The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Friday June 30, 2023 (NIV)

2 Kings 17:1-18:12

Hoshea Last King of Israel(A)

17 In the twelfth year of Ahaz king of Judah, Hoshea(B) son of Elah became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned nine years. He did evil(C) in the eyes of the Lord, but not like the kings of Israel who preceded him.

Shalmaneser(D) king of Assyria came up to attack Hoshea, who had been Shalmaneser’s vassal and had paid him tribute.(E) But the king of Assyria discovered that Hoshea was a traitor, for he had sent envoys to So[a] king of Egypt,(F) and he no longer paid tribute to the king of Assyria, as he had done year by year. Therefore Shalmaneser seized him and put him in prison.(G) The king of Assyria invaded the entire land, marched against Samaria and laid siege(H) to it for three years. In the ninth year of Hoshea, the king of Assyria(I) captured Samaria(J) and deported(K) the Israelites to Assyria. He settled them in Halah, in Gozan(L) on the Habor River and in the towns of the Medes.

Israel Exiled Because of Sin

All this took place because the Israelites had sinned(M) against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of Egypt(N) from under the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They worshiped other gods and followed the practices of the nations(O) the Lord had driven out before them, as well as the practices that the kings of Israel had introduced. The Israelites secretly did things against the Lord their God that were not right. From watchtower to fortified city(P) they built themselves high places in all their towns. 10 They set up sacred stones(Q) and Asherah poles(R) on every high hill and under every spreading tree.(S) 11 At every high place they burned incense, as the nations whom the Lord had driven out before them had done. They did wicked things that aroused the Lord’s anger. 12 They worshiped idols,(T) though the Lord had said, “You shall not do this.”[b] 13 The Lord warned(U) Israel and Judah through all his prophets and seers:(V) “Turn from your evil ways.(W) Observe my commands and decrees, in accordance with the entire Law that I commanded your ancestors to obey and that I delivered to you through my servants the prophets.”(X)

14 But they would not listen and were as stiff-necked(Y) as their ancestors, who did not trust in the Lord their God. 15 They rejected his decrees and the covenant(Z) he had made with their ancestors and the statutes he had warned them to keep. They followed worthless idols(AA) and themselves became worthless.(AB) They imitated the nations(AC) around them although the Lord had ordered them, “Do not do as they do.”

16 They forsook all the commands of the Lord their God and made for themselves two idols cast in the shape of calves,(AD) and an Asherah(AE) pole. They bowed down to all the starry hosts,(AF) and they worshiped Baal.(AG) 17 They sacrificed(AH) their sons and daughters in the fire. They practiced divination and sought omens(AI) and sold(AJ) themselves to do evil in the eyes of the Lord, arousing his anger.

18 So the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them from his presence.(AK) Only the tribe of Judah was left, 19 and even Judah did not keep the commands of the Lord their God. They followed the practices Israel had introduced.(AL) 20 Therefore the Lord rejected all the people of Israel; he afflicted them and gave them into the hands of plunderers,(AM) until he thrust them from his presence.(AN)

21 When he tore(AO) Israel away from the house of David, they made Jeroboam son of Nebat their king.(AP) Jeroboam enticed Israel away from following the Lord and caused them to commit a great sin.(AQ) 22 The Israelites persisted in all the sins of Jeroboam and did not turn away from them 23 until the Lord removed them from his presence,(AR) as he had warned(AS) through all his servants the prophets. So the people of Israel were taken from their homeland(AT) into exile in Assyria, and they are still there.

Samaria Resettled

24 The king of Assyria(AU) brought people from Babylon, Kuthah, Avva, Hamath and Sepharvaim(AV) and settled them in the towns of Samaria to replace the Israelites. They took over Samaria and lived in its towns. 25 When they first lived there, they did not worship the Lord; so he sent lions(AW) among them and they killed some of the people. 26 It was reported to the king of Assyria: “The people you deported and resettled in the towns of Samaria do not know what the god of that country requires. He has sent lions among them, which are killing them off, because the people do not know what he requires.”

27 Then the king of Assyria gave this order: “Have one of the priests you took captive from Samaria go back to live there and teach the people what the god of the land requires.” 28 So one of the priests who had been exiled from Samaria came to live in Bethel and taught them how to worship the Lord.

29 Nevertheless, each national group made its own gods in the several towns(AX) where they settled, and set them up in the shrines(AY) the people of Samaria had made at the high places.(AZ) 30 The people from Babylon made Sukkoth Benoth, those from Kuthah made Nergal, and those from Hamath made Ashima; 31 the Avvites made Nibhaz and Tartak, and the Sepharvites burned their children in the fire as sacrifices to Adrammelek(BA) and Anammelek, the gods of Sepharvaim.(BB) 32 They worshiped the Lord, but they also appointed all sorts(BC) of their own people to officiate for them as priests in the shrines at the high places. 33 They worshiped the Lord, but they also served their own gods in accordance with the customs of the nations from which they had been brought.

34 To this day they persist in their former practices. They neither worship the Lord nor adhere to the decrees and regulations, the laws and commands that the Lord gave the descendants of Jacob, whom he named Israel.(BD) 35 When the Lord made a covenant with the Israelites, he commanded them: “Do not worship(BE) any other gods or bow down to them, serve them or sacrifice to them.(BF) 36 But the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt with mighty power and outstretched arm,(BG) is the one you must worship. To him you shall bow down and to him offer sacrifices. 37 You must always be careful(BH) to keep the decrees(BI) and regulations, the laws and commands he wrote for you. Do not worship other gods. 38 Do not forget(BJ) the covenant I have made with you, and do not worship other gods. 39 Rather, worship the Lord your God; it is he who will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.”

40 They would not listen, however, but persisted in their former practices. 41 Even while these people were worshiping the Lord,(BK) they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their ancestors did.

Hezekiah King of Judah(BL)(BM)(BN)

18 In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah(BO) son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years.(BP) His mother’s name was Abijah[c] daughter of Zechariah. He did what was right(BQ) in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David(BR) had done. He removed(BS) the high places,(BT) smashed the sacred stones(BU) and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake(BV) Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.[d])

Hezekiah trusted(BW) in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him. He held fast(BX) to the Lord and did not stop following him; he kept the commands the Lord had given Moses. And the Lord was with him; he was successful(BY) in whatever he undertook. He rebelled(BZ) against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. From watchtower to fortified city,(CA) he defeated the Philistines, as far as Gaza and its territory.

In King Hezekiah’s fourth year,(CB) which was the seventh year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Shalmaneser king of Assyria marched against Samaria and laid siege to it. 10 At the end of three years the Assyrians took it. So Samaria was captured in Hezekiah’s sixth year, which was the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel. 11 The king(CC) of Assyria deported Israel to Assyria and settled them in Halah, in Gozan on the Habor River and in towns of the Medes.(CD) 12 This happened because they had not obeyed the Lord their God, but had violated his covenant(CE)—all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded.(CF) They neither listened to the commands(CG) nor carried them out.

Footnotes:

  1. 2 Kings 17:4 So is probably an abbreviation for Osorkon.
  2. 2 Kings 17:12 Exodus 20:4,5
  3. 2 Kings 18:2 Hebrew Abi, a variant of Abijah
  4. 2 Kings 18:4 Nehushtan sounds like the Hebrew for both bronze and snake.

Cross references:

  1. 2 Kings 17:1 : 17:3-7pp — 2Ki 18:9-12
  2. 2 Kings 17:1 : 2Ki 15:30
  3. 2 Kings 17:2 : S Dt 4:25
  4. 2 Kings 17:3 : Hos 10:14
  5. 2 Kings 17:3 : S Jdg 3:15
  6. 2 Kings 17:4 : Ps 146:3; Isa 30:1, 7; 36:6; Jer 2:36; Hos 12:1
  7. 2 Kings 17:4 : Hos 13:10
  8. 2 Kings 17:5 : Hos 13:16
  9. 2 Kings 17:6 : ver 20; S 2Ki 15:29; Isa 42:24
  10. 2 Kings 17:6 : Isa 10:9
  11. 2 Kings 17:6 : S Dt 4:27; S 24:1; S 2Ki 15:29; Am 7:17
  12. 2 Kings 17:6 : 1Ch 5:26
  13. 2 Kings 17:7 : S Jos 7:11
  14. 2 Kings 17:7 : Ex 14:15-31
  15. 2 Kings 17:8 : S Ex 34:15; S Lev 18:3; S Dt 9:4
  16. 2 Kings 17:9 : 2Ki 18:8
  17. 2 Kings 17:10 : S Ex 23:24
  18. 2 Kings 17:10 : Ex 34:13; Isa 17:8; Mic 5:14
  19. 2 Kings 17:10 : S Dt 12:2
  20. 2 Kings 17:12 : S Ex 20:4
  21. 2 Kings 17:13 : S Jdg 6:8; S 2Ch 7:14; S Job 34:33; Eze 3:17-19
  22. 2 Kings 17:13 : S 1Sa 9:9
  23. 2 Kings 17:13 : Jer 4:1; 18:11; 23:22; 25:5; 35:15; 36:3; Zec 1:4
  24. 2 Kings 17:13 : Mt 23:34
  25. 2 Kings 17:14 : S Ex 32:9; Ac 7:51
  26. 2 Kings 17:15 : S Lev 26:11; Dt 29:25; Jdg 2:20; 1Ki 11:11; 2Ki 18:12; Ps 78:10; Eze 5:6; Mal 2:10
  27. 2 Kings 17:15 : S Dt 32:21; Hos 11:2; Ro 1:21-23
  28. 2 Kings 17:15 : Jer 2:5
  29. 2 Kings 17:15 : S Dt 12:4
  30. 2 Kings 17:16 : S Ex 32:4
  31. 2 Kings 17:16 : S Dt 16:21
  32. 2 Kings 17:16 : S Ge 2:1; Isa 40:26; Jer 19:13
  33. 2 Kings 17:16 : S Jdg 2:11
  34. 2 Kings 17:17 : S Dt 12:31; 18:10-12; 2Ki 16:3; Eze 16:21
  35. 2 Kings 17:17 : S Lev 19:26
  36. 2 Kings 17:17 : S 1Ki 21:20; Ro 7:14
  37. 2 Kings 17:18 : S Ge 4:14; S Ex 33:15; S 2Ki 13:23; 2Th 1:9
  38. 2 Kings 17:19 : 2Ki 16:3; Jer 3:6-10; Eze 23:13
  39. 2 Kings 17:20 : S ver 6
  40. 2 Kings 17:20 : Jer 7:15; 15:1
  41. 2 Kings 17:21 : S 1Sa 15:27; S 1Ki 11:11
  42. 2 Kings 17:21 : 1Ki 12:20
  43. 2 Kings 17:21 : S 1Ki 12:30
  44. 2 Kings 17:23 : Eze 39:23-24
  45. 2 Kings 17:23 : S Jdg 6:8
  46. 2 Kings 17:23 : S 1Ki 9:7
  47. 2 Kings 17:24 : 2Ki 19:37; Ezr 4:2, 10; Isa 37:38
  48. 2 Kings 17:24 : ver 31; S 2Ki 15:29; 18:34; Isa 36:19; 37:13; Am 6:2
  49. 2 Kings 17:25 : S Ge 37:20; Isa 5:29; 15:9; Jer 50:17
  50. 2 Kings 17:29 : Jer 2:28; 11:13
  51. 2 Kings 17:29 : S Lev 26:30; S 1Ki 12:31
  52. 2 Kings 17:29 : Mic 4:5
  53. 2 Kings 17:31 : 2Ki 19:37
  54. 2 Kings 17:31 : S ver 24
  55. 2 Kings 17:32 : S 1Ki 12:31
  56. 2 Kings 17:34 : S Ge 17:5; S 1Ki 18:31
  57. 2 Kings 17:35 : S Ex 20:5
  58. 2 Kings 17:35 : S Ex 20:3
  59. 2 Kings 17:36 : S Ex 3:20; Ps 136:12
  60. 2 Kings 17:37 : Dt 5:32
  61. 2 Kings 17:37 : S Lev 19:37
  62. 2 Kings 17:38 : S Dt 6:12
  63. 2 Kings 17:41 : S 1Ki 18:21; Ezr 4:2; Mt 6:24
  64. 2 Kings 18:1 : 18:2-4pp — 2Ch 29:1-2; 31:1
  65. 2 Kings 18:1 : 18:5-7pp — 2Ch 31:20-21
  66. 2 Kings 18:1 : 18:9-12pp — 2Ki 17:3-7
  67. 2 Kings 18:1 : Isa 1:1; Hos 1:1; Mic 1:1
  68. 2 Kings 18:2 : ver 13; Isa 38:5
  69. 2 Kings 18:3 : S 1Ki 14:8
  70. 2 Kings 18:3 : Isa 38:5
  71. 2 Kings 18:4 : 2Ch 31:1; Isa 36:7
  72. 2 Kings 18:4 : 2Ki 12:3; 21:3
  73. 2 Kings 18:4 : S Ex 23:24
  74. 2 Kings 18:4 : Nu 21:9
  75. 2 Kings 18:5 : ver 19; S 1Sa 7:3; 2Ki 19:10; Ps 21:7; 125:1; Pr 3:26
  76. 2 Kings 18:6 : Dt 10:20; S Dt 6:18
  77. 2 Kings 18:7 : S Ge 39:3; S Job 22:25
  78. 2 Kings 18:7 : 2Ki 24:1; Ezr 4:19; Isa 36:5
  79. 2 Kings 18:8 : 2Ki 17:9
  80. 2 Kings 18:9 : Isa 1:1; 36:1
  81. 2 Kings 18:11 : Isa 37:12
  82. 2 Kings 18:11 : Eze 16:39; 23:9
  83. 2 Kings 18:12 : S 2Ki 17:15
  84. 2 Kings 18:12 : 2Ki 21:8; Da 9:6, 10
  85. 2 Kings 18:12 : S 1Ki 9:6
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Acts 20

Through Macedonia and Greece

20 When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples(A) and, after encouraging them, said goodbye and set out for Macedonia.(B) He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, where he stayed three months. Because some Jews had plotted against him(C) just as he was about to sail for Syria,(D) he decided to go back through Macedonia.(E) He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus(F) and Secundus from Thessalonica,(G) Gaius(H) from Derbe, Timothy(I) also, and Tychicus(J) and Trophimus(K) from the province of Asia.(L) These men went on ahead and waited for us(M) at Troas.(N) But we sailed from Philippi(O) after the Festival of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas,(P) where we stayed seven days.

Eutychus Raised From the Dead at Troas

On the first day of the week(Q) we came together to break bread.(R) Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. There were many lamps in the upstairs room(S) where we were meeting. Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. 10 Paul went down, threw himself on the young man(T) and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!”(U) 11 Then he went upstairs again and broke bread(V) and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. 12 The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.

Paul’s Farewell to the Ephesian Elders

13 We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. He had made this arrangement because he was going there on foot. 14 When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. 15 The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Chios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus.(W) 16 Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus(X) to avoid spending time in the province of Asia,(Y) for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem,(Z) if possible, by the day of Pentecost.(AA)

17 From Miletus,(AB) Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders(AC) of the church. 18 When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you,(AD) from the first day I came into the province of Asia.(AE) 19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears(AF) and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents.(AG) 20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything(AH) that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. 21 I have declared to both Jews(AI) and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance(AJ) and have faith in our Lord Jesus.(AK)

22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem,(AL) not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me(AM) that prison and hardships are facing me.(AN) 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me;(AO) my only aim is to finish the race(AP) and complete the task(AQ) the Lord Jesus has given me(AR)—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.(AS)

25 “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom(AT) will ever see me again.(AU) 26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of any of you.(AV) 27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.(AW) 28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock(AX) of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers.(AY) Be shepherds of the church of God,[a](AZ) which he bought(BA) with his own blood.[b](BB) 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves(BC) will come in among you and will not spare the flock.(BD) 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples(BE) after them. 31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years(BF) I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.(BG)

32 “Now I commit you to God(BH) and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance(BI) among all those who are sanctified.(BJ) 33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing.(BK) 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.(BL) 35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

36 When Paul had finished speaking, he knelt down with all of them and prayed.(BM) 37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him.(BN) 38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again.(BO) Then they accompanied him to the ship.(BP)

Footnotes:

  1. Acts 20:28 Many manuscripts of the Lord
  2. Acts 20:28 Or with the blood of his own Son

Cross references:

  1. Acts 20:1 : S Ac 11:26
  2. Acts 20:1 : S Ac 16:9
  3. Acts 20:3 : ver 19; Ac 9:23, 24; 14:5; 23:12, 15, 30; 25:3; 2Co 11:26; S 1Th 2:16
  4. Acts 20:3 : S Lk 2:2
  5. Acts 20:3 : S Ac 16:9
  6. Acts 20:4 : S Ac 19:29
  7. Acts 20:4 : S Ac 17:1
  8. Acts 20:4 : S Ac 19:29
  9. Acts 20:4 : S Ac 16:1
  10. Acts 20:4 : Eph 6:21; Col 4:7; Tit 3:12
  11. Acts 20:4 : Ac 21:29; 2Ti 4:20
  12. Acts 20:4 : S Ac 2:9
  13. Acts 20:5 : S Ac 16:10
  14. Acts 20:5 : S Ac 16:8
  15. Acts 20:6 : S Ac 16:12
  16. Acts 20:6 : S Ac 16:8
  17. Acts 20:7 : 1Co 16:2; Rev 1:10
  18. Acts 20:7 : S Mt 14:19
  19. Acts 20:8 : Ac 1:13; 9:37
  20. Acts 20:10 : 1Ki 17:21; 2Ki 4:34
  21. Acts 20:10 : Mt 9:23, 24
  22. Acts 20:11 : ver 7; S Mt 14:19
  23. Acts 20:15 : ver 17; 2Ti 4:20
  24. Acts 20:16 : S Ac 18:19
  25. Acts 20:16 : S Ac 2:9
  26. Acts 20:16 : S Ac 19:21
  27. Acts 20:16 : S Ac 2:1
  28. Acts 20:17 : ver 15
  29. Acts 20:17 : S Ac 11:30
  30. Acts 20:18 : Ac 18:19-21; 19:1-41
  31. Acts 20:18 : S Ac 2:9
  32. Acts 20:19 : Ps 6:6
  33. Acts 20:19 : S ver 3
  34. Acts 20:20 : ver 27; Ps 40:10; Jer 26:2; 42:4
  35. Acts 20:21 : Ac 18:5
  36. Acts 20:21 : S Ac 2:38
  37. Acts 20:21 : Ac 24:24; 26:18; Eph 1:15; Col 2:5; Phm 5
  38. Acts 20:22 : ver 16
  39. Acts 20:23 : S Ac 8:29; 21:4
  40. Acts 20:23 : S Ac 9:16
  41. Acts 20:24 : Ac 21:13
  42. Acts 20:24 : 2Ti 4:7
  43. Acts 20:24 : 2Co 4:1
  44. Acts 20:24 : Gal 1:1; Tit 1:3
  45. Acts 20:24 : S Ac 11:23
  46. Acts 20:25 : S Mt 4:23
  47. Acts 20:25 : ver 38
  48. Acts 20:26 : Eze 3:17-19; Ac 18:6
  49. Acts 20:27 : S ver 20
  50. Acts 20:28 : ver 29; S Jn 21:16
  51. Acts 20:28 : S 1Ti 3:1
  52. Acts 20:28 : S 1Co 10:32
  53. Acts 20:28 : S 1Co 6:20
  54. Acts 20:28 : S Ro 3:25
  55. Acts 20:29 : Eze 34:5; Mt 7:15
  56. Acts 20:29 : ver 28
  57. Acts 20:30 : S Ac 11:26
  58. Acts 20:31 : Ac 19:10
  59. Acts 20:31 : ver 19
  60. Acts 20:32 : Ac 14:23
  61. Acts 20:32 : S Eph 1:14; S Mt 25:34; Col 1:12; 3:24; Heb 9:15; 1Pe 1:4
  62. Acts 20:32 : Ac 26:18
  63. Acts 20:33 : 1Sa 12:3; 1Co 9:12; 2Co 2:17; 7:2; 11:9; 12:14-17; 1Th 2:5
  64. Acts 20:34 : S Ac 18:3
  65. Acts 20:36 : Lk 22:41; Ac 9:40; 21:5
  66. Acts 20:37 : S Lk 15:20
  67. Acts 20:38 : ver 25
  68. Acts 20:38 : Ac 21:5
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Psalm 148

Psalm 148

Praise the Lord.[a](A)

Praise the Lord from the heavens;(B)
praise him in the heights above.
Praise him, all his angels;(C)
praise him, all his heavenly hosts.(D)
Praise him, sun(E) and moon;
praise him, all you shining stars.
Praise him, you highest heavens(F)
and you waters above the skies.(G)

Let them praise the name(H) of the Lord,
for at his command(I) they were created,
and he established them for ever and ever—
he issued a decree(J) that will never pass away.

Praise the Lord(K) from the earth,
you great sea creatures(L) and all ocean depths,(M)
lightning and hail,(N) snow and clouds,
stormy winds that do his bidding,(O)
you mountains and all hills,(P)
fruit trees and all cedars,
10 wild animals(Q) and all cattle,
small creatures and flying birds,
11 kings(R) of the earth and all nations,
you princes and all rulers on earth,
12 young men and women,
old men and children.

13 Let them praise the name of the Lord,(S)
for his name alone is exalted;
his splendor(T) is above the earth and the heavens.(U)
14 And he has raised up for his people a horn,[b](V)
the praise(W) of all his faithful servants,(X)
of Israel, the people close to his heart.(Y)

Praise the Lord.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 148:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 14
  2. Psalm 148:14 Horn here symbolizes strength.
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Proverbs 18:6-7

The lips of fools bring them strife,
and their mouths invite a beating.(A)

The mouths of fools are their undoing,
and their lips are a snare(B) to their very lives.(C)

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

06/29/2023 DAB Transcript

2 Kings 15:1-16:20, Acts 19:13-41, Psalms 147:1-20, Proverbs 18:4-5

Today is the 29th day of June, welcome to the Daily Audio Bible I am Brian and I am happy…happy to be here with you today, happy to be in this place that we make every day, the Global Campfire that we gather around and take the next step forward today. I am grateful. It is wonderful to be here with you and excited to take the next step forward. And that next step forward leads us back to where we left off and that happens to be the book of second Kings right now. Today we will read second Kings, chapters 15 and 16. And we are reading from the New English Translation this week.

Commentary:

Okay. So, we have a fascinating story that we encountered in the book of Acts today that invites us to explore the power of the name of Jesus. And this story surrounds seven sons of a Hebrew priest named Sceva. So, we can…we can fairly reliably assume that these seven sons of the priest Sceva knew their Hebrew tradition. They were the son of a priest. They very very likely knew the Hebrew Scriptures. And they weren’t doing anything bad. They were going from town to town, attempting to practice exorcisms. So, the forcible removal of the daemonic presence from a person’s life, setting them free. This is a good thing. But then they started attempting to cast out demons in the name of Jesus. And there’s a bit of an irony in that that allows us to get a glimpse of how disruptive the times were around the message of The Way, the way of Jesus. Because we have traveled long dusty miles with the apostle Paul over the place and we’ve watched that most of the places that he went he faced very aggressive opposition to the message of Jesus and that opposition was always instigated by the Jewish religious people. So, it’s ironic that we get a picture of Jewish religious people attempting to co-opt and use the name of Jesus in an exorcism. So, we have this picture. The seven sons are attempting to cast out a demon in the name of Jesus when they had an unexpected turn of events. The demon began to speak back to them saying I…I know Jesus and I am familiar with this Paul, but I am not familiar with you. Who are you? And then the demon possessed person leapt upon the seven sons and they got a straight up beat down. So, here’s the thing. The name of Jesus has been used in all kinds of contacts for all kinds of reasons, even to invoke curses, but the name of Jesus doesn’t carry within the syllables some sort of magic. There is power in the name of Jesus, but not without Jesus. And once the news of this encounter with these seven sons of Sceva started to spread around the villages and into the towns reverence for the name of Jesus fell upon the people. Many of whom knew plenty about sorcery and magic and spells and incantations, but it became clear that the name of Jesus wasn’t in some form or fashion casting a spell to get something done. It was way beyond magic. And according to the book of Acts many came and confessed their different sinful practices and sorceries and surrendered their lives to Jesus, like burning their books of magic and instructions for the dark arts. And Bible makes sure to tell us the value of what was burned up -  50,000 pieces of silver. It’s actually 50,000 drachmas. And, so, just to like to have an idea. Like the drachma would be the price at this time of a sheep. So, like the value of a flock of 50,000 sheep. Or a drachma is like a day’s wage. So, 50,000 workdays. So, the Bible is…is…is going to great lengths to show us that reverence for the name of Jesus fell upon the people in such a way that they were willing to walk away from what they had considered extraordinarily valuable. So, once again, there is power in the name of our Savior in the name of Jesus our Lord. Yes indeed. But the authority of Jesus comes into our lives in our true and utter surrender to His power and authority.

Prayer:

Jesus, we love you and indeed, there…your name is the name above every other name. And, so, we indeed believe that nothing is impossible in your name. But what is done in your name represents you. And, so, we cannot use your name to do things that you would not be involved. In the book of Acts today reverence fell upon the people. May reverence for your name fall upon us today we ask in your name, the name of Jesus. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com, that’s home base, that is indeed where you can find out what’s going on around here.

And we got something coming up that is going on around here and I’ve been talking about it for the last couple of days. A week from tomorrow…tomorrow is the last day of June, guys. That’s crazy. That’s six months down. So, tomorrow’s the last day of June. A week from tomorrow will be the seventh day of July and that is our special day here in the Global Campfire community. It is a day that we call the long walk. And I’ve kinda talking about it. I mean, basically you carve out the day, we all do, I am, we all do and go somewhere beautiful. This is not a day that’s a throwaway. This is not a day that’s just a day off to get caught up on some things. This isn’t anything like that. It’s like a different kind of day than any other day of the year for most of us. It’s a day to say this one, this day is for Jesus. This day is for my heart to spend with the one who loves me enough to lay down His life. I’m not going to find love like that anywhere else. I’m not gonna find that kind of commitment and loyalty in my technology or in my work, or in my job. I’m gonna go and I’m gonna say everything that’s in my heart and I’m gonna listen. I’m gonna listen because maybe Jesus has been waiting all year for this one chance to have you without distractions. Give it to Him. Give it to yourself. Go somewhere beautiful. Go for a long walk. Let time stands still. Remember what it was like when you fell in love and you would go for long walks with your spouse or your significant. You go to these long walks all times of day or night. It can be 150° outside. It can be below zero. Like, we’ll do anything to be with the one we love. Time stands still. We’ll go out in the rain and make fools of ourselves as if this is fun because it is when you’re playing with the one that you love. Go do that with God. See what happens. And while you are wherever you go, whether that be a couple of hours of driving to somewhere beautiful or whether that be a short walk or short little drive to a park, wherever you go, go somewhere beautiful. Go somewhere that you find beautiful. And as you’re spending your day maybe you take a picture, or you shoot a little video or something. You can come back at the end of your day, which we will all do…like we’ll come back to facebook.com/dailyaudiobible, they’ll be a post in there for the long walk and we post our pictures and videos and stories inside that post and all the sudden we got like…I’ve been seeing it…because it’s how I’ve seen it…I’ve seen it this way for years, I have sat and scrolled…like I don’t do a whole lot of social media scrolling, but this is one special day and I scroll through all of them and it feels like the windows are opening up. Like, I get to see the day as it happened all over the world through the eyes of my brothers and sisters that I love. It’s remarkable. So, make plans for that seventh day of July, a week from tomorrow.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible, humble humble humble thanks. Humble thanks. We couldn’t be here if we weren’t in this together. There is a link on the homepage at dailyaudiobible.com. If you’re using the app, you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner, or the mailing address is PO Box 1996 Spring Hill Tennessee 37174.

And, as always, if you have a prayer request or encouragement, you can hit the Hotline button in the app or there are a number of numbers you can call. In the Americas 877-942-4253. In the UK or Europe 44-20-3608-8078. And in Australia or that part of the world 61-3-8820-5459 is the number to call.

That’s it for today. I’m Brian. I love you and I’ll be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Community Prayer and Praise:

Hey DAB fam this is Jackson from California and I just wanna say I want to pray for the kid…I wanna pray for the kid today on June 22nd 2023 who prayed…or…who prayed…who asked for our prayers for help with their child __ to help his kids. And I just want all of you to pray for him __ leukemia and I __ leukemia. I just want to say thank you for praying for me and I want…and I want God to help that kid to…to make the parent to get strong, stop that parent’s divorce. Alright.

Hi today is the 23rd of June and I just heard the prayer, the woman that called in about her aunt finding her son dead in his car of an overdose with three young children. And my heart goes out to you because we just lost my oldest grandchild, my granddaughter who is 14. We just lost her mother to the same thing. This opioid addiction is…it…it is unreal and I send up prayers right now to all these young people, this generation of people that is addicted to these opioids, that they find strength in Jesus Christ, a new found strength in something other than the next high. They’re leaving behind generations of children without parents, and it is sad. But I cry out to You Lord Jesus Christ that change is coming. Change is coming in the name of Jesus, that they will stand firm in the faith, that they will turn their hearts to You Lord God. And we thank You God and we give You the glory, the praise, and the honor for it in Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.

Hello DAB family this is Adopted and Loved I’ve called a few times in before. I’m still going through this divorce. Our court date was cancelled, and I am just broken today. Just recognizing the level of rejection and just struggling in everything right now. And I just…I just want some prayer for…prayer for everything that’s going on. Prayer for my wife, prayer for my kids, prayer for my heart, and that God would give me something to look at in the future just being able to have a promise I can stand on. I’m really looking. Thank you.

Hey DAB family this is Braun Phase this my first time ever calling in. I’ve been listening to DAB for about two years now. So, just kind of amazed me that this is my first-time calling in. But I just…I’m on a journey right now to pursue my wife. I currently have a girlfriend in mind who I’ve been with for eight years and right now I’m going through financial struggles and I’m going through…through transformation right now with the Lord. He’s transformed me into a man that He knows I need to be for myself for my woman and just for the people around me. And, so, I’m really just going through a struggling stage right now and I'm…but I’m hearing God give me a huge calling on my heart to go pursue my wife, to go get my wife. So, that’s what I’m doing and it’s hard right now because, you know, my woman deserves everything. She’s been through a lot with me. So, I just want to give her what she…what she deserves, and I just don’t know how to go pursue my wife with little income right now. And I’m trying to get a new job and it’s hard. Things are hard right now. Patience is probably the hardest thing right now but I’m currently fasting. I’m praying, and I just find myself complaining a lot and that’s what He’s showing me in this time of fasting. So, if you guys could just give me a prayer for that that would be spectacular. I really love my god and my woman. So, if you guys could just help me with that that would be great. I really want freedom right now and I’ve earned the forgiveness. Now it’s just time to grasp the freedom. And that’s what I want from God right now most definitely. Love you DAB. Have a good one.

This is…hey my name’s Big Dog and I’m out here and Azula Texas __ Texas. I called in earlier and asked for some help, you know, some prayer for my family and so forth. I got a job. I got a pretty good job. My wife has just recently started reaching out to me. We’ve been separated for about two maybe three years. I last count. I still love her. I __ been married once. But if it’s not meant to be I understand but I’m trying…I’m trying for dear life to make it work. I didn’t invest 26 years for nothing, right? I understand sometimes, you know, it doesn’t work out, but I would like for that to continue. I would like to change that and make it better. I would also like to know if maybe I could get some help for praying for my prayers. My dad’s 78. Cancer. My mom’s 74. Same thing. My dad’s a veteran, agent orange, all that good stuff, right? But I mean it’s inevitable. They’re old. But I’m just asking for just a little bit of support just a little bit. Please. If you guys could do that for me, I would really appreciate that. perogrande9@gmail.com. Love you all. Still listening, still praying. Thank you. Thank you, Brian.

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Thursday June 29, 2023 (NIV)

2 Kings 15-16

Azariah King of Judah(A)

15 In the twenty-seventh year of Jeroboam king of Israel, Azariah[a](B) son of Amaziah king of Judah began to reign. He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years. His mother’s name was Jekoliah; she was from Jerusalem. He did what was right(C) in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Amaziah had done. The high places, however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.

The Lord afflicted(D) the king with leprosy[b] until the day he died, and he lived in a separate house.[c](E) Jotham(F) the king’s son had charge of the palace(G) and governed the people of the land.

As for the other events of Azariah’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? Azariah rested(H) with his ancestors and was buried near them in the City of David. And Jotham(I) his son succeeded him as king.

Zechariah King of Israel

In the thirty-eighth year of Azariah king of Judah, Zechariah son of Jeroboam became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned six months. He did evil(J) in the eyes of the Lord, as his predecessors had done. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit.

10 Shallum son of Jabesh conspired against Zechariah. He attacked him in front of the people,[d] assassinated(K) him and succeeded him as king. 11 The other events of Zechariah’s reign are written in the book of the annals(L) of the kings of Israel. 12 So the word of the Lord spoken to Jehu was fulfilled:(M) “Your descendants will sit on the throne of Israel to the fourth generation.”[e]

Shallum King of Israel

13 Shallum son of Jabesh became king in the thirty-ninth year of Uzziah king of Judah, and he reigned in Samaria(N) one month. 14 Then Menahem son of Gadi went from Tirzah(O) up to Samaria. He attacked Shallum son of Jabesh in Samaria, assassinated(P) him and succeeded him as king.

15 The other events of Shallum’s reign, and the conspiracy he led, are written in the book of the annals(Q) of the kings of Israel.

16 At that time Menahem, starting out from Tirzah, attacked Tiphsah(R) and everyone in the city and its vicinity, because they refused to open(S) their gates. He sacked Tiphsah and ripped open all the pregnant women.

Menahem King of Israel

17 In the thirty-ninth year of Azariah king of Judah, Menahem son of Gadi became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria ten years. 18 He did evil(T) in the eyes of the Lord. During his entire reign he did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit.

19 Then Pul[f](U) king of Assyria invaded the land, and Menahem gave him a thousand talents[g] of silver to gain his support and strengthen his own hold on the kingdom. 20 Menahem exacted this money from Israel. Every wealthy person had to contribute fifty shekels[h] of silver to be given to the king of Assyria. So the king of Assyria withdrew(V) and stayed in the land no longer.

21 As for the other events of Menahem’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? 22 Menahem rested with his ancestors. And Pekahiah his son succeeded him as king.

Pekahiah King of Israel

23 In the fiftieth year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekahiah son of Menahem became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned two years. 24 Pekahiah did evil(W) in the eyes of the Lord. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit. 25 One of his chief officers, Pekah(X) son of Remaliah, conspired against him. Taking fifty men of Gilead with him, he assassinated(Y) Pekahiah, along with Argob and Arieh, in the citadel of the royal palace at Samaria. So Pekah killed Pekahiah and succeeded him as king.

26 The other events of Pekahiah’s reign, and all he did, are written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel.

Pekah King of Israel

27 In the fifty-second year of Azariah king of Judah, Pekah(Z) son of Remaliah(AA) became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned twenty years. 28 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord. He did not turn away from the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit.

29 In the time of Pekah king of Israel, Tiglath-Pileser(AB) king of Assyria came and took Ijon,(AC) Abel Beth Maakah, Janoah, Kedesh and Hazor. He took Gilead and Galilee, including all the land of Naphtali,(AD) and deported(AE) the people to Assyria. 30 Then Hoshea(AF) son of Elah conspired against Pekah son of Remaliah. He attacked and assassinated(AG) him, and then succeeded him as king in the twentieth year of Jotham son of Uzziah.

31 As for the other events of Pekah’s reign, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals(AH) of the kings of Israel?

