THEINC-HIM DAILY BIBLE MEDITATION: January 29

Sunday, October 25, 2009

January 29

Genesis 1:1 1In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

JANUARY 29

PSALMS: 29, 59, 89, 119, 149

PROVERBS: 29

OLD TESTAMENT

JOSHUA 21:1 - 22:20

NEW TESTAMENT

LUKE 20:1 - 26

PSALMS: 29

A psalm of David.

1Ascribe to the LORD, O mighty ones,

ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.

2Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;

worship the LORD in the splendor of hisA holiness.

3The voice of the LORD is over the waters;

the God of glory thunders,

the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.

4The voice of the LORD is powerful;

the voice of the LORD is majestic.

5The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;

the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

6He makes Lebanon skip like a calf,

SirionB like a young wild ox.

7The voice of the LORD strikes

with flashes of lightning.

8The voice of the LORD shakes the desert;

the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh.

9The voice of the LORD twists the oaksC

and strips the forests bare.

And in his temple all cry, "Glory!"

10The LORD sitsD enthroned over the flood;

the LORD is enthroned as King forever.

11The LORD gives strength to his people;

the LORD blesses his people with peace. [1]

PSALMS: 59

For the director of music. To the tune of "Do Not Destroy." Of David. A miktam.A When Saul had sent men to watch David's house in order to kill him.

1Deliver me from my enemies, O God;

protect me from those who rise up against me.

2Deliver me from evildoers

and save me from bloodthirsty men.

3See how they lie in wait for me!

Fierce men conspire against me

for no offense or sin of mine, O LORD.

4I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me.

Arise to help me; look on my plight!

5O LORD God Almighty, the God of Israel,

rouse yourself to punish all the nations;

show no mercy to wicked traitors.

Selah

6They return at evening,

snarling like dogs,

and prowl about the city.

7See what they spew from their mouths--

they spew out swords from their lips,

and they say, "Who can hear us?"

8But you, O LORD, laugh at them;

you scoff at all those nations.

9O my Strength, I watch for you;

you, O God, are my fortress, 10my loving God. [2]

God will go before me

and will let me gloat over those who slander me.

11But do not kill them, O Lord our shield,B

or my people will forget.

In your might make them wander about,

and bring them down.

12For the sins of their mouths,

for the words of their lips,

let them be caught in their pride.

For the curses and lies they utter,

13consume them in wrath,

consume them till they are no more.

Then it will be known to the ends of the earth

that God rules over Jacob. Selah

14They return at evening,

snarling like dogs,

and prowl about the city.

15They wander about for food

and howl if not satisfied.

16But I will sing of your strength,

in the morning I will sing of your love;

for you are my fortress,

my refuge in times of trouble.

17O my Strength, I sing praise to you;

you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God. [3]

PSALMS: 89

A maskilA of Ethan the Ezrahite.

1I will sing of the LORD's great love forever;

with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.

2I will declare that your love stands firm forever,

that you established your faithfulness in heaven itself.

3You said, "I have made a covenant with my chosen one,

I have sworn to David my servant,

4`I will establish your line forever

and make your throne firm through all generations.' "

Selah

5The heavens praise your wonders, O LORD,

your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.

6For who in the skies above can compare with the LORD?

Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings?

7In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared;

he is more awesome than all who surround him.

8O LORD God Almighty, who is like you?

You are mighty, O LORD, and your faithfulness surrounds you.

9You rule over the surging sea;

when its waves mount up, you still them.

10You crushed Rahab like one of the slain;

with your strong arm you scattered your enemies.

11The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth;

you founded the world and all that is in it.

12You created the north and the south;

Tabor and Hermon sing for joy at your name.

13Your arm is endued with power;

your hand is strong, your right hand exalted. [4]

14Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne;

love and faithfulness go before you.

15Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you,

who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD.

16They rejoice in your name all day long;

they exult in your righteousness.

17For you are their glory and strength,

and by your favor you exalt our horn.B

18Indeed, our shieldC belongs to the LORD,

our king to the Holy One of Israel.

19Once you spoke in a vision,

to your faithful people you said:

"I have bestowed strength on a warrior;

I have exalted a young man from among the people.

