the Week of Proper 19 / Ordinary 24
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Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading
May 4 - Old & New Testament
csb
1 Samuel 23
Chapter 23
Deliverance at Keilah
1 It was reported to David: "Look, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah(a) and raiding the threshing floors."
2 So David inquired of the Lord :(b) "Should I launch an attack against these Philistines?"
The Lord answered David, "Launch an attack against the Philistines and rescue Keilah."
3 But David's men said to him, "Look, we're afraid here in Judah; how much more if we go to Keilah against the Philistine forces!"
4 Once again, David inquired of the Lord , and the Lord answered him: "Go at once to Keilah, for I will hand the Philistines over to you."(c) 5 Then David and his men went to Keilah, fought against the Philistines, drove their livestock away, and inflicted heavy losses on them. So David rescued the inhabitants of Keilah. 6 Abiathar son of Ahimelech fled to David at Keilah, and he brought an ephod with him.
7 When it was reported to Saul that David had gone to Keilah, he said, "God has handed him over to me, for he has trapped himself by entering a town with barred gates." 8 Then Saul summoned all the troops to go to war at Keilah and besiege David and his men.
9 When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest,(d) "Bring the ephod."(e)
10 Then David said, " Lord God of Israel, Your servant has heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the town because of me. 11 Will the citizens of Keilah hand me over to him? Will Saul come down as Your servant has heard? Lord God of Israel, please tell Your servant."
The Lord answered, "He will come down."
12 Then David asked, "Will the citizens of Keilah hand me and my men over to Saul?"
"They will,"(f) the Lord responded.
13 So David and his men, numbering about 600,(g) left Keilah at once and moved from place to place.(h) When it was reported to Saul that David had escaped from Keilah, he called off the expedition. 14 David then stayed in the wilderness strongholds and in the hill country of the Wilderness of Ziph.(i) Saul searched for him every day, but God did not hand David over to him.(j)
A Renewed Covenant
15 David was in the Wilderness of Ziph in Horesh when he saw that Saul had come out to take his life. 16 Then Saul's son Jonathan came to David in Horesh and encouraged him in his faith in God,(k) 17 saying, "Don't be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. You yourself will be king over Israel,(l) and I'll be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows it is true."(m) 18 Then the two of them made a covenant in the Lord 's presence.(n) Afterward, David remained in Horesh, while Jonathan went home.
David's Narrow Escape
19 Some Ziphites(o) came up to Saul at Gibeah and said, "David is[a] hiding among us in the strongholds in Horesh on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon. 20 Now, whenever the king wants to come down, let him come down. Our part will be to hand him over to the king."(p)
21 "May you be blessed by the Lord ," replied Saul, "for you have taken pity on me.(q) 22 Go and check again. Investigate and watch carefully where he goes[b] and who has seen him there; they tell me he is extremely cunning. 23 Look and find out all the places where he hides. Then come back to me with accurate information, and I'll go with you. If it turns out he really is in the region, I'll search for him among all the clans[c] of Judah." 24 So they went to Ziph ahead of Saul.
Now David and his men were in the wilderness near Maon(r) in the Arabah south of Jeshimon, 25 and Saul and his men went to look for him. When David was told about it, he went down to the rock and stayed in the Wilderness of Maon. Saul heard of this and pursued David there.
26 Saul went along one side of the mountain and David and his men went along the other side. Even though David was hurrying to get away from Saul, Saul and his men were closing in on David and his men to capture them.(s) 27 Then a messenger came to Saul saying, "Come quickly, because the Philistines have raided the land!" 28 So Saul broke off his pursuit of David and went to engage the Philistines. Therefore, that place was named the Rock of Separation. 29 [d]From there David went up and stayed in the strongholds of En-gedi.(t)
Psalms 54,63
Psalm 54
Prayer for Deliverance
For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A Davidic Maskil. When the Ziphites went and said to Saul, "Is David not hiding among us?"(a)
1 God, save me by Your name,
and vindicate me by Your might!(b)
2 God, hear my prayer;
listen to the words of my mouth.(c)
3 For strangers rise up against me,
and violent men seek my life.
They have no regard for God.[a](d)
4 God is my helper;
the Lord is the sustainer of my life.[b](e)
5 He will repay my adversaries for their evil.
Because of Your faithfulness, annihilate them.(f)
6 I will sacrifice a freewill offering to You.(g)
I will praise Your name, Yahweh,
because it is good.(h)
7 For He has delivered me from every trouble,
and my eye has looked down on my enemies.(i)
Psalm 55
Betrayal by a Friend
For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A Davidic Maskil.