Jotham King of Judah(AI)

32 In the second year of Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel, Jotham(AJ) son of Uzziah king of Judah began to reign. 33 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. His mother’s name was Jerusha daughter of Zadok. 34 He did what was right(AK) in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father Uzziah had done. 35 The high places,(AL) however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. Jotham rebuilt the Upper Gate(AM) of the temple of the Lord.

36 As for the other events of Jotham’s reign, and what he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? 37 (In those days the Lord began to send Rezin(AN) king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah against Judah.) 38 Jotham rested with his ancestors and was buried with them in the City of David, the city of his father. And Ahaz his son succeeded him as king.

Ahaz King of Judah(AO)

16 In the seventeenth year of Pekah son of Remaliah, Ahaz(AP) son of Jotham king of Judah began to reign. Ahaz was twenty years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem sixteen years. Unlike David his father, he did not do what was right(AQ) in the eyes of the Lord his God. He followed the ways of the kings of Israel(AR) and even sacrificed his son(AS) in the fire, engaging in the detestable(AT) practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. He offered sacrifices and burned incense(AU) at the high places, on the hilltops and under every spreading tree.(AV)

Then Rezin(AW) king of Aram and Pekah son of Remaliah king of Israel marched up to fight against Jerusalem and besieged Ahaz, but they could not overpower him. At that time, Rezin(AX) king of Aram recovered Elath(AY) for Aram by driving out the people of Judah. Edomites then moved into Elath and have lived there to this day.

Ahaz sent messengers to say to Tiglath-Pileser(AZ) king of Assyria, “I am your servant and vassal. Come up and save(BA) me out of the hand of the king of Aram and of the king of Israel, who are attacking me.” And Ahaz took the silver and gold found in the temple of the Lord and in the treasuries of the royal palace and sent it as a gift(BB) to the king of Assyria. The king of Assyria complied by attacking Damascus(BC) and capturing it. He deported its inhabitants to Kir(BD) and put Rezin to death.

10 Then King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-Pileser king of Assyria. He saw an altar in Damascus and sent to Uriah(BE) the priest a sketch of the altar, with detailed plans for its construction. 11 So Uriah the priest built an altar in accordance with all the plans that King Ahaz had sent from Damascus and finished it before King Ahaz returned. 12 When the king came back from Damascus and saw the altar, he approached it and presented offerings[i](BF) on it. 13 He offered up his burnt offering(BG) and grain offering,(BH) poured out his drink offering,(BI) and splashed the blood of his fellowship offerings(BJ) against the altar. 14 As for the bronze altar(BK) that stood before the Lord, he brought it from the front of the temple—from between the new altar and the temple of the Lord—and put it on the north side of the new altar.

15 King Ahaz then gave these orders to Uriah the priest: “On the large new altar, offer the morning(BL) burnt offering and the evening grain offering, the king’s burnt offering and his grain offering, and the burnt offering of all the people of the land, and their grain offering and their drink offering. Splash against this altar the blood of all the burnt offerings and sacrifices. But I will use the bronze altar for seeking guidance.”(BM) 16 And Uriah the priest did just as King Ahaz had ordered.

17 King Ahaz cut off the side panels and removed the basins from the movable stands. He removed the Sea from the bronze bulls that supported it and set it on a stone base.(BN) 18 He took away the Sabbath canopy[j] that had been built at the temple and removed the royal entryway outside the temple of the Lord, in deference to the king of Assyria.(BO)

19 As for the other events of the reign of Ahaz, and what he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? 20 Ahaz rested(BP) with his ancestors and was buried with them in the City of David. And Hezekiah his son succeeded him as king.

Footnotes:

  1. 2 Kings 15:1 Also called Uzziah; also in verses 6, 7, 8, 17, 23 and 27
  2. 2 Kings 15:5 The Hebrew for leprosy was used for various diseases affecting the skin.
  3. 2 Kings 15:5 Or in a house where he was relieved of responsibilities
  4. 2 Kings 15:10 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts in Ibleam
  5. 2 Kings 15:12 2 Kings 10:30
  6. 2 Kings 15:19 Also called Tiglath-Pileser
  7. 2 Kings 15:19 That is, about 38 tons or about 34 metric tons
  8. 2 Kings 15:20 That is, about 1 1/4 pounds or about 575 grams
  9. 2 Kings 16:12 Or and went up
  10. 2 Kings 16:18 Or the dais of his throne (see Septuagint)

Cross references:

  1. 2 Kings 15:1 : 15:1-7pp — 2Ch 26:3-4, 21-23
  2. 2 Kings 15:1 : S ver 32; S 2Ki 14:21
  3. 2 Kings 15:3 : S 1Ki 14:8
  4. 2 Kings 15:5 : S Ge 12:17
  5. 2 Kings 15:5 : Lev 13:46
  6. 2 Kings 15:5 : ver 7, 32; 2Ch 27:1; Mic 1:1
  7. 2 Kings 15:5 : S Ge 41:40
  8. 2 Kings 15:7 : Isa 6:1; 14:28
  9. 2 Kings 15:7 : S ver 5
  10. 2 Kings 15:9 : 1Ki 15:26
  11. 2 Kings 15:10 : S 2Ki 12:20
  12. 2 Kings 15:11 : 1Ki 15:31
  13. 2 Kings 15:12 : 2Ki 10:30
  14. 2 Kings 15:13 : S 1Ki 13:32
  15. 2 Kings 15:14 : S 1Ki 15:33
  16. 2 Kings 15:14 : S 2Ki 12:20
  17. 2 Kings 15:15 : 1Ki 15:31
  18. 2 Kings 15:16 : 1Ki 4:24
  19. 2 Kings 15:16 : S 2Ki 8:12; S Hos 13:16
  20. 2 Kings 15:18 : 1Ki 15:26
  21. 2 Kings 15:19 : 1Ch 5:6, 26
  22. 2 Kings 15:20 : S 2Ki 12:18
  23. 2 Kings 15:24 : 1Ki 15:26
  24. 2 Kings 15:25 : 2Ch 28:6; Isa 7:1
  25. 2 Kings 15:25 : S 2Ki 12:20
  26. 2 Kings 15:27 : 2Ch 28:6; Isa 7:1
  27. 2 Kings 15:27 : Isa 7:4
  28. 2 Kings 15:29 : 2Ki 16:7; 17:6; 1Ch 5:26; 2Ch 28:20; Jer 50:17
  29. 2 Kings 15:29 : 1Ki 15:20
  30. 2 Kings 15:29 : 2Ki 16:9; 17:24; 2Ch 16:4; Isa 7:9; 9:1; 10:9, 10; 28:1; 36:19; 37:18
  31. 2 Kings 15:29 : 2Ki 24:14-16; 1Ch 5:22; Isa 14:6, 17; 36:17; 45:13
  32. 2 Kings 15:30 : 2Ki 17:1
  33. 2 Kings 15:30 : S 2Ki 12:20
  34. 2 Kings 15:31 : 1Ki 15:31
  35. 2 Kings 15:32 : 15:33-38pp — 2Ch 27:1-4, 7-9
  36. 2 Kings 15:32 : ver 1,S 5; 1Ch 5:17; Isa 1:1; Hos 1:1
  37. 2 Kings 15:34 : S 1Ki 14:8
  38. 2 Kings 15:35 : 2Ki 12:3
  39. 2 Kings 15:35 : S Ge 23:10; 2Ch 23:20
  40. 2 Kings 15:37 : 2Ki 16:5; Isa 7:1; 8:6; 9:11
  41. 2 Kings 16:1 : 16:1-20pp — 2Ch 28:1-27
  42. 2 Kings 16:1 : Isa 1:1; 7:1; 14:28; Hos 1:1; Mic 1:1
  43. 2 Kings 16:2 : S 1Ki 14:8
  44. 2 Kings 16:3 : 2Ki 17:19
  45. 2 Kings 16:3 : S Lev 18:21; S 2Ki 3:27
  46. 2 Kings 16:3 : S Lev 18:3; S Dt 9:4
  47. 2 Kings 16:4 : 2Ki 22:17; 23:5
  48. 2 Kings 16:4 : Dt 12:2; Eze 6:13
  49. 2 Kings 16:5 : S 2Ki 15:37
  50. 2 Kings 16:6 : Isa 9:12
  51. 2 Kings 16:6 : S 1Ki 9:26
  52. 2 Kings 16:7 : S 2Ki 15:29
  53. 2 Kings 16:7 : Isa 2:6; 10:20; Jer 2:18; 3:1; Eze 16:28; 23:5; Hos 10:6
  54. 2 Kings 16:8 : S 1Ki 15:18; 2Ki 12:18
  55. 2 Kings 16:9 : S Ge 14:15; S 2Ki 15:29
  56. 2 Kings 16:9 : Isa 22:6; Am 1:5; 9:7
  57. 2 Kings 16:10 : ver 11, 15, 16; Isa 8:2
  58. 2 Kings 16:12 : 2Ch 26:16
  59. 2 Kings 16:13 : Lev 6:8-13
  60. 2 Kings 16:13 : Lev 6:14-23
  61. 2 Kings 16:13 : S Ex 29:40
  62. 2 Kings 16:13 : Lev 7:11-21
  63. 2 Kings 16:14 : S Ex 20:24; S 40:6; S 1Ki 8:64
  64. 2 Kings 16:15 : Ex 29:38-41
  65. 2 Kings 16:15 : 1Sa 9:9
  66. 2 Kings 16:17 : 1Ki 7:27
  67. 2 Kings 16:18 : Eze 16:28
  68. 2 Kings 16:20 : Isa 14:28
New International Version (NIV)

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Acts 19:13-41

13 Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits(A) tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus(B) whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” 14 Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” 16 Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.

17 When this became known to the Jews and Greeks living in Ephesus,(C) they were all seized with fear,(D) and the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor. 18 Many of those who believed now came and openly confessed what they had done. 19 A number who had practiced sorcery brought their scrolls together and burned them publicly. When they calculated the value of the scrolls, the total came to fifty thousand drachmas.[a] 20 In this way the word of the Lord(E) spread widely and grew in power.(F)

21 After all this had happened, Paul decided[b] to go to Jerusalem,(G) passing through Macedonia(H) and Achaia.(I) “After I have been there,” he said, “I must visit Rome also.”(J) 22 He sent two of his helpers,(K) Timothy(L) and Erastus,(M) to Macedonia, while he stayed in the province of Asia(N) a little longer.

The Riot in Ephesus

23 About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way.(O) 24 A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in a lot of business for the craftsmen there. 25 He called them together, along with the workers in related trades, and said: “You know, my friends, that we receive a good income from this business.(P) 26 And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus(Q) and in practically the whole province of Asia.(R) He says that gods made by human hands are no gods at all.(S) 27 There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited; and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.”

28 When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”(T) 29 Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius(U) and Aristarchus,(V) Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia,(W) and all of them rushed into the theater together. 30 Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples(X) would not let him. 31 Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater.

32 The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another.(Y) Most of the people did not even know why they were there. 33 The Jews in the crowd pushed Alexander to the front, and they shouted instructions to him. He motioned(Z) for silence in order to make a defense before the people. 34 But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”(AA)

35 The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: “Fellow Ephesians,(AB) doesn’t all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? 36 Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to calm down and not do anything rash. 37 You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples(AC) nor blasphemed our goddess. 38 If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen(AD) have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls.(AE) They can press charges. 39 If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. 40 As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of what happened today. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it.” 41 After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.

Footnotes:

  1. Acts 19:19 A drachma was a silver coin worth about a day’s wages.
  2. Acts 19:21 Or decided in the Spirit
New International Version (NIV)

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Psalm 147

Psalm 147

Praise the Lord.[a]

How good it is to sing praises to our God,
how pleasant(A) and fitting to praise him!(B)

The Lord builds up Jerusalem;(C)
he gathers the exiles(D) of Israel.
He heals the brokenhearted(E)
and binds up their wounds.(F)
He determines the number of the stars(G)
and calls them each by name.
Great is our Lord(H) and mighty in power;(I)
his understanding has no limit.(J)
The Lord sustains the humble(K)
but casts the wicked(L) to the ground.

Sing to the Lord(M) with grateful praise;(N)
make music(O) to our God on the harp.(P)

He covers the sky with clouds;(Q)
he supplies the earth with rain(R)
and makes grass grow(S) on the hills.
He provides food(T) for the cattle
and for the young ravens(U) when they call.

10 His pleasure is not in the strength(V) of the horse,(W)
nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;
11 the Lord delights(X) in those who fear him,(Y)
who put their hope(Z) in his unfailing love.(AA)

12 Extol the Lord, Jerusalem;(AB)
praise your God, Zion.

13 He strengthens the bars of your gates(AC)
and blesses your people(AD) within you.
14 He grants peace(AE) to your borders
and satisfies you(AF) with the finest of wheat.(AG)

15 He sends his command(AH) to the earth;
his word runs(AI) swiftly.
16 He spreads the snow(AJ) like wool
and scatters the frost(AK) like ashes.
17 He hurls down his hail(AL) like pebbles.
Who can withstand his icy blast?
18 He sends his word(AM) and melts them;
he stirs up his breezes,(AN) and the waters flow.

19 He has revealed his word(AO) to Jacob,(AP)
his laws and decrees(AQ) to Israel.
20 He has done this for no other nation;(AR)
they do not know(AS) his laws.[b]

Praise the Lord.(AT)

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 147:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 20
  2. Psalm 147:20 Masoretic Text; Dead Sea Scrolls and Septuagint nation; / he has not made his laws known to them
New International Version (NIV)

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Proverbs 18:4-5

The words of the mouth are deep waters,(A)
but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.

It is not good to be partial to the wicked(B)
and so deprive the innocent of justice.(C)

New International Version (NIV)

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6/28/2023 DAB Transcript

2 Kings 10:32-12:21, Acts 18:1-22, Psalm 145:1-21, Proverbs 18:1

Today is the 28th day of June, welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian, it is wonderful to be here with you today, and every day, like I say all the time. It’s great to be here with you today, as we gather and I’m glad we get to do this. I’m glad no matter where we are, we can gather together and take the next step forward. So, let’s do that. Let’s put that foot out in front of us, and lead into it and let our balance shift and move forward together, one more step. And our next step leads us back into the book of second Kings, and today we will read chapters 13 and 14.

Commentary:

Okay, let’s take a quick look back at what we read today in the territory that we navigated through. We’re working our way through Second Kings, obviously, and so, we’re getting some lengthy descriptions of some of the kings lifetimes, and paragraphs of other Kings lifetimes but we’re moving through this kings of Judah and kings of Israel, the northern and southern kingdoms. And we’re seeing there’s a lot of back-and-forth. Once in a while, a good king will come and restore the land and restore the people’s hearts to God. And then there are generations of idolatry and at times the kingdoms, even though they are the 12 tribes of Israel, who just decided to divide themselves into nations, at times they were at war and at enmity with each other. At other times they are allies and obviously this is heavily influenced by who is sitting on the throne of what kingdom. And we’ve watched prophetic voices move through the kingdoms and through the kings. We had been working our way through the life and times and ministry and prophetic utterances of the prophet Elisha. Today, we said goodbye to Elisha, as we continue our journey forward through the kings.

Then we flip over to the Book of Acts and now Paul is on, what we believe is, his third missionary journey. And so, he works his way to Ephesus, and spends a couple of years there. And as we navigate our way through the Book of Acts, we do a lot of traveling with Paul because he’s on these missionary journeys planting churches and spreading the good news throughout…throughout the Roman Empire. But as we travel with Paul now, at this point, we’re…we’re…we’re kind of rounding the corner and ending our journeys with Paul because circumstances are going to arise that prohibit Paul from traveling around. Ironically, this won’t diminish his influence or impact, it will actually increase his impact in some pretty counterintuitive ways. And so, we will be watching that materialize in the days ahead.

And then the Proverbs today, gives us something to think about. To think about, in our experience of life and interaction with other people, but also to take a good hard look at ourselves. The Proverb today is discussing opinions, and we all seem to have those. In fact, it seems as if we carry a number of them around with us at any given moment. And are always ready to offer. And we probably know people in our lives who can’t not offer opinions, whether they’re asked to offer them, or not, right. We have probably people in our lives that just think they were born to tell people how they should live their lives and offer their unsolicited opinions and advice. And everything, from how to fix the nation’s politics, to how to, how you should be raising your children, to how you should be navigating your marriage, to all kinds of stuff. And a lot of times, we can take those things, they can be hurtful, or we can just kind of pass them off and go, oh, that’s just the kind of person that that they are, but if we reflect back, a lot of times these opinions come without all of the details. They’re formed without all of the ideas and circumstances being…being brought forth. And so, there’s so many assumptions inside of these opinions and we begin to realize that what’s going on here isn’t anything other than the person really, really likes to hear themselves talk. They really think they know what everybody else should do. So, according…according to the Proverbs, those people are fools. It’s not understanding that they seek, they seek an audience, they want to hear themselves talk. Or to just read it out of the Scriptures, “A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in disclosing what is on his mind.” So, let’s take some time to observe ourselves, today. We…we all have opinions, and we offer them often and that’s conversation, in a lot of ways. And in a lot of situations, we are invited, ‘what do you think about this or that or the other thing. But let’s watch ourselves because we might catch ourselves inserting our opinion, our unsolicited advice in foolish ways, that are in no way helpful and could be very much unhealthy. The point here of just kind of taking a step back and watching the way that we interact with each other, isn’t to like bring shame upon ourselves. It’s to grow and learn. And so, may we learn from the Proverbs today, and may we not be foolish.

