"THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES" Chapter Two by Mark Copeland

                       "THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES"

                              Chapter Two

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To note the degree to which the Preacher sought for meaning in life
   under the sun

2) To consider his estimation of mirth, pleasure, wine, wisdom, folly
   and wealth in providing purpose for living

3) To appreciate his conclusion for what is best in life, and the One
   who makes it possible

SUMMARY

In this chapter the Preacher describes the extent of his search for the
meaning of life "under the sun."  He explored mirth and pleasure,
finding them to be vanity.  He experimented with wine and folly, while
guiding himself with his wisdom.  Not withholding anything his eyes
desired, he used his great wealth to build and accumulate everything
his heart wanted.  He certainly enjoyed himself while doing it (1-10).

Yet when the Preacher looked back on all he had done, he found it to be
vanity and grasping for the wind.  Reflecting upon the comparative
value of wisdom and folly, he did find wisdom to excel folly.  But he
also observed that death came to both the wise and the fool, and both
soon forgotten.  This prompted him to hate life.  Even his accumulated
wealth provided little respite, for he must leave it to one who may
prove to be a fool.  Thus he found such efforts to be grievous, leading
one to sorrowful days and restless nights (11-23).

He concludes it is best to eat and drink, enjoying what good there is
in one's labor.  He realized, however, that the ability to truly enjoy
life is a gift from God.  He saw that God gives wisdom, knowledge, and
joy to a man who is good in His sight.  To the sinner, God might give 
the ability to gather and collect great wealth, but it eventually winds
up in the hands of him who is good before God.  Thus much labor without
God's blessing is truly vanity and grasping for the wind (24-26).

OUTLINE

I. THE PREACHER'S SEARCH FOR MEANING (2:1-10)

   A. A SUMMARY OF HIS SEARCH (1-2)
      1. He tested mirth and pleasure, and found them to be vanity
      2. He found laughter to be madness, and mirth to accomplish
         little

   B. A DESCRIPTION OF HIS SEARCH (3-10)
      1. He experimented with wine and folly
         a. While guiding himself with wisdom
         b. Seeking to find what is good for men to do "under heaven
            all the days of their lives"
      2. He made many things
         a. Houses and vineyards
         b. Gardens and orchards
         c. Water pools to water fruit trees
      3. He acquired whatever he wanted
         a. Male and female servants, with more born in his house
         b. Herds and flocks, more than any in Jerusalem before him
         c. Silver, gold, special treasures of kings and provinces
         d. Male and female singers, musical instruments of all kinds
      4. He became great, and seemingly happy
         a. Greater than all in Jerusalem before him
         b. Having all his eyes desired, his heart rejoicing in his
            labor

II. THE PREACHER'S REFLECTION UPON HIS SEARCH (2:11-23)

   A. REFLECTING UPON HIS LABOR (11)
      1. Looking back on all his works and labor
      2. Find them to be vanity, grasping for wind
      3. Concluding there was no profit under the sun
 
   B. REFLECTING UPON WISDOM, MADNESS, AND FOLLY (12-17)
      1. He considered the relative value of wisdom, madness, and folly
      2. He found that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness
      3. Yet the same end (death) befalls the wise and the fool, and
         both are soon forgotten
      4. Prompting him to hate life for its vanity and grasping for the
         wind

   C. REFLECTING UPON HIS WEALTH (18-23)
      1. He came to hate his labor and toil under the sun
         a. Because he must leave it to one after him
         b. Not knowing whether those who inherit it will be wise or
            foolish
      2. He came to despair his labor under the sun
         a. For despite one's wisdom, knowledge and skill, one's
            heritage must be left to one who has not labored for it
         b. This he concluded was vanity and a great evil
         c. In the end, all one had as a result of his labor and the
            striving of his heart:
            1) Sorrowful days, restless nights
            2) Grievous works, leading to vanity

III. THE PREACHER'S CONCLUSION FROM HIS SEARCH (24-26)

   A. MAN SHOULD ENJOY THE GOOD IN HIS LABOR (24a)
      1. There is nothing better
      2. Than to eat, drink, and to enjoy good in one's labor

   B. THE ABILITY TO ENJOY IS A GIFT FROM GOD (24b-26)
      1. He saw that this was a gift from God
      2. For no one can truly enjoy life without God (cf. footnote,
         NIV, NASB)
         a. To those good in His sight, God gives wisdom, knowledge,
            and joy
         b. To the sinner, God gives the work of gathering and 
            collecting
            1) To give to the one who is good before God
            2) For the sinner, his work becomes vanity and grasping for
               the wind

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - The Preacher's search for meaning (1-10)
   - The Preacher's reflection upon his search (11-23)
   - The Preacher's conclusion from his search (24-26)

2) In his search, what sort of things did the Preacher explore? (1-3)
   - Mirth and pleasure
   - Wine and folly

3) What guided his heart during the course of his search? (3)
   - Wisdom (perhaps that given the Preacher by God?)

