04 June 2016

Today's Readings and Stuff --- Saturday, 04 June 2016

Hard to believe we're in June.  Or that, notwithstanding that,  within a few days from now, our "highs" are predicted to be in the low 60's.

Things here are way out of kilter, largely due to the problems Dear Wife's health issues are creating.  My apologies.

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This morning's Old Testament reading is chapters 13-16 of 2nd Chronicles.

1
Now in the eighteenth year of king Jeroboam began Abijah to reign over Judah.
2
He reigned three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name also was Michaiah the daughter of Uriel of Gibeah. And there was war between Abijah and Jeroboam.
3
And Abijah set the battle in array with an army of valiant men of war, even four hundred thousand chosen men: Jeroboam also set the battle in array against him with eight hundred thousand chosen men, being mighty men of valor.
4
And Abijah stood up upon mount Zemaraim, which is in mount Ephraim, and said, Hear me, thou Jeroboam, and all Israel;
5
Ought ye not to know that the LORD God of Israel gave the kingdom over Israel to David for ever, even to him and to his sons by a covenant of salt?
6
Yet Jeroboam the son of Nebat, the servant of Solomon the son of David, is risen up, and hath rebelled against his lord.
7
And there are gathered unto him vain men, the children of Belial, and have strengthened themselves against Rehoboam the son of Solomon, when Rehoboam was young and tenderhearted, and could not withstand them.
8
And now ye think to withstand the kingdom of the LORD in the hand of the sons of David; and ye be a great multitude, and there are with your golden calves, which Jeroboam made you for gods.
9
Have ye not cast out the priests of the LORD, the sons of Aaron, and the Levites, and have made you priests after the manner of the nations of other lands? so that whosoever cometh to consecrate himself with a young bullock and seven rams, the same may be a priest of them that are no gods.
10
But as for us, the LORD is our God, and we have not forsaken him; and the priests, which minister unto the LORD, are the sons of Aaron, and the Levites wait upon their business:
11
And they burn unto the LORD every morning and every evening burnt sacrifices and sweet incense: the shewbread also set they in order upon the pure table; and the candlestick of gold with the lamps thereof, to burn every evening: for we keep the charge of the LORD our God; but ye have forsaken him.
12
And, behold, God himself is with us for our captain, and his priests with sounding trumpets to cry alarm against you. O children of Israel, fight ye not against the LORD God of your fathers; for ye shall not prosper.
13
But Jeroboam caused an ambushment to come about behind them: so they were before Judah, and the ambushment was behind them.
14
And when Judah looked back, behold, the battle was before and behind: and they cried unto the LORD, and the priests sounded with the trumpets.
15
Then the men of Judah gave a shout: and as the men of Judah shouted, it came to pass, that God smote Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah.
16
And the children of Israel fled before Judah: and God delivered them into their hand.
17
And Abijah and his people slew them with a great slaughter: so there fell down slain of Israel five hundred thousand chosen men.
18
Thus the children of Israel were brought under at that time, and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied upon the LORD God of their fathers.
19
And Abijah pursued after Jeroboam, and took cities from him, Bethel with the towns thereof, and Jeshanah with the towns thereof, and Ephraim with the towns thereof.
20
Neither did Jeroboam recover strength again in the days of Abijah: and the LORD struck him, and he died.
21
But Abijah waxed mighty, and married fourteen wives, and begat twenty and two sons, and sixteen daughters.
22
And the rest of the acts of Abijah, and his ways, and his sayings, are written in the story of the prophet Iddo.


