Lehi and attacked the Israelites in a field full of lentils. The Israelite army fled, ¹² but Shammah^[l] held his ground in the middle of the field and beat back the Philistines. So the LORD brought about a great victory.
 ¹³ Once during the harvest, when David was at the cave of Adullam, the Philistine army was camped in the valley of Rephaim. The Three (who were among the Thirty—an elite group among David’s fighting men) went down to meet him there. ¹⁴ David was staying in the stronghold at the time, and a Philistine detachment had occupied the town of Bethlehem.
 ¹⁵ David remarked longingly to his men, “Oh, how I would love some of that good water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem.” ¹⁶ So the Three broke through the Philistine lines, drew some water from the well by the gate in Bethlehem, and brought it back to David. But he refused to drink it. Instead, he poured it out as an offering to the LORD. ¹⁷ “The LORD forbid that I should drink this!” he exclaimed. “This water is as precious as the blood of these men^[m] who risked their lives to bring it to me.” So David did not drink it. These are examples of the exploits of the Three.

David’s Thirty Mighty Men

 ¹⁸ Abishai son of Zeruiah, the brother of Joab, was the leader of the Thirty.^[n] He once used his spear to kill 300 enemy warriors in a single battle. It was by such feats that he became as famous as the Three. ¹⁹ Abishai was the most famous of the Thirty^[o] and was their commander, though he was not one of the Three.  ²⁰ There was also Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant warrior^[p] from Kabzeel. He did many heroic deeds, which included killing two champions^[q] of Moab. Another time, on a snowy day, he chased a lion down into a pit and killed it. ²¹ Once, armed only with a club, he killed a great Egyptian warrior who was armed with a spear. Benaiah wrenched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with it. ²² Deeds like these made Benaiah as famous as the Three mightiest warriors. ²³ He was more honored than the other members of the Thirty, though he was not one of the Three. And David made him captain of his bodyguard.

Footnotes:

1. 2 Samuel 22:6 Hebrew Sheol.
2. 2 Samuel 22:11 Hebrew a cherub.
3. 2 Samuel 22:11 As in some Hebrew manuscripts (see also Ps 18:10); other Hebrew manuscripts read appearing.
4. 2 Samuel 22:13 Or and lightning bolts.
5. 2 Samuel 22:36 As in Dead Sea Scrolls (see also Ps 18:35); Masoretic Text reads your answering.
6. 2 Samuel 22:43 As in Dead Sea Scrolls (see also Ps 18:42); Masoretic Text reads I crushed and trampled them.
7. 2 Samuel 22:46 As in parallel text at Ps 18:45; Hebrew reads come girding themselves.
8. 2 Samuel 23:1 Or the favorite subject of the songs of Israel; or the favorite of the Strong One of Israel.
9. 2 Samuel 23:8 As in parallel text at 1 Chr 11:11; Hebrew reads Josheb-basshebeth the Tahkemonite.
10. 2 Samuel 23:8 As in Greek and Latin versions (see also 1 Chr 11:11); the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
11. 2 Samuel 23:8 As in some Greek manuscripts (see also 1 Chr 11:11); the meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain, though it might be rendered the Three. It was Adino the Eznite who killed 800 men at one time.
12. 2 Samuel 23:12 Hebrew he.
13. 2 Samuel 23:17 Hebrew Shall I drink the blood of these men?
14. 2 Samuel 23:18 As in a few Hebrew manuscripts and Syriac version; most Hebrew manuscripts read the Three.
15. 2 Samuel 23:19 As in Syriac version; Hebrew reads the Three.
16. 2 Samuel 23:20 Or son of Jehoiada, son of Ish-hai.
17. 2 Samuel 23:20 Hebrew two of Ariel.

Acts 2:1-47

New Living Translation (NLT)

Acts 2

The Holy Spirit Comes

 ¹ On the day of Pentecost^[a] all the believers were meeting together in one place. ² Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm, and it filled the house where they were sitting. ³ Then, what looked like flames or tongues of fire appeared and settled on each of them. ⁴ And everyone present was filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking in other languages,^[b] as the Holy Spirit gave them this ability.  ⁵ At that time there were devout Jews from every nation living in Jerusalem. ⁶ When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers.
 ⁷ They were completely amazed. “How can this be?” they exclaimed. “These people are all from Galilee, ⁸ and yet we hear them speaking in our own native languages! ⁹ Here we are—Parthians, Medes, Elamites, people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, the province of Asia, ¹⁰ Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, and the areas of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome ¹¹ (both Jews and converts to Judaism), Cretans, and Arabs. And we all hear these people speaking in our own languages about the wonderful things God has done!” ¹² They stood there amazed and perplexed. “What can this mean?” they asked each other.
 ¹³ But others in the crowd ridiculed them, saying, “They’re just drunk, that’s all!”

