Church: +64 (09) 235 2238 Op Shop: +64 (09) 235 7914
Reading Plan
Day 135 Day 136Day 137

1 Kings chapter 1

1
King David was now a very old man, and although his servants covered him with blankets, he could not keep warm.
2
So his officials said to him, "Your Majesty, let us find a young woman to stay with you and take care of you. She will lie close to you and keep you warm."
3
A search was made all over Israel for a beautiful young woman, and in Shunem they found such a woman named Abishag, and brought her to the king.
4
She was very beautiful, and waited on the king and took care of him, but he did not have intercourse with her.
5
Now that Absalom was dead, Adonijah, the son of David and Haggith, was the oldest surviving son. He was a very handsome man. David had never reprimanded him about anything, and he was ambitious to be king. He provided for himself chariots, horses, and an escort of fifty men.
6
(SEE 1:5)
7
He talked with Joab (whose mother was Zeruiah) and with Abiathar the priest, and they agreed to support his cause.
8
But Zadok the priest, Benaiah son of Jehoiada, Nathan the prophet, Shimei, Rei, and David's bodyguards were not on Adonijah's side.
9
One day Adonijah offered a sacrifice of sheep, bulls, and fattened calves at Snake Rock, near the spring of Enrogel. He invited the other sons of King David and the king's officials who were from Judah to come to this sacrificial feast,
10
but he did not invite his half brother Solomon or Nathan the prophet or Benaiah or the king's bodyguards.
11
Then Nathan went to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, and asked her, "Haven't you heard that Haggith's son Adonijah has made himself king? And King David doesn't know anything about it!
12
If you want to save your life and the life of your son Solomon, I would advise you to
13
go at once to King David and ask him, 'Your Majesty, didn't you solemnly promise me that my son Solomon would succeed you as king? How is it, then, that Adonijah has become king?' "
14
And Nathan added, "Then, while you are still talking with King David, I will come in and confirm your story."
15
So Bathsheba went to see the king in his bedroom. He was very old, and Abishag, the young woman from Shunem, was taking care of him.
16
Bathsheba bowed low before the king, and he asked, "What do you want?"
17
She answered, "Your Majesty, you made me a solemn promise in the name of the LORD your God that my son Solomon would be king after you.
18
But Adonijah has already become king, and you don't know anything about it.
19
He has offered a sacrifice of many bulls, sheep, and fattened calves, and he invited your sons, and Abiathar the priest, and Joab the commander of your army to the feast, but he did not invite your son Solomon.
20
Your Majesty, all the people of Israel are looking to you to tell them who is to succeed you as king.
21
If you don't, as soon as you are dead, my son Solomon and I will be treated as traitors."
22
She was still speaking, when Nathan arrived at the palace.
23
The king was told that the prophet was there, and Nathan went in and bowed low before the king.
24
Then he said, "Your Majesty, have you announced that Adonijah would succeed you as king?
25
This very day he has gone and offered a sacrifice of many bulls, sheep, and fattened calves. He invited all your sons, Joab the commander of your army, and Abiathar the priest, and right now they are feasting with him and shouting, 'Long live King Adonijah!'
26
But he did not invite me, sir, or Zadok the priest or Benaiah or Solomon.
27
Did Your Majesty approve all this and not even tell your officials who is to succeed you as king?"
28
King David said, "Ask Bathsheba to come back in"---and she came and stood before him.
29
Then he said to her, "I promise you by the living LORD, who has rescued me from all my troubles,
30
that today I will keep the promise I made to you in the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, that your son Solomon would succeed me as king."
31
Bathsheba bowed low and said, "May my lord the king live forever!"
32
Then King David sent for Zadok, Nathan, and Benaiah. When they came in,
33
he said to them, "Take my court officials with you; have my son Solomon ride my own mule, and escort him down to Gihon Spring,
34
where Zadok and Nathan are to anoint him as king of Israel. Then blow the trumpet and shout, 'Long live King Solomon!'
35
Follow him back here when he comes to sit on my throne. He will succeed me as king, because he is the one I have chosen to be the ruler of Israel and Judah."
36
"It shall be done," answered Benaiah, "and may the LORD your God confirm it!
37
As the LORD has been with Your Majesty, may he also be with Solomon and make his reign even more prosperous than yours."
38
So Zadok, Nathan, Benaiah, and the royal bodyguards put Solomon on King David's mule and escorted him to Gihon Spring.
39
Zadok took the container of olive oil which he had brought from the Tent of the LORD's presence, and anointed Solomon. They blew the trumpet, and all the people shouted, "Long live King Solomon!"
40
Then they all followed him back, shouting for joy and playing flutes, making enough noise to shake the ground.
41
As Adonijah and all his guests were finishing the feast, they heard the noise. And when Joab heard the trumpet, he asked, "What's the meaning of all that noise in the city?"
42
Before he finished speaking, Jonathan, the son of the priest Abiathar, arrived. "Come on in," Adonijah said. "You're a good man---you must be bringing good news."
43
"I'm afraid not," Jonathan answered. "His Majesty King David has made Solomon king.
44
He sent Zadok, Nathan, Benaiah, and the royal bodyguards to escort him. They had him ride on the king's mule,
45
and Zadok and Nathan anointed him as king at Gihon Spring. Then they went into the city, shouting for joy, and the people are now in an uproar. That's the noise you just heard.
46
Solomon is now the king.
47
What is more, the court officials went in to pay their respects to His Majesty King David and said, 'May your God make Solomon even more famous than you, and may Solomon's reign be even more prosperous than yours.' Then King David bowed in worship on his bed
48
and prayed, 'Let us praise the LORD, the God of Israel, who has today made one of my descendants succeed me as king, and has let me live to see it!' "
49
Then Adonijah's guests were afraid, and they all got up and left, each going his own way.
50
Adonijah, in great fear of Solomon, went to the Tent of the LORD's presence and took hold of the corners of the altar.
51
King Solomon was told that Adonijah was afraid of him and that he was holding on to the corners of the altar and had said, "First, I want King Solomon to swear to me that he will not have me put to death."
52
Solomon replied, "If he is loyal, not even a hair on his head will be touched; but if he is not, he will die."
53
King Solomon then sent for Adonijah and had him brought down from the altar. Adonijah went to the king and bowed low before him, and the king said to him, "You may go home."

