April 15 - Evening
"When the time drew near for David to die, he gave a charge to Solomon his son.
‘I am about to go the way of all the earth,’ he said.
‘So be strong, act like a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go and that the Lord may keep his promise to me: “If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.” Now you yourself know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to the two commanders of Israel’s armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He killed them, shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle, and with that blood he stained the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace. But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and let them be among those who eat at your table. They stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom. And remember, you have with you Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord: “I will not put you to death by the sword.” But now, do not consider him innocent. You are a man of wisdom; you will know what to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood.’
Then David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David."
- First Kings 2:1-10
‘I am about to go the way of all the earth,’ he said.
‘So be strong, act like a man, and observe what the Lord your God requires: Walk in obedience to him, and keep his decrees and commands, his laws and regulations, as written in the Law of Moses. Do this so that you may prosper in all you do and wherever you go and that the Lord may keep his promise to me: “If your descendants watch how they live, and if they walk faithfully before me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.” Now you yourself know what Joab son of Zeruiah did to me—what he did to the two commanders of Israel’s armies, Abner son of Ner and Amasa son of Jether. He killed them, shedding their blood in peacetime as if in battle, and with that blood he stained the belt around his waist and the sandals on his feet. Deal with him according to your wisdom, but do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace. But show kindness to the sons of Barzillai of Gilead and let them be among those who eat at your table. They stood by me when I fled from your brother Absalom. And remember, you have with you Shimei son of Gera, the Benjamite from Bahurim, who called down bitter curses on me the day I went to Mahanaim. When he came down to meet me at the Jordan, I swore to him by the Lord: “I will not put you to death by the sword.” But now, do not consider him innocent. You are a man of wisdom; you will know what to do to him. Bring his gray head down to the grave in blood.’
Then David rested with his ancestors and was buried in the City of David."
- First Kings 2:1-10
David's Spiritual and Political Advice to Solomon
David’s final words to his son Solomon, who had already been anointed as the next king, can be divided into two parts:
- Command to be a man of God
- Directions concerning the establishment of his fragile reign which involves the personal treatment of some opponents and some supporters.
1) decrees, 2) commands, 3) laws, 4) regulations
All this was to be done so Solomon’s reign and life would be prosperous and successful and that the Lord would be able to honor his promises to David and Solomon.
The second part of David’s advice concerned Solomon’s establishment of his reign which included the treatment of his opponents and supporters. David advised Solomon concerning those who would be opponents:
- Joab – “do not let his gray head go down to the grave in peace” or, said another way, “don’t let him grow old, but kill him.”
- Shimei – “bring his gray head down to the grave in blood, or, said another way, “kill him with the sword.”
- Barzillai – support him from the royal account which would have included food, provisions shelter and protection.
Aphorizo (Gr) – Set Apart (Eng) – aphorizo is Greek word meaning “mark off by boundaries.” It is used to say “set apart” and “devote to a special purpose” as in Romans 1:1.
Paul was aphorizo for the preaching of the Gospel.
Solomon had to act with obedience toward God's law and in wisdom toward men to be successful as ruler of God's kingdom of Israel on earth.
Do I have the ability, desire and knowledge to act in obedience to God and in wisdom toward men?
Do I have the ability, desire and knowledge to act in obedience to God and in wisdom toward men?
Bible Reading Descriptions Here
Personal
Fruitfulness in your personal ministry
Church
Unity
Nation
Crime
World
China, PRC
Details located on a map of 1 Kings 18:1-19:7 when Elijah called fire down on Mount Carmel and then fled to Mount Sinai.
Someone to Quote
“My one purpose in life is to help people find a personal relationship with God, which, I believe, comes through knowing Christ.”
– Billy Graham
Something to Ponder
Could the fruit from the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil have caused a genetic alteration in the human make up and chemically altered the human DNA? And, likewise, could receiving the mark of the beast, which is 666, the number of man, be another more drastic genetic alteration?
Here’s a Fact
Vitruvius, an architect and engineer in the Roman military around 70-80 AD describes in detail the architectural and construction techniques used at the time. Vitruvius’ descriptions and information describe the techniques and construction principles used by Herod in his construction of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and other buildings throughout the land of Israel. This information can still be seen, studied and documented today the remains of these ancient building projects.
Proverb
"The Lord detests the sacrifice of the wicked, but the prayer of the upright pleases him."