Peter Preaches to the Crowd

 ¹⁴ Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. ¹⁵ These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that. ¹⁶ No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel:  ¹⁷ ‘In the last days,’ God says,
      ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
   Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
      Your young men will see visions,
      and your old men will dream dreams.
 ¹⁸ In those days I will pour out my Spirit
      even on my servants—men and women alike—
      and they will prophesy.
 ¹⁹ And I will cause wonders in the heavens above
      and signs on the earth below—
      blood and fire and clouds of smoke.
 ²⁰ The sun will become dark,
      and the moon will turn blood red
      before that great and glorious day of the LORD arrives.
 ²¹ But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD
      will be saved.’^[c]
 22 “People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene^[d] by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. ²³ But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. ²⁴ But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip. ²⁵ King David said this about him:
   ‘I see that the LORD is always with me.
      I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.
 ²⁶ No wonder my heart is glad,
      and my tongue shouts his praises!
      My body rests in hope.
 ²⁷ For you will not leave my soul among the dead^[e]
      or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.
 ²⁸ You have shown me the way of life,
      and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.’^[f]
 29 “Dear brothers, think about this! You can be sure that the patriarch David wasn’t referring to himself, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us. ³⁰ But he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David’s own descendants would sit on his throne. ³¹ David was looking into the future and speaking of the Messiah’s resurrection. He was saying that God would not leave him among the dead or allow his body to rot in the grave.
 ³² “God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. ³³ Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today. ³⁴ For David himself never ascended into heaven, yet he said,
   ‘The LORD said to my Lord,
      “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand
 ³⁵ until I humble your enemies,
      making them a footstool under your feet.”’^[g]
 36 “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”
 ³⁷ Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”
 ³⁸ Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. ³⁹ This promise is to you, and to your children, and even to the Gentiles^[h]—all who have been called by the Lord our God.” ⁴⁰ Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”
 ⁴¹ Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.

The Believers Form a Community

 ⁴² All the believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, and to sharing in meals (including the Lord’s Supper^[i]), and to prayer.  ⁴³ A deep sense of awe came over them all, and the apostles performed many miraculous signs and wonders. ⁴⁴ And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. ⁴⁵ They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. ⁴⁶ They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity^[j]— ⁴⁷ all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved.

Footnotes:

1. Acts 2:1 The Festival of Pentecost came 50 days after Passover (when Jesus was crucified).
2. Acts 2:4 Or in other tongues.
3. Acts 2:21 Joel 2:28-32.
4. Acts 2:22 Or Jesus of Nazareth.
5. Acts 2:27 Greek in Hades; also in 2:31.
6. Acts 2:28 Ps 16:8-11 (Greek version).
7. Acts 2:35 Ps 110:1.
8. Acts 2:39 Or and to people far in the future; Greek reads and to those far away.
9. Acts 2:42 Greek the breaking of bread; also in 2:46.
10. Acts 2:46 Or and sincere hearts.

Psalm 122:1-9

New Living Translation (NLT)

Psalm 122

Psalm 122

    A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of David. ¹ I was glad when they said to me,
      “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”
 ² And now here we are,
      standing inside your gates, O Jerusalem.
 ³ Jerusalem is a well-built city;
      its seamless walls cannot be breached.
 ⁴ All the tribes of Israel—the LORD’s people—
      make their pilgrimage here.
   They come to give thanks to the name of the LORD,
      as the law requires of Israel.
 ⁵ Here stand the thrones where judgment is given,
      the thrones of the dynasty of David.
 ⁶ Pray for peace in Jerusalem.
      May all who love this city prosper.
 ⁷ O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls
      and prosperity in your palaces.
 ⁸ For the sake of my family and friends, I will say,
      “May you have peace.”
 ⁹ For the sake of the house of the LORD our God,
      I will seek what is best for you, O Jerusalem.

