Today's Reading April 20

This morning's reading, from the Old Testament, is in First Samuel, chapters 30 and 31.
Chapter 30 recounts the return of David to his town of Ziklag, only to find the town had been attacked by the Amalekites, all the people carried off captive and the town burned. He was, to put it mildly, in great distress. But, in one of the great verses in Scripture,

6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God

Good advice for us as well.
Chapter 31 recounts the death of Saul in battle. You knew this was coming, but it to this day it bothers me each time I read it. His fall was not unjust, but it is still tragic. Not least because, while Saul may have ''had it coming'', others died too. Like, for instance, the three sons of Saul. The evil that we do affects others as well.

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This evening's reading, from the New Testament, is the Gospel of Luke, chapter 17, verses 20 through 37. This includes some teaching on the End Times:

33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.
34 I tell you, in that night there shall be two men in one bed; the one shall be taken, and the other shall be left.
35 Two women shall be grinding together; the one shall be taken, and the other left.
36 Two men shall be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.