Today's Readings and Stuff -- Sunday, 27 March, 2016 EASTER!

He is risen!

Today is celebrated as Easter Sunday, the remembrance that the Lord was dead, buried, rose again, ascended into Heaven, from whence He shall come again.  Hallelujah!

Busy day.  Off to church services this morning, some guests, some "regulars" out (two in hospital).  A great time of worship and fellowship, prayer, praise, and proclamation of the Word.

Then raced home.  Dear Wife's close family (sister & husband, their daughter and her husband and daughter, their son (wife's nephew) and his wife and son and daughter, a family friend with his son and his current girlfriend, in a get-together.  They decided to have it off-site, reserving a big table at a local buffet-type restaurant.  From the looks of things, we weren't the only ones choosing that approach.  No one had to clean, cook, clean up afterward, etc.  Go in, pay, sit, eat, yak, leave.  Fine by me.  We rode their with next-door nice and husband and kid.  Saved me driving.  Worked out well.

Came home, and crashed.  Wife is still out. 
Cats were around, a bit, when we got home, they disappeared shortly thereafter.  Probably miffed that we are occupying "their" bed during the day.  That's one possibility anyway.

I opened the windows for about the 2nd time since around September.  Good to get the month's-long stinks out and some (relatively) fresh air passing through.  Was about 75 degrees when I got up from the nap.  Probably should have opened windows before crashing.  But Tuesday's "high" is predicted for 45 with a low of 22.  Ohio in the "spring".  At least the next week's "highs" are all predicted to be above the freezing mark.

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The Old Testament reading for the day is chapters 19 and 20 of the book of Joshua.  Most of this is probably falling into the "so what?" category.  But it matters.  Among other things, it is a record of the allotment of land by tribe and family in the Promised Land.  There are those apologists for the so-called "Palestinians" who deny that the Jews were ever there.  Here's some of the proof.

