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First Reading: Judges Chapter 17 and 18
Judges 17
17:1 Micah's Idolatry
Now there was a man from the mountains of Ephraim, whose name was Micah. 2
And he said to his mother, "The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were
taken from you, and on which you put a curse, even saying it in my ears
here is the silver with me; I took it."
And his mother said,"May you be blessed by the LORD, my son!" 3 So
when he had returned the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, his
mother said, "I had wholly dedicated the silver from my hand to the LORD
for my son, to make a carved image and a molded image; now therefore, I will
return it to you." 4 Thus he returned the silver to his mother. Then his
mother took two hundred shekels of silver and gave them to the silversmith,
and he made it into a carved image and a molded image; and they were in the
house of Micah.
5 The man Micah had a shrine, and made an ephod and household idols; and he
consecrated one of his sons, who became his priest. 6 In those days there was
no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.
7 Now there was a young man from Bethlehem in Judah, of the family of Judah;
he was a Levite, and was staying there. 8 The man departed from the city of
Bethlehem in Judah to stay wherever he could find a place. Then he came to the
mountains of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, as he journeyed. 9 And Micah said
to him, "Where do you come from?"
So he said to him, "I am a Levite from Bethlehem in Judah, and I am on
my way to find a place to stay."
10 Micah said to him, "Dwell with me, and be a father and a priest to me,
and I will give you ten shekels of silver per year, a suit of clothes, and your
sustenance." So the Levite went in. 11 Then the Levite was content to dwell
with the man; and the young man became like one of his sons to him. 12 So Micah
consecrated the Levite, and the young man became his priest, and lived in the
house of Micah. 13 Then Micah said, "Now I know that the LORD will be good
to me, since I have a Levite as priest!"
Judges 18
18:1 The Danites Adopt Micah's Idolatry
In those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days the tribe of the
Danites was seeking an inheritance for itself to dwell in; for until that day
their inheritance among the tribes of Israel had not fallen to them. 2 So the
children of Dan sent five men of their family from their territory, men of valor
from Zorah and Eshtaol, to spy out the land and search it. They said to them,
"Go, search the land." So they went to the mountains of Ephraim, to
the house of Micah, and lodged there. 3 While they were at the house of Micah,
they recognized the voice of the young Levite. They turned aside and said to
him, "Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What do you
have here?"
4 He said to them, "Thus and so Micah did for me. He has hired me, and
I have become his priest."
5 So they said to him, "Please inquire of God, that we may know whether
the journey on which we go will be prosperous."
6 And the priest said to them,"Go in peace. The presence of the LORD be
with you on your way."
7 So the five men departed and went to Laish. They saw the people who were there,
how they dwelt safely, in the manner of the Sidonians, quiet and secure. There
were no rulers in the land who might put them to shame for anything. They were
far from the Sidonians, and they had no ties with anyone.
8 Then the spies came back to their brethren at Zorah and Eshtaol, and their
brethren said to them, "What is your report?"
9 So they said,"Arise, let us go up against them. For we have seen the
land, and indeed it is very good. Would you do nothing? Do not hesitate to go,
and enter to possess the land. 10 When you go, you will come to a secure people
and a large land. For God has given it into your hands, a place where there
is no lack of anything that is on the earth."
11 And six hundred men of the family of the Danites went from there, from Zorah
and Eshtaol, armed with weapons of war. 12 Then they went up and encamped in
Kirjath Jearim in Judah. (Therefore they call that place Mahaneh Dan to this
day. There it is, west of Kirjath Jearim.) 13 And they passed from there to
the mountains of Ephraim, and came to the house of Micah.
14 Then the five men who had gone to spy out the country of Laish answered and
said to their brethren, "Do you know that there are in these houses an
ephod, household idols, a carved image, and a molded image? Now therefore, consider
what you should do." 15 So they turned aside there, and came to the house
of the young Levite man to the house of Micah and greeted him.
16 The six hundred men armed with their weapons of war, who were of the children
of Dan, stood by the entrance of the gate. 17 Then the five men who had gone
to spy out the land went up. Entering there, they took the carved image, the
ephod, the household idols, and the molded image. The priest stood at the entrance
of the gate with the six hundred men who were armed with weapons of war.