20I have found David my servant;

with my sacred oil I have anointed him.

21My hand will sustain him;

surely my arm will strengthen him.

22No enemy will subject him to tribute;

no wicked man will oppress him.

23I will crush his foes before him

and strike down his adversaries.

24My faithful love will be with him,

and through my name his hornD will be exalted.

25I will set his hand over the sea,

his right hand over the rivers.

26He will call out to me, `You are my Father,

my God, the Rock my Savior.'

27I will also appoint him my firstborn,

the most exalted of the kings of the earth.

28I will maintain my love to him forever,

and my covenant with him will never fail.

29I will establish his line forever, [5]

his throne as long as the heavens endure.

30"If his sons forsake my law

and do not follow my statutes,

31if they violate my decrees

and fail to keep my commands,

32I will punish their sin with the rod,

their iniquity with flogging;

33but I will not take my love from him,

nor will I ever betray my faithfulness.

34I will not violate my covenant

or alter what my lips have uttered.

35Once for all, I have sworn by my holiness--

and I will not lie to David--

36that his line will continue forever

and his throne endure before me like the sun;

37it will be established forever like the moon,

the faithful witness in the sky."

Selah

38But you have rejected, you have spurned,

you have been very angry with your anointed one.

39You have renounced the covenant with your servant

and have defiled his crown in the dust.

40You have broken through all his walls

and reduced his strongholds to ruins.

41All who pass by have plundered him;

he has become the scorn of his neighbors.

42You have exalted the right hand of his foes;

you have made all his enemies rejoice.

43You have turned back the edge of his sword

and have not supported him in battle. [6]

44You have put an end to his splendor

and cast his throne to the ground.

45You have cut short the days of his youth;

you have covered him with a mantle of shame.

Selah

46How long, O LORD? Will you hide yourself forever?

How long will your wrath burn like fire?

47Remember how fleeting is my life.

For what futility you have created all men!

48What man can live and not see death,

or save himself from the power of the graveE?

Selah

49O Lord, where is your former great love,

which in your faithfulness you swore to David?

50Remember, Lord, how your servant hasF been mocked,

how I bear in my heart the taunts of all the nations,

51the taunts with which your enemies have mocked, O LORD,

with which they have mocked every step of your anointed one.

52Praise be to the LORD forever!

Amen and Amen. [7]

PSALMS: 119

Aleph

1BlessedA are they whose ways are blameless,

who walk according to the law of the LORD.

2Blessed are they who keep his statutes

and seek him with all their heart.

3They do nothing wrong;

they walk in his ways.

4You have laid down precepts

that are to be fully obeyed.

5Oh, that my ways were steadfast

in obeying your decrees!

6Then I would not be put to shame

when I consider all your commands.

7I will praise you with an upright heart

as I learn your righteous laws.

8I will obey your decrees;

do not utterly forsake me.

Beth

9How can a young man keep his way pure?

By living according to your word.

10I seek you with all my heart;

do not let me stray from your commands.

11I have hidden your word in my heart

that I might not sin against you.

12Praise be to you, O LORD;

teach me your decrees.

13With my lips I recount

all the laws that come from your mouth.

14I rejoice in following your statutes [8]

as one rejoices in great riches.

15I meditate on your precepts

and consider your ways.

16I delight in your decrees;

I will not neglect your word.

Gimel

17Do good to your servant, and I will live;

I will obey your word.

18Open my eyes that I may see

wonderful things in your law.

19I am a stranger on earth;

do not hide your commands from me.

20My soul is consumed with longing

for your laws at all times.

21You rebuke the arrogant, who are cursed

and who stray from your commands.

22Remove from me scorn and contempt,

for I keep your statutes.

23Though rulers sit together and slander me,

your servant will meditate on your decrees.

24Your statutes are my delight;

they are my counselors.

Daleth

25I am laid low in the dust;

preserve my life according to your word.

26I recounted my ways and you answered me;

teach me your decrees.

27Let me understand the teaching of your precepts;

then I will meditate on your wonders.