Joshua 19 

1	And the second lot came forth to Simeon, even for the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families: and their inheritance was within the inheritance of the children of Judah.
2	And they had in their inheritance Beersheba, and Sheba, and Moladah,
3	And Hazarshual, and Balah, and Azem,
4	And Eltolad, and Bethul, and Hormah,
5	And Ziklag, and Bethmarcaboth, and Hazarsusah,
6	And Bethlebaoth, and Sharuhen; thirteen cities and their villages:
7	Ain, Remmon, and Ether, and Ashan; four cities and their villages:
8	And all the villages that were round about these cities to Baalathbeer, Ramath of the south. This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Simeon according to their families.
9	Out of the portion of the children of Judah was the inheritance of the children of Simeon: for the part of the children of Judah was too much for them: therefore the children of Simeon had their inheritance within the inheritance of them.
10	And the third lot came up for the children of Zebulun according to their families: and the border of their inheritance was unto Sarid:
11	And their border went up toward the sea, and Maralah, and reached to Dabbasheth, and reached to the river that is before Jokneam;
12	And turned from Sarid eastward toward the sunrising unto the border of Chislothtabor, and then goeth out to Daberath, and goeth up to Japhia,
13	And from thence passeth on along on the east to Gittahhepher, to Ittahkazin, and goeth out to Remmonmethoar to Neah;
14	And the border compasseth it on the north side to Hannathon: and the outgoings thereof are in the valley of Jiphthahel:
15	And Kattath, and Nahallal, and Shimron, and Idalah, and Bethlehem: twelve cities with their villages.
16	This is the inheritance of the children of Zebulun according to their families, these cities with their villages.
17	And the fourth lot came out to Issachar, for the children of Issachar according to their families.
18	And their border was toward Jezreel, and Chesulloth, and Shunem,
19	And Haphraim, and Shihon, and Anaharath,
20	And Rabbith, and Kishion, and Abez,
21	And Remeth, and Engannim, and Enhaddah, and Bethpazzez;
22	And the coast reacheth to Tabor, and Shahazimah, and Bethshemesh; and the outgoings of their border were at Jordan: sixteen cities with their villages.
23	This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Issachar according to their families, the cities and their villages.
24	And the fifth lot came out for the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families.
25	And their border was Helkath, and Hali, and Beten, and Achshaph,
26	And Alammelech, and Amad, and Misheal; and reacheth to Carmel westward, and to Shihorlibnath;
27	And turneth toward the sunrising to Bethdagon, and reacheth to Zebulun, and to the valley of Jiphthahel toward the north side of Bethemek, and Neiel, and goeth out to Cabul on the left hand,
28	And Hebron, and Rehob, and Hammon, and Kanah, even unto great Zidon;
29	And then the coast turneth to Ramah, and to the strong city Tyre; and the coast turneth to Hosah; and the outgoings thereof are at the sea from the coast to Achzib:
30	Ummah also, and Aphek, and Rehob: twenty and two cities with their villages.
31	This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Asher according to their families, these cities with their villages.
32	The sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali, even for the children of Naphtali according to their families.
33	And their coast was from Heleph, from Allon to Zaanannim, and Adami, Nekeb, and Jabneel, unto Lakum; and the outgoings thereof were at Jordan:
34	And then the coast turneth westward to Aznothtabor, and goeth out from thence to Hukkok, and reacheth to Zebulun on the south side, and reacheth to Asher on the west side, and to Judah upon Jordan toward the sunrising.
35	And the fenced cities are Ziddim, Zer, and Hammath, Rakkath, and Chinnereth,
36	And Adamah, and Ramah, and Hazor,
37	And Kedesh, and Edrei, and Enhazor,
38	And Iron, and Migdalel, Horem, and Bethanath, and Bethshemesh; nineteen cities with their villages.
39	This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali according to their families, the cities and their villages.
40	And the seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families.
41	And the coast of their inheritance was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Irshemesh,
42	And Shaalabbin, and Ajalon, and Jethlah,
43	And Elon, and Thimnathah, and Ekron,
44	And Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalath,
45	And Jehud, and Beneberak, and Gathrimmon,
46	And Mejarkon, and Rakkon, with the border before Japho.
47	And the coast of the children of Dan went out too little for them: therefore the children of Dan went up to fight against Leshem, and took it, and smote it with the edge of the sword, and possessed it, and dwelt therein, and called Leshem, Dan, after the name of Dan their father.
48	This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families, these cities with their villages.
49	When they had made an end of dividing the land for inheritance by their coasts, the children of Israel gave an inheritance to Joshua the son of Nun among them:
50	According to the word of the LORD they gave him the city which he asked, even Timnathserah in mount Ephraim: and he built the city, and dwelt therein.
51	These are the inheritances, which Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers of the tribes of the children of Israel, divided for an inheritance by lot in Shiloh before the LORD, at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. So they made an end of dividing the country.

Joshua 20 

1	The LORD also spake unto Joshua, saying,
2	Speak to the children of Israel, saying, Appoint out for you cities of refuge, whereof I spake unto you by the hand of Moses:
3	That the slayer that killeth any person unawares and unwittingly may flee thither: and they shall be your refuge from the avenger of blood.
4	And when he that doth flee unto one of those cities shall stand at the entering of the gate of the city, and shall declare his cause in the ears of the elders of that city, they shall take him into the city unto them, and give him a place, that he may dwell among them.
5	And if the avenger of blood pursue after him, then they shall not deliver the slayer up into his hand; because he smote his neighbor unwittingly, and hated him not beforetime.
6	And he shall dwell in that city, until he stand before the congregation for judgment, and until the death of the high priest that shall be in those days: then shall the slayer return, and come unto his own city, and unto his own house, unto the city from whence he fled.
7	And they appointed Kedesh in Galilee in mount Naphtali, and Shechem in mount Ephraim, and Kirjatharba, which is Hebron, in the mountain of Judah.
8	And on the other side Jordan by Jericho eastward, they assigned Bezer in the wilderness upon the plain out of the tribe of Reuben, and Ramoth in Gilead out of the tribe of Gad, and Golan in Bashan out of the tribe of Manasseh.
9	These were the cities appointed for all the children of Israel, and for the stranger that sojourneth among them, that whosoever killeth any person at unawares might flee thither, and not die by the hand of the avenger of blood, until he stood before the congregation.

