The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Wednesday July 18, 2018 (NIV)

¹² These divisions of the gatekeepers, under their leading men, had duties for ministering in the Lord’s temple, just as their relatives did. ¹³ They cast lots for each temple gate according to their ancestral families, young and old alike.^(A)

¹⁴ The lot for the east gate fell to Shelemiah.^[a] They also cast lots for his son Zechariah, an insightful counselor, and his lot came out for the north gate. ¹⁵ Obed-edom’s was the south gate, and his sons’ lot was for the storehouses; ¹⁶ it was the west gate and the gate of Shallecheth on the ascending highway for Shuppim and Hosah.

There were guards stationed at every watch. ¹⁷ There were six Levites each day^[b] on the east, four each day on the north, four each day on the south, and two pair at the storehouses. ¹⁸ As for the court on the west, there were four at the highway and two at the court. ¹⁹ Those were the divisions of the gatekeepers from the descendants of the Korahites and Merarites.

The Levitical Treasurers and Other Officials

²⁰ From the Levites, Ahijah was in charge of the treasuries of God’s temple and the treasuries of what had been dedicated.^{(B) 21} From the sons of Ladan, who were the descendants of the Gershonites through Ladan and were the family heads belonging to Ladan the Gershonite: Jehieli. ²² The sons of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel, were in charge of the treasuries of the Lord’s temple.

²³ From the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites: ²⁴ Shebuel, a descendant of Moses’s son Gershom, was the officer in charge of the treasuries. ²⁵ His relatives through Eliezer: his son Rehabiah, his son Jeshaiah, his son Joram, his son Zichri, and his son Shelomith.^{[c] 26} This Shelomith and his relatives were in charge of all the treasuries of what had been dedicated by King David,^(C) by the family heads who were the commanders of thousands and of hundreds, and by the army commanders. ²⁷ They dedicated part of the plunder from their battles for the repair of the Lord’s temple. ²⁸ All that the seer Samuel, Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah had dedicated, along with everything else that had been dedicated, were in the care of Shelomith and his relatives.

²⁹ From the Izrahites: Chenaniah and his sons had duties outside the temple^[d](D) as officers and judges^(E) over Israel. ³⁰ From the Hebronites: Hashabiah^(F) and his relatives, 1,700 capable men, had assigned duties in Israel west of the Jordan for all the work of the Lord and for the service of the king. ³¹ From the Hebronites: Jerijah^(G) was the head of the Hebronites, according to the family records of his ancestors. A search was made in the fortieth year of David’s reign and strong, capable men were found among them at Jazer^(H) in Gilead. ³² There were among Jerijah’s relatives 2,700 capable men who were family heads. King David appointed them over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh as overseers in every matter relating to God and the king.^(I)

David’s Secular Officials

27 This is the list of the Israelites, the family heads, the commanders of thousands and the commanders of hundreds, and their officers who served the king in every matter to do with the divisions that were on rotated military duty each month throughout^[e] the year. There were 24,000 in each division:

²³ David didn’t count the men aged twenty or under, for the Lord had said he would make Israel as numerous as the stars of the sky.^{(L) 24} Joab son of Zeruiah began to count them, but he didn’t complete it. There was wrath against Israel because of this census,^(M) and the number was not entered in the Historical Record^[h] of King David.

³² David’s uncle Jonathan was a counselor; he was a man of understanding and a scribe. Jehiel son of Hachmoni attended^[j] the king’s sons. ³³ Ahithophel^(Q) was the king’s counselor. Hushai^(R) the Archite was the king’s friend. ³⁴ After Ahithophel came Jehoiada son of Benaiah,^(S) then Abiathar.^(T) Joab was the commander of the king’s army.^(U)

The Promise Granted through Faith

¹³ For the promise to Abraham^(A) or to his descendants that he would inherit the world^(B) was not through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. ¹⁴ If those who are of the law are heirs,^(C) faith is made empty and the promise nullified, ¹⁵ because the law produces wrath.^(D) And where there is no law,^(E) there is no transgression.

¹⁶ This is why the promise is by faith, so that it may be according to grace,^(F) to guarantee it to all the descendants^(G)—not only to those who are of the law^[a] but also to those who are of Abraham’s faith. He is the father of us all. ¹⁷ As it is written: I have made you the father of many nations.^[b](H) He is our father in God’s sight, in whom Abraham believed—the God who gives life to the dead^(I) and calls^(J) things into existence that do not exist.^{(K) 18} He believed, hoping against hope, so that he became the father of many nations^[c](L) according to what had been spoken: So will your descendants be.^{(M)(N) 19} He did not weaken in faith when he considered^[d] his own body to be already dead^(O) (since he was about a hundred years old)^(P) and also the deadness of Sarah’s womb.^{(Q) 20} He did not waver in unbelief at God’s promise but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,^{(R) 21} because he was fully convinced^(S) that what God had promised, he was also able to do.^{(T) 22} Therefore, it was credited to him for righteousness.^{[e](U) 23} Now it was credited to him^[f] was not written for Abraham alone,^{(V) 24} but also for us. It will be credited to us who believe in him^(W) who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.^{(X) 25} He was delivered up for^[g] our trespasses^(Y) and raised for our justification.^(Z)

Faith Triumphs

5 Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith,^(AA) we have peace^[h] with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.^{(AB) 2} We have also obtained access through him^(AC) by faith^[i] into this grace in which we stand,^(AD) and we rejoice^[j] in the hope of the glory of God. ³ And not only that,^(AE) but we also rejoice in our afflictions,^(AF) because we know that affliction produces endurance,^{(AG) 4} endurance produces proven character,^(AH) and proven character produces hope. ⁵ This hope will not disappoint us,^(AI) because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts^(AJ) through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Psalm 14

A Portrait of Sinners

For the choir director. Of David.