4) What things did he accumulate during his search? (4-8)
   - Houses and vineyards
   - Gardens and orchards
   - Fruit trees and water pools to water them
   - Male and female servants, along with servants born in his house
   - Herds and flocks
   - Silver, gold, special treasures
   - Male and female singers, musical instruments of all kinds

5) How great did he become?  What stayed with him? (9)
   - Greater than all who were in Jerusalem before him
   - His wisdom

6) What did he get? (10)
   - Whatever his eyes desired, any pleasure his heart wanted

7) What was his reaction to this great accumulation of wealth? (10-11)
   - He rejoiced in his labor
   - But looking back on his works, he found them vanity and grasping
     for wind, with no profit under the sun

8) What conclusions were drawn about the value of wisdom and folly?
   (12-16)
   - Wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness
   - Yet death comes to them both, and they are soon forgotten

9) What did this reflection lead him to do?  Why? (17)
   - Hate life
   - Because all work under the sun was grievous, vanity, and grasping
     for wind

10) What else caused him to hate his labor? (18)
   - The thought that he must leave it to one who comes after him

11) Why did this trouble him? (19-21)
   - For the one who receives his inheritance gained through wisdom,
     knowledge and skill might prove to be a fool

12) What did he conclude was the result of one's labor, striving, and
    toil for things under the sun? (22-23)
   - Sorrowful days, restless nights
   - Grievous work, leading to vanity

13) What did he say was the best man could achieve? (24)
   - To eat and drink, and enjoy good in his labor

14) But who was capable of achieving this? (24-26)
   - The one who was good in God's sight, to whom God gave wisdom,
     knowledge, and joy

15) What did the sinner receive?  For what purpose? (26)
   - The task of gathering and collecting
   - To give to him who was good before God

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2015

 

"THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES" Chapter Three by Mark Copeland

                       "THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES"

                             Chapter Three

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To reflect upon the Preacher's observations gleaned from his search
   for the purpose of life under the sun

2) To understand why God's ways are sometimes inexplicable, and why
   injustice along with wickedness are allowed to exist

3) To be reminded as to what is best for man to do in life under the
   sun

SUMMARY

In the first two chapters, the Preacher described the extent of his 
search for the purpose of life under the sun.  In this chapter, and the
three to follow, he shares observations gleaned during the course of
his search.

In a well-known passage, we are told that to everything there is a
season, a time for every purpose under heaven.  The Preacher has seen
that God has given man the task to seek out God's purpose by putting 
eternity in man's heart.  But then he also saw that no one is able to
find out what God does from beginning to end, and no one can change
what He decides to do.  Why does God act this way?  Why are His
purposes often incomprehensible?  The Preacher offers that God does
this so man might fear before Him, seeing that God will require an 
account for what is done.  This prompts the Preacher to state again 
(cf. 2:24-26) what he believes is the best one can do:  to rejoice, do
good, to eat and drink, enjoying the good in their labor.  This he
concludes is the gift of God (1-15).

Next he describes what he saw "under the sun".  In places were there
should have been judgment and righteousness, he saw wickedness and 
iniquity!  Why does God allow it?  He reasoned in his heart that God 
will judge the righteous and wicked, and that there must be a time for
every purpose and for every work.  He told himself that God tests men,
to help them see that they are little different from beasts.  Both man 
and beasts die, and both return to the dust.  From a purely earthly 
perspective, there is no advantage of man over beasts, for one cannot 
see whether the spirit of man goes upward (but cf. 12:7) while the
spirit of animals goes downward to the earth.  This led him to the 
perception stated once again (cf. 2:24-26; 3:12-13), that it is best
for a man to rejoice in his works.  This is man's heritage, for who can
bring one (back) to see what will happen (on the earth) after him 
(16-22)?

OUTLINE

I. THE INEXPLICABLE PURPOSE OF GOD (3:1-15)

   A. A TIME FOR EVERY PURPOSE (1-8)
      1. To everything there is a season
      2. A time for every purpose under heaven
         a. A time to be born, and a time to die
         b. A time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted
         c. A time to kill, and a time to heal
         d. A time to break down, and a time to build up
         e. A time to weep, and a time to laugh
         f. A time to mourn, and a time to dance
         g. A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones
         h. A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing
         i. A time to gain, and a time to lose
         j. A time to keep, and a time to throw away
         k. A time to tear, and a time to sew
         l. A time to keep silence, and a time to speak
         m. A time to love, and a time to hate
         n. A time of war, and a time of peace

   B. MAN'S INABILITY TO FIND OUT GOD'S PURPOSE (9-15)
      1. God has put it in man to seek out what he cannot find
         a. Again, the Preacher asks what profit there is in one's
            labor
         b. He sees that God has:
            1) Given man the task with which to be occupied
            2) Made everything beautiful in its time
            3) Put eternity in man's heart
         c. Yet no one can find the work that God does from beginning
            to end
      2. What the Preacher concludes is best for people to do
         a. Rejoice, and do good in their lives
         b. Eat, drink, and enjoy the good of all their labor
         c. It is the gift of God (cf. 2:24-26)
      3. What the Preacher offers as God's reason for the way He works
         a. He knows that what God does, man cannot change
         b. God acts the way He does, that men should fear before Him
         c. For God requires an account of what is past (done)

II. THE INJUSTICE AND WICKEDNESS OF MEN (3:16-22)

   A. WHAT THE PREACHER SAW (16)
      1. In the place of judgment, there was wickedness
      2. In the place of righteousness, there was iniquity

   B. WHAT THE PREACHER REASONED (17-21)
      1. God will judge the righteous and the wicked
      2. There must be a time for every purpose and for every work
      3. God evidently allows injustice to test the hearts of men
         a. That they may see that they are like beasts
         b. That what happens to beasts will happen to them
            1) As one dies, so dies the other
            2) Man has no advantage over beasts
            3) All return to the dust
         c. Who knows that the spirit of man goes upward, and the
            spirit of the beast goes downward?