Proverbs 16:19-20

New Living Translation (NLT)

 ¹⁹ Better to live humbly with the poor
      than to share plunder with the proud.
 ²⁰ Those who listen to instruction will prosper;
      those who trust the LORD will be joyful.

Monday, January 30, 2012 - David Avenges the Gibeonites

4:45 a.m. Prayer/Devotin

June 3 - Reading "One Year Bible"

2 Samuel 20:14-21:22; Acts 1:1-26; Psalm 121:1-8;

2 Samuel 20:14-21:22

New Living Translation (NLT)

 ¹⁴ Meanwhile, Sheba traveled through all the tribes of Israel and eventually came to the town of Abel-beth-maacah. All the members of his own clan, the Bicrites,^[a] assembled for battle and followed him into the town. ¹⁵ When Joab’s forces arrived, they attacked Abel-beth-maacah. They built a siege ramp against the town’s fortifications and began battering down the wall. ¹⁶ But a wise woman in the town called out to Joab, “Listen to me, Joab. Come over here so I can talk to you.” ¹⁷ As he approached, the woman asked, “Are you Joab?”
   “I am,” he replied.
   So she said, “Listen carefully to your servant.”
   “I’m listening,” he said.
 ¹⁸ Then she continued, “There used to be a saying, ‘If you want to settle an argument, ask advice at the town of Abel.’ ¹⁹ I am one who is peace loving and faithful in Israel. But you are destroying an important town in Israel.^[b] Why do you want to devour what belongs to the LORD?”
 ²⁰ And Joab replied, “Believe me, I don’t want to devour or destroy your town! ²¹ That’s not my purpose. All I want is a man named Sheba son of Bicri from the hill country of Ephraim, who has revolted against King David. If you hand over this one man to me, I will leave the town in peace.”
   “All right,” the woman replied, “we will throw his head over the wall to you.” ²² Then the woman went to all the people with her wise advice, and they cut off Sheba’s head and threw it out to Joab. So he blew the ram’s horn and called his troops back from the attack. They all returned to their homes, and Joab returned to the king at Jerusalem.
 ²³ Now Joab was the commander of the army of Israel. Benaiah son of Jehoiada was captain of the king’s bodyguard. ²⁴ Adoniram^[c] was in charge of the labor force. Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was the royal historian. ²⁵ Sheva was the court secretary. Zadok and Abiathar were the priests. ²⁶ And Ira, a descendant of Jair, was David’s personal priest.

2 Samuel 21

David Avenges the Gibeonites

 ¹ There was a famine during David’s reign that lasted for three years, so David asked the LORD about it. And the LORD said, “The famine has come because Saul and his family are guilty of murdering the Gibeonites.”  ² So the king summoned the Gibeonites. They were not part of Israel but were all that was left of the nation of the Amorites. The people of Israel had sworn not to kill them, but Saul, in his zeal for Israel and Judah, had tried to wipe them out. ³ David asked them, “What can I do for you? How can I make amends so that you will bless the LORD’s people again?”
 ⁴ “Well, money can’t settle this matter between us and the family of Saul,” the Gibeonites replied. “Neither can we demand the life of anyone in Israel.”
   “What can I do then?” David asked. “Just tell me and I will do it for you.”
 ⁵ Then they replied, “It was Saul who planned to destroy us, to keep us from having any place at all in the territory of Israel. ⁶ So let seven of Saul’s sons be handed over to us, and we will execute them before the LORD at Gibeon, on the mountain of the LORD.^[d]”
   “All right,” the king said, “I will do it.” ⁷ The king spared Jonathan’s son Mephibosheth,^[e] who was Saul’s grandson, because of the oath David and Jonathan had sworn before the LORD. ⁸ But he gave them Saul’s two sons Armoni and Mephibosheth, whose mother was Rizpah daughter of Aiah. He also gave them the five sons of Saul’s daughter Merab,^[f] the wife of Adriel son of Barzillai from Meholah. ⁹ The men of Gibeon executed them on the mountain before the LORD. So all seven of them died together at the beginning of the barley harvest.
 ¹⁰ Then Rizpah daughter of Aiah, the mother of two of the men, spread burlap on a rock and stayed there the entire harvest season. She prevented the scavenger birds from tearing at their bodies during the day and stopped wild animals from eating them at night. ¹¹ When David learned what Rizpah, Saul’s concubine, had done, ¹² he went to the people of Jabesh-gilead and retrieved the bones of Saul and his son Jonathan. (When the Philistines had killed Saul and Jonathan on Mount Gilboa, the people of Jabesh-gilead stole their bodies from the public square of Beth-shan, where the Philistines had hung them.) ¹³ So David obtained the bones of Saul and Jonathan, as well as the bones of the men the Gibeonites had executed.
 ¹⁴ Then the king ordered that they bury the bones in the tomb of Kish, Saul’s father, at the town of Zela in the land of Benjamin. After that, God ended the famine in the land.

