Genesis 1:1 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
MARCH
17
PSALMS:
17, 47, 77, 107, 137
PROVERBS:
17
OLD
TESTAMENT:
1 KINGS 1:1 - 53
NEW
TESTAMENT:
ACTS 4:1 - 37
PSALMS:
17
A
prayer of David.
1
Hear,
O LORD, my righteous plea;
listen
to my cry.
Give
ear to my prayer--
it
does not rise from deceitful lips.
2
May
my vindication come from you;
may
your eyes see what is right.
3
Though
you probe my heart and examine me at night,
though
you test me, you will find nothing;
I
have resolved that my mouth will not sin.
4
As
for the deeds of men--
by
the word of your lips
I
have kept myself
from
the ways of the violent.
5
My
steps have held to your paths;
my
feet have not slipped.
6
I
call on you, O God, for you will answer me;
give
ear to me and hear my prayer.
7
Show
the wonder of your great love,
you
who save by your right hand
those
who take refuge in you from their foes.
8
Keep
me as the apple of your eye;
hide
me in the shadow of your wings
9
from
the wicked who assail me,
from
my mortal enemies who surround me.
10
They
close up their callous hearts,
and
their mouths speak with arrogance.
11
They
have tracked me down, they now surround me,
with
eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.
12
They
are like a lion hungry for prey,
like
a great lion crouching in cover.
13
Rise
up, O LORD, confront them, bring them down;
rescue
me from the wicked by your sword.
14
O
LORD, by your hand save me from such men,
from
men of this world whose reward is in this life.
You
still the hunger of those you cherish;
their
sons have plenty,
and
they store up wealth for their children.
15
And
I--in righteousness I will see your face;
when
I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing
your
likeness.
PSALMS:
47
For
the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. A psalm.
1
Clap
your hands, all you nations;
shout
to God with cries of joy.
2
How
awesome is the LORD Most High,
the
great King over all the earth!
3
He
subdued nations under us,
peoples
under our feet.
4
He
chose our inheritance for us,
the
pride of Jacob, whom he loved.
Selah
5
God
has ascended amid shouts of joy,
the
LORD amid the sounding of trumpets.
6
Sing
praises to God, sing praises;
sing
praises to our King, sing praises.
7
For
God is the King of all the earth;
sing
to him a psalm A
of praise.
8
God
reigns over the nations;
God
is seated on his holy throne.
9
The
nobles of the nations assemble
as
the people of the God of Abraham,
for
the kings B
of the earth belong to God;
he
is greatly exalted.
PSALMS:
77
For
the director of music. For Jeduthun. Of Asaph. A psalm.
1
I
cried out to God for help;
I
cried out to God to hear me.
2
When
I was in distress, I sought the Lord;
at
night I stretched out untiring hands
and
my soul refused to be comforted.
3
I
remembered you, O God, and I groaned;
I
mused, and my spirit grew faint.
Selah
4
You
kept my eyes from closing;
I
was too troubled to speak.
5
I
thought about the former days,
the
years of long ago;
6
I
remembered my songs in the night.
My
heart mused and my spirit inquired:
7
"Will
the Lord reject forever?
Will
he never show his favor again?
8
Has
his unfailing love vanished forever?
Has
his promise failed for all time?
9
Has
God forgotten to be merciful?
Has
he in anger withheld his compassion?"
Selah
10
Then
I thought, "To this I will appeal:
the
years of the right hand of the Most High."
11
I
will remember the deeds of the LORD;
yes,
I will remember your miracles of long ago.
12
I
will meditate on all your works
and
consider all your mighty deeds.
13
Your
ways, O God, are holy.
What
god is so great as our God?
14
You
are the God who performs miracles;
you
display your power among the peoples.
15
With
your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
the
descendants of Jacob and Joseph.
Selah
16
The
waters saw you, O God,
the
waters saw you and writhed;
the
very depths were convulsed.
17
The
clouds poured down water,
the
skies resounded with thunder;
your
arrows flashed back and forth.
18
Your
thunder was heard in the whirlwind,
your
lightning lit up the world;
the
earth trembled and quaked.
19
Your
path led through the sea,
your
way through the mighty waters,
though
your footprints were not seen.
20
You
led your people like a flock
by
the hand of Moses and Aaron.
PSALMS:
107
1
Give
thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his
love endures forever.
2
Let
the redeemed of the LORD say this--
those
he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
3
those
he gathered from the lands,
from
east and west, from north and south. A
4
Some
wandered in desert wastelands,
finding
no way to a city where they could settle.