   C. WHAT THE PREACHER CONCLUDED (22)
      1. There is nothing better than rejoicing in one's own works,
         which is his heritage
      2. For who can bring man to see what will happen after him?

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - The inexplicable purpose of God (1-15)
   - The injustice and wickedness of men (16-22)

2) What does the preacher say about everything under heaven? (1)
   - There is a season, a time for every purpose

3) List some examples of how he illustrates "a time for every purpose"
   (2-8)
   - A time to be born, and a time to die
   - A time to weep, and a time to laugh
   - A time to keep silence, and a time to speak
   - A time of war, and a time of peace

4) What question does the Preacher restate? (9, cf. 1:3)
   - What profit has the worker from that in which he labors?

5) What four things has he seen? (10-11)
   - The God-given task with which the sons of mean are to be occupied
     (cf. 1:13)
   - God has made everything beautiful in its time
   - God has put eternity in man's heart
   - No one can find out the work God has done from beginning to end

6) What does the Preacher conclude is best for people to do?   Why?
   (12-13)
   - Rejoice, and do good in their lives
   - Eat, drink, and enjoy the good of all their labor
   - It is the gift of God (cf. 2:24-26)

7) Why has God made what He does unchangeable? (14)
   - That men should fear before Him

8) What will God require? (15)
   - An account of what is past

9) As the Preacher looked in places where there should have been
   judgment and righteousness, what did he see? (16)
   - Wickedness and iniquity

10) What did he reason in his heart about this? (17)
   - God shall judge the righteous and the wicked
   - There shall be a time for every purpose and for every work

11) What did he tell himself was the reason God allowed such things?
    (18)
   - God tests men, that they may see that they are like beasts

12) What does man have in common with beasts? (19-20)
   - They both die
   - They both return to the dust

13) What is different between man and beast? (21)
   - The spirit of man goes upward  (cf. 12:7)
   - The spirit of the beast goes down to the earth

14) What did the Preacher perceive was best for man to do?  Why? (22)
   - To rejoice in his own works, for that is his heritage
   - Who can bring him to see what will happen after him?

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2015

 

Covenant by Allan Turner

http://allanturner.com/covenant.html

Covenant

by Allan Turner

The concept of covenant is significant in business, social, political, and religious relations. According to Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary, "covenant" is "1: a formal, solemn, and binding agreement: Compact 2a: a written agreement or promise usually under seal between two or more parties especially for the performance of some action." A covenant then is a binding agreement between individuals or groups of individuals. This is the meaning of the word as it was used in the case of Isaac and Abimelech (Genesis 26:28ff.), and Laben and Jacob (Genesis 31:44). The main object of such early agreements was the promotion of peace. In fact, the Scriptures refer to just such cases as "covenant[s] of peace" (Numbers 25:12; Isaiah 54:10). The word "covenant," as it developed, actually became equivalent to peace. Convesely, a "broken covenant" symbolized war (I Kings 15: 19).

Although covenants were made for mutual support and protection (II Samuel 3:12, 13), the fulfillment of common obligations to third parties (II Kings 11:17), and even in submission to a superior enemy, which obligated both parties (I Samuel 11:1; I Kings 20:34), it is the covenant between kings and their subjects that we wish to give special attention in this study. Duties, obligations, or services required of subjects by a sovereign were the special concern of a covenant called "a suzurainity." Understanding this is the key to understanding the use of the word covenant in the Bible. The suzurainity addresses the relationship between God and His people.

Religion And Covenant

"Religion" literally means the bond that unites man to God. This is exactly the biblical concept. Religion is constantly represented as the observance of a covenant with God (Deuteronomy 29:12; Jeremiah 31:1,31,33). Those in a covenant relationship with God are described as being at peace with Him. Those who are not in a covenant relationship with God are portrayed as being at war with Him. As long as the Jews practiced true religion under the covenant made at Sinai, they were to receive the blessings of God, but if they broke it they were to be cursed (Deuteronomy 11:28-32; 30:10,15,19).

Breaking Covenant

Although the covenant Jehovah made with Israel was described as "perpetual" and "everlasting," we understand these adjectives to be representative of what could have been. As long as the conditions of the covenant were met, the covenant would be in force. The covenant's perpetualness or everlastingness could only be destroyed by a breach of the covenant. Historically, the everlasting covenant Jehovah made with Israel was broken. Because we already know the integrity of God would not allow Him to violate His part of the covenant, we realize it must have been broken by Israel (Deuteronomy 31:16,17,20; Isaiah 24:5,6). In Hebrews 8:7 & 8, the Hebrew writer wrote: "For if that first covenant had been faultless, then no place would have been sought for a second. Because finding fault with them [God said he would make a new covenant]." By breaking the everlasting covenant, Israel declared itself to be at war with God. The fact that He continued to honor His end of the covenant, as much as He could under the hostile conditions that existed under the violated covenant, is only indicative of His integrity. Israel rejected the sovereignty of God and had to pay the penalty for being at war with Him. The destruction of the Jewish nation was not a pretty sight, but it was a fate that nation had brought upon itself by breaking the covenant and declaring war on God.