- Proverbs 15:8
- Proverbs 15:8
Coach’s Corner
There are times when the best thing to do is laugh loudly and times it is best to weep. Do not avoid them when it is the right time.
1 Kings 18-19:7
New International Version (NIV)
Elijah and Obadiah
18 After a long time, in the third year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.” 2 So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.
Now the famine was severe in Samaria, 3 and Ahab had summoned Obadiah, his palace administrator. (Obadiah was a devout believer in the Lord. 4 While Jezebel was killing off the Lord’s prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.) 5 Ahab had said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs and valleys. Maybe we can find some grass to keep the horses and mules alive so we will not have to kill any of our animals.” 6 So they divided the land they were to cover, Ahab going in one direction and Obadiah in another.
7 As Obadiah was walking along, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized him, bowed down to the ground, and said, “Is it really you, my lord Elijah?”
8 “Yes,” he replied. “Go tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’”
9 “What have I done wrong,” asked Obadiah, “that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to be put to death? 10 As surely as the Lord your God lives, there is not a nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to look for you. And whenever a nation or kingdom claimed you were not there, he made them swear they could not find you. 11 But now you tell me to go to my master and say, ‘Elijah is here.’ 12 I don’t know where the Spirit of the Lord may carry you when I leave you. If I go and tell Ahab and he doesn’t find you, he will kill me. Yet I your servant have worshiped the Lord since my youth. 13 Haven’t you heard, my lord, what I did while Jezebel was killing the prophets of the Lord? I hid a hundred of the Lord’s prophets in two caves, fifty in each, and supplied them with food and water. 14 And now you tell me to go to my master and say, ‘Elijah is here.’ He will kill me!”
15 Elijah said, “As the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I will surely present myself to Ahab today.”
Elijah on Mount Carmel
16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah. 17 When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”
18 “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals. 19 Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
20 So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”
But the people said nothing.
22 Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only one of the Lord’s prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. 23 Get two bulls for us. Let Baal’s prophets choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. 24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—he is God.”
Then all the people said, “What you say is good.”
25 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire.” 26 So they took the bull given them and prepared it.
Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. “Baal, answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made.
27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.” 28 So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. 29 Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.
30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down. 31 Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Your name shall be Israel.” 32 With the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed. 33 He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood.”
34 “Do it again,” he said, and they did it again.
“Do it a third time,” he ordered, and they did it the third time. 35 The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.
36 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37 Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”
38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.
39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”
40 Then Elijah commanded them, “Seize the prophets of Baal. Don’t let anyone get away!” They seized them, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered there.
41 And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.” 42 So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees.
43 “Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked.
“There is nothing there,” he said.
Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”
44 The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.”
So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’”
45 Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain started falling and Ahab rode off to Jezreel. 46 The power of the Lord came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
Elijah Flees to Horeb
19 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”
3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
7 The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.”
New International Version (NIV)
Elijah and Obadiah
18 After a long time, in the third year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.” 2 So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.
Now the famine was severe in Samaria, 3 and Ahab had summoned Obadiah, his palace administrator. (Obadiah was a devout believer in the Lord. 4 While Jezebel was killing off the Lord’s prophets, Obadiah had taken a hundred prophets and hidden them in two caves, fifty in each, and had supplied them with food and water.) 5 Ahab had said to Obadiah, “Go through the land to all the springs and valleys. Maybe we can find some grass to keep the horses and mules alive so we will not have to kill any of our animals.” 6 So they divided the land they were to cover, Ahab going in one direction and Obadiah in another.
7 As Obadiah was walking along, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized him, bowed down to the ground, and said, “Is it really you, my lord Elijah?”
8 “Yes,” he replied. “Go tell your master, ‘Elijah is here.’”
9 “What have I done wrong,” asked Obadiah, “that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to be put to death? 10 As surely as the Lord your God lives, there is not a nation or kingdom where my master has not sent someone to look for you. And whenever a nation or kingdom claimed you were not there, he made them swear they could not find you. 11 But now you tell me to go to my master and say, ‘Elijah is here.’ 12 I don’t know where the Spirit of the Lord may carry you when I leave you. If I go and tell Ahab and he doesn’t find you, he will kill me. Yet I your servant have worshiped the Lord since my youth. 13 Haven’t you heard, my lord, what I did while Jezebel was killing the prophets of the Lord? I hid a hundred of the Lord’s prophets in two caves, fifty in each, and supplied them with food and water. 14 And now you tell me to go to my master and say, ‘Elijah is here.’ He will kill me!”