Prayer:

And so, Holy Spirit, come into that. The things that we say, the things that we offer to each other, they’re beautiful gifts that this is how we share our lives but at times we bring our own baggage into the story and it becomes very, very unhelpful and we flip the whole thing around so that the spotlight is on us and the whole thing has become about us, and our experience, and our advice, and our opinion, and that can become really unhelpful because not only are we inserting ourselves where we don’t belong, but we may very well be interfering with what You are doing. So, we do need to slow down. We’re continually invited, slow down and pay attention in what’s actually happening. And so, it’s probably not a more important place to exercise some practice, then in what we say, in the things that we speak out into the world. And so, may we observe these things, as we offer advice and opinion today. In the name of Jesus, we ask. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com that is home base and that is where you can find out what is going on around here. You can download the Daily Audio Bible app free, from the App Store that works with your device and put that all in the palm of your hand, nice and convenient. So, check that out. And yeah, so we have something coming up around here that we’re talking about right now. It comes up next Friday, not this Friday, this Friday is the 30th of June, the last day of this month. The following Friday is the seventh day of July, and that has become a tradition. It’s like our own little community special holiday, our own little moment that we call the Daily Audio Bible Long Walk. And that’s a tradition that goes all the way back 2007. 2007 was the year in Nashville, there was a repentance and prayer gathering, a solemn day to…to come together as believers and repent before God. And this was going to be taking place at the stadium where…where our football team, The Titans, play. And we we’re gonna be walking from Centennial Park, which is…which was a park that was built here in Nashville, that…that…that commemorated Nashville’s 100th anniversary. We’re another century well past that. But we were walking from there. We gathered there and then there were tens of thousands of us and we walked all the way down through downtown in silence. I hadn’t seen anything quite like that before. Tens of thousands of people walking in silence. And at this time there were some, there was some broadcasting of this. And so, the interesting thing it was, that even as we are there kind of doing this, other people in the Daily Audio Bible community. And this is back 2007. So, like the technologies that exist today that make things like live broadcasting and all that stuff so easy, they weren’t, they weren’t easy that long ago. It’s like our lives have so radically changed so quickly. That just that far back, the technology wasn’t there. But it was being broadcast on some television stations. And so, some people in the community were watching and there was this thing going on in our message boards at the time. It’s before all of the kind of social media technologies that we use today, before all that. So, in this very rudimentary way, we were kind of being together in this virtual way, we were, whether we were watching, whether we were there. It was this thing and it sparked something, and it made me just realize this community is real, this community, we actually are in this together. And so, since then, we’ve just commemorated the 7th of July. It just falls pretty close to the center of the year. It’s a really good opportunity to regroup. It usually falls in the, a week that’s a national holiday, at least in the United States. So we’re kind of in that frame of mind and it’s like this re-group before we go into the second half of the year. We go together as a community, we go out into the world and enjoy God’s beauty, we go for a long walk and…and say all of the things that need to be said. Like that we empty ourselves before God. Getting it all out, everything, anything. And then when it’s all out, then we’re still inside. And we have this opportunity to appreciate and enjoy silent, and we realize that in the silence we’re listening, and we realize in the silence it’s not silent, nature is alive all around us. It is a beautiful time. And so, make plans for that, the seventh day of July, next Friday. And this is, obviously, individual, we’re all over the world. So, wherever it is that you find beautiful, wherever it is that is sacred to you, go there and then, maybe take a picture. Maybe you want to remember your day. Maybe take a video or something and then just come back to the Daily Audio Bible Facebook page, Facebook.com/dailyaudiobible. We have a post there, or we will have a post there for the Long Walk, and you can post those pictures into that post, share your stories. And then, all of the sudden, we had a day and we spent it with God and then we come back together and we hear from one another. And just open up these windows, these pictures, these videos. Like, all of the sudden we get this glimpse all over the world. What today looks like, what…what that day looks like, all over the world and to hear from our brothers and sisters. So, make plans for that, the seventh day of July.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible. Thank you, thank you for your partnership, especially as we navigate in the summertime. Thank you. There is a link on the homepage at dailyaudiobible.com. If you’re using the app, you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner or the mailing address is P.O. Box 1996 Springhill, Tennessee 37174.

And as always, if you have a prayer request or encouragement, you can hit the Hotline button in the app, that’s the little red button up at the top or you can dial 877-942-4253.

And that’s it for today, I’m Brian, I love you and I’ll be waiting for you here, tomorrow.

Prayer and Encouragements:

Hello, this is Romans 8, it’s my new name. I don’t know if anyone else has that, if I stole someone’s name and I hear it, I will change my name. But Romans 8 is my name. And today, I want to call in for the man that says he’s married for 14 years. He and his wife had a successful business. They have great children. But his relationship with his wife has not been very good and he’s grown an emotional relationship with someone else from work, I believe. And so, you’re wanting prayer for that. And you asked God. I first just want to start out by saying, I am so encouraged by the fact that you want prayer. I think that that is such a beautiful thing. The fact that you’re willing to say God, change me. Change me right now. There’s so many people in this world right now that are in your place that just drive straight into it and say, you know, nope, mm mmm. I do whatever. But the fact that you’re coming to God, saying Lord, please change my heart is so encouraging. And it’s beautiful. And I have confidence that God will work through this situation. And so, I just wanted to give out that encouragement and also just pray for you real quick. Our Father in Heaven, thank You so much for this man that is calling in and asking this community to pray for him. Lord, would you soften his heart. May this emotional relationship that he has with this other person change and go away. And that God You would help him to love his wife. To love her the way that Christ loves the church and that God, ultimately through this all, You may be glorified and that You would soften his heart. May he turn to You through this whole process and help his wife through this as well. Thank you Lord, in Jesus name. Amen. Alright, well I hope you all have a blessed day. And hope you will call in soon.

Hey everyone, this is Emily of Jim and Emily in Swansee, Wales. And I want to thank everyone who prayed for Alice Baboo, my friend, Depocks wife in Bangalore. Who has been suffering with cancer and then hepatitis and it’s just been a crazy journey for over a month with her in the ICU. And she went to be with God this morning, the 21st of January at 1000. And it’s very hard. But I was listening to Brian where Elisha tares his clothes in grief and I thought that was very interesting. Because even though, Elisha knew that Elijah had gone to heaven, he still grieved. And we know where Alice is and her body is in a better place. But our hearts are sad. And I think about what Brian said about wherever we are, God is there. We can’t hide from God. And he wasn’t hiding from us as we prayed for healing, for a miracle. And He suffers with us and mourns with us. So, thank you Brian and thank you everyone for praying. And please pray for Depock. And he’s got two grown daughters, Perana and Tasha. Yeah, please pray for them and healing and of their hearts as they grieve.

Hello Daily Audio Bible. My name is Brevola. Today’s Thursday the 22nd. I heard a young person calling to ask for prayers because his parents are going through a divorce. And my heart went out to them, to him and to the whole family and I would like to pray that the Lord would step into the storm and let peace rain. He would touch the hearts of both parents, let them see the higher purpose in Christ. Let them think about the welfare of this very wise child or children that they have. That the Lord will restore what seems to be broken. Send helpers their way, oh God. In Jesus name. Amen. Thank you to Brian and the family for the great work that they are doing. Thank you to everyone of this community for the peace that’s, we’re all in spirits when we come here. Thank you Jesus.

Good morning everybody. This is God’s Smile here. And as I’m sad this morning and I’m thinking about our beautiful community and so many are going through such hard times. And the song and the words came to me, Hide me now, Father, under your wings. Cover me with your mightier hand. When the oceans rise and thunders roar, I will soar with You above the storm. Father, You are King over the flood. And I will be still and know you are God. Father, I pray for my family that You’ve given me, that I listen to and those who listen quietly, who are going through storms. And they see the flood rising. But you Lord, are King over the flood. And You help us to be still and to know You are God. As Your hand moves upon our life. Father, help us to be patient, help us to draw from the life of Christ, that we may be still and know you are God, that we may know of Your love and Your grace and Your mercy towards us. We love You Lord. Thank You, that You’ve gone before us. And times ticking away my dear friends. Kiss Kiss.

Lawrence in Atlanta, this is Lawrence in California. My brother, my heart is breaking for you this morning. I see the road that you’re headed down. I’m down that road already brother. Please turn around. Turn around now. It’s not too late. Turn around now. Please reach out to me if you can, lawrencedacus@gmail.com that Lawrence with a ‘w’, d as in David, ‘a’, ‘c’ as in cat, ‘u’, ‘s’ as in Sam @gmail.com. My brother, please reach out to me. I have something to share with you that no one else can share with you. I’m down the road that you’re traveling already. Please turn around.

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Wednesday June 28, 2023 (NIV)

2 Kings 13-14

Jehoahaz King of Israel

13 In the twenty-third year of Joash son of Ahaziah king of Judah, Jehoahaz son of Jehu became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned seventeen years. He did evil(A) in the eyes of the Lord by following the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit, and he did not turn away from them. So the Lord’s anger(B) burned against Israel, and for a long time he kept them under the power(C) of Hazael king of Aram and Ben-Hadad(D) his son.

Then Jehoahaz sought(E) the Lord’s favor, and the Lord listened to him, for he saw(F) how severely the king of Aram was oppressing(G) Israel. The Lord provided a deliverer(H) for Israel, and they escaped from the power of Aram. So the Israelites lived in their own homes as they had before. But they did not turn away from the sins(I) of the house of Jeroboam, which he had caused Israel to commit; they continued in them. Also, the Asherah pole[a](J) remained standing in Samaria.

Nothing had been left(K) of the army of Jehoahaz except fifty horsemen, ten chariots and ten thousand foot soldiers, for the king of Aram had destroyed the rest and made them like the dust(L) at threshing time.

As for the other events of the reign of Jehoahaz, all he did and his achievements, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? Jehoahaz rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria. And Jehoash[b] his son succeeded him as king.

Jehoash King of Israel

10 In the thirty-seventh year of Joash king of Judah, Jehoash son of Jehoahaz became king of Israel in Samaria, and he reigned sixteen years. 11 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord and did not turn away from any of the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit; he continued in them.

12 As for the other events of the reign of Jehoash, all he did and his achievements, including his war against Amaziah(M) king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the annals(N) of the kings of Israel? 13 Jehoash rested with his ancestors, and Jeroboam(O) succeeded him on the throne. Jehoash was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel.

14 Now Elisha had been suffering from the illness from which he died. Jehoash king of Israel went down to see him and wept over him. “My father! My father!” he cried. “The chariots(P) and horsemen of Israel!”

15 Elisha said, “Get a bow and some arrows,”(Q) and he did so. 16 “Take the bow in your hands,” he said to the king of Israel. When he had taken it, Elisha put his hands on the king’s hands.

17 “Open the east window,” he said, and he opened it. “Shoot!”(R) Elisha said, and he shot. “The Lord’s arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Aram!” Elisha declared. “You will completely destroy the Arameans at Aphek.”(S)

18 Then he said, “Take the arrows,” and the king took them. Elisha told him, “Strike the ground.” He struck it three times and stopped. 19 The man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times.”(T)

20 Elisha died and was buried.

Now Moabite raiders(U) used to enter the country every spring. 21 Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life(V) and stood up on his feet.

22 Hazael king of Aram oppressed(W) Israel throughout the reign of Jehoahaz. 23 But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion and showed concern for them because of his covenant(X) with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. To this day he has been unwilling to destroy(Y) them or banish them from his presence.(Z)

24 Hazael king of Aram died, and Ben-Hadad(AA) his son succeeded him as king. 25 Then Jehoash son of Jehoahaz recaptured from Ben-Hadad son of Hazael the towns he had taken in battle from his father Jehoahaz. Three times(AB) Jehoash defeated him, and so he recovered(AC) the Israelite towns.

Amaziah King of Judah(AD)(AE)

14 In the second year of Jehoash[c] son of Jehoahaz king of Israel, Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah began to reign. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother’s name was Jehoaddan; she was from Jerusalem. He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not as his father David had done. In everything he followed the example of his father Joash. The high places,(AF) however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.

After the kingdom was firmly in his grasp, he executed(AG) the officials(AH) who had murdered his father the king. Yet he did not put the children of the assassins to death, in accordance with what is written in the Book of the Law(AI) of Moses where the Lord commanded: “Parents are not to be put to death for their children, nor children put to death for their parents; each will die for their own sin.”[d](AJ)

He was the one who defeated ten thousand Edomites in the Valley of Salt(AK) and captured Sela(AL) in battle, calling it Joktheel, the name it has to this day.

Then Amaziah sent messengers to Jehoash son of Jehoahaz, the son of Jehu, king of Israel, with the challenge: “Come, let us face each other in battle.”

But Jehoash king of Israel replied to Amaziah king of Judah: “A thistle(AM) in Lebanon sent a message to a cedar in Lebanon, ‘Give your daughter to my son in marriage.’ Then a wild beast in Lebanon came along and trampled the thistle underfoot. 10 You have indeed defeated Edom and now you are arrogant.(AN) Glory in your victory, but stay at home! Why ask for trouble and cause your own downfall and that of Judah also?”

11 Amaziah, however, would not listen, so Jehoash king of Israel attacked. He and Amaziah king of Judah faced each other at Beth Shemesh(AO) in Judah. 12 Judah was routed by Israel, and every man fled to his home.(AP) 13 Jehoash king of Israel captured Amaziah king of Judah, the son of Joash, the son of Ahaziah, at Beth Shemesh. Then Jehoash went to Jerusalem and broke down the wall(AQ) of Jerusalem from the Ephraim Gate(AR) to the Corner Gate(AS)—a section about four hundred cubits long.[e] 14 He took all the gold and silver and all the articles found in the temple of the Lord and in the treasuries of the royal palace. He also took hostages and returned to Samaria.

15 As for the other events of the reign of Jehoash, what he did and his achievements, including his war(AT) against Amaziah king of Judah, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Israel? 16 Jehoash rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria with the kings of Israel. And Jeroboam his son succeeded him as king.

17 Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah lived for fifteen years after the death of Jehoash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel. 18 As for the other events of Amaziah’s reign, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah?

19 They conspired(AU) against him in Jerusalem, and he fled to Lachish,(AV) but they sent men after him to Lachish and killed him there. 20 He was brought back by horse(AW) and was buried in Jerusalem with his ancestors, in the City of David.

21 Then all the people of Judah took Azariah,[f](AX) who was sixteen years old, and made him king in place of his father Amaziah. 22 He was the one who rebuilt Elath(AY) and restored it to Judah after Amaziah rested with his ancestors.

Jeroboam II King of Israel

23 In the fifteenth year of Amaziah son of Joash king of Judah, Jeroboam(AZ) son of Jehoash king of Israel became king in Samaria, and he reigned forty-one years. 24 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord and did not turn away from any of the sins of Jeroboam son of Nebat, which he had caused Israel to commit.(BA) 25 He was the one who restored the boundaries of Israel from Lebo Hamath(BB) to the Dead Sea,[g](BC) in accordance with the word of the Lord, the God of Israel, spoken through his servant Jonah(BD) son of Amittai, the prophet from Gath Hepher.

26 The Lord had seen how bitterly everyone in Israel, whether slave or free,(BE) was suffering;[h](BF) there was no one to help them.(BG) 27 And since the Lord had not said he would blot out(BH) the name of Israel from under heaven, he saved(BI) them by the hand of Jeroboam son of Jehoash.

28 As for the other events of Jeroboam’s reign, all he did, and his military achievements, including how he recovered for Israel both Damascus(BJ) and Hamath,(BK) which had belonged to Judah, are they not written in the book of the annals(BL) of the kings of Israel? 29 Jeroboam rested with his ancestors, the kings of Israel. And Zechariah his son succeeded him as king.

Footnotes:

  1. 2 Kings 13:6 That is, a wooden symbol of the goddess Asherah; here and elsewhere in 2 Kings
  2. 2 Kings 13:9 Hebrew Joash, a variant of Jehoash; also in verses 12-14 and 25
  3. 2 Kings 14:1 Hebrew Joash, a variant of Jehoash; also in verses 13, 23 and 27
  4. 2 Kings 14:6 Deut. 24:16
  5. 2 Kings 14:13 That is, about 600 feet or about 180 meters
  6. 2 Kings 14:21 Also called Uzziah
  7. 2 Kings 14:25 Hebrew the Sea of the Arabah
  8. 2 Kings 14:26 Or Israel was suffering. They were without a ruler or leader, and

Cross references:

  1. 2 Kings 13:2 : 1Ki 12:26-33
  2. 2 Kings 13:3 : S Dt 31:17
  3. 2 Kings 13:3 : S 1Ki 19:17
  4. 2 Kings 13:3 : ver 24
  5. 2 Kings 13:4 : S Dt 4:29
  6. 2 Kings 13:4 : S Dt 26:7
  7. 2 Kings 13:4 : S Nu 10:9; 2Sa 7:10
  8. 2 Kings 13:5 : S Ge 45:7; S Dt 28:29; S Jdg 2:18
  9. 2 Kings 13:6 : 1Ki 12:30
  10. 2 Kings 13:6 : S 1Ki 16:33
  11. 2 Kings 13:7 : 2Ki 10:32-33
  12. 2 Kings 13:7 : S 2Sa 22:43
  13. 2 Kings 13:12 : 2Ki 14:15
  14. 2 Kings 13:12 : 1Ki 15:31
  15. 2 Kings 13:13 : 2Ki 14:23; Hos 1:1
  16. 2 Kings 13:14 : S 2Ki 2:12
  17. 2 Kings 13:15 : 1Sa 20:20
  18. 2 Kings 13:17 : Jos 8:18
  19. 2 Kings 13:17 : S 1Ki 20:26
  20. 2 Kings 13:19 : ver 25
  21. 2 Kings 13:20 : S 2Ki 5:2
  22. 2 Kings 13:21 : Mt 27:52
  23. 2 Kings 13:22 : S 1Ki 19:17
  24. 2 Kings 13:23 : S Ex 2:24
  25. 2 Kings 13:23 : S Dt 29:20
  26. 2 Kings 13:23 : S Ex 33:15; 2Ki 17:18; 24:3, 20
  27. 2 Kings 13:24 : ver 3
  28. 2 Kings 13:25 : ver 18, 19
  29. 2 Kings 13:25 : S 2Ki 10:32
  30. 2 Kings 14:1 : 14:1-7pp — 2Ch 25:1-4, 11-12
  31. 2 Kings 14:1 : 14:8-22pp — 2Ch 25:17–26:2
  32. 2 Kings 14:4 : 2Ki 12:3
  33. 2 Kings 14:5 : 2Ki 21:24
  34. 2 Kings 14:5 : 2Ki 12:20
  35. 2 Kings 14:6 : S Dt 28:61
  36. 2 Kings 14:6 : S Nu 26:11; Job 21:20; Jer 31:30; 44:3; Eze 18:4, 20
  37. 2 Kings 14:7 : S 2Sa 8:13
  38. 2 Kings 14:7 : S Jdg 1:36
  39. 2 Kings 14:9 : Jdg 9:8-15
  40. 2 Kings 14:10 : 2Ch 26:16; 32:25
  41. 2 Kings 14:11 : S Jos 15:10
  42. 2 Kings 14:12 : 1Ki 22:36
  43. 2 Kings 14:13 : 1Ki 3:1; 2Ch 33:14; 36:19; Jer 39:2
  44. 2 Kings 14:13 : Ne 8:16; 12:39
  45. 2 Kings 14:13 : 2Ch 26:9; Jer 31:38; Zec 14:10
  46. 2 Kings 14:15 : 2Ki 13:12
  47. 2 Kings 14:19 : S 2Ki 12:20
  48. 2 Kings 14:19 : S Jos 10:3
  49. 2 Kings 14:20 : S 2Ki 9:28
  50. 2 Kings 14:21 : 2Ki 15:1; 2Ch 26:23; Isa 1:1; Hos 1:1; Am 1:1
  51. 2 Kings 14:22 : S 1Ki 9:26
  52. 2 Kings 14:23 : S 2Ki 13:13; 1Ch 5:17; Am 1:1; 7:10
  53. 2 Kings 14:24 : S 1Ki 15:30
  54. 2 Kings 14:25 : S Nu 13:21
  55. 2 Kings 14:25 : Dt 3:17
  56. 2 Kings 14:25 : Jnh 1:1; Mt 12:39
  57. 2 Kings 14:26 : Dt 32:36
  58. 2 Kings 14:26 : 2Ki 13:4
  59. 2 Kings 14:26 : Ps 18:41; 22:11; 72:12; 107:12; Isa 63:5; La 1:7
  60. 2 Kings 14:27 : S Dt 29:20
  61. 2 Kings 14:27 : S Jdg 6:14
  62. 2 Kings 14:28 : S 2Sa 8:5
  63. 2 Kings 14:28 : S 2Sa 8:9
  64. 2 Kings 14:28 : 1Ki 15:31
New International Version (NIV)

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Acts 18:23-19:12

23 After spending some time in Antioch, Paul set out from there and traveled from place to place throughout the region of Galatia(A) and Phrygia,(B) strengthening all the disciples.(C)

24 Meanwhile a Jew named Apollos,(D) a native of Alexandria, came to Ephesus.(E) He was a learned man, with a thorough knowledge of the Scriptures. 25 He had been instructed in the way of the Lord, and he spoke with great fervor[a](F) and taught about Jesus accurately, though he knew only the baptism of John.(G) 26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila(H) heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

27 When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia,(I) the brothers and sisters(J) encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. 28 For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures(K) that Jesus was the Messiah.(L)

Paul in Ephesus

19 While Apollos(M) was at Corinth,(N) Paul took the road through the interior and arrived at Ephesus.(O) There he found some disciples and asked them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit(P) when[b] you believed?”

They answered, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”

So Paul asked, “Then what baptism did you receive?”

“John’s baptism,” they replied.

Paul said, “John’s baptism(Q) was a baptism of repentance. He told the people to believe in the one coming after him, that is, in Jesus.”(R) On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.(S) When Paul placed his hands on them,(T) the Holy Spirit came on them,(U) and they spoke in tongues[c](V) and prophesied. There were about twelve men in all.

Paul entered the synagogue(W) and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.(X) But some of them(Y) became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way.(Z) So Paul left them. He took the disciples(AA) with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 10 This went on for two years,(AB) so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia(AC) heard the word of the Lord.(AD)

11 God did extraordinary miracles(AE) through Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured(AF) and the evil spirits left them.

Footnotes:

  1. Acts 18:25 Or with fervor in the Spirit
  2. Acts 19:2 Or after
  3. Acts 19:6 Or other languages
New International Version (NIV)

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Psalm 146

Psalm 146

Praise the Lord.[a]

Praise the Lord,(A) my soul.

I will praise the Lord all my life;(B)
I will sing praise(C) to my God as long as I live.(D)
Do not put your trust in princes,(E)
in human beings,(F) who cannot save.
When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;(G)
on that very day their plans come to nothing.(H)
Blessed are those(I) whose help(J) is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord their God.

He is the Maker of heaven(K) and earth,
the sea, and everything in them—
he remains faithful(L) forever.
He upholds(M) the cause of the oppressed(N)
and gives food to the hungry.(O)
The Lord sets prisoners free,(P)
the Lord gives sight(Q) to the blind,(R)
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,(S)
the Lord loves the righteous.(T)
The Lord watches over the foreigner(U)
and sustains the fatherless(V) and the widow,(W)
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

10 The Lord reigns(X) forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.

Praise the Lord.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 146:1 Hebrew Hallelu Yah; also in verse 10
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Proverbs 18:2-3

Fools find no pleasure in understanding
but delight in airing their own opinions.(A)

When wickedness comes, so does contempt,
and with shame comes reproach.

Cross references:

  1. Proverbs 18:2 : S Pr 12:23
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Tuesday June 27, 2023 (NIV)

2 Kings 10:32-12:21

32 In those days the Lord began to reduce(A) the size of Israel. Hazael(B) overpowered the Israelites throughout their territory 33 east of the Jordan in all the land of Gilead (the region of Gad, Reuben and Manasseh), from Aroer(C) by the Arnon(D) Gorge through Gilead to Bashan.

34 As for the other events of Jehu’s reign, all he did, and all his achievements, are they not written in the book of the annals(E) of the kings of Israel?

35 Jehu rested with his ancestors and was buried in Samaria. And Jehoahaz his son succeeded him as king. 36 The time that Jehu reigned over Israel in Samaria was twenty-eight years.

Athaliah and Joash(F)

11 When Athaliah(G) the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she proceeded to destroy the whole royal family. But Jehosheba, the daughter of King Jehoram[a] and sister of Ahaziah, took Joash(H) son of Ahaziah and stole him away from among the royal princes, who were about to be murdered. She put him and his nurse in a bedroom to hide him from Athaliah; so he was not killed.(I) He remained hidden with his nurse at the temple of the Lord for six years while Athaliah ruled the land.

In the seventh year Jehoiada sent for the commanders of units of a hundred, the Carites(J) and the guards and had them brought to him at the temple of the Lord. He made a covenant with them and put them under oath at the temple of the Lord. Then he showed them the king’s son. He commanded them, saying, “This is what you are to do: You who are in the three companies that are going on duty on the Sabbath(K)—a third of you guarding the royal palace,(L) a third at the Sur Gate, and a third at the gate behind the guard, who take turns guarding the temple— and you who are in the other two companies that normally go off Sabbath duty are all to guard the temple for the king. Station yourselves around the king, each of you with weapon in hand. Anyone who approaches your ranks[b] is to be put to death. Stay close to the king wherever he goes.”

The commanders of units of a hundred did just as Jehoiada the priest ordered. Each one took his men—those who were going on duty on the Sabbath and those who were going off duty—and came to Jehoiada the priest. 10 Then he gave the commanders the spears and shields(M) that had belonged to King David and that were in the temple of the Lord. 11 The guards, each with weapon in hand, stationed themselves around the king—near the altar and the temple, from the south side to the north side of the temple.

12 Jehoiada brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him; he presented him with a copy of the covenant(N) and proclaimed him king. They anointed(O) him, and the people clapped their hands(P) and shouted, “Long live the king!”(Q)

13 When Athaliah heard the noise made by the guards and the people, she went to the people at the temple of the Lord. 14 She looked and there was the king, standing by the pillar,(R) as the custom was. The officers and the trumpeters were beside the king, and all the people of the land were rejoicing and blowing trumpets.(S) Then Athaliah tore(T) her robes and called out, “Treason! Treason!”(U)

15 Jehoiada the priest ordered the commanders of units of a hundred, who were in charge of the troops: “Bring her out between the ranks[c] and put to the sword anyone who follows her.” For the priest had said, “She must not be put to death in the temple(V) of the Lord.” 16 So they seized her as she reached the place where the horses enter(W) the palace grounds, and there she was put to death.(X)

17 Jehoiada then made a covenant(Y) between the Lord and the king and people that they would be the Lord’s people. He also made a covenant between the king and the people.(Z) 18 All the people of the land went to the temple(AA) of Baal and tore it down. They smashed(AB) the altars and idols to pieces and killed Mattan the priest(AC) of Baal in front of the altars.

Then Jehoiada the priest posted guards at the temple of the Lord. 19 He took with him the commanders of hundreds, the Carites,(AD) the guards and all the people of the land, and together they brought the king down from the temple of the Lord and went into the palace, entering by way of the gate of the guards. The king then took his place on the royal throne. 20 All the people of the land rejoiced,(AE) and the city was calm, because Athaliah had been slain with the sword at the palace.

21 Joash[d] was seven years old when he began to reign.[e]

Joash Repairs the Temple(AF)

12 [f]In the seventh year of Jehu, Joash[g](AG) became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem forty years. His mother’s name was Zibiah; she was from Beersheba. Joash did what was right(AH) in the eyes of the Lord all the years Jehoiada the priest instructed him. The high places,(AI) however, were not removed; the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there.

Joash said to the priests, “Collect(AJ) all the money that is brought as sacred offerings(AK) to the temple of the Lord—the money collected in the census,(AL) the money received from personal vows and the money brought voluntarily(AM) to the temple. Let every priest receive the money from one of the treasurers, then use it to repair(AN) whatever damage is found in the temple.”

But by the twenty-third year of King Joash the priests still had not repaired the temple. Therefore King Joash summoned Jehoiada the priest and the other priests and asked them, “Why aren’t you repairing the damage done to the temple? Take no more money from your treasurers, but hand it over for repairing the temple.” The priests agreed that they would not collect any more money from the people and that they would not repair the temple themselves.

Jehoiada the priest took a chest and bored a hole in its lid. He placed it beside the altar, on the right side as one enters the temple of the Lord. The priests who guarded the entrance(AO) put into the chest all the money(AP) that was brought to the temple of the Lord. 10 Whenever they saw that there was a large amount of money in the chest, the royal secretary(AQ) and the high priest came, counted the money that had been brought into the temple of the Lord and put it into bags. 11 When the amount had been determined, they gave the money to the men appointed to supervise the work on the temple. With it they paid those who worked on the temple of the Lord—the carpenters and builders, 12 the masons and stonecutters.(AR) They purchased timber and blocks of dressed stone for the repair of the temple of the Lord, and met all the other expenses of restoring the temple.

13 The money brought into the temple was not spent for making silver basins, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, trumpets or any other articles of gold(AS) or silver for the temple of the Lord; 14 it was paid to the workers, who used it to repair the temple. 15 They did not require an accounting from those to whom they gave the money to pay the workers, because they acted with complete honesty.(AT) 16 The money from the guilt offerings(AU) and sin offerings[h](AV) was not brought into the temple of the Lord; it belonged(AW) to the priests.

17 About this time Hazael(AX) king of Aram went up and attacked Gath and captured it. Then he turned to attack Jerusalem. 18 But Joash king of Judah took all the sacred objects dedicated by his predecessors—Jehoshaphat, Jehoram and Ahaziah, the kings of Judah—and the gifts he himself had dedicated and all the gold found in the treasuries of the temple of the Lord and of the royal palace, and he sent(AY) them to Hazael king of Aram, who then withdrew(AZ) from Jerusalem.

19 As for the other events of the reign of Joash, and all he did, are they not written in the book of the annals of the kings of Judah? 20 His officials(BA) conspired against him and assassinated(BB) him at Beth Millo,(BC) on the road down to Silla. 21 The officials who murdered him were Jozabad son of Shimeath and Jehozabad son of Shomer. He died and was buried with his ancestors in the City of David. And Amaziah his son succeeded him as king.

Footnotes:

  1. 2 Kings 11:2 Hebrew Joram, a variant of Jehoram
  2. 2 Kings 11:8 Or approaches the precincts
  3. 2 Kings 11:15 Or out from the precincts
  4. 2 Kings 11:21 Hebrew Jehoash, a variant of Joash
  5. 2 Kings 11:21 In Hebrew texts this verse (11:21) is numbered 12:1.
  6. 2 Kings 12:1 In Hebrew texts 12:1-21 is numbered 12:2-22.
  7. 2 Kings 12:1 Hebrew Jehoash, a variant of Joash; also in verses 2, 4, 6, 7 and 18
  8. 2 Kings 12:16 Or purification offerings

Cross references:

  1. 2 Kings 10:32 : 2Ki 13:25; Ps 107:39
  2. 2 Kings 10:32 : S 1Ki 19:17
  3. 2 Kings 10:33 : S Nu 32:34; Dt 2:36; Jdg 11:26; Isa 17:2
  4. 2 Kings 10:33 : S Nu 21:13
  5. 2 Kings 10:34 : 1Ki 15:31
  6. 2 Kings 11:1 : 11:1-21pp — 2Ch 22:10–23:21
  7. 2 Kings 11:1 : S 2Ki 8:18
  8. 2 Kings 11:2 : 2Ki 12:1
  9. 2 Kings 11:2 : S Jdg 9:5
  10. 2 Kings 11:4 : ver 19
  11. 2 Kings 11:5 : 1Ch 9:25
  12. 2 Kings 11:5 : 1Ki 14:27
  13. 2 Kings 11:10 : S 2Sa 8:7
  14. 2 Kings 11:12 : Ex 25:16; 2Ki 23:3
  15. 2 Kings 11:12 : S 1Sa 9:16; S 1Ki 1:39
  16. 2 Kings 11:12 : Ps 47:1; 98:8; Isa 55:12
  17. 2 Kings 11:12 : S 1Sa 10:24
  18. 2 Kings 11:14 : S 1Ki 7:15
  19. 2 Kings 11:14 : S 1Ki 1:39
  20. 2 Kings 11:14 : S Ge 37:29
  21. 2 Kings 11:14 : 2Ki 9:23
  22. 2 Kings 11:15 : 1Ki 2:30
  23. 2 Kings 11:16 : Ne 3:28; Jer 31:40
  24. 2 Kings 11:16 : S Ge 4:14
  25. 2 Kings 11:17 : S Ex 24:8; 2Sa 5:3; 2Ch 15:12; 23:3; 29:10; 34:31; Ezr 10:3
  26. 2 Kings 11:17 : 2Ki 23:3; Jer 34:8
  27. 2 Kings 11:18 : S 1Ki 16:32
  28. 2 Kings 11:18 : S Dt 12:3
  29. 2 Kings 11:18 : 1Ki 18:40; 2Ki 10:25; 23:20
  30. 2 Kings 11:19 : ver 4
  31. 2 Kings 11:20 : Pr 11:10; 28:12; 29:2
  32. 2 Kings 12:1 : 12:1-21pp — 2Ch 24:1-14; 24:23-27
  33. 2 Kings 12:1 : 2Ki 11:2
  34. 2 Kings 12:2 : S Dt 12:25; S 2Sa 8:15
  35. 2 Kings 12:3 : S 1Ki 3:3; S 2Ki 18:4
  36. 2 Kings 12:4 : 2Ki 22:4
  37. 2 Kings 12:4 : Nu 18:19
  38. 2 Kings 12:4 : S Ex 30:12
  39. 2 Kings 12:4 : S Ex 25:2; S 35:29
  40. 2 Kings 12:5 : 2Ki 22:5
  41. 2 Kings 12:9 : 2Ki 25:18; Jer 35:4; 52:24
  42. 2 Kings 12:9 : Mk 12:41; Lk 21:1
  43. 2 Kings 12:10 : S 2Sa 8:17
  44. 2 Kings 12:12 : 2Ki 22:5-6
  45. 2 Kings 12:13 : S 1Ki 7:48-51
  46. 2 Kings 12:15 : 2Ki 22:7; 1Co 4:2
  47. 2 Kings 12:16 : Lev 5:14-19
  48. 2 Kings 12:16 : Lev 4:1-35
  49. 2 Kings 12:16 : S Lev 7:7
  50. 2 Kings 12:17 : 2Ki 8:12
  51. 2 Kings 12:18 : S 1Ki 15:18; S 2Ch 21:16-17
  52. 2 Kings 12:18 : 1Ki 15:21; 2Ki 15:20; 19:36
  53. 2 Kings 12:20 : 2Ki 14:5
  54. 2 Kings 12:20 : 2Ki 14:19; 15:10, 14, 25, 30; 21:23; 25:25
  55. 2 Kings 12:20 : Jdg 9:6
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Acts 18:1-22

In Corinth

18 After this, Paul left Athens(A) and went to Corinth.(B) There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla,(C) because Claudius(D) had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them.(E) Every Sabbath(F) he reasoned in the synagogue,(G) trying to persuade Jews and Greeks.

When Silas(H) and Timothy(I) came from Macedonia,(J) Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah.(K) But when they opposed Paul and became abusive,(L) he shook out his clothes in protest(M) and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads!(N) I am innocent of it.(O) From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”(P)

Then Paul left the synagogue and went next door to the house of Titius Justus, a worshiper of God.(Q) Crispus,(R) the synagogue leader,(S) and his entire household(T) believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard Paul believed and were baptized.

One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision:(U) “Do not be afraid;(V) keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10 For I am with you,(W) and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” 11 So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God.(X)

12 While Gallio was proconsul(Y) of Achaia,(Z) the Jews of Corinth made a united attack on Paul and brought him to the place of judgment. 13 “This man,” they charged, “is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law.”

14 Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to them, “If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. 15 But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law(AA)—settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things.” 16 So he drove them off. 17 Then the crowd there turned on Sosthenes(AB) the synagogue leader(AC) and beat him in front of the proconsul; and Gallio showed no concern whatever.

Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos

18 Paul stayed on in Corinth for some time. Then he left the brothers and sisters(AD) and sailed for Syria,(AE) accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila.(AF) Before he sailed, he had his hair cut off at Cenchreae(AG) because of a vow he had taken.(AH) 19 They arrived at Ephesus,(AI) where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. He himself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews. 20 When they asked him to spend more time with them, he declined. 21 But as he left, he promised, “I will come back if it is God’s will.”(AJ) Then he set sail from Ephesus. 22 When he landed at Caesarea,(AK) he went up to Jerusalem and greeted the church and then went down to Antioch.(AL)

New International Version (NIV)

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Psalm 145

Psalm 145[a]

A psalm of praise. Of David.

I will exalt you,(A) my God the King;(B)
I will praise your name(C) for ever and ever.
Every day I will praise(D) you
and extol your name(E) for ever and ever.

Great(F) is the Lord and most worthy of praise;(G)
his greatness no one can fathom.(H)
One generation(I) commends your works to another;
they tell(J) of your mighty acts.(K)
They speak of the glorious splendor(L) of your majesty—
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.[b](M)
They tell(N) of the power of your awesome works—(O)
and I will proclaim(P) your great deeds.(Q)
They celebrate your abundant goodness(R)
and joyfully sing(S) of your righteousness.(T)

The Lord is gracious and compassionate,(U)
slow to anger and rich in love.(V)

The Lord is good(W) to all;
he has compassion(X) on all he has made.
10 All your works praise you,(Y) Lord;
your faithful people extol(Z) you.(AA)
11 They tell of the glory of your kingdom(AB)
and speak of your might,(AC)
12 so that all people may know of your mighty acts(AD)
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.(AE)
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,(AF)
and your dominion endures through all generations.

The Lord is trustworthy(AG) in all he promises(AH)
and faithful in all he does.[c]
14 The Lord upholds(AI) all who fall
and lifts up all(AJ) who are bowed down.(AK)
15 The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food(AL) at the proper time.
16 You open your hand
and satisfy the desires(AM) of every living thing.

17 The Lord is righteous(AN) in all his ways
and faithful in all he does.(AO)
18 The Lord is near(AP) to all who call on him,(AQ)
to all who call on him in truth.
19 He fulfills the desires(AR) of those who fear him;(AS)
he hears their cry(AT) and saves them.(AU)
20 The Lord watches over(AV) all who love him,(AW)
but all the wicked he will destroy.(AX)

21 My mouth will speak(AY) in praise of the Lord.
Let every creature(AZ) praise his holy name(BA)
for ever and ever.

Footnotes:

  1. Psalm 145:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, the verses of which (including verse 13b) begin with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
  2. Psalm 145:5 Dead Sea Scrolls and Syriac (see also Septuagint); Masoretic Text On the glorious splendor of your majesty / and on your wonderful works I will meditate
  3. Psalm 145:13 One manuscript of the Masoretic Text, Dead Sea Scrolls and Syriac (see also Septuagint); most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text do not have the last two lines of verse 13.

Cross references:

  1. Psalm 145:1 : Ps 30:1; 34:1
  2. Psalm 145:1 : Ps 2:6; 5:2
  3. Psalm 145:1 : S Ps 54:6
  4. Psalm 145:2 : S Ps 71:6
  5. Psalm 145:2 : Ps 34:1; Isa 25:1; 26:8
  6. Psalm 145:3 : S Ps 95:3
  7. Psalm 145:3 : S 2Sa 22:4; Ps 96:4
  8. Psalm 145:3 : S Job 5:9
  9. Psalm 145:4 : Ps 22:30
  10. Psalm 145:4 : S Dt 11:19
  11. Psalm 145:4 : S Ps 71:16
  12. Psalm 145:5 : Ps 96:6; 148:13
  13. Psalm 145:5 : S Ps 75:1
  14. Psalm 145:6 : Ps 78:4
  15. Psalm 145:6 : S Ps 66:3
  16. Psalm 145:6 : S Dt 32:3
  17. Psalm 145:6 : Ps 75:1; 106:22
  18. Psalm 145:7 : S Ex 18:9; S Ps 27:13
  19. Psalm 145:7 : S Ps 5:11; S 101:1
  20. Psalm 145:7 : S Ps 138:5
  21. Psalm 145:8 : S Ps 86:15; 103:8
  22. Psalm 145:8 : S Ps 86:5
  23. Psalm 145:9 : S 1Ch 16:34; S Ps 136:1; Mt 19:17; Mk 10:18
  24. Psalm 145:9 : Ps 103:13-14
  25. Psalm 145:10 : S Ps 8:6; S 103:22; S 139:14
  26. Psalm 145:10 : Ps 30:4; 148:14; 149:9
  27. Psalm 145:10 : Ps 115:17-18
  28. Psalm 145:11 : ver 12-13; S Ex 15:2; Mt 6:33
  29. Psalm 145:11 : Ps 21:13
  30. Psalm 145:12 : S Ps 75:1; 105:1
  31. Psalm 145:12 : ver 11; Ps 103:19; Isa 2:10, 19, 21
  32. Psalm 145:13 : S Ex 15:18; 1Ti 1:17; 2Pe 1:11; Rev 11:15
  33. Psalm 145:13 : S Dt 7:9; S 1Co 1:9
  34. Psalm 145:13 : S Jos 23:14
  35. Psalm 145:14 : S Ps 37:17
  36. Psalm 145:14 : S 1Sa 2:8; Ps 146:8
  37. Psalm 145:14 : S Ps 38:6
  38. Psalm 145:15 : S Ge 1:30; S Job 28:5; S Ps 37:25; S Mt 6:26
  39. Psalm 145:16 : S Ps 90:14; S 104:28
  40. Psalm 145:17 : S Ex 9:27; S Ezr 9:15
  41. Psalm 145:17 : ver 13
  42. Psalm 145:18 : S Nu 23:21; S Ps 46:1; Php 4:5
  43. Psalm 145:18 : Ps 18:6; 80:18
  44. Psalm 145:19 : S Ps 20:4
  45. Psalm 145:19 : S Job 22:28
  46. Psalm 145:19 : S Ps 31:22; S 40:1
  47. Psalm 145:19 : S 1Sa 10:19; Ps 7:10; 34:18
  48. Psalm 145:20 : S Ps 1:6
  49. Psalm 145:20 : Ps 31:23; 91:14; 97:10
  50. Psalm 145:20 : S Ps 94:23
  51. Psalm 145:21 : Ps 71:8
  52. Psalm 145:21 : Ps 65:2; 150:6
  53. Psalm 145:21 : S Ex 3:15; S Ps 30:4; S 99:3
New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Proverbs 18:1

18 An unfriendly person pursues selfish ends
and against all sound judgment starts quarrels.

New International Version (NIV)

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

06/27/2023 DAB Transcript

2 Kings 10:32-12:21, Acts 18:1-22, Psalms 145:1-21, Proverbs 18:1

Today is the 27th day of June welcome to the Daily Audio Bible I am Brian and it is wonderful to be here with you today as we gather around the Global Campfire and find a place and get cozy and allow the Scriptures to come into our lives. And we will do what we always do. We’ll go back to the place where we left off. That happens to be second Kings right now. And, so, we’re picking up the story from there. Second Kings chapter 10 verse 32 through 12 verse 21 today.

Commentary:

Okay. So, in the book of Acts we are continuing along with Paul on his second missionary journey and we have noticed that wherever he goes, wherever this message is shared hearts are open, people realize and acknowledge the truth and enter into a new way of life. But also there are those who are viciously and in many cases violently opposed to what Paul is teaching. And we’ve experienced a number of different places that they traveled and spoke. So, we have all these little snapshots. And, so, we’ve watched Paul adapt to where he’s at and who he’s talking to and how their hearts are. Like his whole focuses upon a person to introduce a person to Jesus, not to convince a person to buy some sort of snake oil that he’s talking. He’s a truly, truly, deeply wanting people to know Jesus and this is viciously opposed as a false teaching. And many many Jewish people considered Paul heretic at this point, an apostate worthy of death that he needed to be killed. So, here’s the deal. Like, wh we know the gospel story of Jesus. We know about His death and resurrection, and then we know that the church kind of grew up after that. And a lot of times we have this idea that the power of the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts, like this was such a magical time, such a serene time of the gospel going forth and just becoming plentiful and accepted throughout the earth. I regularly hear the sentiment, “boy I wish we could experience the book of Acts. I wish we could go back to the book of Acts, to experience the early church again.” And so often that sentiment is attached to the idea that it was an easier time. I’m just pointing out we’re reading about that time from the Scriptures themselves and as I read each day as we take another step or through the book of Acts that’s not what I’m seeing. I’m seeing that light is going into the darkness and the darkness does not want to be exposed and so fights against the light. This same thing was happening with Jesus. Jesus was revealing a kingdom that is available and is now and is happening but to reveal a kingdom that is going to overthrow…like the kingdom of light overthrowing the kingdom of darkness is not gonna happen without the disruption and unrest of one kingdom overthrowing another one. So, we have the snapshot today. Paul is in Corinth speaking, teaching pleading, trying to reveal Jesus day after day after day. And day after day enters into debate and receives opposition, receives insult, and eventually shakes off his clothes. He’s like look, I’ve done what I’ve…I’ve done my best. Your blood is on your own head. I came to tell you the truth. I’m innocent. I’m gonna go to the Gentiles. And the irony in this snapshot is that for Paul to leave the synagogue and go to the Gentiles is simply for Paul to go to the building next door where he continues to teach Jew and Gentile alike. And, so, let’s just observe, this…this was difficult work. This was dangerous work. It was tireless and often thankless work. It was not easy, and it didn’t happen in some sort of measurable progressive way. It was in fits and starts. It was messy. It was met with vicious opposition and like we were saying just a minute ago sometimes violence. Let’s remember that we’re in the same era. It’s the same kingdom of light and kingdom of dark. And when we are engaging with the good news and offering Jesus then we are at the tip of that spear. Paul had all kinds of reasons to be discouraged. I mean, I read through the book of Acts and I’m like, this guy is…is definitely resolved. He is very very committed to this mission. He is committed to die for it if he needs to and you can see that because he has every opportunity to get discouraged. And sometimes we feel that way too. We have every reason to be discouraged. But even in those circumstances, we are given comfort. Even in today’s reading. Paul receives word from the Lord. And God says to him, don’t be afraid. Don’t be silent. Speak out. I am with you. No one will attack and harm you. There are many people in this city that belong to me. Let’s remember that we are certainly reading of the apostle Paul, and we should appreciate what we are reading. But let’s also realize that he’s a brother. He didn’t have anything that we don’t have. He’s doing exactly what we’re supposed to be doing. He’s an example for us.

Prayer:

Holy Spirit come into that we pray. We want things to go well for us and we pray for Your blessing and You want things to go well for us and You offer Your blessing and You care and protect us but there are also times where You are inviting us to reveal in the darkness the light and that causes all kinds of disruption. And sometimes we shy away from that or misinterpret that. We invite Your Holy Spirit into that as we continue to obey You, that You would continue to interpret for us what’s going on and what we are a part of so that we don’t lose the plot, so that we don’t get discouraged and lost, so that we can hear the same words that Paul needed to hear – “don’t be afraid to speak out. Don’t be silent. I’m with You. I will protect You. No one will harm You. There are many people here who belong to me.” May we remember this we ask in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com, that is the home base and that is where you can find out what is going on around here. The Daily Audio Bible app puts that right in…right in your hand. It puts it, or it makes it very convenient. So, check that out.

And we do have something coming up around here. The seventh of July, which is a week from this Friday. And this Friday is the last day of June, but the following Friday is the seventh day of July, and the seventh day of July is our own little Global Campfire holiday. It’s a holiday for us who are taking this journey through the Bible and it’s something that we have been doing for 16 years. I think that was the number we counted up. 16 years we’ve been doing this seventh day of July, the long walk. And, so, essentially what we’ve got going on here is where a community, we come together around the Global Campfire every day but we’re all over the earth. And, so, we can’t just all gather together in one place and go for a long walk together, although that would be fun but it would be very very different than what we’re talking about. This is a day that we do together, but we do individually. So, it’s a day that we kind of square off on the calendar and say that day belongs to my heart. That day belongs to the Lord. That day I’m going for a long walk with God. That’s a day that I’m not gonna be rushed. That’s a day that I’m not gonna get pulled in a thousand directions. That’s a day that I’m not going to go home after work or whatever and just be wound up in anxiety and how this is all gonna to work out and everybody’s fighting and it’s just World War III. That’s not going to be that day. That day belongs to my heart. That day belongs to God. And all you have to do to participate is sort of make that declaration and make it so. Go somewhere beautiful whether you get in your car and you drive for a couple of hours to a very very meaningful place that’s very beautiful and symbolic to you or whether you go down to the nearest park, sit on a bench, listen to the children, listen to the birds, become familiar with the fact that you are embodied in your skin and are on this earth as a gift and it is here to restore and heal us. It is here, at its own pace. And we realize pretty quickly that our pace is not the pace of nature, that we have created a whole new nature at its frantic. But consider the lilies, listen to the birds, slow down for a second and don’t make your prayers these desperate pleas before you fall asleep. Say everything you’ve gotta say because you don’t have any time constraints. You can say everything you need to say. And they’ll be time left believe it or not. Lots of time to listen. And you can listen to the birds, you can listen to the leaves as the wind blows through, you can listen to the whisper of the grass and become very very aware that there is a lot of life that is happening all around us all of the time and we aren’t even paying attention, like literally paying attention to things that aren’t alive. And, so, that is the long walk and we’ll be talking about this as we move toward it. But I’m trying at make a case to square off a day in the middle of the year. As you get ready to go into the second half of the year. We’ve made it here. We’re halfway through. And we’ve limped our way and fought our way and the grace has brought us here. What is the next half of the year supposed to look like? That’s what we do, is go and spend the day with God re-familiarizing ourselves with our own hearts and the fact that the only thing God wants is us not our productivity. And what makes this a community experience is that we are doing this together individually all over the world. We’re taking long walks. We’re going out into nature. We’re slowing down. We’re regrouping. We’re allowing the second half of the year to emerge in our mindset and we’re inviting Jesus to show us the way that we should go. And while you’re out there wherever it is that you go, certainly don’t stay stuck to your technology. But maybe you want to take a picture, remember your day. Maybe you want to take a little video to remember your day or to remember something that you felt like the Holy Spirit was…was whispering to you. And then we put a post on our Facebook page, which is facebook.com/dailyaudiobible. We put a post there for the long walk and…and invite everybody…like here…post…post your pictures, post your stories inside this post. Post…like respond to this post with your pictures and stuff. And all the sudden we have these windows…and I have love this part of the year…like I love this. All of a sudden windows open and we’re looking at the same day all over the world with our brothers and sisters who are on this journey together. And, so, that is the long walk. Make plans for that next Friday the seventh of July. I am eager. I am looking forward to it myself. But make plans for that. That is what is coming up.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible thank you humbly. We couldn’t…we couldn’t be here if we were not in this together. And, so, thank you humbly for your partnership. There is a link on the homepage at dailyaudiobible.com. If you’re using the app, you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner, or the mailing address is PO Box 1996 Spring Hill Tennessee 37174.

And, as always, if you have a prayer request or encouragement, you can hit the Hotline button in the app or you can dial 877-942-4253.

And that’s it for today. I am Brian I love you and I will be waiting for you here tomorrow.

Community Prayer and Praise:

It’s it’s eyes of a dove. Oh my goodness my son ryland i don’t even know where to begin it’s been of my oh my kids the hardest for me emotionally. Every area that i could fear as a parent aside from him doing drugs or getting a girl pregnant is being attacked by the enemy. So came back from the honeymoon and instead of being in his room doing his homework unbeknownst to the nanny he was at the neighbors house who is an elderly gal that has that drinking problem and she was inappropriate with him. Or at least that’s what he claims. She went and took a polygraph test and passed with flying colors and that leaves me with a choice to do a $500 polygraph on my son for an 8590% chance period thing is is we’re keeping our son away from her. I’ve i’ve spoken with a therapist and my legal counsel just to making sure I’m doing everything correctly for my son and right now we are focusing on therapy for him and not really worried about one way or the other just because it’s really hard to tell what he’s telling the truth. He really needs to turn his heart over to the Lord in a in a big way not in a mediocre way. And now tonight I get a call four days before the end of the school year my son spent deceitful again not telling me the truth about his homework. 45 missing assignments. I mean we’ve been struggling all year to get caught up and now three of his major classes he’s failing. One he can’t recover. I don’t know if he asked to retake 9th grade and i absolutely lost it. You wouldn’t even recognize your eyes of dove. I’m ashamed of myself. I’m frustrated i’m scared things are hard.

Hey this is Micah and oh in Kansas City MO area. Today instead of addressing the person by name I’m going to address an issue that’s that we could all relate to. It’s the I want or I feel mentality right? So there’s many things that we can want and feel that are very good like our want for my brother to have success. I want to for the world to see healing and for god to pour out his holy spirit. Many fields and lots that are good but then there are sun that lead to sin. Like i want to be with another woman right? I feel like this marriage was an accident and that I made. Like i want to feel something different so i’m going to experiment with drugs or alcohol. You know so many of them that we can and these these are i mean we’re going through hard times right now right i mean everyone’s kind of struggling so these wants and feels they begin to look really nice. These are nothing more than temptation right? And we can coerce ourself into them by saying well why not. Like I’m already struggling. Life is going really bad period like I gotta feel something right? So I just want to challenge us all here the scriptures say that we’re not supposed to lean on our own understanding that we’re supposed to trust God. We’re supposed to resist generation. Supposed to stand firm against the tricks of the enemy. There’s scripture that says to follow the holy spirit guidance to listen for that to look for that to pray for that and scriptures romans 6 ephesians 515 through 18 and first Peter 5-6 through 11. I love you guys. Hang in there and check the scriptures.