5
They
were hungry and thirsty,
and
their lives ebbed away.
6
Then
they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
and
he delivered them from their distress.
7
He
led them by a straight way
to
a city where they could settle.
8
Let
them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and
his wonderful deeds for men,
9
for
he satisfies the thirsty
and
fills the hungry with good things.
10
Some
sat in darkness and the deepest gloom,
prisoners
suffering in iron chains,
11
for
they had rebelled against the words of God
and
despised the counsel of the Most High.
12
So
he subjected them to bitter labor;
they
stumbled, and there was no one to help.
13
Then
they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and
he saved them from their distress.
14
He
brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom
and
broke away their chains.
15
Let
them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and
his wonderful deeds for men,
16
for
he breaks down gates of bronze
and
cuts through bars of iron.
17
Some
became fools through their rebellious ways
and
suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
18
They
loathed all food
and
drew near the gates of death.
19
Then
they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
and
he saved them from their distress.
20
He
sent forth his word and healed them;
he
rescued them from the grave.
21
Let
them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and
his wonderful deeds for men.
22
Let
them sacrifice thank offerings
and
tell of his works with songs of joy.
23
Others
went out on the sea in ships;
they
were merchants on the mighty waters.
24
They
saw the works of the LORD,
his
wonderful deeds in the deep.
25
For
he spoke and stirred up a tempest
that
lifted high the waves.
26
They
mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths;
in
their peril their courage melted away.
27
They
reeled and staggered like drunken men;
they
were at their wits' end.
28
Then
they cried out to the LORD in their trouble,
and
he brought them out of their distress.
29
He
stilled the storm to a whisper;
the
waves of the sea were hushed.
30
They
were glad when it grew calm,
and
he guided them to their desired haven.
31
Let
them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
and
his wonderful deeds for men.
32
Let
them exalt him in the assembly of the people
and
praise him in the council of the elders.
33
He
turned rivers into a desert,
flowing
springs into thirsty ground,
34
and
fruitful land into a salt waste,
because
of the wickedness of those who lived there.
35
He
turned the desert into pools of water
and
the parched ground into flowing springs;
36
there
he brought the hungry to live,
and
they founded a city where they could settle.
37
They
sowed fields and planted vineyards
that
yielded a fruitful harvest;
38
he
blessed them, and their numbers greatly increased,
and
he did not let their herds diminish.
39
Then
their numbers decreased, and they were humbled
by
oppression, calamity and sorrow;
40
he
who pours contempt on nobles
made
them wander in a trackless waste.
41
But
he lifted the needy out of their affliction
and
increased their families like flocks.
42
The
upright see and rejoice,
but
all the wicked shut their mouths.
43
Whoever
is wise, let him heed these things
and
consider the great love of the LORD.
PSALMS:
137
1
By
the rivers of Babylon we sat and wept
when
we remembered Zion.
2
There
on the poplars
we
hung our harps,
3
for
there our captors asked us for songs,
our
tormentors demanded songs of joy;
they
said, "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!"
4
How
can we sing the songs of the LORD
while
in a foreign land?
5
If
I forget you, O Jerusalem,
may
my right hand forget its skill.
6
May
my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth
if
I do not remember you,
if
I do not consider Jerusalem
my
highest joy.
7
Remember,
O LORD, what the Edomites did
on
the day Jerusalem fell.
"Tear
it down," they cried,
"tear
it down to its foundations!"
8
O
Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction,
happy
is he who repays you
for
what you have done to us--
9
he
who seizes your infants
and
dashes them against the rocks.
PROVERBS:
17
17
1
Better a dry crust with peace and quiet
than
a house full of feasting, A
with strife.
2
A
wise servant will rule over a disgraceful son,
and
will share the inheritance as one of the brothers.
3
The
crucible for silver and the furnace for gold,
but
the LORD tests the heart.
4
A
wicked man listens to evil lips;
a
liar pays attention to a malicious tongue.
5
He
who mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker;
whoever
gloats over disaster will not go unpunished.
6
Children's
children are a crown to the aged,
and
parents are the pride of their children.
7
Arrogant
B
lips are unsuited to a fool--
how
much worse lying lips to a ruler!
8
A
bribe is a charm to the one who gives it;
wherever
he turns, he succeeds.
9
He
who covers over an offense promotes love,
but
whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.
10
A
rebuke impresses a man of discernment
more
than a hundred lashes a fool.
11
An
evil man is bent only on rebellion;
a
merciless official will be sent against him.
12
Better
to meet a bear robbed of her cubs
than
a fool in his folly.