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The New Testament reading is verses 17-39 in the 5th chapter of the Gospel of Luke.  Jesus is really becoming noticed.  And attracting some opposition in so doing.

Luke 5:17-39 

17	And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
18	And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him.
19	And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus.
20	And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.
21	And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?
22	But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts?
23	Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk?
24	But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.
25	And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God.
26	And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day.
27	And after these things he went forth, and saw a publican, named Levi, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he said unto him, Follow me.
28	And he left all, rose up, and followed him.
29	And Levi made him a great feast in his own house: and there was a great company of publicans and of others that sat down with them.
30	But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?
31	And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.
32	I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
33	And they said unto him, Why do the disciples of John fast often, and make prayers, and likewise the disciples of the Pharisees; but thine eat and drink?
34	And he said unto them, Can ye make the children of the bridechamber fast, while the bridegroom is with them?
35	But the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken away from them, and then shall they fast in those days.
36	And he spake also a parable unto them; No man putteth a piece of a new garment upon an old; if otherwise, then both the new maketh a rent, and the piece that was taken out of the new agreeth not with the old.
37	And no man putteth new wine into old bottles; else the new wine will burst the bottles, and be spilled, and the bottles shall perish.
38	But new wine must be put into new bottles; and both are preserved.
39	No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Monday, 22 February 2016

Next-to-last Monday in February.  Weather still decent, still -- slightly - above freezing.  I had to walk down to the post office earlier.  Still piles of snow, here and there, though mostly gone.  Temp is low enough that melting is slow, so we're avoiding most flooding in this immediate area.  The next week will be not so nice, and we are predicted to have lousy temperatures and considerable snowfall again later on this week. Length of "day" is now 10 hours 56 minutes, so we're predicted to be over the 11 hour point in a few days.  The 12 hour point is predicted for the latter part of March.

We live near some manfacturing plants here in the poor folks' district.  Had a bunch of sirens earlier, fire department and EMS going to one that's about two blocks from here.  More I do not know.  Having spent 30-some years in manufacturing operations, I'm always very much aware of the things that can happen.  Been there, in fact I'm one of those who is very personally aware of the risks inasmuch as I'm one of those who have been injured.

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The Old Testament reading today is chapter 7 from Leviticus.