A New Covenant

In the midst of the hostilities between Israel and God, the Lord announced His plans for a "new covenant" (Jeremiah 31:31-34). As a manifestation of His great love, this new covenant was to be an even better covenant" with "better promises" (Hebrews 8:6). To insure its success, the mediator of this covenant would be none other than the Son of God Himself. In the end, no mediator ever gave more to insure any treaty (Romans 5:6-10). It was through this new covenant that those of us who where alienated and enemies could be reconciled to God (Colossians 1:21-23). But notice that even under this new covenant there were conditions that had to be met. We can continue to be reconciled by this new covenant so long as we "continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel" (verse 23). Under this new covenant, we can never fall from grace or the promised blessings of God if we add to our faith certain prescribed things (II Peter 1:10). Under this new covenant, we will continue to be cleansed by the blood of Christ if we continue walking in the light (I John 1:7). This walking in the light is conditioned upon our confessing our sins (I John 1:9). We must never forget the conditions of this "peace" that now exists between God and His people through the New Testament or Covenant.

A Sealed Covenant

It was, and still is, the practice of sovereigns to place their seal upon a written covenant or treaty. In addition, parties of a covenant were often required to provide something of value to prove their sincerity. This "proof" was called the "earnest." As we are the "epistle[s] of Christ" (II Corinthians 3:3), it should not surprise us that the Holy Spirit is given to each Christian (cf. Acts 5:32; Galatians 4:6) as a seal or earnest of God's willingness to carry out His part of the covenant (Ephesians 1:13; 4:30). Some have erroneously thought that because we are sealed it is impossible for us to be eternally lost. This is the same idea Israel had under the Old Covenant (Isaiah 59:1-2). They had fallen from God's grace and instead of blaming themselves, they wanted to blame God. This is exactly analogous to those who preach "once saved, always saved" today. Instead of placing the blame for "falling from grace" on themselves, they want to blame it on God. These people need to understand that although God gave His Spirit to Saul (I Samuel 10:10), when Saul disobeyed Him, God took His Spirit back (I Samuel 28:15,16).

As we walk circumspectly in this New Covenant today, let us not forget that if we are to continue to be at peace with God, then there are conditions to be met.

Generational disconnect by Gary Rose

I saw a posting on facebook today that conveyed this thought, but had to correct the grammar.  A few years a co-worker of mine at CVS told me he couldn't read cursive and I was amazed because he was a high school graduate. At that time, I learned that schools don't teach it anymore. I understand cost cutting, but to produce citizens that can not even write their own name seems utterly foolish to me. But, then again, so is producing a generation that is trained NOT to believe in God!!!  

I am reminded of the patriarch Job, who suffered many things, but in the process learned valuable lessons about both himself and about God Almighty.

Job, Chapter 42 (WEB)

 ¹ Then Job answered Yahweh, 

  ² “I know that you can do all things,

and that no purpose of yours can be restrained.

  ³ You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’

therefore I have uttered that which I did not understand,

things too wonderful for me, which I didn’t know. (emp. added GDR)

  ⁴ You said, ‘Listen, now, and I will speak;

I will question you, and you will answer me.’

  ⁵ I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,

but now my eye sees you.

  ⁶ Therefore I abhor myself,

and repent in dust and ashes.”

Being able to read and write English is part of the educational process and without being able to read and write in cursive causes a divide between the older and younger generations. This is foolishness, for America's founding fathers crafted our constitution and declaration of independence with great wisdom and penned it in the beauty of some of the most elegant script you will ever see. And as for the Bible- well, the prose and poetry of the King James Version of the Holy Scriptures is truly awesome; both are worthy of study and will enrich life greatly.

Bible Reading May 21, 22 by Gary Rose

Bible Reading 

May 21, 22

The World English Bible

May 21

Joshua 23, 24

Jos 23:1 It happened after many days, when Yahweh had given rest to Israel from their enemies all around, and Joshua was old and well advanced in years,

Jos 23:2 that Joshua called for all Israel, for their elders and for their heads, and for their judges and for their officers, and said to them, "I am old and well advanced in years.

Jos 23:3 You have seen all that Yahweh your God has done to all these nations because of you; for it is Yahweh your God who has fought for you.

Jos 23:4 Behold, I have allotted to you these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from the Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even to the great sea toward the going down of the sun.

Jos 23:5 Yahweh your God will thrust them out from before you, and drive them from outMay 21

Joshua 23, 24

Jos 23:1 It happened after many days, when Yahweh had given rest to Israel from their enemies all around, and Joshua was old and well advanced in years,

Jos 23:2 that Joshua called for all Israel, for their elders and for their heads, and for their judges and for their officers, and said to them, "I am old and well advanced in years.