Battles against Philistine Giants

 ¹⁵ Once again the Philistines were at war with Israel. And when David and his men were in the thick of battle, David became weak and exhausted. ¹⁶ Ishbi-benob was a descendant of the giants^[g]; his bronze spearhead weighed more than seven pounds,^[h] and he was armed with a new sword. He had cornered David and was about to kill him. ¹⁷ But Abishai son of Zeruiah came to David’s rescue and killed the Philistine. Then David’s men declared, “You are not going out to battle with us again! Why risk snuffing out the light of Israel?”  ¹⁸ After this, there was another battle against the Philistines at Gob. As they fought, Sibbecai from Hushah killed Saph, another descendant of the giants.
 ¹⁹ During another battle at Gob, Elhanan son of Jair^[i] from Bethlehem killed the brother of Goliath of Gath.^[j] The handle of his spear was as thick as a weaver’s beam!
 ²⁰ In another battle with the Philistines at Gath, they encountered a huge man with six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot, twenty-four in all, who was also a descendant of the giants. ²¹ But when he defied and taunted Israel, he was killed by Jonathan, the son of David’s brother Shimea.^[k]
 22 These four Philistines were descendants of the giants of Gath, but David and his warriors killed them.

Footnotes:

1. 2 Samuel 20:14 As in Greek and Latin versions; Hebrew reads All the Berites.
2. 2 Samuel 20:19 Hebrew a town that is a mother in Israel.
3. 2 Samuel 20:24 As in Greek version (see also 1 Kgs 4:6; 5:14); Hebrew reads Adoram.
4. 2 Samuel 21:6 As in Greek version (see also 21:9); Hebrew reads at Gibeah of Saul, the chosen of the LORD.
5. 2 Samuel 21:7 Mephibosheth is another name for Merib-baal.
6. 2 Samuel 21:8 As in a few Hebrew and Greek manuscripts and Syriac version (see also 1 Sam 18:19); most Hebrew manuscripts read Michal.
7. 2 Samuel 21:16 Or a descendant of the Rapha; also in 21:18, 20, 22.
8. 2 Samuel 21:16 Hebrew 300 shekels [3.4 kilograms].
9. 2 Samuel 21:19 As in parallel text at 1 Chr 20:5; Hebrew reads son of Jaare-oregim.
10. 2 Samuel 21:19 As in parallel text at 1 Chr 20:5; Hebrew reads killed Goliath of Gath.
11. 2 Samuel 21:21 As in parallel text at 1 Chr 20:7; Hebrew reads Shimei, a variant spelling of Shimea.

Acts 1:1-26

New Living Translation (NLT)

Acts 1

The Promise of the Holy Spirit

 ¹ In my first book^[a] I told you, Theophilus, about everything Jesus began to do and teach ² until the day he was taken up to heaven after giving his chosen apostles further instructions through the Holy Spirit. ³ During the forty days after his crucifixion, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.  ⁴ Once when he was eating with them, he commanded them, “Do not leave Jerusalem until the Father sends you the gift he promised, as I told you before. ⁵ John baptized with^[b] water, but in just a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

The Ascension of Jesus

 ⁶ So when the apostles were with Jesus, they kept asking him, “Lord, has the time come for you to free Israel and restore our kingdom?”  ⁷ He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
 ⁹ After saying this, he was taken up into a cloud while they were watching, and they could no longer see him. ¹⁰ As they strained to see him rising into heaven, two white-robed men suddenly stood among them. ¹¹ “Men of Galilee,” they said, “why are you standing here staring into heaven? Jesus has been taken from you into heaven, but someday he will return from heaven in the same way you saw him go!”