28My soul is weary with sorrow; [9]

strengthen me according to your word.

29Keep me from deceitful ways;

be gracious to me through your law.

30I have chosen the way of truth;

I have set my heart on your laws.

31I hold fast to your statutes, O LORD;

do not let me be put to shame.

32I run in the path of your commands,

for you have set my heart free.

33Teach me, O LORD, to follow your decrees;

then I will keep them to the end.

34Give me understanding, and I will keep your law

and obey it with all my heart.

35Direct me in the path of your commands,

for there I find delight.

36Turn my heart toward your statutes

and not toward selfish gain.

37Turn my eyes away from worthless things;

preserve my life according to your word.B

38Fulfill your promise to your servant,

so that you may be feared.

39Take away the disgrace I dread,

for your laws are good.

40How I long for your precepts!

Preserve my life in your righteousness.

Waw [10]

41May your unfailing love come to me, O LORD,

your salvation according to your promise;

42then I will answer the one who taunts me,

for I trust in your word.

43Do not snatch the word of truth from my mouth,

for I have put my hope in your laws.

44I will always obey your law,

for ever and ever.

45I will walk about in freedom,

for I have sought out your precepts.

46I will speak of your statutes before kings

and will not be put to shame,

47for I delight in your commands

because I love them.

48I lift up my hands toC your commands, which I love,

and I meditate on your decrees.

Zayin

49Remember your word to your servant,

for you have given me hope.

50My comfort in my suffering is this:

Your promise preserves my life.

51The arrogant mock me without restraint,

but I do not turn from your law.

52I remember your ancient laws, O LORD,

and I find comfort in them.

53Indignation grips me because of the wicked,

who have forsaken your law.

54Your decrees are the theme of my song

wherever I lodge. [11]

55In the night I remember your name, O LORD,

and I will keep your law.

56This has been my practice:

I obey your precepts.

Heth

57You are my portion, O LORD;

I have promised to obey your words.

58I have sought your face with all my heart;

be gracious to me according to your promise.

59I have considered my ways

and have turned my steps to your statutes.

60I will hasten and not delay

to obey your commands.

61Though the wicked bind me with ropes,

I will not forget your law.

62At midnight I rise to give you thanks

for your righteous laws.

63I am a friend to all who fear you,

to all who follow your precepts.

64The earth is filled with your love, O LORD;

teach me your decrees.

Teth

65Do good to your servant

according to your word, O LORD.

66Teach me knowledge and good judgment,

for I believe in your commands.

67Before I was afflicted I went astray,

but now I obey your word.

68You are good, and what you do is good;

teach me your decrees.

69Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, [12]

I keep your precepts with all my heart.

70Their hearts are callous and unfeeling,

but I delight in your law.

71It was good for me to be afflicted

so that I might learn your decrees.

72The law from your mouth is more precious to me

than thousands of pieces of silver and gold.

Yodh

73Your hands made me and formed me;

give me understanding to learn your commands.

74May those who fear you rejoice when they see me,

for I have put my hope in your word.

75I know, O LORD, that your laws are righteous,

and in faithfulness you have afflicted me.

76May your unfailing love be my comfort,

according to your promise to your servant.

77Let your compassion come to me that I may live,

for your law is my delight.

78May the arrogant be put to shame for wronging me without cause;

but I will meditate on your precepts.

79May those who fear you turn to me,

those who understand your statutes.

80May my heart be blameless toward your decrees,

that I may not be put to shame.

Kaph

81My soul faints with longing for your salvation,

but I have put my hope in your word.

82My eyes fail, looking for your promise;

I say, "When will you comfort me?" [13]

83Though I am like a wineskin in the smoke,

I do not forget your decrees.

84How long must your servant wait?

When will you punish my persecutors?

85The arrogant dig pitfalls for me,

contrary to your law.

86All your commands are trustworthy;

help me, for men persecute me without cause.

87They almost wiped me from the earth,

but I have not forsaken your precepts.

88Preserve my life according to your love,

and I will obey the statutes of your mouth.

Lamedh

89Your word, O LORD, is eternal;

it stands firm in the heavens.