1 God, listen to my prayer
and do not ignore[a] my plea for help.(a)
2 Pay attention to me and answer me.(b)
I am restless and in turmoil with my complaint,(c)
3 because of the enemy's voice,
because of the pressure[b] of the wicked.
For they bring down disaster on me[c]
and harass me in anger.(d)
4 My heart shudders within me;(e)
terrors of death sweep over me.
5 Fear and trembling grip me;
horror has overwhelmed me.(f)
6 I said, "If only I had[d] wings like a dove!
I would fly away and find rest.(g)
7 How far away I would flee;
I would stay in the wilderness.(h)
8 I would hurry to my shelter
from the raging wind and the storm."(i)
9 Lord, confuse[e] and confound their speech,[f](j)
for I see violence and strife in the city;
10 day and night they make the rounds on its walls.
Crime and trouble are within it;(k)
11 destruction is inside it;
oppression and deceit never leave its marketplace.(l)
12 Now it is not an enemy who insults me—
otherwise I could bear it;
it is not a foe who rises up against me—
otherwise I could hide from him.
13 But it is you, a man who is my peer,
my companion and good friend!(m)
14 We used to have close fellowship;
we walked with the crowd into the house of God.(n)
15 Let death take them by surprise;(o)
let them go down to Sheol alive,
because evil is in their homes and within them.(p)
16 But I call to God,
and the
Lord
will save me.(q)
17 I complain and groan morning, noon, and night,(r)
and He hears my voice.(s)
18 Though many are against me,
He will redeem me from my battle unharmed.(t)
19 God, the One enthroned from long ago,(u)
will hear and will humiliate them
because they do not change
and do not fear God.(v)
20 My friend(w) acts violently
against those at peace with him;(x)
he violates his covenant.(y)
21 His buttery words are smooth,[g]
but war is in his heart.
His words are softer than oil,
but they are drawn swords.(z)
22 Cast your burden on the
Lord
,
and He will sustain you;(aa)
He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.(ab)
23 God, You will bring them down
to the Pit of destruction;(ac)
men of bloodshed and treachery
will not live out half their days.(ad)
But I will trust in You.(ae)
Psalm 56
A Call for God's Protection
For the choir director: according to "A Silent Dove Far Away."[a] A Davidic Miktam. When the Philistines seized him in Gath.(a)
1 Be gracious to me, God, for man tramples me;
he fights and oppresses me all day long.
2 My adversaries trample me all day,
for many arrogantly fight against me.[b](b)
3 When I am afraid,
I will trust in You.(c)
4 In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?(d)
5 They twist my words all day long;
all their thoughts against me are evil.(e)
6 They stir up strife,[c] they lurk;
they watch my steps
while they wait to take my life.(f)
7 Will they escape in spite of such sin?
God, bring down the nations in wrath.(g)
8 You Yourself have recorded my wanderings.[d]
Put my tears in Your bottle.
Are they not in Your records?(h)
9 Then my enemies will retreat on the day when I call.(i)
This I know: God is for me.(j)
10 In God, whose word I praise,
in the
Lord
, whose word I praise,
11 in God I trust; I will not fear.
What can man do to me?(k)
12 I am obligated by vows[e] to You, God;
I will make my thank offerings to You.(l)
13 For You delivered me from death,
even my feet from stumbling,
to walk before God in the light of life.(m)
Psalm 57
Praise for God's Protection
For the choir director: "Do Not Destroy."[a] A Davidic Miktam. When he fled before Saul into the cave.(a)
1 Be gracious to me, God, be gracious to me,
for I take refuge in You.
I will seek refuge in the shadow of Your wings
until danger passes.(b)
2 I call to God Most High,
to God who fulfills His purpose for me.[b](c)
3 He reaches down from heaven and saves me,
challenging the one who tramples me.(d)
God sends His faithful love and truth.(e)
4 I am surrounded by lions;
I lie down with those who devour men.
Their teeth are spears and arrows;
their tongues are sharp swords.(f)
5 God, be exalted above the heavens;
let Your glory be over the whole earth.(g)
6 They prepared a net for my steps;
I was despondent.
They dug a pit ahead of me,
but they fell into it!(h)
7 My heart is confident, God, my heart is confident.
I will sing; I will sing praises.(i)
8 Wake up, my soul![c]
Wake up, harp and lyre!
I will wake up the dawn.(j)
9 I will praise You, Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to You among the nations.(k)
10 For Your faithful love is as high as the heavens;
Your faithfulness reaches the clouds.(l)
11 God, be exalted above the heavens;(m)
let Your glory be over the whole earth.(n)
Psalm 58
A Cry against Injustice
For the choir director: "Do Not Destroy."[a] A Davidic Miktam.