Jos 23:3 You have seen all that Yahweh your God has done to all these nations because of you; for it is Yahweh your God who has fought for you.

Jos 23:4 Behold, I have allotted to you these nations that remain, to be an inheritance for your tribes, from the Jordan, with all the nations that I have cut off, even to the great sea toward the going down of the sun.

Jos 23:5 Yahweh your God will thrust them out from before you, and drive them from out of your sight. You shall possess their land, as Yahweh your God spoke to you.

Jos 23:6 Therefore be very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that you not turn aside from it to the right hand or to the left;

Jos 23:7 that you not come among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow down yourselves to them;

Jos 23:8 but hold fast to Yahweh your God, as you have done to this day.

Jos 23:9 For Yahweh has driven great and strong nations out from before you. But as for you, no man has stood before you to this day.

Jos 23:10 One man of you shall chase a thousand; for it is Yahweh your God who fights for you, as he spoke to you.

Jos 23:11 Take good heed therefore to yourselves, that you love Yahweh your God.

Jos 23:12 Else if you do at all go back, and hold fast to the remnant of these nations, even these who remain among you, and make marriages with them, and go in to them, and they to you;

Jos 23:13 know for a certainty that Yahweh your God will no longer drive these nations from out of your sight; but they shall be a snare and a trap to you, a scourge in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until you perish from off this good land which Yahweh your God has given you.

Jos 23:14 Behold, today I am going the way of all the earth. You know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which Yahweh your God spoke concerning you. All have happened to you. Not one thing has failed of it.

Jos 23:15 It shall happen that as all the good things have come on you of which Yahweh your God spoke to you, so Yahweh will bring on you all the evil things, until he has destroyed you from off this good land which Yahweh your God has given you,

Jos 23:16 when you disobey the covenant of Yahweh your God, which he commanded you, and go and serve other gods, and bow down yourselves to them. Then the anger of Yahweh will be kindled against you, and you will perish quickly from off the good land which he has given to you."

Jos 24:1 Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem, and called for the elders of Israel, for their heads, for their judges, and for their officers; and they presented themselves before God.

Jos 24:2 Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel, 'Your fathers lived of old time beyond the River, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nahor: and they served other gods.

Jos 24:3 I took your father Abraham from beyond the River, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.

Jos 24:4 I gave to Isaac Jacob and Esau: and I gave to Esau Mount Seir, to possess it. Jacob and his children went down into Egypt.

Jos 24:5 I sent Moses and Aaron, and I plagued Egypt, according to that which I did in its midst: and afterward I brought you out.

Jos 24:6 I brought your fathers out of Egypt: and you came to the sea. The Egyptians pursued after your fathers with chariots and with horsemen to the Red Sea.

Jos 24:7 When they cried out to Yahweh, he put darkness between you and the Egyptians, and brought the sea on them, and covered them; and your eyes saw what I did in Egypt: and you lived in the wilderness many days.

Jos 24:8 I brought you into the land of the Amorites, that lived beyond the Jordan: and they fought with you; and I gave them into your hand. You possessed their land; and I destroyed them from before you.

Jos 24:9 Then Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, arose and fought against Israel. He sent and called Balaam the son of Beor to curse you;

Jos 24:10 but I would not listen to Balaam; therefore he blessed you still. So I delivered you out of his hand.

Jos 24:11 You went over the Jordan, and came to Jericho. The men of Jericho fought against you, the Amorite, the Perizzite, the Canaanite, the Hittite, the Girgashite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite; and I delivered them into your hand.

Jos 24:12 I sent the hornet before you, which drove them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites; not with your sword, nor with your bow.

Jos 24:13 I gave you a land whereon you had not labored, and cities which you didn't build, and you live in them. You eat of vineyards and olive groves which you didn't plant.'

Jos 24:14 Now therefore fear Yahweh, and serve him in sincerity and in truth. Put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, in Egypt; and serve Yahweh.

Jos 24:15 If it seems evil to you to serve Yahweh, choose this day whom you will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve Yahweh."

Jos 24:16 The people answered, "Far be it from us that we should forsake Yahweh, to serve other gods;

Jos 24:17 for it is Yahweh our God who brought us and our fathers up out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage, and who did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way in which we went, and among all the peoples through the midst of whom we passed.

Jos 24:18 Yahweh drove out from before us all the peoples, even the Amorites who lived in the land. Therefore we also will serve Yahweh; for he is our God."

Jos 24:19 Joshua said to the people, "You can't serve Yahweh; for he is a holy God. He is a jealous God. He will not forgive your disobedience nor your sins.

Jos 24:20 If you forsake Yahweh, and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you evil, and consume you, after he has done you good."

Jos 24:21 The people said to Joshua, "No; but we will serve Yahweh."

Jos 24:22 Joshua said to the people, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen Yahweh yourselves, to serve him." They said, "We are witnesses."

Jos 24:23 "Now therefore put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to Yahweh, the God of Israel."

Jos 24:24 The people said to Joshua, "We will serve Yahweh our God, and we will listen to his voice."

Jos 24:25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made for them a statute and an ordinance in Shechem.