Matthias Replaces Judas

 ¹² Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, a distance of half a mile.^{[c] 13} When they arrived, they went to the upstairs room of the house where they were staying.    Here are the names of those who were present: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the Zealot), and Judas (son of James). ¹⁴ They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.
 ¹⁵ During this time, when about 120 believers^[d] were together in one place, Peter stood up and addressed them. ¹⁶ “Brothers,” he said, “the Scriptures had to be fulfilled concerning Judas, who guided those who arrested Jesus. This was predicted long ago by the Holy Spirit, speaking through King David. ¹⁷ Judas was one of us and shared in the ministry with us.”
 ¹⁸ (Judas had bought a field with the money he received for his treachery. Falling headfirst there, his body split open, spilling out all his intestines. ¹⁹ The news of his death spread to all the people of Jerusalem, and they gave the place the Aramaic name Akeldama, which means “Field of Blood.”)
 ²⁰ Peter continued, “This was written in the book of Psalms, where it says, ‘Let his home become desolate, with no one living in it.’ It also says, ‘Let someone else take his position.’^[e]
 21 “So now we must choose a replacement for Judas from among the men who were with us the entire time we were traveling with the Lord Jesus— ²² from the time he was baptized by John until the day he was taken from us. Whoever is chosen will join us as a witness of Jesus’ resurrection.”
 ²³ So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. ²⁴ Then they all prayed, “O Lord, you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen ²⁵ as an apostle to replace Judas in this ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs.” ²⁶ Then they cast lots, and Matthias was selected to become an apostle with the other eleven.

Footnotes:

1. Acts 1:1 The reference is to the Gospel of Luke.
2. Acts 1:5 Or in; also in 1:5b.
3. Acts 1:12 Greek a Sabbath day’s journey.
4. Acts 1:15 Greek brothers.
5. Acts 1:20 Pss 69:25; 109:8.

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Psalm 121:1-8

New Living Translation (NLT)

Psalm 121

Psalm 121

    A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. ¹ I look up to the mountains—
      does my help come from there?
 ² My help comes from the LORD,
      who made heaven and earth!
 ³ He will not let you stumble;
      the one who watches over you will not slumber.
 ⁴ Indeed, he who watches over Israel
      never slumbers or sleeps.
 ⁵ The LORD himself watches over you!
      The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade.
 ⁶ The sun will not harm you by day,
      nor the moon at night.
 ⁷ The LORD keeps you from all harm
      and watches over your life.
 ⁸ The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go,
      both now and forever.

Friday, January, 2012 - Daily Encouragement..Are you satisfied?

January 27, 2012 Nothing More and Nothing Less Rachel Olsen

"God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth." Matthew 5:5 (NLT)

Lord, how can I become content with just who I am, nothing more and nothing less?

I'm certainly prone to want to be more, or less than I am. To be smarter, prettier, funnier, fitter. To be more productive, happier and higher energy. And then also to be lower key, calmer, more level-headed and focused.

I want to have better self-awareness, and yet I want to be less concerned about what others think of me.

I want to be a better cook, to sing on key, and to keep the house neat without so much perceived effort. And did I mention fuller, thicker hair would be nice too?

I want to be a better writer - one that's both highly creative and meticulously organized. And I want fewer propensities to run late, slack off or procrastinate.

Yes, I want to be both more and less of me.

Jesus shushes my endless listing of the things I want to change or improve about myself. Things I'm certain would give me be a better life. He asks me instead to humbly make peace with it all. To lay down my notions of a better woman and life by letting Him be the judge of that. To simply take what I'm given and offer it back to Him, in surrender and service.

Today's verse in the book of Matthew is among several in the Bible that fuels one of my core convictions: When I stop striving to create a life for myself, I find the life God creates for me. This is a powerful truth, indeed a divine secret.

His life for me begins precisely where mine ends. My life ends in my sin and striving and begins again in God's grace and power.

His empowering indwelling affords me everything I truly need and nothing I truly don't.

Do you too long to be content with just who you are in Christ - nothing more and nothing less? Jesus addresses us both in Matthew 23:11-12. Eugene Peterson describes that passage this way: ""Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you'll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you're content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty" (MSG).

Amazingly, God's grace humbles a woman without degrading her, and His favor lifts her up without inflating her.

The life she finds in Him makes her the proud owner of everything money can't buy. As Jesus put it, "the whole earth." What she gets with humility is a life of contentment. Nothing more. Nothing less.