15 Elijah said, “As the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I will surely present myself to Ahab today.”
Elijah on Mount Carmel
16 So Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him, and Ahab went to meet Elijah. 17 When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?”
18 “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals. 19 Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.”
20 So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. 21 Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.”
But the people said nothing.
22 Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only one of the Lord’s prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. 23 Get two bulls for us. Let Baal’s prophets choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. 24 Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—he is God.”
Then all the people said, “What you say is good.”
25 Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose one of the bulls and prepare it first, since there are so many of you. Call on the name of your god, but do not light the fire.” 26 So they took the bull given them and prepared it.
Then they called on the name of Baal from morning till noon. “Baal, answer us!” they shouted. But there was no response; no one answered. And they danced around the altar they had made.
27 At noon Elijah began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.” 28 So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. 29 Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention.
30 Then Elijah said to all the people, “Come here to me.” They came to him, and he repaired the altar of the Lord, which had been torn down. 31 Elijah took twelve stones, one for each of the tribes descended from Jacob, to whom the word of the Lord had come, saying, “Your name shall be Israel.” 32 With the stones he built an altar in the name of the Lord, and he dug a trench around it large enough to hold two seahs of seed. 33 He arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces and laid it on the wood. Then he said to them, “Fill four large jars with water and pour it on the offering and on the wood.”
34 “Do it again,” he said, and they did it again.
“Do it a third time,” he ordered, and they did it the third time. 35 The water ran down around the altar and even filled the trench.
36 At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. 37 Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.”
38 Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.
39 When all the people saw this, they fell prostrate and cried, “The Lord—he is God! The Lord—he is God!”
40 Then Elijah commanded them, “Seize the prophets of Baal. Don’t let anyone get away!” They seized them, and Elijah had them brought down to the Kishon Valley and slaughtered there.
41 And Elijah said to Ahab, “Go, eat and drink, for there is the sound of a heavy rain.” 42 So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face between his knees.
43 “Go and look toward the sea,” he told his servant. And he went up and looked.
“There is nothing there,” he said.
Seven times Elijah said, “Go back.”
44 The seventh time the servant reported, “A cloud as small as a man’s hand is rising from the sea.”
So Elijah said, “Go and tell Ahab, ‘Hitch up your chariot and go down before the rain stops you.’”
45 Meanwhile, the sky grew black with clouds, the wind rose, a heavy rain started falling and Ahab rode off to Jezreel. 46 The power of the Lord came on Elijah and, tucking his cloak into his belt, he ran ahead of Ahab all the way to Jezreel.
Elijah Flees to Horeb
19 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”
3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” 5 Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.
All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” 6 He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.
7 The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.”
Psalm 60
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 60
For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.” A miktam of David. For teaching. When he fought Aram Naharaim and Aram Zobah, and when Joab returned and struck down twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
1
You have rejected us, God, and burst upon us; you have been angry—now restore us!
2
You have shaken the land and torn it open; mend its fractures, for it is quaking.
3
You have shown your people desperate times; you have given us wine that makes us stagger.
4
But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner to be unfurled against the bow.
5
Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered.
6
God has spoken from his sanctuary: “In triumph I will parcel out Shechem and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth.
7
Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet, Judah is my scepter.
8
Moab is my washbasin, on Edom I toss my sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph.”
9
Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?
10
Is it not you, God, you who have now rejected us and no longer go out with our armies?
11
Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is worthless.
12
With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 60
For the director of music. To the tune of “The Lily of the Covenant.” A miktam of David. For teaching. When he fought Aram Naharaim and Aram Zobah, and when Joab returned and struck down twelve thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt.
1
You have rejected us, God, and burst upon us; you have been angry—now restore us!
2
You have shaken the land and torn it open; mend its fractures, for it is quaking.
3
You have shown your people desperate times; you have given us wine that makes us stagger.
4
But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner to be unfurled against the bow.
5
Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered.
6
God has spoken from his sanctuary: “In triumph I will parcel out Shechem and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth.
7
Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet, Judah is my scepter.
8
Moab is my washbasin, on Edom I toss my sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph.”
9
Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?
10
Is it not you, God, you who have now rejected us and no longer go out with our armies?
11
Give us aid against the enemy, for human help is worthless.
12
With God we will gain the victory, and he will trample down our enemies.
Psalm 31
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 31
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1
In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness.