Jos 24:26 Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God; and he took a great stone, and set it up there under the oak that was by the sanctuary of Yahweh.

Jos 24:27 Joshua said to all the people, "Behold, this stone shall be a witness against us; for it has heard all the words of Yahweh which he spoke to us. It shall be therefore a witness against you, lest you deny your God."  

Jos 24:28 So Joshua sent the people away, every man to his inheritance.

Jos 24:29 It happened after these things, that Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Yahweh, died, being one hundred and ten years old.

Jos 24:30 They buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnathserah, which is in the hill country of Ephraim, on the north of the mountain of Gaash.

Jos 24:31 Israel served Yahweh all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, and had known all the work of Yahweh, that he had worked for Israel.

Jos 24:32 They buried the bones of Joseph, which the children of Israel brought up out of Egypt, in Shechem, in the parcel of ground which Jacob bought of the sons of Hamor the father of Shechem for a hundred pieces of money. They became the inheritance of the children of Joseph.  

Jos 24:33 Eleazar the son of Aaron died. They buried him in the hill of Phinehas his son, which was given him in the hill country of Ephraim.

May 22

Judges 1, 2

Jdg 1:1 It happened after the death of Joshua, the children of Israel asked of Yahweh, saying, Who shall go up for us first against the Canaanites, to fight against them?

Jdg 1:2 Yahweh said, Judah shall go up: behold, I have delivered the land into his hand.

Jdg 1:3 Judah said to Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and I likewise will go with you into your lot. So Simeon went with him.

Jdg 1:4 Judah went up; and Yahweh delivered the Canaanites and the Perizzites into their hand: and they struck of them in Bezek ten thousand men.

Jdg 1:5 They found Adoni-Bezek in Bezek; and they fought against him, and they struck the Canaanites and the Perizzites.

Jdg 1:6 But Adoni-Bezek fled; and they pursued after him, and caught him, and cut off his thumbs and his great toes.

Jdg 1:7 Adoni-Bezek said, "Seventy kings, having their thumbs and their great toes cut off, gathered their food under my table: as I have done, so God has requited me." They brought him to Jerusalem, and he died there.

Jdg 1:8 The children of Judah fought against Jerusalem, and took it, and struck it with the edge of the sword, and set the city on fire.

Jdg 1:9 Afterward the children of Judah went down to fight against the Canaanites who lived in the hill country, and in the South, and in the lowland.

Jdg 1:10 Judah went against the Canaanites who lived in Hebron (now the name of Hebron before was Kiriath Arba); and they struck Sheshai, and Ahiman, and Talmai.

Jdg 1:11 From there he went against the inhabitants of Debir. (Now the name of Debir before was Kiriath Sepher.)

Jdg 1:12 Caleb said, He who strikes Kiriath Sepher, and takes it, to him will I give Achsah my daughter as wife.

Jdg 1:13 Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, took it: and he gave him Achsah his daughter as wife.

Jdg 1:14 It happened, when she came to him, that she moved him to ask of her father a field: and she alighted from off her donkey; and Caleb said to her, What would you like?

Jdg 1:15 She said to him, Give me a blessing; for that you have set me in the land of the South, give me also springs of water. Caleb gave her the upper springs and the lower springs.

Jdg 1:16 The children of the Kenite, Moses' brother-in-law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which is in the south of Arad; and they went and lived with the people.

Jdg 1:17 Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they struck the Canaanites who inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. The name of the city was called Hormah.

Jdg 1:18 Also Judah took Gaza with its border, and Ashkelon with its border, and Ekron with its border.

Jdg 1:19 Yahweh was with Judah; and drove out the inhabitants of the hill country; for he could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron.

Jdg 1:20 They gave Hebron to Caleb, as Moses had spoken: and he drove out there the three sons of Anak.

Jdg 1:21 The children of Benjamin did not drive out the Jebusites who inhabited Jerusalem; but the Jebusites dwell with the children of Benjamin in Jerusalem to this day.

Jdg 1:22 The house of Joseph, they also went up against Bethel; and Yahweh was with them.

Jdg 1:23 The house of Joseph sent to spy out Bethel. (Now the name of the city before was Luz.)

Jdg 1:24 The watchers saw a man come forth out of the city, and they said to him, Show us, we pray you, the entrance into the city, and we will deal kindly with you.

Jdg 1:25 He showed them the entrance into the city; and they struck the city with the edge of the sword; but they let the man go and all his family.

Jdg 1:26 The man went into the land of the Hittites, and built a city, and called its name Luz, which is its name to this day.

Jdg 1:27 Manasseh did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shean and its towns, nor of Taanach and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Dor and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Ibleam and its towns, nor the inhabitants of Megiddo and its towns; but the Canaanites would dwell in that land.

Jdg 1:28 It happened, when Israel had grown strong, that they put the Canaanites to forced labor, and did not utterly drive them out.

Jdg 1:29 Ephraim didn't drive out the Canaanites who lived in Gezer; but the Canaanites lived in Gezer among them.

Jdg 1:30 Zebulun didn't drive out the inhabitants of Kitron, nor the inhabitants of Nahalol; but the Canaanites lived among them, and became subject to forced labor.