90Your faithfulness continues through all generations;

you established the earth, and it endures.

91Your laws endure to this day,

for all things serve you.

92If your law had not been my delight,

I would have perished in my affliction.

93I will never forget your precepts,

for by them you have preserved my life.

94Save me, for I am yours;

I have sought out your precepts.

95The wicked are waiting to destroy me,

but I will ponder your statutes.

96To all perfection I see a limit;

but your commands are boundless. [14]

Mem

97Oh, how I love your law!

I meditate on it all day long.

98Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,

for they are ever with me.

99I have more insight than all my teachers,

for I meditate on your statutes.

100I have more understanding than the elders,

for I obey your precepts.

101I have kept my feet from every evil path

so that I might obey your word.

102I have not departed from your laws,

for you yourself have taught me.

103How sweet are your words to my taste,

sweeter than honey to my mouth!

104I gain understanding from your precepts;

therefore I hate every wrong path.

Nun

105Your word is a lamp to my feet

and a light for my path.

106I have taken an oath and confirmed it,

that I will follow your righteous laws.

107I have suffered much;

preserve my life, O LORD, according to your word.

108Accept, O LORD, the willing praise of my mouth,

and teach me your laws.

109Though I constantly take my life in my hands,

I will not forget your law.

110The wicked have set a snare for me,

but I have not strayed from your precepts. [15]

111Your statutes are my heritage forever;

they are the joy of my heart.

112My heart is set on keeping your decrees

to the very end.

Samekh

113I hate double-minded men,

but I love your law.

114You are my refuge and my shield;

I have put my hope in your word.

115Away from me, you evildoers,

that I may keep the commands of my God!

116Sustain me according to your promise, and I will live;

do not let my hopes be dashed.

117Uphold me, and I will be delivered;

I will always have regard for your decrees.

118You reject all who stray from your decrees,

for their deceitfulness is in vain.

119All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross;

therefore I love your statutes.

120My flesh trembles in fear of you;

I stand in awe of your laws.

Ayin

121I have done what is righteous and just;

do not leave me to my oppressors.

122Ensure your servant's well-being;

let not the arrogant oppress me.

123My eyes fail, looking for your salvation,

looking for your righteous promise.

124Deal with your servant according to your love

and teach me your decrees. [16]

125I am your servant; give me discernment

that I may understand your statutes.

126It is time for you to act, O LORD;

your law is being broken.

127Because I love your commands

more than gold, more than pure gold,

128and because I consider all your precepts right,

I hate every wrong path.

129Your statutes are wonderful;

therefore I obey them.

130The unfolding of your words gives light;

it gives understanding to the simple.

131I open my mouth and pant,

longing for your commands.

132Turn to me and have mercy on me,

as you always do to those who love your name.

133Direct my footsteps according to your word;

let no sin rule over me.

134Redeem me from the oppression of men,

that I may obey your precepts.

135Make your face shine upon your servant

and teach me your decrees.

136Streams of tears flow from my eyes,

for your law is not obeyed.

Tsadhe

137Righteous are you, O LORD,

and your laws are right.

138The statutes you have laid down are righteous;

they are fully trustworthy. [17]

139My zeal wears me out,

for my enemies ignore your words.

140Your promises have been thoroughly tested,

and your servant loves them.

141Though I am lowly and despised,

I do not forget your precepts.

142Your righteousness is everlasting

and your law is true.

143Trouble and distress have come upon me,

but your commands are my delight.

144Your statutes are forever right;

give me understanding that I may live.

Qoph

145I call with all my heart; answer me, O LORD,

and I will obey your decrees.

146I call out to you; save me

and I will keep your statutes.

147I rise before dawn and cry for help;

I have put my hope in your word.

148My eyes stay open through the watches of the night,

that I may meditate on your promises.

149Hear my voice in accordance with your love;

preserve my life, O LORD, according to your laws.

150Those who devise wicked schemes are near,

but they are far from your law.

151Yet you are near, O LORD,

and all your commands are true.

152Long ago I learned from your statutes

that you established them to last forever. [18]

Resh

153Look upon my suffering and deliver me,

for I have not forgotten your law.