2
Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.
3
Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
4
Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge.
5
Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.
6
I hate those who cling to worthless idols; as for me, I trust in the Lord.
7
I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.
8
You have not given me into the hands of the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place.
9
Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief.
10
My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak.
11
Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors and an object of dread to my closest friends— those who see me on the street flee from me.
12
I am forgotten as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery.
13
For I hear many whispering, “Terror on every side!” They conspire against me and plot to take my life.
14
But I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.”
15
My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me.
16
Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.
17
Let me not be put to shame, Lord, for I have cried out to you; but let the wicked be put to shame and be silent in the realm of the dead.
18
Let their lying lips be silenced, for with pride and contempt they speak arrogantly against the righteous.
19
How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.
20
In the shelter of your presence you hide them from all human intrigues; you keep them safe in your dwelling from accusing tongues.
21
Praise be to the Lord, for he showed me the wonders of his love when I was in a city under siege.
22
In my alarm I said, “I am cut off from your sight!” Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help.
23
Love the Lord, all his faithful people! The Lord preserves those who are true to him, but the proud he pays back in full.
24
Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.
____
Psalm 34
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 34
Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.
1
I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
2
I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3
Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.
4
I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
5
Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
6
This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.
7
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
8
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
9
Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing.
10
The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
11
Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12
Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days,
13
keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.
14
Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
15
The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry;
16
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth.
17
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.
18
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19
The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all;
20
he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.
21
Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22
The Lord will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
____
Psalm 52
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 52
For the director of music. A maskil of David. When Doeg the Edomite had gone to Saul and told him: “David has gone to the house of Ahimelek.”
1
Why do you boast of evil, you mighty hero? Why do you boast all day long, you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God?
2
You who practice deceit, your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor.
3
You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth.
4
You love every harmful word, you deceitful tongue!
5
Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin: He will snatch you up and pluck you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living.
6
The righteous will see and fear; they will laugh at you, saying,
7
“Here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others!”
8
But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever.
9
For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people. And I will hope in your name, for your name is good.
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 31
For the director of music. A psalm of David.
1
In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness.
2
Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.
3
Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of your name lead and guide me.
4
Keep me free from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge.
5
Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.
6
I hate those who cling to worthless idols; as for me, I trust in the Lord.
7
I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul.
8
You have not given me into the hands of the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place.
9
Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and body with grief.
10
My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak.
11
Because of all my enemies, I am the utter contempt of my neighbors and an object of dread to my closest friends— those who see me on the street flee from me.
12
I am forgotten as though I were dead; I have become like broken pottery.
13
For I hear many whispering, “Terror on every side!” They conspire against me and plot to take my life.
14
But I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.”
15
My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me.
16
Let your face shine on your servant; save me in your unfailing love.
17
Let me not be put to shame, Lord, for I have cried out to you; but let the wicked be put to shame and be silent in the realm of the dead.
18
Let their lying lips be silenced, for with pride and contempt they speak arrogantly against the righteous.
19
How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you.
20
In the shelter of your presence you hide them from all human intrigues; you keep them safe in your dwelling from accusing tongues.
21
Praise be to the Lord, for he showed me the wonders of his love when I was in a city under siege.
22
In my alarm I said, “I am cut off from your sight!” Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help.
23
Love the Lord, all his faithful people! The Lord preserves those who are true to him, but the proud he pays back in full.
24
Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.
____
Psalm 34
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 34
Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.
1
I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
2
I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
3
Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together.
4
I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.
5
Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.
6
This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.
7
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
8
Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
9
Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing.
10
The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
11
Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
12
Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days,
13
keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.
14
Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.
15
The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are attentive to their cry;
16
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil, to blot out their name from the earth.
17
The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.
18
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19
The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all;
20
he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.
21
Evil will slay the wicked; the foes of the righteous will be condemned.
22
The Lord will rescue his servants; no one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.
____
Psalm 52
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 52
For the director of music. A maskil of David. When Doeg the Edomite had gone to Saul and told him: “David has gone to the house of Ahimelek.”
1
Why do you boast of evil, you mighty hero? Why do you boast all day long, you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God?
2
You who practice deceit, your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor.
3
You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth.
4
You love every harmful word, you deceitful tongue!
5
Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin: He will snatch you up and pluck you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living.
6
The righteous will see and fear; they will laugh at you, saying,
7
“Here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others!”
8
But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever.
9
For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people. And I will hope in your name, for your name is good.