13
If
a man pays back evil for good,
evil
will never leave his house.
14
Starting
a quarrel is like breaching a dam;
so
drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.
15
Acquitting
the guilty and condemning the innocent--
the
LORD detests them both.
16
Of
what use is money in the hand of a fool,
since
he has no desire to get wisdom?
17
A
friend loves at all times,
and
a brother is born for adversity.
18
A
man lacking in judgment strikes hands in pledge
and
puts up security for his neighbor.
19
He
who loves a quarrel loves sin;
he
who builds a high gate invites destruction.
20
A
man of perverse heart does not prosper;
he
whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble.
21
To
have a fool for a son brings grief;
there
is no joy for the father of a fool.
22
A
cheerful heart is good medicine,
but
a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
23
A
wicked man accepts a bribe in secret
to
pervert the course of justice.
24
A
discerning man keeps wisdom in view,
but
a fool's eyes wander to the ends of the earth.
25
A
foolish son brings grief to his father
and
bitterness to the one who bore him.
26
It
is not good to punish an innocent man,
or
to flog officials for their integrity.
27
A
man of knowledge uses words with restraint,
and
a man of understanding is even-tempered.
28
Even
a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent,
and
discerning if he holds his tongue.
OLD
TESTAMENT:
1 KINGS 1:1 - 53
1
1
When
King David was old and well advanced in years, he could not keep warm
even when they put covers over him. 2
So
his servants said to him, "Let us look for a young virgin to
attend the king and take care of him. She can lie beside him so that
our lord the king may keep warm."
3
Then
they searched throughout Israel for a beautiful girl and found
Abishag, a Shunammite, and brought her to the king. 4
The
girl was very beautiful; she took care of the king and waited on him,
but the king had no intimate relations with her.
5
Now
Adonijah, whose mother was Haggith, put himself forward and said, "I
will be king." So he got chariots and horses A
ready, with fifty men to run ahead of him. 6
(His
father had never interfered with him by asking, "Why do you
behave as you do?" He was also very handsome and was born next
after Absalom.)
7
Adonijah
conferred with Joab son of Zeruiah and with Abiathar the priest, and
they gave him their support. 8
But
Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei
and Rei B
and David's special guard did not join Adonijah.
9
Adonijah
then sacrificed sheep, cattle and fattened calves at the Stone of
Zoheleth near En Rogel. He invited all his brothers, the king's sons,
and all the men of Judah who were royal officials, 10
but
he did not invite Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the special guard
or his brother Solomon.
11
Then
Nathan asked Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, "Have you not heard
that Adonijah, the son of Haggith, has become king without our lord
David's knowing it?
12
Now
then, let me advise you how you can save your own life and the life
of your son Solomon.
13
Go
in to King David and say to him, `My lord the king, did you not swear
to me your servant: "Surely Solomon your son shall be king after
me, and he will sit on my throne"? Why then has Adonijah become
king?' 14
While
you are still there talking to the king, I will come in and confirm
what you have said."
15
So
Bathsheba went to see the aged king in his room, where Abishag the
Shunammite was attending him. 16
Bathsheba
bowed low and knelt before the king.
"What
is it you want?" the king asked.
17
She
said to him, "My lord, you yourself swore to me your servant by
the LORD your God: `Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he
will sit on my throne.' 18
But
now Adonijah has become king, and you, my lord the king, do not know
about it. 19
He
has sacrificed great numbers of cattle, fattened calves, and sheep,
and has invited all the king's sons, Abiathar the priest and Joab the
commander of the army, but he has not invited Solomon your servant.
20
My
lord the king, the eyes of all Israel are on you, to learn from you
who will sit on the throne of my lord the king after him. 21
Otherwise,
as soon as my lord the king is laid to rest with his fathers, I and
my son Solomon will be treated as criminals."
22
While
she was still speaking with the king, Nathan the prophet arrived. 23
And
they told the king, "Nathan the prophet is here." So he
went before the king and bowed with his face to the ground.
24
Nathan
said, "Have you, my lord the king, declared that Adonijah shall
be king after you, and that he will sit on your throne? 25
Today
he has gone down and sacrificed great numbers of cattle, fattened
calves, and sheep. He has invited all the king's sons, the commanders
of the army and Abiathar the priest. Right now they are eating and
drinking with him and saying, `Long live King Adonijah!' 26
But
me your servant, and Zadok the priest, and Benaiah son of Jehoiada,
and your servant Solomon he did not invite. 27
Is
this something my lord the king has done without letting his servants
know who should sit on the throne of my lord the king after him?"
