Select: First Reading Second Reading Bible Background
First Reading: Jeremiah Chapter 49 and 50Jeremiah 49
49:1 Concerning the Ammonites:
This is what the LORD says:
"Has Israel no sons?Has she no heirs?Why then has Molech taken possession
of Gad?Why do his people live in its towns? 2 But the days are coming,"declares
the LORD,"when I will sound the battle cry against Rabbah of the Ammonites;it
will become a mound of ruins,and its surrounding villages will be set on fire.Then
Israel will drive out those who drove her out," says the LORD. 3 "Wail,
O Heshbon, for Ai is destroyed!Cry out, O inhabitants of Rabbah!Put on sackcloth
and mourn;rush here and there inside the walls,for Molech will go into exile,together
with his priests and officials. 4 Why do you boast of your valleys,boast of
your valleys so fruitful?O unfaithful daughter,you trust in your riches and
say,'Who will attack me?' 5 I will bring terror on you from all those around
you," declares the Lord, the LORD Almighty."Every one of you will
be driven away,and no one will gather the fugitives.
6 "Yet afterward, I will restore the fortunes of the Ammonites," declares
the LORD.
7 Concerning Edom:
This is what the LORD Almighty says:
"Is there no longer wisdom in Teman?Has counsel perished from the prudent?Has
their wisdom decayed? 8 Turn and flee, hide in deep caves,you who live in Dedan,for
I will bring disaster on Esau at the time I punish him. 9 If grape pickers came
to you,would they not leave a few grapes?If thieves came during the night,would
they not steal only as much as they wanted? 10 But I will strip Esau bare;I
will uncover his hiding places,so that he cannot conceal himself.His children,
relatives and neighbors will perish,and he will be no more. 11 Leave your orphans;
I will protect their lives.Your widows too can trust in me."
12 This is what the LORD says: "If those who do not deserve to drink the
cup must drink it, why should you go unpunished? You will not go unpunished,
but must drink it. 13 I swear by myself," declares the LORD, "that
Bozrah will become a ruin and an object of horror, of reproach and of cursing;
and all its towns will be in ruins forever."
14 I have heard a message from the LORD:An envoy was sent to the nations to
say,"Assemble yourselves to attack it!Rise up for battle!"
15 "Now I will make you small among the nations,despised among men. 16
The terror you inspire and the pride of your heart have deceived you,you who
live in the clefts of the rocks,who occupy the heights of the hill.Though you
build your nest as high as the eagle's,from there I will bring you down,"
declares the LORD. 17 "Edom will become an object of horror;all who pass
by will be appalled and will scoff because of all its wounds. 18 As Sodom and
Gomorrah were overthrown,along with their neighboring towns," says the
LORD,"so no one will live there;no man will dwell in it.
19 "Like a lion coming up from Jordan's thickets to a rich pastureland,I
will chase Edom from its land in an instant.Who is the chosen one I will appoint
for this?Who is like me and who can challenge me?And what shepherd can stand
against me?" 20 Therefore, hear what the LORD has planned against Edom,what
he has purposed against those who live in Teman:The young of the flock will
be dragged away;he will completely destroy their pasture because of them. 21
At the sound of their fall the earth will tremble;their cry will resound to
the Red Sea. 22 Look! An eagle will soar and swoop down,spreading its wings
over Bozrah.In that day the hearts of Edom's warriors will be like the heart
of a woman in labor.
23 Concerning Damascus:
"Hamath and Arpad are dismayed,for they have heard bad news.They are disheartened,troubled
like the restless sea. 24 Damascus has become feeble,she has turned to flee
and panic has gripped her;anguish and pain have seized her,pain like that of
a woman in labor. 25 Why has the city of renown not been abandoned,the town
in which I delight? 26 Surely, her young men will fall in the streets;all her
soldiers will be silenced in that day," declares the LORD Almighty. 27
"I will set fire to the walls of Damascus;it will consume the fortresses
of Ben-Hadad."
28 Concerning Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzar king of
Babylon attacked:
This is what the LORD says:
"Arise, and attack Kedar and destroy the people of the East. 29 Their tents
and their flocks will be taken;their shelters will be carried off with all their
goods and camels.Men will shout to them,'Terror on every side!'
30 "Flee quickly away!Stay in deep caves, you who live in Hazor,"
declares the LORD."Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon has plotted against you;he
has devised a plan against you.
31 "Arise and attack a nation at ease,which lives in confidence,"
declares the LORD,"a nation that has neither gates nor bars;its people
live alone. 32 Their camels will become plunder,and their large herds will be
booty.I will scatter to the winds those who are in distant places and will bring
disaster on them from every side," declares the LORD. 33 "Hazor will
become a haunt of jackals,a desolate place forever.No one will live there;no
man will dwell in it."