Jdg 1:31 Asher didn't drive out the inhabitants of Acco, nor the inhabitants of Sidon, nor of Ahlab, nor of Achzib, nor of Helbah, nor of Aphik, nor of Rehob;

Jdg 1:32 but the Asherites lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land; for they did not drive them out.

Jdg 1:33 Naphtali didn't drive out the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh, nor the inhabitants of Beth Anath; but he lived among the Canaanites, the inhabitants of the land: nevertheless the inhabitants of Beth Shemesh and of Beth Anath became subject to forced labor.

Jdg 1:34 The Amorites forced the children of Dan into the hill country; for they would not allow them to come down to the valley;

Jdg 1:35 but the Amorites would dwell in Mount Heres, in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim: yet the hand of the house of Joseph prevailed, so that they became subject to forced labor.

Jdg 1:36 The border of the Amorites was from the ascent of Akrabbim, from the rock, and upward.

Jdg 2:1 The angel of Yahweh came up from Gilgal to Bochim. He said, I made you to go up out of Egypt, and have brought you to the land which I swore to your fathers; and I said, I will never break my covenant with you:

Jdg 2:2 and you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall break down their altars. But you have not listened to my voice: why have you done this?

Jdg 2:3 Therefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you.

Jdg 2:4 It happened, when the angel of Yahweh spoke these words to all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.

Jdg 2:5 They called the name of that place Bochim: and they sacrificed there to Yahweh.

Jdg 2:6 Now when Joshua had sent the people away, the children of Israel went every man to his inheritance to possess the land.

Jdg 2:7 The people served Yahweh all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of Yahweh that he had worked for Israel.

Jdg 2:8 Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of Yahweh, died, being one hundred ten years old.

Jdg 2:9 They buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath Heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, on the north of the mountain of Gaash.

Jdg 2:10 Also all that generation were gathered to their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, who didn't know Yahweh, nor yet the work which he had worked for Israel.

Jdg 2:11 The children of Israel did that which was evil in the sight of Yahweh, and served the Baals;

Jdg 2:12 and they forsook Yahweh, the God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed themselves down to them: and they provoked Yahweh to anger.

Jdg 2:13 They forsook Yahweh, and served Baal and the Ashtaroth.

Jdg 2:14 The anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel, and he delivered them into the hands of spoilers who despoiled them; and he sold them into the hands of their enemies all around, so that they could not any longer stand before their enemies.

Jdg 2:15 Wherever they went out, the hand of Yahweh was against them for evil, as Yahweh had spoken, and as Yahweh had sworn to them: and they were sore distressed.

Jdg 2:16 Yahweh raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who despoiled them.

Jdg 2:17 Yet they didn't listen to their judges; for they played the prostitute after other gods, and bowed themselves down to them: they turned aside quickly out of the way in which their fathers walked, obeying the commandments of Yahweh; but they didn't do so.

Jdg 2:18 When Yahweh raised them up judges, then Yahweh was with the judge, and saved them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it grieved Yahweh because of their groaning by reason of those who oppressed them and troubled them.

Jdg 2:19 But it happened, when the judge was dead, that they turned back, and dealt more corruptly than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down to them; they didn't cease from their doings, nor from their stubborn way.

Jdg 2:20 The anger of Yahweh was kindled against Israel; and he said, Because this nation have transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not listened to my voice;

Jdg 2:21 I also will not henceforth drive out any from before them of the nations that Joshua left when he died;

Jdg 2:22 that by them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of Yahweh to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.

Jdg 2:23 So Yahweh left those nations, without driving them out hastily; neither delivered he them into the hand of Joshua.

May 20, 21

John 3

Joh 3:1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.

Joh 3:2 The same came to him by night, and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him."

Joh 3:3 Jesus answered him, "Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew, he can't see the Kingdom of God."

Joh 3:4 Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb, and be born?"

Joh 3:5 Jesus answered, "Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can't enter into the Kingdom of God!

Joh 3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Joh 3:7 Don't marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born anew.'

Joh 3:8 The wind blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but don't know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit."

Joh 3:9 Nicodemus answered him, "How can these things be?"

Joh 3:10 Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel, and don't understand these things?

Joh 3:11 Most certainly I tell you, we speak that which we know, and testify of that which we have seen, and you don't receive our witness.

Joh 3:12 If I told you earthly things and you don't believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?

Joh 3:13 No one has ascended into heaven, but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven.

Joh 3:14 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

Joh 3:15 that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Joh 3:17 For God didn't send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him.

Joh 3:18 He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn't believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.

Joh 3:19 This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil.

Joh 3:20 For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn't come to the light, lest his works would be exposed.

Joh 3:21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God."

Joh 3:22 After these things, Jesus came with his disciples into the land of Judea. He stayed there with them, and baptized.

Joh 3:23 John also was baptizing in Enon near Salim, because there was much water there. They came, and were baptized.

Joh 3:24 For John was not yet thrown into prison.

Joh 3:25 There arose therefore a questioning on the part of John's disciples with some Jews about purification.

Joh 3:26 They came to John, and said to him, "Rabbi, he who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, the same baptizes, and everyone is coming to him."