18 When these went into Micah's house and took the carved image, the ephod,
the household idols, and the molded image, the priest said to them, "What
are you doing?"
19 And they said to him, "Be quiet, put your hand over your mouth, and
come with us; be a father and a priest to us. Is it better for you to be a priest
to the household of one man, or that you be a priest to a tribe and a family
in Israel?" 20 So the priest's heart was glad; and he took the ephod, the
household idols, and the carved image, and took his place among the people.
21 Then they turned and departed, and put the little ones, the livestock, and
the goods in front of them. 22 When they were a good way from the house of Micah,
the men who were in the houses near Micah's house gathered together and overtook
the children of Dan. 23 And they called out to the children of Dan. So they
turned around and said to Micah,"What ails you, that you have gathered
such a company?"
24 So he said, "You have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest,
and you have gone away. Now what more do I have? How can you say to me, 'What
ails you?'"
25 And the children of Dan said to him, "Do not let your voice be heard
among us, lest angry men fall upon you, and you lose your life, with the lives
of your household!" 26 Then the children of Dan went their way. And when
Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his
house.
27 Danites Settle in Laish
So they took the things Micah had made, and the priest who had belonged to
him, and went to Laish, to a people quiet and secure; and they struck them with
the edge of the sword and burned the city with fire. 28 There was no deliverer,
because it was far from Sidon, and they had no ties with anyone. It was in the
valley that belongs to Beth Rehob. So they rebuilt the city and dwelt there.
29 And they called the name of the city Dan, after the name of Dan their father,
who was born to Israel. However, the name of the city formerly was Laish.
30 Then the children of Dan set up for themselves the carved image; and Jonathan
the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, and his sons were priests to the tribe
of Dan until the day of the captivity of the land. 31 So they set up for themselves
Micah's carved image which he made, all the time that the house of God was in
Shiloh.
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians Chapter 16
1 Corinthians 16
16:1 Collection for the Saints
Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the
churches of Galatia, so you must do also: 2 On the first day of the week let
each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there
be no collections when I come. 3 And when I come, whomever you approve by your
letters I will send to bear your gift to Jerusalem. 4 But if it is fitting that
I go also, they will go with me.
5 Personal Plans
(cf. Acts 19:21)
Now I will come to you when I pass through Macedonia (for I am passing through
Macedonia). 6 And it may be that I will remain, or even spend the winter with
you, that you may send me on my journey, wherever I go. 7 For I do not wish
to see you now on the way; but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord
permits.
8 But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. 9 For a great and effective door
has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
10 And if Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear; for he does
the work of the Lord, as I also do. 11 Therefore let no one despise him. But
send him on his journey in peace, that he may come to me; for I am waiting for
him with the brethren.
12 Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to come to you with
the brethren, but he was quite unwilling to come at this time; however, he will
come when he has a convenient time.
13 Final Exhortations
Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. 14 Let all that you do
be done with love.
15 I urge you, brethren you know the household of Stephanas, that it
is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry
of the saints 16 that you also submit to such, and to everyone who works
and labors with us.
17 I am glad about the coming of Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, for what
was lacking on your part they supplied. 18 For they refreshed my spirit and
yours. Therefore acknowledge such men.
19 Greetings and a Solemn Farewell
The churches of Asia greet you. Aquila and Priscilla greet you heartily in
the Lord, with the church that is in their house. 20 All the brethren greet
you.
Greet one another with a holy kiss.
21 The salutation with my own hand Paul's.
22 If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. O Lord,
come!
23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 24 My love be with you all
in Christ Jesus. Amen.
POETRY IN THE BIBLE
Part 4 of 5
Occasionly recurring stanzas or choruses will be used in Bible poetry. Two examples of this are Psalm 136 and Psalm 42 & 43.
In Psalm 136 (NIV) the phrase "His love endures forever" is repeated in each verse. This is translated as "for his mercy endureth forever" in the King James Version.
In Psalms 42 and 43 verses 42:5, 42:11 & 43:5 have the chorus: "Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."
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