28
Then
King David said, "Call in Bathsheba." So she came into the
king's presence and stood before him.
29
The
king then took an oath: "As surely as the LORD lives, who has
delivered me out of every trouble, 30
I
will surely carry out today what I swore to you by the LORD, the God
of Israel: Solomon your son shall be king after me, and he will sit
on my throne in my place."
31
Then
Bathsheba bowed low with her face to the ground and, kneeling before
the king, said, "May my lord King David live forever!"
32
King
David said, "Call in Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet and
Benaiah son of Jehoiada." When they came before the king, 33
he
said to them: "Take your lord's servants with you and set
Solomon my son on my own mule and take him down to Gihon. 34
There
have Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet anoint him king over
Israel. Blow the trumpet and shout, `Long live King Solomon!' 35
Then
you are to go up with him, and he is to come and sit on my throne and
reign in my place. I have appointed him ruler over Israel and Judah."
36
Benaiah
son of Jehoiada answered the king, "Amen! May the LORD, the God
of my lord the king, so declare it. 37
As
the LORD was with my lord the king, so may he be with Solomon to make
his throne even greater than the throne of my lord King David!"
38
So
Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, the
Kerethites and the Pelethites went down and put Solomon on King
David's mule and escorted him to Gihon. 39
Zadok
the priest took the horn of oil from the sacred tent and anointed
Solomon. Then they sounded the trumpet and all the people shouted,
"Long live King Solomon!" 40
And
all the people went up after him, playing flutes and rejoicing
greatly, so that the ground shook with the sound.
41
Adonijah
and all the guests who were with him heard it as they were finishing
their feast. On hearing the sound of the trumpet, Joab asked, "What's
the meaning of all the noise in the city?"
42
Even
as he was speaking, Jonathan son of Abiathar the priest arrived.
Adonijah said, "Come in. A worthy man like you must be bringing
good news."
43
"Not
at all!" Jonathan answered. "Our lord King David has made
Solomon king.
44
The
king has sent with him Zadok the priest, Nathan the prophet, Benaiah
son of Jehoiada, the Kerethites and the Pelethites, and they have put
him on the king's mule,
45
and
Zadok the priest and Nathan the prophet have anointed him king at
Gihon. From there they have gone up cheering, and the city resounds
with it. That's the noise you hear.
46
Moreover,
Solomon has taken his seat on the royal throne.
47
Also,
the royal officials have come to
congratulate our lord King David, saying, `May your God make
Solomon's name more famous than yours and his throne greater than
yours!' And the king bowed in worship on his bed 48
and
said, `Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, who has allowed my
eyes to see a successor on my throne today.' "
49
At
this, all Adonijah's guests rose in alarm and dispersed. 50
But
Adonijah, in fear of Solomon, went and took hold of the horns of the
altar. 51
Then
Solomon was told, "Adonijah is afraid of King Solomon and is
clinging to the horns of the altar. He says, `Let King Solomon swear
to me today that he will not put his servant to death with the
sword.' "
52
Solomon
replied, "If he shows himself to be a worthy man, not a hair of
his head will fall to the ground; but if evil is found in him, he
will die." 53
Then
King Solomon sent men, and they brought him down from the altar. And
Adonijah came and bowed down to King Solomon, and Solomon said, "Go
to your home."
NEW
TESTAMENT:
ACTS 4:1 - 37
4
1
The
priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up
to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people. 2
They
were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people
and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
3
They
seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in
jail until the next day. 4
But
many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to
about five thousand.
5
The
next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem.
6
Annas
the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and
the other men of the high priest's family. 7
They
had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them:
"By what power or what name did you do this?"
8
Then
Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers
and elders of the people! 9
If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown
to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 10
then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name
of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised
from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11
He is
"`the
stone you builders rejected,
which
has become the capstone. A'B
12
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under
heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
13
When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they
were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they
"`Why
do the nations rage
and
the peoples plot in vain?
26
The kings of the earth take their stand
and
the rulers gather together
against
the Lord
and
against his Anointed One. C'D
27
Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and
the people E
of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus,
whom you anointed.
28
They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should
happen. 29
Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak
your word with great boldness. 30
Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and
wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."
31
After
they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they
were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God
boldly.
32
All
the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of
his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had. 33
With
great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of
the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all. 34
There
were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who
owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35
and
put it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed
to anyone as he had need.
36
Joseph,
a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means
Son of Encouragement), 37
sold
a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles'
feet.
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. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever 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 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But 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