Joh 3:27 John answered, "A man can receive nothing, unless it has been given him from heaven.

Joh 3:28 You yourselves testify that I said, 'I am not the Christ,' but, 'I have been sent before him.'

Joh 3:29 He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. This, my joy, therefore is made full.

Joh 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease.

Joh 3:31 He who comes from above is above all. He who is from the Earth belongs to the Earth, and speaks of the Earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.

Joh 3:32 What he has seen and heard, of that he testifies; and no one receives his witness.

Joh 3:33 He who has received his witness has set his seal to this, that God is true.

Joh 3:34 For he whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for God gives the Spirit without measure.

Joh 3:35 The Father loves the Son, and has given all things into his hand.

Joh 3:36 One who believes in the Son has eternal life, but one who disobeys the Son won't see life, but the wrath of God remains on him."

May 22, 23

John 4

Joh 4:1 Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John

Joh 4:2 (although Jesus himself didn't baptize, but his disciples),

Joh 4:3 he left Judea, and departed into Galilee.

Joh 4:4 He needed to pass through Samaria.

Joh 4:5 So he came to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son, Joseph.

Joh 4:6 Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being tired from his journey, sat down by the well. It was about the sixth hour.

Joh 4:7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, "Give me a drink."

Joh 4:8 For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.

Joh 4:9 The Samaritan woman therefore said to him, "How is it that you, being a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?" (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)

Joh 4:10 Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, 'Give me a drink,' you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water."

Joh 4:11 The woman said to him, "Sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. From where then have you that living water?

Joh 4:12 Are you greater than our father, Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself, as did his children, and his livestock?"

Joh 4:13 Jesus answered her, "Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again,

Joh 4:14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never thirst again; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life."

Joh 4:15 The woman said to him, "Sir, give me this water, so that I don't get thirsty, neither come all the way here to draw."

Joh 4:16 Jesus said to her, "Go, call your husband, and come here."

Joh 4:17 The woman answered, "I have no husband." Jesus said to her, "You said well, 'I have no husband,'

Joh 4:18 for you have had five husbands; and he whom you now have is not your husband. This you have said truly."

Joh 4:19 The woman said to him, "Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet.

Joh 4:20 Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you Jews say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship."

Joh 4:21 Jesus said to her, "Woman, believe me, the hour comes, when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, will you worship the Father.

Joh 4:22 You worship that which you don't know. We worship that which we know; for salvation is from the Jews.

Joh 4:23 But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such to be his worshippers.

Joh 4:24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."

Joh 4:25 The woman said to him, "I know that Messiah comes," (he who is called Christ). "When he has come, he will declare to us all things."

Joh 4:26 Jesus said to her, "I am he, the one who speaks to you."

Joh 4:27 At this, his disciples came. They marveled that he was speaking with a woman; yet no one said, "What are you looking for?" or, "Why do you speak with her?"

Joh 4:28 So the woman left her water pot, and went away into the city, and said to the people,

Joh 4:29 "Come, see a man who told me everything that I did. Can this be the Christ?"

Joh 4:30 They went out of the city, and were coming to him.

Joh 4:31 In the meanwhile, the disciples urged him, saying, "Rabbi, eat."

Joh 4:32 But he said to them, "I have food to eat that you don't know about."

Joh 4:33 The disciples therefore said one to another, "Has anyone brought him something to eat?"

Joh 4:34 Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me, and to accomplish his work.

Joh 4:35 Don't you say, 'There are yet four months until the harvest?' Behold, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and look at the fields, that they are white for harvest already.

Joh 4:36 He who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit to eternal life; that both he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.

Joh 4:37 For in this the saying is true, 'One sows, and another reaps.'

Joh 4:38 I sent you to reap that for which you haven't labored. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor."

Joh 4:39 From that city many of the Samaritans believed in him because of the word of the woman, who testified, "He told me everything that I did."

Joh 4:40 So when the Samaritans came to him, they begged him to stay with them. He stayed there two days.

Joh 4:41 Many more believed because of his word.

Joh 4:42 They said to the woman, "Now we believe, not because of your speaking; for we have heard for ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world."

Joh 4:43 After the two days he went out from there and went into Galilee.

Joh 4:44 For Jesus himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.

Joh 4:45 So when he came into Galilee, the Galileans received him, having seen all the things that he did in Jerusalem at the feast, for they also went to the feast.

Joh 4:46 Jesus came therefore again to Cana of Galilee, where he made the water into wine. There was a certain nobleman whose son was sick at Capernaum.

Joh 4:47 When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to him, and begged him that he would come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.

Joh 4:48 Jesus therefore said to him, "Unless you see signs and wonders, you will in no way believe."

Joh 4:49 The nobleman said to him, "Sir, come down before my child dies."

Joh 4:50 Jesus said to him, "Go your way. Your son lives." The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way.

Joh 4:51 As he was now going down, his servants met him and reported, saying "Your child lives!"

Joh 4:52 So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. They said therefore to him, "Yesterday at the seventh hour, the fever left him."

Joh 4:53 So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, "Your son lives." He believed, as did his whole house.

Joh 4:54 This is again the second sign that Jesus did, having come out of Judea into Galilee.