Numbers 7

1	And it came to pass on the day that Moses had fully set up the tabernacle, and had anointed it, and sanctified it, and all the instruments thereof, both the altar and all the vessels thereof, and had anointed them, and sanctified them;
2	That the princes of Israel, heads of the house of their fathers, who were the princes of the tribes, and were over them that were numbered, offered:
3	And they brought their offering before the LORD, six covered wagons, and twelve oxen; a wagon for two of the princes, and for each one an ox: and they brought them before the tabernacle.
4	And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
5	Take it of them, that they may be to do the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; and thou shalt give them unto the Levites, to every man according to his service.
6	And Moses took the wagons and the oxen, and gave them unto the Levites.
7	Two wagons and four oxen he gave unto the sons of Gershon, according to their service:
8	And four wagons and eight oxen he gave unto the sons of Merari, according unto their service, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
9	But unto the sons of Kohath he gave none: because the service of the sanctuary belonging unto them was that they should bear upon their shoulders.
10	And the princes offered for dedicating of the altar in the day that it was anointed, even the princes offered their offering before the altar.
11	And the LORD said unto Moses, They shall offer their offering, each prince on his day, for the dedicating of the altar.
12	And he that offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah:
13	And his offering was one silver charger, the weight thereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them were full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
14	One spoon of ten shekels of gold, full of incense:
15	One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
16	One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
17	And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
18	On the second day Nethaneel the son of Zuar, prince of Issachar, did offer:
19	He offered for his offering one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
20	One spoon of gold of ten shekels, full of incense:
21	One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
22	One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
23	And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Nethaneel the son of Zuar.
24	On the third day Eliab the son of Helon, prince of the children of Zebulun, did offer:
25	His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
26	One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
27	One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
28	One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
29	And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Eliab the son of Helon.
30	On the fourth day Elizur the son of Shedeur, prince of the children of Reuben, did offer:
31	His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
32	One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
33	One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
34	One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
35	And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Elizur the son of Shedeur.
36	On the fifth day Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, prince of the children of Simeon, did offer:
37	His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
38	One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
39	One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
40	One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
41	And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
42	On the sixth day Eliasaph the son of Deuel, prince of the children of Gad, offered:
43	His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, a silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
44	One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
45	One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
46	One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
47	And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
48	On the seventh day Elishama the son of Ammihud, prince of the children of Ephraim, offered:
49	His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
50	One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
51	One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
52	One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
53	And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud.
54	On the eighth day offered Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, prince of the children of Manasseh:
55	His offering was one silver charger of the weight of an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
56	One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
57	One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
58	One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
59	And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
60	On the ninth day Abidan the son of Gideoni, prince of the children of Benjamin, offered:
61	His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
62	One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
63	One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
64	One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
65	And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Abidan the son of Gideoni.
66	On the tenth day Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, prince of the children of Dan, offered:
67	His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
68	One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
69	One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
70	One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
71	And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
72	On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ocran, prince of the children of Asher, offered:
73	His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
74	One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
75	One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
76	One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
77	And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Pagiel the son of Ocran.
78	On the twelfth day Ahira the son of Enan, prince of the children of Naphtali, offered:
79	His offering was one silver charger, the weight whereof was an hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mingled with oil for a meat offering:
80	One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense:
81	One young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering:
82	One kid of the goats for a sin offering:
83	And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he goats, five lambs of the first year: this was the offering of Ahira the son of Enan.
84	This was the dedication of the altar, in the day when it was anointed, by the princes of Israel: twelve chargers of silver, twelve silver bowls, twelve spoons of gold:
85	Each charger of silver weighing an hundred and thirty shekels, each bowl seventy: all the silver vessels weighed two thousand and four hundred shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:
86	The golden spoons were twelve, full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, after the shekel of the sanctuary: all the gold of the spoons was an hundred and twenty shekels.
87	All the oxen for the burnt offering were twelve bullocks, the rams twelve, the lambs of the first year twelve, with their meat offering: and the kids of the goats for sin offering twelve.
88	And all the oxen for the sacrifice of the peace offerings were twenty and four bullocks, the rams sixty, the he goats sixty, the lambs of the first year sixty. This was the dedication of the altar, after that it was anointed.
89	And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with him, then he heard the voice of one speaking unto him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubim: and he spake unto him.

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The New Testament reading is verses 21-41 of Mark chapter 4.

Mark 4:21-41

21	And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?
22	For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.
23	If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
24	And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.
25	For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.
26	And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
27	And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
28	For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
29	But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
30	And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?
31	It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:
32	But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.
33	And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.
34	But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
35	And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.
36	And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
37	And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
38	And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
39	And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40	And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
41	And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Tuesday, 21 April 2015

We are now a month into the Spring season.  So I look at the weather forecast for the next several days.  Low tomorrow night:  34 degrees.  Lows for Thursday and Friday nights:  32 degrees!  Freezing, in other words!  In SPRING!!  We don't see a low out of the 30's until next Monday, at which point the low is a "toasty" 40 degrees.
I hate this.