Dear Lord, help me quiet my critical, striving spirit today and gratefully accept who I am and where I'm at in this moment. For You are here, ready to empower my life to count for plenty right where I am. Help me also to seek and hold Your definition of "plenty" - nothing more and nothing less. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Related Resources:
Do you know Jesus personally?

Connect with Rachel at her blog where she describes an everyday moment when she needed and learned to be contentment with who she is.

If you enjoyed this devotion, you'll want to get a copy of Rachel's book It's No Secret: Revealing Divine Truths Every Woman Should Know.

When you purchase resources through Proverbs 31 Ministries, you touch eternity because your purchase supports the many areas of hope-giving ministry we provide at no cost. We wish we could, but we simply can't compete with prices offered by huge online warehouses. Therefore, we are extremely grateful for each and every purchase you make with us. Thank you!

Reflect and Respond:
Am I content with who I am and where I'm at in life? What can I do to find that contentment when it is missing?

It is possible to improve and grow - with dreams, plans and goals - and at the same time still be content. Take time today to journal about yours - and schedule a time later this month to return and read those notes.

Power Verses:
1 Peter 5:6-7, "So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you." (NLT)

Matthew 5:5, "You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought." (MSG)

Friday, January 20, 2012 - Davd's return to Jerusalem

7:45 a.m. Prayer

2:00 p.m. Devotion

3:00 p.m. Weights "Legs and Back" - P90x

June 2 - One Year Bible

2 Samuel 19:11-20:13; John 21:1-25; Psalm 120:1-7;Proverbs 16:16-17

2 Samuel 19:11-20:13

New Living Translation (NLT)

 ¹¹ Then King David sent Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, to say to the elders of Judah, “Why are you the last ones to welcome back the king into his palace? For I have heard that all Israel is ready. ¹² You are my relatives, my own tribe, my own flesh and blood! So why are you the last ones to welcome back the king?” ¹³ And David told them to tell Amasa, “Since you are my own flesh and blood, like Joab, may God strike me and even kill me if I do not appoint you as commander of my army in his place.”
 ¹⁴ Then Amasa^[a] convinced all the men of Judah, and they responded unanimously. They sent word to the king, “Return to us, and bring back all who are with you.”

David’s Return to Jerusalem

 ¹⁵ So the king started back to Jerusalem. And when he arrived at the Jordan River, the people of Judah came to Gilgal to meet him and escort him across the river. ¹⁶ Shimei son of Gera, the man from Bahurim in Benjamin, hurried across with the men of Judah to welcome King David. ¹⁷ A thousand other men from the tribe of Benjamin were with him, including Ziba, the chief servant of the house of Saul, and Ziba’s fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed down to the Jordan to meet the king. ¹⁸ They crossed the shallows of the Jordan to bring the king’s household across the river, helping him in every way they could.

David’s Mercy to Shimei

    As the king was about to cross the river, Shimei fell down before him. ¹⁹ “My lord the king, please forgive me,” he pleaded. “Forget the terrible thing your servant did when you left Jerusalem. May the king put it out of his mind. ²⁰ I know how much I sinned. That is why I have come here today, the very first person in all Israel^[b] to greet my lord the king.”  ²¹ Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “Shimei should die, for he cursed the LORD’s anointed king!”
 ²² “Who asked your opinion, you sons of Zeruiah!” David exclaimed. “Why have you become my adversary^[c] today? This is not a day for execution but for celebration! Today I am once again the king of Israel!” ²³ Then, turning to Shimei, David vowed, “Your life will be spared.”

David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth

 ²⁴ Now Mephibosheth,^[d] Saul’s grandson, came down from Jerusalem to meet the king. He had not cared for his feet, trimmed his beard, or washed his clothes since the day the king left Jerusalem. ²⁵ “Why didn’t you come with me, Mephibosheth?” the king asked him.  ²⁶ Mephibosheth replied, “My lord the king, my servant Ziba deceived me. I told him, ‘Saddle my donkey^[e] so I can go with the king.’ For as you know I am crippled. ²⁷ Ziba has slandered me by saying that I refused to come. But I know that my lord the king is like an angel of God, so do what you think is best. ²⁸ All my relatives and I could expect only death from you, my lord, but instead you have honored me by allowing me to eat at your own table! What more can I ask?”
 ²⁹ “You’ve said enough,” David replied. “I’ve decided that you and Ziba will divide your land equally between you.”
 ³⁰ “Give him all of it,” Mephibosheth said. “I am content just to have you safely back again, my lord the king!”