1
So Abijah slept with his fathers, and they buried him in the city of David: and Asa his son reigned in his stead. In his days the land was quiet ten years.
2
And Asa did that which was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God:
3
For he took away the altars of the strange gods, and the high places, and brake down the images, and cut down the groves:
4
And commanded Judah to seek the LORD God of their fathers, and to do the law and the commandment.
5
Also he took away out of all the cities of Judah the high places and the images: and the kingdom was quiet before him.
6
And he built fenced cities in Judah: for the land had rest, and he had no war in those years; because the LORD had given him rest.
7
Therefore he said unto Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet before us; because we have sought the LORD our God, we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every side. So they built and prospered.
8
And Asa had an army of men that bare targets and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore thousand: all these were mighty men of valor.
9
And there came out against them Zerah the Ethiopian with an host of a thousand thousand, and three hundred chariots; and came unto Mareshah.
10
Then Asa went out against him, and they set the battle in array in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah.
11
And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let no man prevail against thee.
12
So the LORD smote the Ethiopians before Asa, and before Judah; and the Ethiopians fled.
13
And Asa and the people that were with him pursued them unto Gerar: and the Ethiopians were overthrown, that they could not recover themselves; for they were destroyed before the LORD, and before his host; and they carried away very much spoil.
14
And they smote all the cities round about Gerar; for the fear of the LORD came upon them: and they spoiled all the cities; for there was exceeding much spoil in them.
15
They smote also the tents of cattle, and carried away sheep and camels in abundance, and returned to Jerusalem.


1
And the Spirit of God came upon Azariah the son of Oded:
2
And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.
3
Now for a long season Israel hath been without the true God, and without a teaching priest, and without law.
4
But when they in their trouble did turn unto the LORD God of Israel, and sought him, he was found of them.
5
And in those times there was no peace to him that went out, nor to him that came in, but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the countries.
6
And nation was destroyed of nation, and city of city: for God did vex them with all adversity.
7
Be ye strong therefore, and let not your hands be weak: for your work shall be rewarded.
8
And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the LORD, that was before the porch of the LORD.
9
And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin, and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh, and out of Simeon: for they fell to him out of Israel in abundance, when they saw that the LORD his God was with him.
10
So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month, in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa.
11
And they offered unto the LORD the same time, of the spoil which they had brought, seven hundred oxen and seven thousand sheep.
12
And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul;
13
That whosoever would not seek the LORD God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman.
14
And they sware unto the LORD with a loud voice, and with shouting, and with trumpets, and with cornets.
15
And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the LORD gave them rest round about.
16
And also concerning Maachah the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove: and Asa cut down her idol, and stamped it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron.
17
But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.
18
And he brought into the house of God the things that his father had dedicated, and that he himself had dedicated, silver, and gold, and vessels.
19
And there was no more war unto the five and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa.


1
In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of Asa Baasha king of Israel came up against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent that he might let none go out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
2
Then Asa brought out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the king's house, and sent to Benhadad king of Syria, that dwelt at Damascus, saying,
3
There is a league between me and thee, as there was between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and gold; go, break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he may depart from me.
4
And Benhadad hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon, and Dan, and Abelmaim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.
5
And it came to pass, when Baasha heard it, that he left off building of Ramah, and let his work cease.
6
Then Asa the king took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber thereof, wherewith Baasha was building; and he built therewith Geba and Mizpah.
7
And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.
8
Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen? yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand.
9
For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.
10
Then Asa was wroth with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa oppressed some of the people the same time.
11
And, behold, the acts of Asa, first and last, lo, they are written in the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
12
And Asa in the thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great: yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.
13
And Asa slept with his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.
14
And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odorous and divers kinds of spices prepared by the apothecaries' art: and they made a very great burning for him.



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The New Testament passage before us is the 14th chapter in the Gospel of John.

1
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4
And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5
Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7
If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.
8
Philip saith unto him, Lord, shew us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9
Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
10
Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
11
Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
12
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
13
And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14
If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
15
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17
Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
18
I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
19
Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
20
At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you.
21
He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
22
Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?
23
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
24
He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
25
These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
26
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
27
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
28
Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
29
And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
30
Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
31
But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.

03 June 2016

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Friday, 03 June 2016

Happy Friday, all.


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The Old Testament reading today is chapters 10, 11, and 12 of 2nd Chronicles.  Things headed in the wrong way, fast.  Solomon, like many of these other kings, and many fathers -- me included -- today, did a rotten job of training up his (many) kids.