154Defend my cause and redeem me;

preserve my life according to your promise.

155Salvation is far from the wicked,

for they do not seek out your decrees.

156Your compassion is great, O LORD;

preserve my life according to your laws.

157Many are the foes who persecute me,

but I have not turned from your statutes.

158I look on the faithless with loathing,

for they do not obey your word.

159See how I love your precepts;

preserve my life, O LORD, according to your love.

160All your words are true;

all your righteous laws are eternal.

Sin and Shin

161Rulers persecute me without cause,

but my heart trembles at your word.

162I rejoice in your promise

like one who finds great spoil.

163I hate and abhor falsehood

but I love your law.

164Seven times a day I praise you

for your righteous laws.

165Great peace have they who love your law,

and nothing can make them stumble.

166I wait for your salvation, O LORD,

and I follow your commands.

167I obey your statutes, [19]

for I love them greatly.

168I obey your precepts and your statutes,

for all my ways are known to you.

Taw

169May my cry come before you, O LORD;

give me understanding according to your word.

170May my supplication come before you;

deliver me according to your promise.

171May my lips overflow with praise,

for you teach me your decrees.

172May my tongue sing of your word,

for all your commands are righteous.

173May your hand be ready to help me,

for I have chosen your precepts.

174I long for your salvation, O LORD,

and your law is my delight.

175Let me live that I may praise you,

and may your laws sustain me.

176I have strayed like a lost sheep.

Seek your servant,

for I have not forgotten your commands. [20]

PSALMS: 149

1Praise the LORD.A

Sing to the LORD a new song,

his praise in the assembly of the saints.

2Let Israel rejoice in their Maker;

let the people of Zion be glad in their King.

3Let them praise his name with dancing

and make music to him with tambourine and harp.

4For the LORD takes delight in his people;

he crowns the humble with salvation.

5Let the saints rejoice in this honor

and sing for joy on their beds.

6May the praise of God be in their mouths

and a double-edged sword in their hands,

7to inflict vengeance on the nations

and punishment on the peoples,

8to bind their kings with fetters,

their nobles with shackles of iron,

9to carry out the sentence written against them.

This is the glory of all his saints.

Praise the LORD. [21]

PROVERBS: 29

291 A man who remains stiff-necked after many rebukes

will suddenly be destroyed--without remedy.

2When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice;

when the wicked rule, the people groan.

3A man who loves wisdom brings joy to his father,

but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth.

4By justice a king gives a country stability,

but one who is greedy for bribes tears it down.

5Whoever flatters his neighbor

is spreading a net for his feet.

6An evil man is snared by his own sin,

but a righteous one can sing and be glad.

7The righteous care about justice for the poor,

but the wicked have no such concern.

8Mockers stir up a city,

but wise men turn away anger.

9If a wise man goes to court with a fool,

the fool rages and scoffs, and there is no peace.

10Bloodthirsty men hate a man of integrity

and seek to kill the upright. [22]

11A fool gives full vent to his anger,

but a wise man keeps himself under control.

12If a ruler listens to lies,

all his officials become wicked.

13The poor man and the oppressor have this in common:

The LORD gives sight to the eyes of both.

14If a king judges the poor with fairness,

his throne will always be secure.

15The rod of correction imparts wisdom,

but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.

16When the wicked thrive, so does sin,

but the righteous will see their downfall.

17Discipline your son, and he will give you peace;

he will bring delight to your soul.

18Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint;

but blessed is he who keeps the law.

19A servant cannot be corrected by mere words;

though he understands, he will not respond.

20Do you see a man who speaks in haste?

There is more hope for a fool than for him.

21If a man pampers his servant from youth,

he will bring griefA in the end. [23]

22An angry man stirs up dissension,

and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.

23A man's pride brings him low,

but a man of lowly spirit gains honor.

24The accomplice of a thief is his own enemy;

he is put under oath and dare not testify.

25Fear of man will prove to be a snare,

but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe.

26Many seek an audience with a ruler,

but it is from the LORD that man gets justice.