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The Old Testament passage for the day has us turning another page.  Yes, we are beginning 2nd Samuel, which is a change.  But we are now also in a new era.  Samuel is dead.  So is Saul, and most of his sons, starting with the heir apparent, Jonathan.  That line of the 1st king of Israel has now pretty much ended, and David is increasingly acknowledged as king, except for Saul's remaining son, and that won't last long, though there will be death and much bitterness first.  War is like that.
You will also note a problem that will come to be a big problem later.  David has several wives.  And his wives had sons.  Think there just might be some competition for the crown later on?  One of the unfortunate practices in that area then (and sometimes today) is for the one who secures the high state to kill off all potential claimants.  Common.  Making them eunuchs was occasionally done, but generally it was king or death.  Made things tough around the table.

II Samuel 1

1	Now it came to pass after the death of Saul, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites, and David had abode two days in Ziklag;
2	It came even to pass on the third day, that, behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent, and earth upon his head: and so it was, when he came to David, that he fell to the earth, and did obeisance.
3	And David said unto him, From whence comest thou? And he said unto him, Out of the camp of Israel am I escaped.
4	And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.
5	And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead?
6	And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.
7	And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called unto me. And I answered, Here am I.
8	And he said unto me, Who art thou? And I answered him, I am an Amalekite.
9	He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.
10	So I stood upon him, and slew him, because I was sure that he could not live after that he was fallen: and I took the crown that was upon his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm, and have brought them hither unto my lord.
11	Then David took hold on his clothes, and rent them; and likewise all the men that were with him:
12	And they mourned, and wept, and fasted until even, for Saul, and for Jonathan his son, and for the people of the LORD, and for the house of Israel; because they were fallen by the sword.
13	And David said unto the young man that told him, Whence art thou? And he answered, I am the son of a stranger, an Amalekite.
14	And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD's anointed?
15	And David called one of the young men, and said, Go near, and fall upon him. And he smote him that he died.
16	And David said unto him, Thy blood be upon thy head; for thy mouth hath testified against thee, saying, I have slain the LORD's anointed.
17	And David lamented with this lamentation over Saul and over Jonathan his son:
18	(Also he bade them teach the children of Judah the use of the bow: behold, it is written in the book of Jasher.)
19	The beauty of Israel is slain upon thy high places: how are the mighty fallen!
20	Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
21	Ye mountains of Gilboa, let there be no dew, neither let there be rain, upon you, nor fields of offerings: for there the shield of the mighty is vilely cast away, the shield of Saul, as though he had not been anointed with oil.
22	From the blood of the slain, from the fat of the mighty, the bow of Jonathan turned not back, and the sword of Saul returned not empty.
23	Saul and Jonathan were lovely and pleasant in their lives, and in their death they were not divided: they were swifter than eagles, they were stronger than lions.
24	Ye daughters of Israel, weep over Saul, who clothed you in scarlet, with other delights, who put on ornaments of gold upon your apparel.
25	How are the mighty fallen in the midst of the battle! O Jonathan, thou wast slain in thine high places.
26	I am distressed for thee, my brother Jonathan: very pleasant hast thou been unto me: thy love to me was wonderful, passing the love of women.
27	How are the mighty fallen, and the weapons of war perished!