1
And Rehoboam went to Shechem: for to Shechem were all Israel come to make him king.
2
And it came to pass, when Jeroboam the son of Nebat, who was in Egypt, whither he fled from the presence of Solomon the king, heard it, that Jeroboam returned out of Egypt.
3
And they sent and called him. So Jeroboam and all Israel came and spake to Rehoboam, saying,
4
Thy father made our yoke grievous: now therefore ease thou somewhat the grievous servitude of thy father, and his heavy yoke that he put upon us, and we will serve thee.
5
And he said unto them, Come again unto me after three days. And the people departed.
6
And king Rehoboam took counsel with the old men that had stood before Solomon his father while he yet lived, saying, What counsel give ye me to return answer to this people?
7
And they spake unto him, saying, If thou be kind to this people, and please them, and speak good words to them, they will be thy servants for ever.
8
But he forsook the counsel which the old men gave him, and took counsel with the young men that were brought up with him, that stood before him.
9
And he said unto them, What advice give ye that we may return answer to this people, which have spoken to me, saying, Ease somewhat the yoke that thy father did put upon us?
10
And the young men that were brought up with him spake unto him, saying, Thus shalt thou answer the people that spake unto thee, saying, Thy father made our yoke heavy, but make thou it somewhat lighter for us; thus shalt thou say unto them, My little finger shall be thicker than my father's loins.
11
For whereas my father put a heavy yoke upon you, I will put more to your yoke: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
12
So Jeroboam and all the people came to Rehoboam on the third day, as the king bade, saying, Come again to me on the third day.
13
And the king answered them roughly; and king Rehoboam forsook the counsel of the old men,
14
And answered them after the advice of the young men, saying, My father made your yoke heavy, but I will add thereto: my father chastised you with whips, but I will chastise you with scorpions.
15
So the king hearkened not unto the people: for the cause was of God, that the LORD might perform his word, which he spake by the hand of Ahijah the Shilonite to Jeroboam the son of Nebat.
16
And when all Israel saw that the king would not hearken unto them, the people answered the king, saying, What portion have we in David? and we have none inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to your tents, O Israel: and now, David, see to thine own house. So all Israel went to their tents.
17
But as for the children of Israel that dwelt in the cities of Judah, Rehoboam reigned over them.
18
Then king Rehoboam sent Hadoram that was over the tribute; and the children of Israel stoned him with stones, that he died. But king Rehoboam made speed to get him up to his chariot, to flee to Jerusalem.
19
And Israel rebelled against the house of David unto this day.


1
And when Rehoboam was come to Jerusalem, he gathered of the house of Judah and Benjamin an hundred and fourscore thousand chosen men, which were warriors, to fight against Israel, that he might bring the kingdom again to Rehoboam.
2
But the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah the man of God, saying,
3
Speak unto Rehoboam the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and to all Israel in Judah and Benjamin, saying,
4
Thus saith the LORD, Ye shall not go up, nor fight against your brethren: return every man to his house: for this thing is done of me. And they obeyed the words of the LORD, and returned from going against Jeroboam.
5
And Rehoboam dwelt in Jerusalem, and built cities for defense in Judah.
6
He built even Bethlehem, and Etam, and Tekoa,
7
And Bethzur, and Shoco, and Adullam,
8
And Gath, and Mareshah, and Ziph,
9
And Adoraim, and Lachish, and Azekah,
10
And Zorah, and Aijalon, and Hebron, which are in Judah and in Benjamin fenced cities.
11
And he fortified the strong holds, and put captains in them, and store of victual, and of oil and wine.
12
And in every several city he put shields and spears, and made them exceeding strong, having Judah and Benjamin on his side.
13
And the priests and the Levites that were in all Israel resorted to him out of all their coasts.
14
For the Levites left their suburbs and their possession, and came to Judah and Jerusalem: for Jeroboam and his sons had cast them off from executing the priest's office unto the LORD:
15
And he ordained him priests for the high places, and for the devils, and for the calves which he had made.
16
And after them out of all the tribes of Israel such as set their hearts to seek the LORD God of Israel came to Jerusalem, to sacrifice unto the LORD God of their fathers.
17
So they strengthened the kingdom of Judah, and made Rehoboam the son of Solomon strong, three years: for three years they walked in the way of David and Solomon.
18
And Rehoboam took him Mahalath the daughter of Jerimoth the son of David to wife, and Abihail the daughter of Eliab the son of Jesse;
19
Which bare him children; Jeush, and Shamariah, and Zaham.
20
And after her he took Maachah the daughter of Absalom; which bare him Abijah, and Attai, and Ziza, and Shelomith.
21
And Rehoboam loved Maachah the daughter of Absalom above all his wives and his concubines: (for he took eighteen wives, and threescore concubines; and begat twenty and eight sons, and threescore daughters.)
22
And Rehoboam made Abijah the son of Maachah the chief, to be ruler among his brethren: for he thought to make him king.
23
And he dealt wisely, and dispersed of all his children throughout all the countries of Judah and Benjamin, unto every fenced city: and he gave them victual in abundance. And he desired many wives.