34 This is the word of the LORD that came to Jeremiah the prophet concerning
Elam, early in the reign of Zedekiah king of Judah:
35 This is what the LORD Almighty says:
"See, I will break the bow of Elam,the mainstay of their might. 36 I will
bring against Elam the four winds from the four quarters of the heavens;I will
scatter them to the four winds,and there will not be a nation where Elam's exiles
do not go. 37 I will shatter Elam before their foes,before those who seek their
lives;I will bring disaster upon them,even my fierce anger," declares the
LORD."I will pursue them with the sword until I have made an end of them.
38 I will set my throne in Elam and destroy her king and officials," declares
the LORD.
39 "Yet I will restore the fortunes of Elam in days to come," declares
the LORD.
Jeremiah 50
50:1 This is the word the LORD spoke through Jeremiah the prophet concerning
Babylon and the land of the Babylonians:
2 "Announce and proclaim among the nations,lift up a banner and proclaim
it;keep nothing back, but say,'Babylon will be captured;Bel will be put to shame,Marduk
filled with terror.Her images will be put to shame and her idols filled with
terror.' 3 A nation from the north will attack her and lay waste her land.No
one will live in it;both men and animals will flee away.
4 "In those days, at that time,"declares the LORD,"the people
of Israel and the people of Judah together will go in tears to seek the LORD
their God. 5 They will ask the way to Zion and turn their faces toward it.They
will come and bind themselves to the LORD in an everlasting covenant that will
not be forgotten.
6 "My people have been lost sheep;their shepherds have led them astray
and caused them to roam on the mountains.They wandered over mountain and hill
and forgot their own resting place. 7 Whoever found them devoured them;their
enemies said, 'We are not guilty,for they sinned against the LORD, their true
pasture,the LORD, the hope of their fathers.'
8 "Flee out of Babylon;leave the land of the Babylonians,and be like the
goats that lead the flock. 9 For I will stir up and bring against Babylon an
alliance of great nations from the land of the north.They will take up their
positions against her,and from the north she will be captured.Their arrows will
be like skilled warriors who do not return empty-handed. 10 So Babylonia will
be plundered;all who plunder her will have their fill," declares the LORD.
11 "Because you rejoice and are glad,you who pillage my inheritance,because
you frolic like a heifer threshing grain and neigh like stallions, 12 your mother
will be greatly ashamed;she who gave you birth will be disgraced.She will be
the least of the nations a wilderness, a dry land, a desert. 13 Because
of the LORD's anger she will not be inhabited but will be completely desolate.All
who pass Babylon will be horrified and scoff because of all her wounds.
14 "Take up your positions around Babylon,all you who draw the bow.Shoot
at her! Spare no arrows,for she has sinned against the LORD. 15 Shout against
her on every side!She surrenders, her towers fall,her walls are torn down.Since
this is the vengeance of the LORD,take vengeance on her;do to her as she has
done to others. 16 Cut off from Babylon the sower,and the reaper with his sickle
at harvest.Because of the sword of the oppressor let everyone return to his
own people,let everyone flee to his own land.
17 "Israel is a scattered flock that lions have chased away.The first to
devour him was the king of Assyria;the last to crush his bones was Nebuchadnezzar
king of Babylon."
18 Therefore this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says:
"I will punish the king of Babylon and his land as I punished the king
of Assyria. 19 But I will bring Israel back to his own pasture and he will graze
on Carmel and Bashan;his appetite will be satisfied on the hills of Ephraim
and Gilead. 20 In those days, at that time,"declares the LORD,"search
will be made for Israel's guilt,but there will be none,and for the sins of Judah,but
none will be found,for I will forgive the remnant I spare.
21 "Attack the land of Merathaim and those who live in Pekod.Pursue, kill
and completely destroy them," declares the LORD."Do everything I have
commanded you. 22 The noise of battle is in the land,the noise of great destruction!
23 How broken and shattered is the hammer of the whole earth!How desolate is
Babylon among the nations! 24 I set a trap for you, O Babylon,and you were caught
before you knew it;you were found and captured because you opposed the LORD.
25 The LORD has opened his arsenal and brought out the weapons of his wrath,for
the Sovereign LORD Almighty has work to do in the land of the Babylonians. 26
Come against her from afar.Break open her granaries;pile her up like heaps of
grain.Completely destroy her and leave her no remnant. 27 Kill all her young
bulls;let them go down to the slaughter!Woe to them! For their day has come,the
time for them to be punished. 28 Listen to the fugitives and refugees from Babylon
declaring in Zion how the LORD our God has taken vengeance,vengeance for his
temple.