27The righteous detest the dishonest;

the wicked detest the upright. [24]

OLD TESTAMENT

JOSHUA 21:1 - 22:20

211Now the family heads of the Levites approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the heads of the other tribal families of Israel 2at Shiloh in Canaan and said to them, "The LORD commanded through Moses that you give us towns to live in, with pasturelands for our livestock." 3So, as the LORD had commanded, the Israelites gave the Levites the following towns and pasturelands out of their own inheritance:

4The first lot came out for the Kohathites, clan by clan. The Levites who were descendants of Aaron the priest were allotted thirteen towns from the tribes of Judah, Simeon and Benjamin. 5The rest of Kohath's descendants were allotted ten towns from the clans of the tribes of Ephraim, Dan and half of Manasseh.

6The descendants of Gershon were allotted thirteen towns from the clans of the tribes of Issachar, Asher, Naphtali and the half-tribe of Manasseh in Bashan.

7The descendants of Merari, clan by clan, received twelve towns from the tribes of Reuben, Gad and Zebulun.

8So the Israelites allotted to the Levites these towns and their pasturelands, as the LORD had commanded through Moses.

9From the tribes of Judah and Simeon they allotted the following towns by name 10(these towns were assigned to the descendants of Aaron who were from the Kohathite clans of the Levites, because the first lot fell to them):

11They gave them Kiriath Arba (that is, Hebron), with its surrounding pastureland, in the hill country of Judah. (Arba was the [25]forefather of Anak.) 12But the fields and villages around the city they had given to Caleb son of Jephunneh as his possession.

13So to the descendants of Aaron the priest they gave Hebron (a city of refuge for one accused of murder), Libnah, 14Jattir, Eshtemoa, 15Holon, Debir, 16Ain, Juttah and Beth Shemesh, together with their pasturelands--nine towns from these two tribes.

17And from the tribe of Benjamin they gave them Gibeon, Geba, 18Anathoth and Almon, together with their pasturelands--four towns. 19All the towns for the priests, the descendants of Aaron, were thirteen, together with their pasturelands.

20The rest of the Kohathite clans of the Levites were allotted towns from the tribe of Ephraim:

21In the hill country of Ephraim they were given Shechem (a city of refuge for one accused of murder) and Gezer, 22Kibzaim and Beth Horon, together with their pasturelands--four towns.

23Also from the tribe of Dan they received Eltekeh, Gibbethon, 24Aijalon and Gath Rimmon, together with their pasturelands--four towns.

25From half the tribe of Manasseh they received Taanach and Gath Rimmon, together with their pasturelands--two towns. 26All these ten towns and their pasturelands were given to the rest of the Kohathite clans.

27The Levite clans of the Gershonites were given:

from the half-tribe of Manasseh,

Golan in Bashan (a city of refuge for one accused of murder) and Be Eshtarah, together with their pasturelands--two towns; 28from the tribe of Issachar, [26]Kishion, Daberath, 29Jarmuth and En Gannim, together with their pasturelands--four towns; 30from the tribe of Asher,

Mishal, Abdon, 31Helkath and Rehob, together with their pasturelands--four towns; 32from the tribe of Naphtali, Kedesh in Galilee (a city of refuge for one accused of murder), Hammoth Dor and Kartan, together with their pasturelands--three towns. 33All the towns of the Gershonite clans were thirteen, together with their pasturelands.

34The Merarite clans (the rest of the Levites) were given:

from the tribe of Zebulun, Jokneam, Kartah, 35Dimnah and Nahalal, together with their pasturelands--four towns; 36from the tribe of Reuben, Bezer, Jahaz, 37Kedemoth and Mephaath, together with their pasturelands--four towns; 38from the tribe of Gad, Ramoth in Gilead (a city of refuge for one accused of murder), Mahanaim, 39Heshbon and Jazer, together with their pasturelands--four towns in all. 40All the towns allotted to the Merarite clans, who were the rest of the Levites, were twelve.

41The towns of the Levites in the territory held by the Israelites were forty-eight in all, together with their pasturelands. 42Each of these towns had pasturelands surrounding it; this was true for all these towns.

