Luke 2:41–52; Ephesians 4:17–24; Psalm 119:57–176; 1 Kings 12

red bookmark icon blue bookmark icon gold bookmark icon
Luke 2:41–52

The Boy Jesus in the Temple

41 Now whis parents went xto Jerusalem every year at ythe Feast of the Passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, zthey went up according to custom. 43 And when the feast awas ended, as they were returning, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. wHis parents did not know it, 44 but supposing him to be in the group they went a day’s journey, but then they began to search for him among their relatives and acquaintances, 45 and when they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. 46 After three days they found him in the temple, bsitting among cthe teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48 And when his parents1 saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, dyour father and I have been searching for you in great distress. 49 And he said to them, Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that eI must be in fmy Father’s house?2 50 And gthey did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. 51 And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And hhis mother treasured up all these things in her heart.

52 And Jesus iincreased in wisdom and in stature3 and in ifavor with God and man.


Ephesians 4:17–24

The New Life

17 Now this I say and dtestify in the Lord, ethat you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, fin the futility of their minds. 18 They gare darkened in their understanding, halienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to itheir hardness of heart. 19 They jhave become callous and khave given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you llearned Christ! 21 assuming that myou have heard about him and nwere taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to oput off pyour old self,1 which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through qdeceitful desires, 23 and rto be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on sthe new self, tcreated after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.


Psalm 119:57–176

Heth

57  oThe Lord is my portion;

I promise to keep your words.

58  I pentreat your favor with all my heart;

be gracious to me qaccording to your promise.

59  When I rthink on my ways,

I turn my feet to your testimonies;

60  I hasten and do not delay

to keep your commandments.

61  Though sthe cords of the wicked ensnare me,

I do not tforget your law.

62  At umidnight I rise to praise you,

because of your vrighteous rules.

63  wI am a companion of all who fear you,

of those who keep your precepts.

64  xThe earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love;

yteach me your statutes!

Teth

65  You have dealt well with your servant,

O Lord, zaccording to your word.

66  Teach me agood judgment and knowledge,

for I believe in your commandments.

67  bBefore I was afflicted I went astray,

but now I keep your word.

68  cYou are good and do good;

dteach me your statutes.

69  eThe insolent fsmear me with lies,

but with my whole heart I gkeep your precepts;

70  their heart is unfeeling hlike fat,

but I idelight in your law.

71  It is jgood for me that I was afflicted,

that I might learn your statutes.

72  kThe law of your mouth is better to me

than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

Yodh

73  lYour hands have made and fashioned me;

mgive me understanding that I may learn your commandments.

74  Those who fear you shall see me and nrejoice,

because I have ohoped in your word.

75  I know, O Lord, that your rules are prighteous,

and that in qfaithfulness you have afflicted me.

76  Let your steadfast love comfort me

according to your promise to your servant.

77  Let your rmercy come to me, that I may live;

for your law is my sdelight.

78  Let tthe insolent be put to ushame,

because they have vwronged me with falsehood;

as for me, I will wmeditate on your precepts.

79  Let those who fear you xturn to me,

that they may know your testimonies.

80  May my heart be yblameless in your statutes,

zthat I may not be put to shame!

Kaph

81  My soul alongs for your salvation;

I bhope in your word.

82  My ceyes long for your promise;

I ask, dWhen will you comfort me?

83  For I have ebecome like a fwineskin in the smoke,

yet I have not forgotten your statutes.

84  gHow long must your servant endure?1

hWhen will you judge those who persecute me?

85  iThe insolent have jdug pitfalls for me;

they do not live according to your law.

86  All your commandments are ksure;

they persecute me lwith falsehood; mhelp me!

87  They have almost made an end of me on earth,

but I have not forsaken your precepts.

88  In your steadfast love ngive me life,

that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.

Lamedh

89  Forever, O Lord, your oword

is firmly fixed in the heavens.

90  Your pfaithfulness endures to all generations;

you have qestablished the earth, and it rstands fast.

91  By your sappointment they stand this day,

for all things are your servants.

92  If your law had not been my tdelight,

I would have perished in my affliction.

93  I will never forget your precepts,

for by them you have ugiven me life.

94  I am yours; save me,

vfor I have sought your precepts.

95  The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,

but I consider your testimonies.

96  I have seen a limit to all perfection,

but your commandment is exceedingly wbroad.

Mem

97  Oh how xI love your law!

It is my ymeditation all the day.

98  Your commandment makes me zwiser than my enemies,

for it is ever with me.

99  I have more understanding than all my teachers,

for ayour testimonies are my meditation.

100  I understand more than bthe aged,2

for I ckeep your precepts.

101  I dhold back my feet from every evil way,

in order to keep your word.