1 Chronicles chapter 28

1
King David commanded all the officials of Israel to assemble in Jerusalem. So all the officials of the tribes, the officials who administered the work of the kingdom, the leaders of the clans, the supervisors of the property and livestock that belonged to the king and his sons---indeed all the palace officials, leading soldiers, and important men---gathered in Jerusalem.
2
David stood before them and addressed them: "My friends, listen to me. I wanted to build a permanent home for the Covenant Box, the footstool of the LORD our God. I have made preparations for building a temple to honor him,
3
but he has forbidden me to do it, because I am a soldier and have shed too much blood.
4
The LORD, the God of Israel, chose me and my descendants to rule Israel forever. He chose the tribe of Judah to provide leadership, and out of Judah he chose my father's family. From all that family it was his pleasure to take me and make me king over all Israel.
5
He gave me many sons, and out of them all he chose Solomon to rule over Israel, the LORD's kingdom.
6
"The LORD said to me, 'Your son Solomon is the one who will build my Temple. I have chosen him to be my son, and I will be his father.
7
I will make his kingdom last forever if he continues to obey carefully all my laws and commands as he does now.'
8
"So now, my people, in the presence of our God and of this assembly of all Israel, the LORD's people, I charge you to obey carefully everything that the LORD our God has commanded us, so that you may continue to possess this good land and so that you may hand it on to succeeding generations forever."
9
And to Solomon he said, "My son, I charge you to acknowledge your father's God and to serve him with an undivided heart and a willing mind. He knows all our thoughts and desires. If you go to him, he will accept you; but if you turn away from him, he will abandon you forever.
10
You must realize that the LORD has chosen you to build his holy Temple. Now do it---and do it with determination."
11
David gave Solomon the plans for all the Temple buildings, for the storerooms and all the other rooms, and for the Most Holy Place, where sins are forgiven.
12
He also gave him the plans for all he had in mind for the courtyards and the rooms around them, and for the storerooms for the Temple equipment and the gifts dedicated to the LORD.
13
David also gave him the plans for organizing the priests and Levites to perform their duties, to do the work of the Temple, and to take care of all the Temple utensils.
14
He gave instructions as to how much silver and gold was to be used for making the utensils,
15
for each lamp and lampstand,
16
for the silver tables, and for each gold table on which were placed the loaves of bread offered to God.
17
He also gave instructions as to how much pure gold was to be used in making forks, bowls, and jars, how much silver and gold in making dishes,
18
and how much pure gold in making the altar on which incense was burned and in making the chariot for the winged creatures that spread their wings over the LORD's Covenant Box.
19
King David said, "All this is contained in the plan written according to the instructions which the LORD himself gave me to carry out."
20
King David said to his son Solomon, "Be confident and determined. Start the work and don't let anything stop you. The LORD God, whom I serve, will be with you. He will not abandon you, but he will stay with you until you finish the work to be done on his Temple.
21
The priests and the Levites have been assigned duties to perform in the Temple. Workers with every kind of skill are eager to help you, and all the people and their leaders are at your command."