David’s Kindness to Barzillai

 ³¹ Barzillai of Gilead had come down from Rogelim to escort the king across the Jordan. ³² He was very old, about eighty, and very wealthy. He was the one who had provided food for the king during his stay in Mahanaim. ³³ “Come across with me and live in Jerusalem,” the king said to Barzillai. “I will take care of you there.”  ³⁴ “No,” he replied, “I am far too old to go with the king to Jerusalem. ³⁵ I am eighty years old today, and I can no longer enjoy anything. Food and wine are no longer tasty, and I cannot hear the singers as they sing. I would only be a burden to my lord the king. ³⁶ Just to go across the Jordan River with the king is all the honor I need! ³⁷ Then let me return again to die in my own town, where my father and mother are buried. But here is your servant, my son Kimham. Let him go with my lord the king and receive whatever you want to give him.”
 ³⁸ “Good,” the king agreed. “Kimham will go with me, and I will help him in any way you would like. And I will do for you anything you want.” ³⁹ So all the people crossed the Jordan with the king. After David had blessed Barzillai and kissed him, Barzillai returned to his own home.
 ⁴⁰ The king then crossed over to Gilgal, taking Kimham with him. All the troops of Judah and half the troops of Israel escorted the king on his way.

An Argument over the King

 ⁴¹ But all the men of Israel complained to the king, “The men of Judah stole the king and didn’t give us the honor of helping take you, your household, and all your men across the Jordan.”  ⁴² The men of Judah replied, “The king is one of our own kinsmen. Why should this make you angry? We haven’t eaten any of the king’s food or received any special favors!”
 ⁴³ “But there are ten tribes in Israel,” the others replied. “So we have ten times as much right to the king as you do. What right do you have to treat us with such contempt? Weren’t we the first to speak of bringing him back to be our king again?” The argument continued back and forth, and the men of Judah spoke even more harshly than the men of Israel.

2 Samuel 20

The Revolt of Sheba

 ¹ There happened to be a troublemaker there named Sheba son of Bicri, a man from the tribe of Benjamin. Sheba blew a ram’s horn and began to chant:    “Down with the dynasty of David!
      We have no interest in the son of Jesse.
   Come on, you men of Israel,
      back to your homes!”
 ² So all the men of Israel deserted David and followed Sheba son of Bicri. But the men of Judah stayed with their king and escorted him from the Jordan River to Jerusalem.
 ³ When David came to his palace in Jerusalem, he took the ten concubines he had left to look after the palace and placed them in seclusion. Their needs were provided for, but he no longer slept with them. So each of them lived like a widow until she died.
 ⁴ Then the king told Amasa, “Mobilize the army of Judah within three days, and report back at that time.” ⁵ So Amasa went out to notify Judah, but it took him longer than the time he had been given.
 ⁶ Then David said to Abishai, “Sheba son of Bicri is going to hurt us more than Absalom did. Quick, take my troops and chase after him before he gets into a fortified town where we can’t reach him.”
 ⁷ So Abishai and Joab,^[f] together with the king’s bodyguard^[g] and all the mighty warriors, set out from Jerusalem to go after Sheba. ⁸ As they arrived at the great stone in Gibeon, Amasa met them. Joab was wearing his military tunic with a dagger strapped to his belt. As he stepped forward to greet Amasa, he slipped the dagger from its sheath.^[h]
 9 “How are you, my cousin?” Joab said and took him by the beard with his right hand as though to kiss him. ¹⁰ Amasa didn’t notice the dagger in his left hand, and Joab stabbed him in the stomach with it so that his insides gushed out onto the ground. Joab did not need to strike again, and Amasa soon died. Joab and his brother Abishai left him lying there and continued after Sheba.
 ¹¹ One of Joab’s young men shouted to Amasa’s troops, “If you are for Joab and David, come and follow Joab.” ¹² But Amasa lay in his blood in the middle of the road, and Joab’s man saw that everyone was stopping to stare at him. So he pulled him off the road into a field and threw a cloak over him. ¹³ With Amasa’s body out of the way, everyone went on with Joab to capture Sheba son of Bicri.