102  I do not turn aside from your rules,

for you have taught me.

103  How esweet are your words to my taste,

sweeter than honey to my mouth!

104  Through your precepts I get understanding;

therefore fI hate every false way.

Nun

105  gYour word is a lamp to my feet

and a light to my path.

106  I have hsworn an oath and confirmed it,

to keep your irighteous rules.

107  I am severely jafflicted;

kgive me life, O Lord, according to your word!

108  Accept lmy freewill offerings of praise, O Lord,

and mteach me your rules.

109  I hold my life nin my hand continually,

but I do not oforget your law.

110  The wicked have laid pa snare for me,

but qI do not stray from your precepts.

111  Your testimonies are rmy heritage forever,

for they are sthe joy of my heart.

112  I tincline my heart to perform your statutes

forever, uto the end.3

Samekh

113  I hate vthe double-minded,

but I love wyour law.

114  You are my xhiding place and my yshield;

I zhope in your word.

115  aDepart from me, you evildoers,

that I may bkeep the commandments of my God.

116  Uphold me caccording to your promise, that I may live,

and let me not be dput to shame in my ehope!

117  fHold me up, that I may be safe

and have regard for your statutes continually!

118  You gspurn all who hgo astray from your statutes,

for their cunning is in vain.

119  All the wicked of the earth you discard like idross,

therefore jI love your testimonies.

120  My flesh ktrembles for fear of you,

and I am afraid of your judgments.

Ayin

121  I have done what is just and right;

do not leave me to my oppressors.

122  Give your servant la pledge of good;

let not mthe insolent oppress me.

123  My neyes long for your salvation

and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.

124  Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love,

and oteach me your statutes.

125  I am your pservant; qgive me understanding,

that I may know your testimonies!

126  It is time for the Lord to act,

for your law has been broken.

127  Therefore I rlove your commandments

above gold, above fine gold.

128  Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right;

I hate every sfalse way.

Pe

129  Your testimonies are twonderful;

therefore my soul ukeeps them.

130  The unfolding of your words gives light;

it imparts vunderstanding to the simple.

131  I wopen my mouth and xpant,

because I ylong for your commandments.

132  zTurn to me and be gracious to me,

as is your way with those who love your name.

133  aKeep steady my steps according to your promise,

and let no iniquity bget dominion over me.

134  cRedeem me from man’s oppression,

that I may keep your precepts.

135  dMake your face shine upon your servant,

and eteach me your statutes.

136  My eyes fshed streams of tears,

because people gdo not keep your law.

Tsadhe

137  hRighteous are you, O Lord,

and right are your rules.

138  You have appointed your testimonies in irighteousness

and in all jfaithfulness.

139  My kzeal consumes me,

because my foes forget your words.

140  Your promise is well ltried,

and your servant mloves it.

141  I am small and despised,

yet I do not nforget your precepts.

142  Your righteousness is righteous forever,

and your law is otrue.

143  Trouble and anguish have found me out,

but your commandments are my pdelight.

144  Your testimonies are righteous forever;

qgive me understanding that I may rlive.

Qoph

145  With my swhole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord!

I will tkeep your statutes.

146  I call to you; save me,

that I may observe your testimonies.

147  I rise before udawn and cry for help;

I vhope in your words.

148  My eyes are awake before wthe watches of the night,

that I may meditate on your promise.

149  Hear my voice according to your steadfast love;

O Lord, xaccording to your justice ygive me life.

150  They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose;

they are far from your law.

151  But zyou are near, O Lord,

and all your commandments are atrue.

152  Long have I known from your testimonies

that you have bfounded them forever.

Resh

153  Look on my caffliction and deliver me,

for dI do not forget your law.

154  ePlead my cause and redeem me;

fgive me life according to your promise!

155  gSalvation is far from the wicked,

hfor they do not seek your statutes.

156  iGreat is your mercy, O Lord;

fgive me life according to your rules.

157  jMany are my persecutors and my adversaries,

but I do not kswerve from your testimonies.

158  I look at lthe faithless with mdisgust,

because they do not keep your commands.

159  Consider how I nlove your precepts!

fGive me life according to your steadfast love.

160  oThe sum of your word is ptruth,

and every one of your qrighteous rules endures forever.

Sin and Shin

161  rPrinces persecute me swithout cause,

but my heart tstands in awe of your words.

162  I trejoice at your word

like one who ufinds great spoil.

163  I hate and abhor falsehood,

but I love vyour law.

164  Seven times a day I praise you

for your qrighteous rules.

165  Great wpeace have those who love your law;

xnothing can make them stumble.

166  I yhope for your salvation, O Lord,

and I do your commandments.

167  My soul keeps your testimonies;

I vlove them exceedingly.