1 Do you really speak righteously, you mighty ones?[b]
Do you judge people fairly?(a)
2 No, you practice injustice in your hearts;
with your hands you weigh out violence in the land.(b)
3 The wicked go astray from the womb;
liars err from birth.(c)
4 They have venom like the venom of a snake,
like the deaf cobra that stops up its ears,(d)
5 that does not listen to the sound of the charmers
who skillfully weave spells.(e)
6 God, knock the teeth out of their mouths;
Lord
, tear out the young lions' fangs.(f)
7 They will vanish like water that flows by;
they will aim their useless arrows.[c][d](g)
8 Like a slug that moves along in slime,
like a woman's miscarried child,
they will not see the sun.(h)
9 Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns—
whether green or burning—
He will sweep them away.[e](i)
10 The righteous one will rejoice
when he sees the retribution;(j)
he will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.(k)
11 Then people will say,
"Yes, there is a reward for the righteous!
There is a God who judges on earth!"(l)
Psalm 59
God Our Stronghold
For the choir director: "Do Not Destroy."[a] A Davidic Miktam. When Saul sent agents to watch the house and kill him.(a)
1 Deliver me from my enemies, my God;(b)
protect me from those who rise up against me.(c)
2 Deliver me from those who practice sin,
and save me from men of bloodshed.(d)
3
Lord
, look! They set an ambush for me.(e)
Powerful men attack me,
but not because of any sin or rebellion of mine.(f)
4 For no fault of mine,
they run and take up a position.
Awake to help me, and take notice.(g)
5
Lord
God of Hosts, You are the God of Israel,
rise up to punish all the nations;
do not show grace to any wicked traitors.(h)
6 They return at evening, snarling like dogs
and prowling around the city.(i)
7 Look, they spew from their mouths—
sharp words from[b] their lips.(j)
"For who," they say, "will hear?"(k)
8 But You laugh at them,
Lord
;
You ridicule all the nations.(l)
9 I will keep watch for You, my[c] strength,
because God is my stronghold.(m)
10 My faithful God[d] will come to meet me;
God will let me look down on my adversaries.(n)
11 Do not kill them; otherwise, my people will forget.
By Your power, make them homeless wanderers(o)
and bring them down,
Lord, our shield.(p)
12 For the sin of their mouths and the words of their lips,
let them be caught in their pride.
They utter curses and lies.(q)
13 Consume them in rage;
consume them until they are gone.(r)
Then people will know throughout[e] the earth
that God rules over Jacob.(s)
14 And they return at evening, snarling like dogs
and prowling around the city.(t)
15 They scavenge for food;
they growl if they are not satisfied.(u)
16 But I will sing of Your strength
and will joyfully proclaim
Your faithful love in the morning.(v)
For You have been a stronghold for me,
a refuge in my day of trouble.(w)
17 To You, my strength, I sing praises,
because God is my stronghold—
my faithful God.(x)
Psalm 60
Prayer in Difficult Times
For the choir director: according to "The Lily of Testimony."[a] A Davidic Miktam for teaching. When he fought with Aram-naharaim and Aram-zobah, and Joab returned and struck Edom in the Valley of Salt, killing 12,000.(a)
1 God, You have rejected us;
You have broken out[b] against us;
You have been angry. Restore us
2 You have shaken the land and split it open.
Heal its fissures, for it shudders.(c)
3 You have made Your people suffer hardship;
You have given us wine to drink
that made us stagger.(d)
4 You have given a signal flag to those who fear You,
so that they can flee before the archers.[d](e)
5 Save with Your right hand, and answer me,
so that those You love may be rescued.(f)
6 God has spoken in His sanctuary:[e]
"I will triumph! I will divide up Shechem.(g)
I will apportion the Valley of Succoth.(h)
7 Gilead is Mine, Manasseh is Mine,
and Ephraim is My helmet;(i)
Judah is My scepter.(j)
8 Moab is My washbasin.(k)
I throw My sandal on Edom;(l)
I shout in triumph over Philistia."(m)
9 Who will bring me to the fortified city?
Who will lead me to Edom?(n)
10 God, haven't You rejected us?
God, You do not march out with our armies.(o)
11 Give us aid against the foe,
for human help is worthless.(p)
12 With God we will perform valiantly;(q)
He will trample our foes.(r)
Psalm 61
Security in God
For the choir director: on stringed instruments. Davidic.
1 God, hear my cry;
pay attention to my prayer.(a)
2 I call to You from the ends of the earth
when my heart is without strength.(b)
Lead me to a rock that is high above me,(c)
3 for You have been a refuge for me,
a strong tower(d) in the face of the enemy.