43So the LORD gave Israel all the land he had sworn to give their forefathers, and they took possession of it and settled there. 44The LORD gave them rest on every side, just as he had sworn to their forefathers. Not one of their enemies withstood them; the LORD [27]handed all their enemies over to them. 45Not one of all the LORD's good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.[28]

221Then Joshua summoned the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh 2and said to them, "You have done all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded, and you have obeyed me in everything I commanded. 3For a long time now--to this very day--you have not deserted your brothers but have carried out the mission the LORD your God gave you. 4Now that the LORD your God has given your brothers rest as he promised, return to your homes in the land that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side of the Jordan. 5But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul."

6Then Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their homes. 7(To the half-tribe of Manasseh Moses had given land in Bashan, and to the other half of the tribe Joshua gave land on the west side of the Jordan with their brothers.) When Joshua sent them home, he blessed them, 8saying, "Return to your homes with your great wealth--with large herds of livestock, with silver, gold, bronze and iron, and a great quantity of clothing--and divide with your brothers the plunder from your enemies."

9So the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh left the Israelites at Shiloh in Canaan to return to Gilead, their own land, which they had acquired in accordance with the command of the LORD through Moses. [29]

10When they came to Geliloth near the Jordan in the land of Canaan, the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh built an imposing altar there by the Jordan. 11And when the Israelites heard that they had built the altar on the border of Canaan at Geliloth near the Jordan on the Israelite side, 12the whole assembly of Israel gathered at Shiloh to go to war against them.

13So the Israelites sent Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, to the land of Gilead--to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh. 14With him they sent ten of the chief men, one for each of the tribes of Israel, each the head of a family division among the Israelite clans.

15When they went to Gilead--to Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh--they said to them: 16"The whole assembly of the LORD says: `How could you break faith with the God of Israel like this? How could you turn away from the LORD and build yourselves an altar in rebellion against him now? 17Was not the sin of Peor enough for us? Up to this very day we have not cleansed ourselves from that sin, even though a plague fell on the community of the LORD! 18And are you now turning away from the LORD?

" `If you rebel against the LORD today, tomorrow he will be angry with the whole community of Israel. 19If the land you possess is defiled, come over to the LORD's land, where the LORD's tabernacle stands, and share the land with us. But do not rebel against the LORD or against us by building an altar for yourselves, other than the altar of the LORD our God. 20When Achan son of Zerah acted unfaithfully regarding the devoted things,A did not wrath come upon the whole community of Israel? He was not the [30]only one who died for his sin.' " [31]

NEW TESTAMENT

LUKE 20:1 - 26

201One day as he was teaching the people in the temple courts and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, together with the elders, came up to him. 2"Tell us by what authority you are doing these things," they said. "Who gave you this authority?"

3He replied, "I will also ask you a question. Tell me, 4John's baptism--was it from heaven, or from men?"

5They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, `From heaven,' he will ask, `Why didn't you believe him?' 6But if we say, `From men,' all the people will stone us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet."

7So they answered, "We don't know where it was from."

8Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."

9He went on to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a long time. 10At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat him and sent him away empty-handed. 11He sent another servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away empty-handed. 12He sent still a third, and they wounded him and threw him out.

13"Then the owner of the vineyard said, `What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will respect him.'

14"But when the tenants saw him, they talked the matter over. `This is the heir,' they said. `Let's kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' 15So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him.

"What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? 16He will [32]come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others."

When the people heard this, they said, "May this never be!"

17Jesus looked directly at them and asked, "Then what is the meaning of that which is written:

" `The stone the builders rejected

has become the capstoneA'B?

18Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed."

19The teachers of the law and the chief priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people.

20Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be honest. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor. 21So the spies questioned him: "Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. 22Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

23He saw through their duplicity and said to them,

24"Show me a denarius. Whose portrait and inscription are on it?"

25"Caesar's," they replied.

He said to them, "Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."

26They were unable to trap him in what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became silent. [33]

^{John 3:16-21 16}"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,^F that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.^G ¹⁹This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. ²⁰Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. ²¹But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."^H

THEINC-HIM DAILY BIBLE MEDITATION

Sunday, October 25, 2009

January 29

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John 3:16-21