1
And it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom, and had strengthened himself, he forsook the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him.
2
And it came to pass, that in the fifth year of king Rehoboam Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the LORD,
3
With twelve hundred chariots, and threescore thousand horsemen: and the people were without number that came with him out of Egypt; the Lubims, the Sukkiims, and the Ethiopians.
4
And he took the fenced cities which pertained to Judah, and came to Jerusalem.
5
Then came Shemaiah the prophet to Rehoboam, and to the princes of Judah, that were gathered together to Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said unto them, Thus saith the LORD, Ye have forsaken me, and therefore have I also left you in the hand of Shishak.
6
Whereupon the princes of Israel and the king humbled themselves; and they said, The LORD is righteous.
7
And when the LORD saw that they humbled themselves, the word of the LORD came to Shemaiah, saying, They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance; and my wrath shall not be poured out upon Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak.
8
Nevertheless they shall be his servants; that they may know my service, and the service of the kingdoms of the countries.
9
So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the house of the LORD, and the treasures of the king's house; he took all: he carried away also the shields of gold which Solomon had made.
10
Instead of which king Rehoboam made shields of brass, and committed them to the hands of the chief of the guard, that kept the entrance of the king's house.
11
And when the king entered into the house of the LORD, the guard came and fetched them, and brought them again into the guard chamber.
12
And when he humbled himself, the wrath of the LORD turned from him, that he would not destroy him altogether: and also in Judah things went well.
13
So king Rehoboam strengthened himself in Jerusalem, and reigned: for Rehoboam was one and forty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city which the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, to put his name there. And his mother's name was Naamah an Ammonitess.
14
And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD.
15
Now the acts of Rehoboam, first and last, are they not written in the book of Shemaiah the prophet, and of Iddo the seer concerning genealogies? And there were wars between Rehoboam and Jeroboam continually.
16
And Rehoboam slept with his fathers, and was buried in the city of David: and Abijah his son reigned in his stead.



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The New Testament reading is verses 18-38 in the 13th chapter in the Gospel of John.


18
I speak not of you all: I know whom I have chosen: but that the scripture may be fulfilled, He that eateth bread with me hath lifted up his heel against me.
19
Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am he.
20
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that receiveth whomsoever I send receiveth me; and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
21
When Jesus had thus said, he was troubled in spirit, and testified, and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me.
22
Then the disciples looked one on another, doubting of whom he spake.
23
Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.
24
Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.
25
He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?
26
Jesus answered, He it is, to whom I shall give a sop, when I have dipped it. And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon.
27
And after the sop Satan entered into him. Then said Jesus unto him, That thou doest, do quickly.
28
Now no man at the table knew for what intent he spake this unto him.
29
For some of them thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy those things that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor.
30
He then having received the sop went immediately out: and it was night.
31
Therefore, when he was gone out, Jesus said, Now is the Son of man glorified, and God is glorified in him.
32
If God be glorified in him, God shall also glorify him in himself, and shall straightway glorify him.
33
Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you.
34
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
35
By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
36
Simon Peter said unto him, Lord, whither goest thou? Jesus answered him, Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.
37
Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake.
38
Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.

02 June 2016

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Thursday, 02 June 2016

quiet here


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Today's Old Testament reading is chapters 7, 8, and 9 of 2nd Chronicles.  Arguably, this is the high point of the kingdom.  Won't last long.