II Samuel 2

1	And it came to pass after this, that David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron.
2	So David went up thither, and his two wives also, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail Nabal's wife the Carmelite.
3	And his men that were with him did David bring up, every man with his household: and they dwelt in the cities of Hebron.
4	And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah. And they told David, saying, That the men of Jabeshgilead were they that buried Saul.
5	And David sent messengers unto the men of Jabeshgilead, and said unto them, Blessed be ye of the LORD, that ye have showed this kindness unto your lord, even unto Saul, and have buried him.
6	And now the LORD show kindness and truth unto you: and I also will requite you this kindness, because ye have done this thing.
7	Therefore now let your hands be strengthened, and be ye valiant: for your master Saul is dead, and also the house of Judah have anointed me king over them.
8	But Abner the son of Ner, captain of Saul's host, took Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and brought him over to Mahanaim;
9	And made him king over Gilead, and over the Ashurites, and over Jezreel, and over Ephraim, and over Benjamin, and over all Israel.
10	Ishbosheth Saul's son was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David.
11	And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.
12	And Abner the son of Ner, and the servants of Ishbosheth the son of Saul, went out from Mahanaim to Gibeon.
13	And Joab the son of Zeruiah, and the servants of David, went out, and met together by the pool of Gibeon: and they sat down, the one on the one side of the pool, and the other on the other side of the pool.
14	And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise.
15	Then there arose and went over by number twelve of Benjamin, which pertained to Ishbosheth the son of Saul, and twelve of the servants of David.
16	And they caught every one his fellow by the head, and thrust his sword in his fellow's side; so they fell down together: wherefore that place was called Helkathhazzurim, which is in Gibeon.
17	And there was a very sore battle that day; and Abner was beaten, and the men of Israel, before the servants of David.
18	And there were three sons of Zeruiah there, Joab, and Abishai, and Asahel: and Asahel was as light of foot as a wild roe.
19	And Asahel pursued after Abner; and in going he turned not to the right hand nor to the left from following Abner.
20	Then Abner looked behind him, and said, Art thou Asahel? And he answered, I am.
21	And Abner said to him, Turn thee aside to thy right hand or to thy left, and lay thee hold on one of the young men, and take thee his armor. But Asahel would not turn aside from following of him.
22	And Abner said again to Asahel, Turn thee aside from following me: wherefore should I smite thee to the ground? how then should I hold up my face to Joab thy brother?
23	Howbeit he refused to turn aside: wherefore Abner with the hinder end of the spear smote him under the fifth rib, that the spear came out behind him; and he fell down there, and died in the same place: and it came to pass, that as many as came to the place where Asahel fell down and died stood still.
24	Joab also and Abishai pursued after Abner: and the sun went down when they were come to the hill of Ammah, that lieth before Giah by the way of the wilderness of Gibeon.
25	And the children of Benjamin gathered themselves together after Abner, and became one troop, and stood on the top of an hill.
26	Then Abner called to Joab, and said, Shall the sword devour for ever? knowest thou not that it will be bitterness in the latter end? how long shall it be then, ere thou bid the people return from following their brethren?
27	And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.
28	So Joab blew a trumpet, and all the people stood still, and pursued after Israel no more, neither fought they any more.
29	And Abner and his men walked all that night through the plain, and passed over Jordan, and went through all Bithron, and they came to Mahanaim.
30	And Joab returned from following Abner: and when he had gathered all the people together, there lacked of David's servants nineteen men and Asahel.
31	But the servants of David had smitten of Benjamin, and of Abner's men, so that three hundred and threescore men died.
32	And they took up Asahel, and buried him in the sepulchre of his father, which was in Bethlehem. And Joab and his men went all night, and they came to Hebron at break of day.