Psalm chapter 91

1
Whoever goes to the LORD for safety, whoever remains under the protection of the Almighty,
2
can say to him, "You are my defender and protector. You are my God; in you I trust."
3
He will keep you safe from all hidden dangers and from all deadly diseases.
4
He will cover you with his wings; you will be safe in his care; his faithfulness will protect and defend you.
5
You need not fear any dangers at night or sudden attacks during the day
6
or the plagues that strike in the dark or the evils that kill in daylight.
7
A thousand may fall dead beside you, ten thousand all around you, but you will not be harmed.
8
You will look and see how the wicked are punished.
9
You have made the LORD your defender, the Most High your protector,
10
and so no disaster will strike you, no violence will come near your home.
11
God will put his angels in charge of you to protect you wherever you go.
12
They will hold you up with their hands to keep you from hurting your feet on the stones.
13
You will trample down lions and snakes, fierce lions and poisonous snakes.
14
God says, "I will save those who love me and will protect those who acknowledge me as LORD.
15
When they call to me, I will answer them; when they are in trouble, I will be with them. I will rescue them and honor them.
16
I will reward them with long life; I will save them."

1 Thessalonians chapter 5

1
There is no need to write you, friends, about the times and occasions when these things will happen.
2
For you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord will come as a thief comes at night.
3
When people say, "Everything is quiet and safe," then suddenly destruction will hit them! It will come as suddenly as the pains that come upon a woman in labor, and people will not escape.
4
But you, friends, are not in the darkness, and the Day should not take you by surprise like a thief.
5
All of you are people who belong to the light, who belong to the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
6
So then, we should not be sleeping like the others; we should be awake and sober.
7
It is at night when people sleep; it is at night when they get drunk.
8
But we belong to the day, and we should be sober. We must wear faith and love as a breastplate, and our hope of salvation as a helmet.
9
God did not choose us to suffer his anger, but to possess salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10
who died for us in order that we might live together with him, whether we are alive or dead when he comes.
11
And so encourage one another and help one another, just as you are now doing.
12
We beg you, our friends, to pay proper respect to those who work among you, who guide and instruct you in the Christian life.
13
Treat them with the greatest respect and love because of the work they do. Be at peace among yourselves.
14
We urge you, our friends, to warn the idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
15
See that no one pays back wrong for wrong, but at all times make it your aim to do good to one another and to all people.
16
Be joyful always,
17
pray at all times,
18
be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus.
19
Do not restrain the Holy Spirit;
20
do not despise inspired messages.
21
Put all things to the test: keep what is good
22
and avoid every kind of evil.
23
May the God who gives us peace make you holy in every way and keep your whole being---spirit, soul, and body---free from every fault at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24
He who calls you will do it, because he is faithful.
25
Pray also for us, friends.
26
Greet all the believers with the kiss of peace.
27
I urge you by the authority of the Lord to read this letter to all the believers.
28
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Translate

enzh-CNnlfrdeitjakoptrues

Subscribe To Our Newsletter