Hi Lance in Atlanta this is radiant Rachel I want to pray for you. I can relate to an extent. My ex-husband before we separated encourage me to have an emotional real relationship with with someone else because he was doing his own thing. And you know i didn’t know that but i didn’t you know I just thought I was needy or like he just basically said he couldn’t meet what you know what my needs were. So he wanted somebody to be you know he wanted my needs to be met. Anyway so yeah I I did some of that and you know I struggled with it and prayed about it. It wasn’t really walking with the Lord of the time but I knew I knew who God was I knew that that wasn’t the way we should live. There was a religious spirit over me where you know i was made my bed and was kind of sleep in it and all of that so anyway I just lift you up today and I just pray for healing and restoration over your family over your marriage over lances marriage Lord just calm and bless them. Restore them soften their hearts bring them the support they need give them you know send them to godly counsel and just exposure of of you and your love that will will help them to pick up the pieces of their marriage and put it back together…

Father God we lift up Ernie and we lift up Lawrence of Atlanta. We lift up their marriages God. We lift up their hearts for being men of God who love you and the marriage that you have blessed them with God. God we lift up from mercy and the grace that they need to hear you and to seek you God. I pray right now god that you would create in them a clean heart and renewing them a right spirit god that they would think about the damage and the destruction and the devastation that happens to children and to families when marriages fall apart. I pray right now father God that they would give him the press every day seeking your face and calling on your name and laying out prostate before you God until they literally God they literally would feel their hearts turn towards you God and they lay prostrate God that they would feel you enter into their situation God and till the strongholds are broken father and their hearts open for their lives and their hearts open for holiness and sanctification and that your light would shine through them and they would be a testimony and an instrument of vessel of righteousness to be used in your hand for men and women everywhere like give up on marriage period we love you God. We lift up Nicole God we lift up that tumor God where the avocado sized or golf ball sized God that you would heal deliver and set free and bless her family God for support surround and encourage her period in Jesus mighty name and through his blood we pray. Amen. This is Donovan new day love you dad family.

Hey DVD audio Bible family it’s blessings flow in Pennsylvania. Just want to lift up Lawrence in Atlanta who called about prayers for his marriage and the emotional relationship with a colleague. Lawrence we love you. So proud of you for calling in recognizing even the fact that you called is God’s work in your life and also recognizing your respect and love and admiration like I have for this community knowing that you wouldn’t be judged if you called them but that you’d have family and God to pray for you. So Lord we just thank you for Lawrence. God sometimes we must pray that we would want to want you. So Lord I just ask that you would give him grace to want to want more of you. It sounds like he does in his marriage god where he feels his heart is heartened towards his reconciliation god. We just pray you tear down those walls in the name of jesus. We know that feelings are fickle and that situations change but you remain the same. Lord you’re a God of breakthrough. We just pray for breakthrough for Lawrence in the name of Jesus that you would shatter and tear down all lies God that you would bring healing period we pray that you would restore trust God that you would give fortitude and grace God for the long haul in the name of Jesus that you were even just revived those bombs that him and his wife spoke on their wedding day. A lot has taken place then oh god but we just pray that you breathe on them. Thank you for every budding virtue thank you for the grace even just to call and to ask for prayer in Jesus name we pray. And we bless him and bless this community. Amen.

6/26/2023 DAB Transcript

2 Kings 9:14-10:31, Acts 17:1-34, Psalm 144:1-15, Proverbs 17:27-28

Today is the 26th day of June, welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. I am Brian and it is great to be here with you today, like every day as we gather again, yet again, day-by-day, step-by-step and take the next step forward. And our next step leads us back to where we left off, that happens to be the book of Second Kings right now. And so, let’s pick up the story, Second Kings chapter 9 verse 14 through 10 verse 31 today.

Commentary:

Okay so, as we continue our journey through the Book of Acts, we’re back out on the road with Paul. So, we’re on the second missionary journey now, depicted in the Book of Acts. And we got a snapshot today of Paul in three different locations and this little snapshot gives us a view of the way that Paul adapts to who he’s talking to. So, we have this picture of Paul in Thessalonica, he’s in the synagogue, he’s opening the Scriptures and revealing that Jesus is a part of the Hebrew story, a part of the Hebrew heritage. That the Jewish Messiah, and many came to faith and believed. Of course, opposition arrived, as it seems to have arrived everywhere that Paul goes, as the good news continues to spread throughout the world. And so, a mob forms and Paul and Silas have to sneak out at night and then they go to the next city and that’s called Berea, and Paul goes to the synagogue again among the Jewish people. The Berean’s have a different reaction than those in Thessalonica. The Berean’s are listening diligently, they’re studying the Scriptures to sort of trace what Paul is laying out for them. They have a lot of questions, many come to faith. And then again, opposition arises once again to oppose what Paul is teaching. Once again, he’s got a move onto the next city and in this case, he’s taken to Athens to wait for Silas and Timothy, to catch up. In Athens he’s dealing with people who have very, very open minds and very, very, very much want to explore spirituality, but are also very pagan. So, in this setting Paul’s not trying to show a Hebrew person, how Jesus is the Jewish Messiah and how he fits into the Jewish story. And when he is given invitation to speak, he says, look I notice you’re very religious, like everything is religious around here. I was walking along looking at all these shrines and I found an altar that said, to an unknown God. I’m here to tell you about the unknown God. So, we’ve been watching Paul now, we’ve seen him open the Scriptures with devout Hebrews, we’ve seen him talking one-on-one with a jailer, we’ve seen him in mob settings where there is great vigorous debate going on. We’ve watched him walk into a place where nobody has a clue what he is going to share and simply begin to reveal the unknown God. Paul wasn’t running around trying to win theological arguments or to be right, or to bring condemnation and sin or the awareness of sin upon people. He seems to be able to look at the people that he’s talking to and attempt to discern what they need and to try to bring truth into this situation. He seems to be more concerned about the people than the argument, very much like Jesus. And sometimes we get that mixed up. We all know that we are commissioned to share the good news of the Gospel. And sometimes that doesn’t require us, spouting doctrine and being right. Sometimes that means offering a good heart and an open ear to hear a story, to meet a person where they are and to offer life in the situation. May we remember that offering the good news isn’t about us, it’s about bringing Jesus, and that can happen in spoken and in unspoken ways in just about everywhere we take a step, if we’re paying attention. We’ve seen Paul in all kinds of different contexts; let’s learn from that.

Prayer:

And Holy Spirit, come. Most of the time, we are not paying attention to the fact that we are supposed to be not only representing You but revealing You in what we do and what we say and in what we think. And so often, when we are talking about You, it’s to be right about something, as opposed to being hands and feet willing open vessels for Your use, living sacrifices. And so, forgive us for the times that we’ve missed it, because there have been many. Forgive us the times that we have simply ignored it because there’ve been many. Come, Holy Spirit, and let us realize that every breath is a gift from You and every step we take and every interaction that we have, is an opportunity to bring light into the darkness. Come, Holy Spirit, into this, make us aware of what we are doing and saying, we pray, in Jesus name. Amen.

Announcements:

dailyaudiobible.com that is home base and that is where you can find out what is going on around here. Alternatively, you can download the Daily Audio Bible app free from the App Store that is connected to your device.

And there is something coming up around here, like a week from now, is the fourth, well, a week from tomorrow, fourth of July. That’s a national holiday. That’s Independence Day here in the United States of America. But right on the heels of that we have kind of our own unique Daily Audio Bible holiday. Something that we have observed together as a community for 14 years, I believe. This is the 14th, well let me count, hold on a second. I’ll be right back. Okay, I’m back, it’s 16, 16 years, that we have been observing this little holiday that we call the Daily Audio Bible Long Walk. This is something that happens every seventh of July, it’s a very unique and individual experience that becomes a really beautiful communal experience. So, those of you who have been around a while you kinda know the drill. Those of you who are like what, the Long Walk? What are we talking about here? The 7th of July is pretty close to sitting dead center in the year. And it is a really, really good time in the middle of the year, to take a day and reset for the second half of the year. We might often think of these things as luxuries that we can’t or couldn’t or can’t afford or can’t this or can’t that, there’s just all kinds of reasons. But often what we’re arguing against is the very thing that we need the most. Like, we will just keep charging ahead in our year, just bulldozing our way through the year getting more and more fatigued, more and more sleep deprived, more and more confused, anxiety will begin to bubble and grow and become a thing and depression, all of the things that may have legitimate, biological reasons, but truly the pace of our lives is a contributing factor to all of this. We won’t slow down because we think we can’t. July 7th, this little day for 16 years that we’ve been carving out. That’s what we’ve been doing, carving it out, saying, this is mine. This day is a day for me and for my God. So, we encourage, take the day. If you don’t have the day, take the day, make a square around it. Let nothing penetrate it. It is a special time, if…if…if you can jump in, it is a special time to say, okay, middle of the year, I jumped on, I’ve been moving my way through the Bible, middle of the year check-in. I’m gonna go for a long walk. And this kind of comes, I mean, remember when you fell in love with your spouse, or the one that you’re with? You fell in love and maybe you would go for long walks and maybe you would realize that time didn’t exist during that time. Maybe even the rains came, and you walked and splashed in the puddles and everything, things that maybe we never do now. It was playful, it was childlike, it was love, time stood still. There was no rush to communicate data. It was unhurried conversation getting to know each other. That’s what we’re talking about here. Go somewhere beautiful, whether that’s your backyard, whether that’s a park that’s a few blocks away, or whether you get in your car and drive couple hours to a place that is very meaningful to you. Take some lunch, take some water. Go for a long walk in the center of your year. A time for your mind to calm down. A time for you to reunite with your body and be aware of the fact that God has created a lush, unbelievable planet that is bursting forth with life all around us and were not paying attention because we’re locked into our work and our technology. So much builds up inside of us and we need to pray about it. But so often our prayers are flares right, there just like help, I’m going down over here. Help, SOS! What if you went for a walk that was unhurried and you had all day and you had carved out all your obligations. Like this is, this is your day, and you go for a long walk, and you get in touch with your body by paying attention to the birds of the air, the beasts of the field, the lilies of the field, the lushness of creation. And that begins to pull your heart into a place of adoration and worship as you begin to feel God’s presence calming you, because he’s telling you He loves you by giving you the day. And then we begin to speak. Right, and then we say everything that we need to say. Everything that we haven’t had time to say. Everything that we fall asleep saying. Like, say it, pour it out to the lover of your soul. And then, spend time listening and walking in silence, enjoying all that creation speaks about our Lord. This is the Long Walk; this is something I look forward to every year. So many thousands of us look forward to this every year. And it’s obviously, I just described a very individual, very unique and personal experience between you and God. What makes this a community experience is that as we’re doing this individually, we know that our brothers and sisters all over the world are doing this as well. That we are all drinking in the serenity, the rejuvenation, the healing of slowing down for a second and catching our breath and being in the presence of God. So, what makes it a communal experience is knowing that were doing it but also, we put a post on our Daily Audio Bible Facebook page, which is Facebook.com/dailyaudiobible. We put a post on there on 7th of July and invite everybody to take a picture of where you are, or little video of what it was like during your day. And we post these all back into this post and all of the sudden we are scrolling through the beauty of God’s creation all over the world on this very day, the 7th of July. We all get to kind of regroup together and see windows into each other’s lives, windows into each other’s geography and are knit together, knowing that we have gone out and regrouped for the second half of the year. So, that is the 7th of July. That is a week from this Friday, make plans. I mean, think about it, we may talk to God every day, it may be fleeting, may not be enough, we may feel guilty about it, but think about the Lord, your creator looking forward to you taking some time to be with Him. And He is looking forward to this, greatly. That is the posture that we go into this with. So, that’s coming up, the 7th of July.

If you want to partner with the Daily Audio Bible. First of all, humble gratitude. Thank you for your partnership, especially as we move through the summertime. There is a link on the homepage at dailyaudiobible.com. If you’re using the app, you can press the Give button in the upper right-hand corner or the mailing address is P.O. Box 1996 Springhill, Tennessee 37174.

And as always, if you have a prayer request or encouragement, you can hit the Hotline button in the app, that’s the little red button up at the top or you can dial 877-942-4253.

And that’s it for today, I’m Brian, I love you and I’ll be waiting for you here, tomorrow.

Prayer and Encouragements:

Hello DAB Family, this is Dancing Flame in North Carolina. I’m a relatively new listener. And I had a prayer request. I have an uncle. He is my, one of my favorite people in the whole wide world. And he is nearing the end of his life. He’s in palliative care now. And his days are short. And I wanted to ask you guys to pray that he would find the Lord and be saved and be with us all in heaven. He’s a wonderful man, incredibly generous, incredibly funny, was very successful in business, very gifted. But he does not know the Lord. And it breaks my heart. We only see each other every few years. The amount of time we’ve spent together is disproportionate to the deep love that I have for him in my heart. But I just ask that you would join me to kind of storm the gates of heaven and just ask for God to, in His unending mercy, to save him. To reveal Himself to him, to show him who He is and to show him his great need for a loving Savior. I just ask that the Holy Spirit would just infiltrate him. Father, even if he’s not necessarily willing that God in His mercy, would just rain down on him in these last moments, that he could be saved. I know that, you know, the thief on the cross, all he had to do was say that he believed, and he joined Jesus in paradise that day. And so, that is my prayer for my Uncle Chris. And I just ask that you would join me that you would just join me in believing for his salvation and for asking God for incredible grace and mercy to reveal Himself to him in a mighty way. Thanks DAB Family. Love you all. Always praying for you.

Hey DAB Family. This is Beloved in Texas and I’m sure some of you, at least, those in the U.S., heard about a devastating tornado that went through the Amarillo Panhandle not to long ago. A lady at work, her sister was killed in that tornado. And she’s asked for prayer. Her nephews found their mother and the only way she was able to be identified, were her clothes and her nail polish. And they’re showing signs of PTSD. They were raised in church but they’re kind of far from the Lord now. So, I would just like to ask you to come alongside me and pray for Chad and Cory. Father, we just lift up Chad and Cory right now, in Jesus name. And I just ask that You would replace those images in their head with loving images of their mother: her love, her smile, her hugs. And I pray that You would fill them with your peace Father. I thank You that even though they don’t understand what happened and why, they can lean not on their own understanding but on Yours. Lord, I pray that You would turn this situation to the good and that You would bring them right back into Your loving arms. In ….

Hello DAB community, it’s Morning Lift. Just reaching out to ask for you guys to pray for me. I’m going through a difficult time with my marriage. I’ve been separated now for too long. And it’s seems that my wife is continuing to take steps towards separation rather than reconciliation and it’s really just discouraging and I need help. And I’m praying that God would give me hope. And I’m asking that God would fill me with His joy because I know that He’s the only thing that can satisfy in this world: not relationship, not reconciliation with my wife, nothing really can satisfy me, or anyone for that matter, but the love of the Father. And I just pray for that satisfaction, that joy that comes from Him. I pray that I would seek Him and that I would make decisions for the right reasons, not out of fear, or not out of any manipulation or desire to get what I want. And I just ask for you guys to hold me accountable in prayer, lift me up in prayer. And I also lift you up in prayer. And I ask that God would just bless you and take care of all your needs. In Jesus name I pray.

Hi, this is Betty from Hamburg. I’m calling in again tonight to thank you DABers for helping me in the past. And to ask you to please, please pray for my son Nathan. His mental illness is getting the best of us all, right now, especially him. He’s not managing it well. He’s tried to manage it on his own and it gets worsened when he drinks. And he has been drinking. So, I just pray that you would give us clarity to know what to do, how to help him and how to protect ourselves, as he’s living here in the house. And just to, I don’t know, I’m kind of at a loss right now. So, just thank you for hearing my prayer. And thank you that I can come to this community. Thank you, friends.

The Daily Audio Bible Reading for Monday June 26, 2023 (NIV)

2 Kings 9:14-10:31

Jehu Kills Joram and Ahaziah

14-16 King Joram[a] of Israel had been badly wounded in the battle at Ramoth, trying to defend it against King Hazael and the Syrian army. Joram was now recovering in Jezreel, and King Ahaziah of Judah was there, visiting him.

Meanwhile, Jehu was in Ramoth, making plans to kill Joram. He said to his officers, “If you want me to be king, then don't let anyone leave this town. They might go to Jezreel and tell Joram.” Then Jehu got in his chariot and rode to Jezreel.

17 When the guard in the watchtower at Jezreel saw Jehu and his men riding up, he shouted to the king, “I see a large group of men coming this way.”

Joram ordered, “Send someone out to ask them if this is a friendly visit.”

18 One of the soldiers rode out and said to Jehu, “King Joram wants to know if this is a friendly visit.”

“What's it to you?” Jehu asked. “Just stay behind me with the rest of my troops!”

About the same time the guard in the watchtower said, “Your Majesty, the rider got there, but he isn't coming back.”

19 So Joram sent out another rider, who rode up to Jehu and said, “The king wants to know if this is a friendly visit.”

“What's it to you?” Jehu asked. “Just get behind me with the rest of my troops!”

20 The guard in the watchtower said, “Your Majesty, the rider got there, but he isn't coming back either. Wait a minute! That one man is a reckless chariot driver—it must be Jehu!”

21 Joram commanded, “Get my chariot ready.” Then he and Ahaziah got in their chariots and rode out to meet Jehu. They all met on the land that had belonged to Naboth.[b] 22 Joram asked, “Jehu, is this a peaceful visit?”

“How can there be peace?” Jehu asked. “Your mother Jezebel has caused everyone to worship idols and practice witchcraft.”

23 “Ahaziah, let's get out of here!” Joram yelled. “It's a trap!” As Joram tried to escape, 24 Jehu shot an arrow. It hit Joram between his shoulders, then it went through his heart and came out his chest. He fell over dead in his chariot.

25-26 (A) Jehu commanded his assistant Bidkar, “Get Joram's body and throw it in the field that Naboth once owned. Do you remember when you and I used to ride side by side behind Joram's father Ahab? It was then that the Lord swore to Ahab that he would be punished in the same field where he had killed Naboth and his sons. So throw Joram's body there, just as the Lord said.”