II Samuel 3

1	Now there was long war between the house of Saul and the house of David: but David waxed stronger and stronger, and the house of Saul waxed weaker and weaker.
2	And unto David were sons born in Hebron: and his firstborn was Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess;
3	And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur;
4	And the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith; and the fifth, Shephatiah the son of Abital;
5	And the sixth, Ithream, by Eglah David's wife. These were born to David in Hebron.
6	And it came to pass, while there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David, that Abner made himself strong for the house of Saul.
7	And Saul had a concubine, whose name was Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah: and Ishbosheth said to Abner, Wherefore hast thou gone in unto my father's concubine?
8	Then was Abner very wroth for the words of Ishbosheth, and said, Am I a dog's head, which against Judah do show kindness this day unto the house of Saul thy father, to his brethren, and to his friends, and have not delivered thee into the hand of David, that thou chargest me to day with a fault concerning this woman?
9	So do God to Abner, and more also, except, as the LORD hath sworn to David, even so I do to him;
10	To translate the kingdom from the house of Saul, and to set up the throne of David over Israel and over Judah, from Dan even to Beersheba.
11	And he could not answer Abner a word again, because he feared him.
12	And Abner sent messengers to David on his behalf, saying, Whose is the land? saying also, Make thy league with me, and, behold, my hand shall be with thee, to bring about all Israel unto thee.
13	And he said, Well; I will make a league with thee: but one thing I require of thee, that is, Thou shalt not see my face, except thou first bring Michal Saul's daughter, when thou comest to see my face.
14	And David sent messengers to Ishbosheth Saul's son, saying, Deliver me my wife Michal, which I espoused to me for an hundred foreskins of the Philistines.
15	And Ishbosheth sent, and took her from her husband, even from Phaltiel the son of Laish.
16	And her husband went with her along weeping behind her to Bahurim. Then said Abner unto him, Go, return. And he returned.
17	And Abner had communication with the elders of Israel, saying, Ye sought for David in times past to be king over you:
18	Now then do it: for the LORD hath spoken of David, saying, By the hand of my servant David I will save my people Israel out of the hand of the Philistines, and out of the hand of all their enemies.
19	And Abner also spake in the ears of Benjamin: and Abner went also to speak in the ears of David in Hebron all that seemed good to Israel, and that seemed good to the whole house of Benjamin.
20	So Abner came to David to Hebron, and twenty men with him. And David made Abner and the men that were with him a feast.
21	And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.
22	And, behold, the servants of David and Joab came from pursuing a troop, and brought in a great spoil with them: but Abner was not with David in Hebron; for he had sent him away, and he was gone in peace.
23	When Joab and all the host that was with him were come, they told Joab, saying, Abner the son of Ner came to the king, and he hath sent him away, and he is gone in peace.
24	Then Joab came to the king, and said, What hast thou done? behold, Abner came unto thee; why is it that thou hast sent him away, and he is quite gone?
25	Thou knowest Abner the son of Ner, that he came to deceive thee, and to know thy going out and thy coming in, and to know all that thou doest.
26	And when Joab was come out from David, he sent messengers after Abner, which brought him again from the well of Sirah: but David knew it not.
27	And when Abner was returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside in the gate to speak with him quietly, and smote him there under the fifth rib, that he died, for the blood of Asahel his brother.
28	And afterward when David heard it, he said, I and my kingdom are guiltless before the LORD for ever from the blood of Abner the son of Ner:
29	Let it rest on the head of Joab, and on all his father's house; and let there not fail from the house of Joab one that hath an issue, or that is a leper, or that leaneth on a staff, or that falleth on the sword, or that lacketh bread.
30	So Joab, and Abishai his brother slew Abner, because he had slain their brother Asahel at Gibeon in the battle.
31	And David said to Joab, and to all the people that were with him, Rend your clothes, and gird you with sackcloth, and mourn before Abner. And king David himself followed the bier.
32	And they buried Abner in Hebron: and the king lifted up his voice, and wept at the grave of Abner; and all the people wept.
33	And the king lamented over Abner, and said, Died Abner as a fool dieth?
34	Thy hands were not bound, nor thy feet put into fetters: as a man falleth before wicked men, so fellest thou. And all the people wept again over him.
35	And when all the people came to cause David to eat meat while it was yet day, David sware, saying, So do God to me, and more also, if I taste bread, or ought else, till the sun be down.
36	And all the people took notice of it, and it pleased them: as whatsoever the king did pleased all the people.
37	For all the people and all Israel understood that day that it was not of the king to slay Abner the son of Ner.
38	And the king said unto his servants, Know ye not that there is a prince and a great man fallen this day in Israel?
39	And I am this day weak, though anointed king; and these men the sons of Zeruiah be too hard for me: the LORD shall reward the doer of evil according to his wickedness.

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The New Testament reading is verses 1-17 of Luke 18.  It is difficult to emphasize just how radical that Jesus' teachings like this were.  It certainly ran counter to what all the "right people", the "in-crowd" believed and would defend.  And did.

Luke 18:1-17 

1	And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;
2	Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:
3	And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
4	And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;
5	Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
6	And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.
7	And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
8	I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
9	And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
10	Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
11	The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.
12	I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
13	And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14	I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
15	And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when his disciples saw it, they rebuked them.
16	But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
17	Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.