1
Now when Solomon had made an end of praying, the fire came down from heaven, and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the glory of the LORD filled the house.
2
And the priests could not enter into the house of the LORD, because the glory of the LORD had filled the LORD's house.
3
And when all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD upon the house, they bowed themselves with their faces to the ground upon the pavement, and worshipped, and praised the LORD, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.
4
Then the king and all the people offered sacrifices before the LORD.
5
And king Solomon offered a sacrifice of twenty and two thousand oxen, and an hundred and twenty thousand sheep: so the king and all the people dedicated the house of God.
6
And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of music of the LORD, which David the king had made to praise the LORD, because his mercy endureth for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood.
7
Moreover Solomon hallowed the middle of the court that was before the house of the LORD: for there he offered burnt offerings, and the fat of the peace offerings, because the brazen altar which Solomon had made was not able to receive the burnt offerings, and the meat offerings, and the fat.
8
Also at the same time Solomon kept the feast seven days, and all Israel with him, a very great congregation, from the entering in of Hamath unto the river of Egypt.
9
And in the eighth day they made a solemn assembly: for they kept the dedication of the altar seven days, and the feast seven days.
10
And on the three and twentieth day of the seventh month he sent the people away into their tents, glad and merry in heart for the goodness that the LORD had showed unto David, and to Solomon, and to Israel his people.
11
Thus Solomon finished the house of the LORD, and the king's house: and all that came into Solomon's heart to make in the house of the LORD, and in his own house, he prosperously effected.
12
And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice.
13
If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people;
14
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
15
Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
16
For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
17
And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments;
18
Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel.
19
But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them;
20
Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.
21
And this house, which is high, shall be an astonishment to every one that passeth by it; so that he shall say, Why hath the LORD done thus unto this land, and unto this house?
22
And it shall be answered, Because they forsook the LORD God of their fathers, which brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, and laid hold on other gods, and worshipped them, and served them: therefore hath he brought all this evil upon them.


1
And it came to pass at the end of twenty years, wherein Solomon had built the house of the LORD, and his own house,
2
That the cities which Huram had restored to Solomon, Solomon built them, and caused the children of Israel to dwell there.
3
And Solomon went to Hamathzobah, and prevailed against it.
4
And he built Tadmor in the wilderness, and all the store cities, which he built in Hamath.
5
Also he built Bethhoron the upper, and Bethhoron the nether, fenced cities, with walls, gates, and bars;
6
And Baalath, and all the store cities that Solomon had, and all the chariot cities, and the cities of the horsemen, and all that Solomon desired to build in Jerusalem, and in Lebanon, and throughout all the land of his dominion.
7
As for all the people that were left of the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which were not of Israel,
8
But of their children, who were left after them in the land, whom the children of Israel consumed not, them did Solomon make to pay tribute until this day.
9
But of the children of Israel did Solomon make no servants for his work; but they were men of war, and chief of his captains, and captains of his chariots and horsemen.
10
And these were the chief of king Solomon's officers, even two hundred and fifty, that bare rule over the people.
11
And Solomon brought up the daughter of Pharaoh out of the city of David unto the house that he had built for her: for he said, My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places are holy, whereunto the ark of the LORD hath come.
12
Then Solomon offered burnt offerings unto the LORD on the altar of the LORD, which he had built before the porch,
13
Even after a certain rate every day, offering according to the commandment of Moses, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts, three times in the year, even in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles.
14
And he appointed, according to the order of David his father, the courses of the priests to their service, and the Levites to their charges, to praise and minister before the priests, as the duty of every day required: the porters also by their courses at every gate: for so had David the man of God commanded.
15
And they departed not from the commandment of the king unto the priests and Levites concerning any matter, or concerning the treasures.
16
Now all the work of Solomon was prepared unto the day of the foundation of the house of the LORD, and until it was finished. So the house of the LORD was perfected.
17
Then went Solomon to Eziongeber, and to Eloth, at the sea side in the land of Edom.
18
And Huram sent him by the hands of his servants ships, and servants that had knowledge of the sea; and they went with the servants of Solomon to Ophir, and took thence four hundred and fifty talents of gold, and brought them to king Solomon.