29 "Summon archers against Babylon,all those who draw the bow.Encamp all
around her;let no one escape.Repay her for her deeds;do to her as she has done.For
she has defied the LORD,the Holy One of Israel. 30 Therefore, her young men
will fall in the streets;all her soldiers will be silenced in that day,"
declares the LORD. 31 "See, I am against you, O arrogant one,"declares
the Lord, the LORD Almighty,"for your day has come,the time for you to
be punished. 32 The arrogant one will stumble and fall and no one will help
her up;I will kindle a fire in her towns that will consume all who are around
her."
33 This is what the LORD Almighty says:
"The people of Israel are oppressed,and the people of Judah as well.All
their captors hold them fast,refusing to let them go. 34 Yet their Redeemer
is strong;the LORD Almighty is his name.He will vigorously defend their cause
so that he may bring rest to their land,but unrest to those who live in Babylon.
35 "A sword against the Babylonians!"declares the LORD "against
those who live in Babylon and against her officials and wise men! 36 A sword
against her false prophets!They will become fools.A sword against her warriors!They
will be filled with terror. 37 A sword against her horses and chariots and all
the foreigners in her ranks!They will become women.A sword against her treasures!They
will be plundered. 38 A drought on her waters!They will dry up.For it is a land
of idols,idols that will go mad with terror.
39 "So desert creatures and hyenas will live there,and there the owl will
dwell.It will never again be inhabited or lived in from generation to generation.
40 As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah along with their neighboring towns,"
declares the LORD,"so no one will live there;no man will dwell in it.
41 "Look! An army is coming from the north;a great nation and many kings
are being stirred up from the ends of the earth. 42 They are armed with bows
and spears;they are cruel and without mercy.They sound like the roaring sea
as they ride on their horses;they come like men in battle formation to attack
you, O Daughter of Babylon. 43 The king of Babylon has heard reports about them,and
his hands hang limp.Anguish has gripped him,pain like that of a woman in labor.
44 Like a lion coming up from Jordan's thickets to a rich pastureland,I will
chase Babylon from its land in an instant.Who is the chosen one I will appoint
for this?Who is like me and who can challenge me?And what shepherd can stand
against me?" 45 Therefore, hear what the LORD has planned against Babylon,what
he has purposed against the land of the Babylonians:The young of the flock will
be dragged away;he will completely destroy their pasture because of them. 46
At the sound of Babylon's capture the earth will tremble;its cry will resound
among the nations.
2 Peter 2
2:1 But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will
be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies,
even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them-bringing swift destruction on
themselves. 2 Many will follow their shameful ways and will bring the way of
truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with
stories they have made up. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them,
and their destruction has not been sleeping.
4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting
them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; 5 if he did not spare the
ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected
Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others; 6 if he condemned the cities
of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of
what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7 and if he rescued Lot, a righteous
man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men 8(for that righteous
man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by
the lawless deeds he saw and heard)- 9 if this is so, then the Lord knows how
to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment,
while continuing their punishment. 10 This is especially true of those who follow
the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority.
Bold and arrogant, these men are not afraid to slander celestial beings; 11
yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not bring
slanderous accusations against such beings in the presence of the Lord. 12 But
these men blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like brute beasts,
creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like beasts
they too will perish.
13 They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done. Their idea
of pleasure is to carouse in broad daylight. They are blots and blemishes, reveling
in their pleasures while they feast with you. 14 With eyes full of adultery,
they never stop sinning; they seduce the unstable; they are experts in greed-an
accursed brood! 15 They have left the straight way and wandered off to follow
the way of Balaam son of Beor, who loved the wages of wickedness. 16 But he
was rebuked for his wrongdoing by a donkey-a beast without speech-who spoke
with a man's voice and restrained the prophet's madness.
17 These men are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest
darkness is reserved for them. 18 For they mouth empty, boastful words and,
by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature, they entice people
who are just escaping from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom,
while they themselves are slaves of depravity-for a man is a slave to whatever
has mastered him. 20 If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome,
they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21 It would have
been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have
known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed
on to them. 22 Of them the proverbs are true: "A dog returns to its vomit,"
and, "A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud."
BOOKS OF THE BIBLE
II PETER
Peter wrote his second letter to the early churches in 66 A.D. The theme of the letter is true knowledge. The newly formed church was threatened by false teachers and, therefore, Peter exhorts the Christians to be aware of this danger. Peter explains that false teachers had crept in and were secretly subverting the true doctrine of the Gospel:
"Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen." II Peter 3:17-18 (NIV)
Select: First Reading Second Reading Bible Background