168  I keep your precepts and testimonies,

zfor all my ways are before you.

Taw

169  Let my acry come before you, O Lord;

bgive me understanding caccording to your word!

170  Let my plea come before you;

ddeliver me according to your word.

171  My lips will epour forth praise,

for you fteach me your statutes.

172  My tongue will sing of your word,

for gall your commandments are right.

173  Let your hand be ready to help me,

for I have hchosen your precepts.

174  I ilong for your salvation, O Lord,

and your law is my jdelight.

175  Let my soul live and praise you,

and let your rules help me.

176  I have kgone astray like a lost sheep; seek your servant,

for I do not lforget your commandments.


1 Kings 12

Rehoboam’s Folly

iRehoboam went to jShechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king. And as soon as kJeroboam the son of Nebat heard of it (for lhe was still in Egypt, where he had fled from King Solomon), then Jeroboam returned from1 Egypt. And they sent and called him, and Jeroboam and all the assembly of Israel came and said to Rehoboam, mYour father made our yoke heavy. Now therefore lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke on us, and we will serve you. He said to them, nGo away for three days, then come again to me. So the people went away.

Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the old men, who had stood before Solomon his father while he was yet alive, saying, How do you advise me to answer this people? And they said to him, If you will be a servant to this people today and serve them, and speak good words to them when you answer them, then they will be your servants forever. But he abandoned the counsel that the old men gave him and took counsel with the young men who had grown up with him and stood before him. And he said to them, What do you advise that we answer this people who have said to me, Lighten the yoke that your father put on us? 10 And the young men who had grown up with him said to him, Thus shall you speak to this people who said to you, Your father made our yoke heavy, but you lighten it for us, thus shall you say to them, My little finger is thicker than my father’s thighs. 11 And now, whereas mmy father laid on you a heavy yoke, I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions.

12 So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam the third day, as the king said, oCome to me again the third day. 13 And the king answered the people harshly, and forsaking the counsel that the old men had given him, 14 he spoke to them according to the counsel of the young men, saying, mMy father made your yoke heavy, but I will add to your yoke. My father disciplined you with whips, but I will discipline you with scorpions. 15 So the king did not listen to the people, for pit was a turn of affairs brought about by the Lord that he might fulfill his word, which qthe Lord spoke by Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.

The Kingdom Divided

16 And when all Israel saw that the king did not listen to them, the people answered the king, What portion do we have in David? We have no inheritance in the son of Jesse. rTo your tents, O Israel! Look now to your own house, David. So Israel went to their tents. 17 But Rehoboam reigned over sthe people of Israel who lived in the cities of Judah. 18 Then King Rehoboam sent tAdoram, who was taskmaster over the forced labor, and all Israel stoned him to death with stones. And King Rehoboam hurried to mount his chariot to flee to Jerusalem. 19 uSo Israel has been in rebellion against the house of David to this day. 20 And when all Israel heard that Jeroboam had returned, they sent and called him to the assembly and made him king over all Israel. There was none that followed the house of David but vthe tribe of Judah only.

21 wWhen Rehoboam came to Jerusalem, he assembled all the house of Judah and the tribe of Benjamin, 180,000 chosen warriors, to fight against the house of Israel, to restore the kingdom to Rehoboam the son of Solomon. 22 But the word of God came to xShemaiah the man of God: 23 Say to Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the yrest of the people, 24 Thus says the Lord, You shall not go up or fight against your relatives the people of Israel. Every man return to his home, zfor this thing is from me. So they listened to the word of the Lord and went home again, according to the word of the Lord.

Jeroboam’s Golden Calves

25 Then Jeroboam abuilt Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim and lived there. And he went out from there and bbuilt Penuel. 26 And Jeroboam said in his heart, Now the kingdom will turn back to the house of David. 27 If this people cgo up to offer sacrifices in the temple of the Lord at Jerusalem, then the heart of this people will turn again to their lord, to Rehoboam king of Judah, and they will kill me and return to Rehoboam king of Judah. 28 So the king took counsel and dmade two calves of gold. And he said to the people, You have gone up to Jerusalem long enough. eBehold your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt. 29 And he set one in Bethel, and the other he put in Dan. 30 Then fthis thing became a sin, for the people went as far as Dan to be before one.2 31 He also made gtemples on high places and happointed priests from among all the people, who were not of the Levites. 32 And Jeroboam appointed a feast on the fifteenth day of the eighth month like ithe feast that was in Judah, and he offered sacrifices on the altar. So he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves that he made. And he placed in Bethel jthe priests of the high places that he had made. 33 He went up to the altar that he had made in Bethel on the fifteenth day in the eighth month, in the month that he had devised from his own heart. And he instituted a feast for the people of Israel and went up to the altar kto make offerings.