1
And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon, she came to prove Solomon with hard questions at Jerusalem, with a very great company, and camels that bare spices, and gold in abundance, and precious stones: and when she was come to Solomon, she communed with him of all that was in her heart.
2
And Solomon told her all her questions: and there was nothing hid from Solomon which he told her not.
3
And when the queen of Sheba had seen the wisdom of Solomon, and the house that he had built,
4
And the meat of his table, and the sitting of his servants, and the attendance of his ministers, and their apparel; his cupbearers also, and their apparel; and his ascent by which he went up into the house of the LORD; there was no more spirit in her.
5
And she said to the king, It was a true report which I heard in mine own land of thine acts, and of thy wisdom:
6
Howbeit I believed not their words, until I came, and mine eyes had seen it: and, behold, the one half of the greatness of thy wisdom was not told me: for thou exceedest the fame that I heard.
7
Happy are thy men, and happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and hear thy wisdom.
8
Blessed be the LORD thy God, which delighted in thee to set thee on his throne, to be king for the LORD thy God: because thy God loved Israel, to establish them for ever, therefore made he thee king over them, to do judgment and justice.
9
And she gave the king an hundred and twenty talents of gold, and of spices great abundance, and precious stones: neither was there any such spice as the queen of Sheba gave king Solomon.
10
And the servants also of Huram, and the servants of Solomon, which brought gold from Ophir, brought algum trees and precious stones.
11
And the king made of the algum trees terraces to the house of the LORD, and to the king's palace, and harps and psalteries for singers: and there were none such seen before in the land of Judah.
12
And king Solomon gave to the queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked, beside that which she had brought unto the king. So she turned, and went away to her own land, she and her servants.
13
Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was six hundred and threescore and six talents of gold;
14
Beside that which chapmen and merchants brought. And all the kings of Arabia and governors of the country brought gold and silver to Solomon.
15
And king Solomon made two hundred targets of beaten gold: six hundred shekels of beaten gold went to one target.
16
And three hundred shields made he of beaten gold: three hundred shekels of gold went to one shield. And the king put them in the house of the forest of Lebanon.
17
Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with pure gold.
18
And there were six steps to the throne, with a footstool of gold, which were fastened to the throne, and stays on each side of the sitting place, and two lions standing by the stays:
19
And twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other upon the six steps. There was not the like made in any kingdom.
20
And all the drinking vessels of king Solomon were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold: none were of silver; it was not any thing accounted of in the days of Solomon.
21
For the king's ships went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram: every three years once came the ships of Tarshish bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks.
22
And king Solomon passed all the kings of the earth in riches and wisdom.
23
And all the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon, to hear his wisdom, that God had put in his heart.
24
And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment, harness, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year.
25
And Solomon had four thousand stalls for horses and chariots, and twelve thousand horsemen; whom he bestowed in the chariot cities, and with the king at Jerusalem.
26
And he reigned over all the kings from the river even unto the land of the Philistines, and to the border of Egypt.
27
And the king made silver in Jerusalem as stones, and cedar trees made he as the sycamore trees that are in the low plains in abundance.
28
And they brought unto Solomon horses out of Egypt, and out of all lands.
29
Now the rest of the acts of Solomon, first and last, are they not written in the book of Nathan the prophet, and in the prophecy of Ahijah the Shilonite, and in the visions of Iddo the seer against Jeroboam the son of Nebat?
30
And Solomon reigned in Jerusalem over all Israel forty years.
31
And Solomon slept with his fathers, and he was buried in the city of David his father: and Rehoboam his son reigned in his stead.




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The New Testament reading is verses 1-17 in the 13th chapter of the Gospel of John.  The Last Supper.

1
Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.
2
And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him;
3
Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God;
4
He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself.
5
After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded.
6
Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet?
7
Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter.
8
Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me.
9
Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head.
10
Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all.
11
For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.
12
So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you?
13
Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.
14
If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.
15
For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.
16
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
17
If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.