Footnotes:

1. 2 Samuel 19:14 Or David; Hebrew reads he.
2. 2 Samuel 19:20 Hebrew in the house of Joseph.
3. 2 Samuel 19:22 Or my prosecutor.
4. 2 Samuel 19:24 Mephibosheth is another name for Merib-baal.
5. 2 Samuel 19:26 As in Greek, Syriac, and Latin versions; Hebrew reads I will saddle a donkey for myself.
6. 2 Samuel 20:7 Hebrew So Joab’s men.
7. 2 Samuel 20:7 Hebrew the Kerethites and Pelethites; also in 20:23.
8. 2 Samuel 20:8 Hebrew As he stepped forward, it fell out.

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John 21:1-25

New Living Translation (NLT)

John 21

Epilogue: Jesus Appears to Seven Disciples

 ¹ Later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee.^[a] This is how it happened. ² Several of the disciples were there—Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin),^[b] Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two other disciples.  ³ Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.”
   “We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.
 ⁴ At dawn Jesus was standing on the beach, but the disciples couldn’t see who he was. ⁵ He called out, “Fellows,^[c] have you caught any fish?”
   “No,” they replied.
 ⁶ Then he said, “Throw out your net on the right-hand side of the boat, and you’ll get some!” So they did, and they couldn’t haul in the net because there were so many fish in it.
 ⁷ Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his tunic (for he had stripped for work), jumped into the water, and headed to shore. ⁸ The others stayed with the boat and pulled the loaded net to the shore, for they were only about a hundred yards^[d] from shore. ⁹ When they got there, they found breakfast waiting for them—fish cooking over a charcoal fire, and some bread.
 ¹⁰ “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught,” Jesus said. ¹¹ So Simon Peter went aboard and dragged the net to the shore. There were 153 large fish, and yet the net hadn’t torn.
 ¹² “Now come and have some breakfast!” Jesus said. None of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. ¹³ Then Jesus served them the bread and the fish. ¹⁴ This was the third time Jesus had appeared to his disciples since he had been raised from the dead.
 ¹⁵ After breakfast Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?^[e]”
   “Yes, Lord,” Peter replied, “you know I love you.”
   “Then feed my lambs,” Jesus told him.
 ¹⁶ Jesus repeated the question: “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
   “Yes, Lord,” Peter said, “you know I love you.”
   “Then take care of my sheep,” Jesus said.
 ¹⁷ A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
   Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.”
   Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.
 ¹⁸ “I tell you the truth, when you were young, you were able to do as you liked; you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and others^[f] will dress you and take you where you don’t want to go.” ¹⁹ Jesus said this to let him know by what kind of death he would glorify God. Then Jesus told him, “Follow me.”
 ²⁰ Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will betray you?” ²¹ Peter asked Jesus, “What about him, Lord?”
 ²² Jesus replied, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? As for you, follow me.” ²³ So the rumor spread among the community of believers^[g] that this disciple wouldn’t die. But that isn’t what Jesus said at all. He only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?”
 ²⁴ This disciple is the one who testifies to these events and has recorded them here. And we know that his account of these things is accurate.
 ²⁵ Jesus also did many other things. If they were all written down, I suppose the whole world could not contain the books that would be written.

Footnotes:

1. John 21:1 Greek Sea of Tiberias, another name for the Sea of Galilee.
2. John 21:2 Greek Thomas, who was called Didymus.
3. John 21:5 Greek Children.
4. John 21:8 Greek 200 cubits [90 meters].
5. John 21:15 Or more than these others do?
6. John 21:18 Some manuscripts read and another one.
7. John 21:23 Greek the brothers.

New Living Translation (NLT)Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Psalm 120:1-7

New Living Translation (NLT)

Psalm 120

Psalm 120

    A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. ¹ I took my troubles to the LORD;
      I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer.
 ² Rescue me, O LORD, from liars
      and from all deceitful people.
 ³ O deceptive tongue, what will God do to you?
      How will he increase your punishment?
 ⁴ You will be pierced with sharp arrows
      and burned with glowing coals.
 ⁵ How I suffer in far-off Meshech.
      It pains me to live in distant Kedar.
 ⁶ I am tired of living
      among people who hate peace.
 ⁷ I search for peace;
      but when I speak of peace, they want war!

Proverbs 16:16-17

New Living Translation (NLT)

 ¹⁶ How much better to get wisdom than gold,
      and good judgment than silver!
 ¹⁷ The path of the virtuous leads away from evil;
      whoever follows that path is safe.