27 Ahaziah saw all of this happen and tried to escape to the town of Beth-Haggan, but Jehu caught up with him and shouted, “Kill him too!” So his troops shot Ahaziah with an arrow while he was on the road to Gur near Ibleam. He went as far as Megiddo, where he died. 28 Ahaziah's officers put his body in a chariot and took it back to Jerusalem, where they buried him beside his ancestors.

29 Ahaziah had become king of Judah in the eleventh year of the rule of Ahab's son Joram.

Jehu Kills Jezebel

30 Jehu headed toward Jezreel, and when Jezebel heard he was coming, she put on eye shadow and brushed her hair. Then she stood at the window, waiting for him to arrive. 31 As he walked through the city gate, she shouted down to him, “Why did you come here, you murderer? To kill the king? You're no better than Zimri!”[c]

32 He looked up toward the window and asked, “Is anyone up there on my side?” A few palace workers stuck their heads out of a window, 33 and Jehu shouted, “Throw her out the window!” They threw her down, and her blood splattered on the walls and on the horses that trampled her body.[d]

34 Jehu left to get something to eat and drink. Then he told some workers, “Even though she was evil, she was a king's daughter,[e] so make sure she has a proper burial.”

35 But when they went out to bury her body, they found only her skull, her hands, and her feet. 36 (B) They reported this to Jehu, and he said, “The Lord told Elijah the prophet that Jezebel's body would be eaten by dogs right here in Jezreel. 37 And he warned that her bones would be spread all over the ground like manure, so that no one could tell who it was.”

Jehu Kills All of Ahab's Descendants

10 Ahab still had 70 descendants living in Samaria. So Jehu wrote a letter to each of the important leaders and officials of the town,[f] and to those who supported Ahab. In the letters he wrote:

Your town is strong, and you're protected by chariots and an armed cavalry. And I know that King Ahab's descendants live there with you. So as soon as you read this letter, choose the best person for the job and make him the next king. Then be prepared to defend Ahab's family.

The officials and leaders read the letters and were very frightened. They said to each other, “Jehu has already killed King Joram and King Ahaziah! We have to do what he says.” The prime minister, the mayor of the city, as well as the other leaders and Ahab's supporters, sent this answer to Jehu, “We are your servants, Your Majesty, and we will do whatever you tell us. But it's not our place to choose someone to be king. You do what you think is best.”

Jehu then wrote another letter which said, “If you are on my side and will obey me, then prove it. Bring me the heads of the descendants of Ahab! And be here in Jezreel by this time tomorrow.”

The 70 descendants of King Ahab were living with some of the most important people of the city. And when these people read Jehu's second letter, they called together all 70 of Ahab's descendants. They killed them, put their heads in baskets, and sent them to Jezreel.

When Jehu was told what had happened, he said, “Put the heads in two piles at the city gate, and leave them there until morning.”

The next morning, Jehu went out and stood where everyone could hear him, and he said, “You people are not guilty of anything. I'm the one who plotted against Joram and had him killed. But who killed all these men? 10 Listen to me. Everything the Lord's servant Elijah promised about Ahab's family will come true.”[g]

11 (C) Then Jehu killed the rest of Ahab's relatives living in Jezreel, as well as his highest officials, his priests, and his closest friends. No one in Ahab's family was left alive in Jezreel.

12-13 Jehu left for Samaria, and along the way, he met some relatives of King Ahaziah of Judah at a place where shepherds meet.[h] He asked, “Who are you?”

“We are relatives of Ahaziah,” they answered. “We're going to visit his family.”

14 “Take them alive!” Jehu said to his officers. So they grabbed them and led them to the well near the shepherds' meeting place, where they killed all 42 of them.

15 As Jehu went on, he saw Jehonadab son of Rechab[i] coming to meet him. Jehu greeted him, then said, “Jehonadab, I'm on your side. Are you on mine?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Then give me your hand,” Jehu answered. He helped Jehonadab into his chariot 16 and said, “Come with me and see how faithful I am to the Lord.”

They rode together in Jehu's chariot 17 to Samaria. Jehu killed everyone there who belonged to Ahab's family, as well as all his officials. Everyone in his family was now dead, just as the Lord had promised Elijah.

Jehu Kills All the Worshipers of Baal

18 Jehu called together the people in Samaria and said:

King Ahab sometimes worshiped Baal, but I will be completely faithful to Baal. 19 I'm going to offer a huge sacrifice to him. So invite his prophets and priests, and be sure everyone who worships him is there. Anyone who doesn't come will be killed.

But this was a trick—Jehu was really planning to kill the worshipers of Baal. 20 He said, “Announce a day of worship for Baal!” After the day had been announced, 21 Jehu sent an invitation to everyone in Israel. All the worshipers of Baal came, and the temple was filled from one end to the other. 22 Jehu told the official in charge of the sacred robes to make sure that everyone had a robe to wear.

23 Jehu and Jehonadab went into the temple, and Jehu said to the crowd, “Look around and make sure that only the worshipers of Baal are here. No one who worships the Lord is allowed in.” 24 Then they began to offer sacrifices to Baal.

Earlier, Jehu had ordered 80 soldiers to wait outside the temple. He had warned them, “I will get all these worshipers here, and if any of you let even one of them escape, you will be killed instead!”

25 As soon as Jehu finished offering the sacrifice, he told the guards and soldiers, “Come in and kill them! Don't let anyone escape.” They slaughtered everyone in the crowd and threw the bodies outside. Then they went back into the temple 26 and carried out the image of Baal. They burned it 27 and broke it into pieces, then they completely destroyed Baal's temple. And since that time, it's been nothing but a public toilet.[j]

28 That's how Jehu stopped the worship of Baal in Israel. 29 (D) But he did not stop the worship of the gold statues of calves at Dan and Bethel that Jeroboam had made for the people to worship.[k]

30 Later the Lord said, “Jehu, you have done right by destroying Ahab's entire family, just as I had planned. So I will make sure that the next four kings of Israel will come from your own family.”

31 But Jehu did not completely obey the commands of the Lord God of Israel. Instead, he kept doing the sinful things that Jeroboam had caused the Israelites to do.

Footnotes:

  1. 9.14-16 Joram: The Hebrew text has “Jehoram,” another spelling of the name.
  2. 9.21 the land … Naboth: See 1 Kings 21.
  3. 9.31 Zimri: An Israelite king who killed King Elah and his family so he could become king, but who ruled only seven days (see 1 Kings 16.8-20).
  4. 9.33 horses … her body: Two ancient translations; Hebrew “horses. Then Jehu trampled her body.”
  5. 9.34 she … daughter: Her father was King Ethbaal of Sidon (see 1 Kings 16.31).
  6. 10.1 the town: Two ancient translations; Hebrew “Jezreel.”
  7. 10.10 Everything … come true: See 1 Kings 21.17-24.
  8. 10.12,13 at a place where shepherds meet: Or “at Betheked of the Shepherds.”
  9. 10.15 Jehonadab son of Rechab: Or “Jehonadab the chariot driver.”
  10. 10.27 public toilet: Or “garbage dump.”
  11. 10.29 gold statues … to worship: See 1 Kings 12.26-30.
Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society For more information about CEV, visit www.bibles.com and www.cev.bible.

Acts 17

Trouble in Thessalonica

17 After Paul and his friends had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they went on to Thessalonica. A synagogue was in that city. So as usual, Paul went there to worship, and on three Sabbaths he spoke to the people. He used the Scriptures to show them that the Messiah had to suffer, but that he would rise from death. Paul also told them that Jesus is the Messiah he was preaching about. Some of them believed what Paul had said, and they became followers with Paul and Silas. Some Gentiles[a] and many important women also believed the message.

The Jewish leaders were jealous and got some troublemakers who hung around the marketplace to start a riot in the city. They wanted to drag Paul and Silas out to the mob, and so they went straight to Jason's home. But when they did not find them there, they dragged out Jason and some of the Lord's followers. They took them to the city authorities and shouted, “Paul and Silas have been upsetting things everywhere. Now they have come here, and Jason has welcomed them into his home. All of them break the laws of the Roman Emperor by claiming that someone named Jesus is king.”

The officials and the people were upset when they heard this. So they made Jason and the other followers pay bail before letting them go.

People in Berea Welcome the Message

10 That same night the Lord's followers sent Paul and Silas on to Berea, and after they arrived, they went to the synagogue. 11 The people in Berea were much nicer than those in Thessalonica, and they gladly accepted the message. Day after day they studied the Scriptures to see if these things were true. 12 Many of them put their faith in the Lord, including some important Greek women and several men.

13 When the Jewish leaders in Thessalonica heard that Paul had been preaching God's message in Berea, they went there and caused trouble by turning the crowds against Paul.

14 At once the followers sent Paul down to the coast, but Silas and Timothy stayed in Berea. 15 Some men went with Paul as far as Athens, and then returned with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible.

Paul in Athens

16 While Paul was waiting in Athens, he was upset to see all the idols in the city. 17 He went to the synagogue to speak to the Jews and to anyone who worshiped with them. Day after day he also spoke to everyone he met in the market. 18 Some of them were Epicureans[b] and some were Stoics,[c] and they started arguing with him.

People were asking, “What is this know-it-all trying to say?”

Some even said, “Paul must be preaching about foreign gods! That's what he means when he talks about Jesus and about people rising from death.”[d]

19 They brought Paul before a council called the Areopagus, and said, “Tell us what your new teaching is all about. 20 We have heard you say some strange things, and we want to know what you mean.”

21 More than anything else the people of Athens and the foreigners living there loved to hear and to talk about anything new. 22 So Paul stood up in front of the council and said:

People of Athens, I see that you are very religious. 23 (A) As I was going through your city and looking at the things you worship, I found an altar with the words, “To an Unknown God.” You worship this God, but you don't really know him. So I want to tell you about him. 24 (B) This God made the world and everything in it. He is Lord of heaven and earth, and he doesn't live in temples built by human hands. 25 (C) He doesn't need help from anyone. He gives life, breath, and everything else to all people. 26 (D) From one person God made all nations who live on earth, and he decided when and where every nation would be.

27 (E) God has done all this, so that we will look for him and reach out and find him. He isn't far from any of us, 28 and he gives us the power to live, to move, and to be who we are. “We are his children,” just as some of your poets have said.

29 Since we are God's children, we must not think that he is like an idol made out of gold or silver or stone. He isn't like anything that humans have thought up and made. 30 In the past, God forgave all this because people did not know what they were doing. But now he says that everyone everywhere must turn to him. 31 He has set a day when he will judge the world's people with fairness. And he has chosen the man Jesus to do the judging for him. God has given proof of this to all of us by raising Jesus from death.

32 As soon as the people heard Paul say a man had been raised from death, some of them started laughing. Others said, “We will hear you talk about this some other time.” 33 When Paul left the council meeting, 34 some of the men put their faith in the Lord and went with Paul. One of them was a council member named Dionysius. A woman named Damaris and several others also put their faith in the Lord.

Footnotes:

  1. 17.4 Gentiles: See the note at 14.1.
  2. 17.18 Epicureans: People who followed the teaching of a man named Epicurus, who taught that happiness should be the main goal in life.
  3. 17.18 Stoics: Followers of a man named Zeno, who taught that people should learn self-control and be guided by their consciences.
  4. 17.18 people rising from death: Or “a goddess named ‘Rising from Death.’ ”
Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society For more information about CEV, visit www.bibles.com and www.cev.bible.

Psalm 144

(By David.)

A Prayer for the Nation

I praise you, Lord!
You are my mighty rock,[a]
and you teach me
how to fight my battles.
You are my friend, my fortress,
where I am safe.
You are my shield,
and you made me the ruler
of our people.[b]

(A) Why do we humans mean anything
to you, our Lord?
Why do you care about us?
We disappear like a breath;
we last no longer
than a faint shadow.

Open the heavens like a curtain
and come down, Lord.
Touch the mountains
and make them send up smoke.
Use your lightning as arrows
to scatter my enemies
and make them run away.
Reach down from heaven
and set me free.
Save me from the mighty flood
of those lying foreigners
who never tell the truth.

In praise of you, our God,
I will sing a new song,
while playing my harp.
10 By your power, kings win wars,
and your servant David is saved
from deadly swords.
11 Won't you keep me safe
from those lying foreigners
who never tell the truth?

12 Let's pray that our young sons
will grow like strong plants
and that our daughters
will be as lovely as columns
in the corner of a palace.
13 May our barns be filled
with all kinds of crops.
May our fields be covered
with sheep by the thousands,
14 and every cow have calves.[c]
Don't let our city be captured
or any of us be taken away,
and don't let cries of sorrow
be heard in our streets.

15 Our Lord and our God,
you give these blessings
to all who worship you.

Footnotes:

  1. 144.1 mighty rock: See the note at 18.2.
  2. 144.2 of our people: Some Hebrew manuscripts and ancient translations have “of the nations.”
  3. 144.14 have calves: Or “grow fat.”

Cross references:

  1. 144.3 : Job 7.17,18; Ps 8.4.
Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society For more information about CEV, visit www.bibles.com and www.cev.bible.

Proverbs 17:27-28

27 It makes a lot of sense
to be a person of few words
and to stay calm.
28 (A) Even fools seem smart
when they are quiet.

Cross references:

  1. 17.28 : Si 20.5.
Contemporary English Version (CEV)

Copyright © 1995 by American Bible Society For more information about CEV, visit www.bibles.com and www.cev.bible.

06/25/2023 DAB Transcript

2 Kings 8:1-9:13, Acts 16:16-40, Psalms 143:1-12, Proverbs 17:26

Today is the 25th day of June welcome to the Daily Audio Bible. Welcome to a shiny sparkly brand-new week that we get to walk into together. And it’s a brand-new week so it’s a fresh start. And let’s begin this week by laying a foundation and allowing the Scriptures to come into our lives as we take the next step forward. And that next step will lead us back into the book of second Kings. And we are navigating through second Kings at this point and really learning quite a bit about the prophet Elisha as we move through the territory. So, brand-new week. We’ll read from the New English Translation, the NET Bible this week. Second Kings chapter 8 verse 1 through 9 verse 13.

Prayer:

Father, we love you, we adore you, we worship you, we declare our loyalty to you, and we thank you for bringing us into this brand-new week. And we ask Holy Spirit, come into all of the events, all of the thoughts, words and deeds of our existence over the course of this week. Hover in all of it. Be in our words, be in our thoughts, lead us on the narrow path that leads to life. Lead us into all truth. Lead us deeper into Jesus we ask in His precious name. Amen.

Community Prayer and Praise:

Hi, this is my first-time calling in. This is Exiled in Georgia. I’ve been here for 13 years and I’m by myself now and I just want to move back home to Louisiana to be near my daughters and my grandchildren. I have seven grandchildren there. I have been through so much in my life. I’ve always trusted in the Lord. I’ve always been a believer. I have gone my own way lots of times that led me to what I am now. But I’m just asking for prayer. I need to sell my home and it’s taking a little bit. I don’t know why but God has His reasons and I know that, but I do want to go home and be near them. I just turned 56 June 9th and I’m just ready. I live on social security disability, and I work a part time job and I have a son that lives in Michigan with his little family. So, I have three grandchildren up there but I just…I just really want prayer and I…I want God to really lead me into doing what I need to do because, you know, I’m alone. I don’t have anyone to bounce anything off of and I just…I need this prayer family and I really really appreciate…I’ve been listening to you all for a while now. I do the…I’m doing the bible in a year, listening to that and listening to the prayers after and praying with everyone and really enjoy it. We had a tragedy in our family my oldest granddaughter’s mom recently passed away and Louisiana and…

Hello everyone, this is Jay from Clarksville Tennessee I’m calling for Christina from Oregon. Listen sister I have had the drinking career of a small military unit in my lifetime but by the grace of God through the gift of rehab and the program of AA I have been blessed with it’ll be two years this September with zero alcohol. And I say that not to brag but I sat that because I understand your struggle, I understand waking up in the morning and the muscle memory of drinking is there going out and the thought of being excluded from what’s going on is there and just the sheer chemical desire of my body to have alcohol through this day is still there. But every time that urge comes I pray and I ask the Lord to remind me of all the pain and suffering and destroyed relationships, ended marriages, lost family, friends who hate me from all that drinking to come back to my mind so I don’t pick up that first drink. So I’d like to pray for you. Precious Lord our father in heaven we bow before you and the name of your son Jesus Christ. We lift up our sister Your daughter Christina from Oregon. Father, we lay her addiction at Your feet. We do this because Your word tells us that anything we ask of You in Your name Jesus shall be given to us. So, we ask Your will be done and Your power the Holy Spirit overcome her and strengthen her to resist the temptations of the enemy in the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

Salutations DAB family this is His Little Songbird from Alberta Canada, and I would like to pray for Winter and Quill. Abba, I want to lift up Winter to you today. Your word says that when we are weary, we could go to you and find rest. And you also promise in Isaiah 10:31 those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on Eagles…on wings like Eagles and they will run and not grow weary, and they will walk and not grow faint. So, I’m asking that you would please do this for your daughter Winter. I also lift up Quill to you today. You have a wondrous and perfect plan for their life and I thank you for sparing that precious life repeatedly. You are so so good. I ask that daily you would continue to reach out to Quill and let them know how much they mean to you. I ask you please to release the hounds of heaven to pursue quill until that precious person turns and cries out to you for help Lord God. I thank you for all that you’ve begun to do for everything that we…we can’t even begin to see. Lord you are so good, and I thank you thank you so much that you have chosen quill. I also ask if you wouldn’t mind that you would pursue both my sons who have also become part of the alphabet community. Pursue them too Lord. I ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Hello DAB family this is beloved Cheryl in Tacoma WA and I have a urgent prayer request. My mom is in the hospital, and they are recommending hospice and I don’t have anybody to help me and I’m very overwhelmed. If you could just pray that…that I could find some Christians to help me through this process. And my mother is a Christian and that things would just goes smoothly, and she could go to be with Jesus soon. Thank you.