4 I will live in Your tent forever
and take refuge under the shelter of Your wings.(e)
5 God, You have heard my vows;(f)
You have given a heritage
to those who fear Your name.(g)
6 Add days to the king's life;
may his years span many generations.(h)
7 May he sit enthroned before God forever;(i)
appoint faithful love and truth to guard him.(j)
8 Then I will continually sing of Your name,(k)
fulfilling my vows day by day.(l)
Psalm 62
Trust in God Alone
For the choir director: according to Jeduthun.(a) A Davidic psalm.
1 I am at rest in God alone;
my salvation comes from Him.(b)
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation,(c)
my stronghold; I will never be shaken.(d)
3 How long will you threaten a man?
Will all of you attack[a]
as if he were a leaning wall
or a tottering stone fence?(e)
4 They only plan to bring him down
from his high position.
They take pleasure in lying;
they bless with their mouths,
but they curse inwardly.(f)
5 Rest in God alone, my soul,
for my hope comes from Him.(g)
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation,(h)
my stronghold; I will not be shaken.(i)
7 My salvation and glory depend on God, my strong rock.
My refuge is in God.(j)
8 Trust in Him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts before Him.
God is our refuge.(k)
9 Men are only a vapor;
exalted men, an illusion.
Weighed in the scales, they go up;
together they are less than a vapor.(l)
10 Place no trust in oppression,
or false hope in robbery.
If wealth increases,
pay no attention to it.[b](m)
11 God has spoken once;
I have heard this twice:
strength belongs to God,(n)
12 and faithful love belongs to You,
Lord
.
For You repay each according to his works.(o)
Psalm 63
Praise God Who Satisfies
A Davidic psalm. When he was in the Wilderness of Judah.(a)
1 God, You are my God; I eagerly seek You.
I thirst for You;
my body faints for You
in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water.(b)
2 So I gaze on You in the sanctuary
to see Your strength and Your glory.(c)
3 My lips will glorify You
because Your faithful love is better than life.(d)
4 So I will praise You as long as I live;
at Your name, I will lift up my hands.(e)
5 You satisfy me as with rich food;[a](f)
my mouth will praise You with joyful lips.(g)
6 When I think of You as I lie on my bed,
I meditate on You during the night watches(h)
7 because You are my helper;(i)
I will rejoice in the shadow of Your wings.(j)
8 I follow close to You;
Your right hand holds on to me.(k)
9 But those who seek to destroy my life
will go into the depths of the earth.(l)
10 They will be given over to the power of the sword;(m)
they will become the jackals' prey.
11 But the king will rejoice in God;(n)
all who swear by Him[b] will boast,
for the mouths of liars will be shut.(o)
Luke 22:47-71
Chapter 22
47 While(ba) He was still speaking, suddenly a mob was there, and one of the Twelve named Judas was leading them. He came near Jesus to kiss Him, 48 but Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"
49 When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they asked, "Lord, should we strike with the sword?" 50 Then one of them struck the high priest's slave and cut off his right ear.
51 But Jesus responded, "No more of this!" [n] And touching his ear, He healed him. 52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, temple police, and the elders who had come for Him, "Have you come out with swords and clubs as if I were a criminal?[o] 53 Every day while I was with you in the temple complex,(bb) you never laid a hand on Me. But this is your hour(bc)—and the dominion of darkness." (bd)
Peter Denies His Lord
54 They seized Him, led Him away, and brought Him into the high priest's house. Meanwhile Peter(be) was following at a distance. 55 They(bf) lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard(bg) and sat down together, and Peter sat among them. 56 When a servant saw him sitting in the firelight, and looked closely at him, she said, "This man was with Him too."
57 But he denied it: "Woman, I don't know Him!"
58 After a little while, someone else saw him and said, "You're one of them too!"
"Man, I am not!" Peter said.
59 About an hour later, another kept insisting, "This man was certainly with Him, since he's also a Galilean."
60 But Peter said, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about!" Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61 Then the Lord turned and looked at Peter.(bh) So Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times." (bi) 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.
Jesus Mocked and Beaten
63 The men who were holding Jesus started mocking and beating Him.(bj) 64 After blindfolding Him, they kept[p] asking, "Prophesy! Who hit You?" 65 And they were saying many other blasphemous(bk) things against Him.
Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin
66 When daylight came,(bl) the elders[q] of the people, both the chief priests and the scribes,(bm) convened and brought Him before their Sanhedrin.(bn) 67 They said,(bo) "If You are the Messiah, tell us."
But He said to them, "If I do tell you, you will not believe. 68 And if I ask you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the Power of God." (bp)
70 They all asked, "Are You, then, the Son of God?"(bq)
And He said to them, "You say that I am." (br)
71 "Why do we need any more testimony," they said, "since we've heard it ourselves from His mouth?"
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