2 Samuel 17, 2 Corinthians 10, Ezekiel 24, Psalm 72

2 Samuel 17,

1 Ahithophel said to Absalom, "I would choose twelve thousand men and set out tonight in pursuit of David.
 
2 I would attack him while he is weary and weak. I would strike him with terror, and then all the people with him will flee. I would strike down only the king
 
3 and bring all the people back to you. The death of the man you seek will mean the return of all; all the people will be unharmed."
 
4 This plan seemed good to Absalom and to all the elders of Israel.
 
5 But Absalom said, "Summon also Hushai the Arkite, so we can hear what he has to say."
 
6 When Hushai came to him, Absalom said, "Ahithophel has given this advice. Should we do what he says? If not, give us your opinion."
 
7 Hushai replied to Absalom, "The advice Ahithophel has given is not good this time.
 
8 You know your father and his men; they are fighters, and as fierce as a wild bear robbed of her cubs. Besides, your father is an experienced fighter; he will not spend the night with the troops.
 
9 Even now, he is hidden in a cave or some other place. If he should attack your troops first, whoever hears about it will say, 'There has been a slaughter among the troops who follow Absalom.'
 
10 Then even the bravest soldier, whose heart is like the heart of a lion, will melt with fear, for all Israel knows that your father is a fighter and that those with him are brave.
 
11 "So I advise you: Let all Israel, from Dan to Beersheba-as numerous as the sand on the seashore-be gathered to you, with you yourself leading them into battle.
 
12 Then we will attack him wherever he may be found, and we will fall on him as dew settles on the ground. Neither he nor any of his men will be left alive.
 
13 If he withdraws into a city, then all Israel will bring ropes to that city, and we will drag it down to the valley until not even a piece of it can be found."
 
14 Absalom and all the men of Israel said, "The advice of Hushai the Arkite is better than that of Ahithophel." For the LORD had determined to frustrate the good advice of Ahithophel in order to bring disaster on Absalom.
 
15 Hushai told Zadok and Abiathar, the priests, "Ahithophel has advised Absalom and the elders of Israel to do such and such, but I have advised them to do so and so.
 
16 Now send a message immediately and tell David, 'Do not spend the night at the fords in the desert; cross over without fail, or the king and all the people with him will be swallowed up.' "
 
17 Jonathan and Ahimaaz were staying at En Rogel. A servant girl was to go and inform them, and they were to go and tell King David, for they could not risk being seen entering the city.
 
18 But a young man saw them and told Absalom. So the two of them left quickly and went to the house of a man in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it.
 
19 His wife took a covering and spread it out over the opening of the well and scattered grain over it. No one knew anything about it.
 
20 When Absalom's men came to the woman at the house, they asked, "Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?" The woman answered them, "They crossed over the brook." The men searched but found no one, so they returned to Jerusalem.
 
21 After the men had gone, the two climbed out of the well and went to inform King David. They said to him, "Set out and cross the river at once; Ahithophel has advised such and such against you."
 
22 So David and all the people with him set out and crossed the Jordan. By daybreak, no one was left who had not crossed the Jordan.
 
23 When Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed, he saddled his donkey and set out for his house in his hometown. He put his house in order and then hanged himself. So he died and was buried in his father's tomb.
 
24 David went to Mahanaim, and Absalom crossed the Jordan with all the men of Israel.
 
25 Absalom had appointed Amasa over the army in place of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Jether, an Israelite who had married Abigail, the daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah the mother of Joab.
 
26 The Israelites and Absalom camped in the land of Gilead.
 
27 When David came to Mahanaim, Shobi son of Nahash from Rabbah of the Ammonites, and Makir son of Ammiel from Lo Debar, and Barzillai the Gileadite from Rogelim
 
28 brought bedding and bowls and articles of pottery. They also brought wheat and barley, flour and roasted grain, beans and lentils,
 
29 honey and curds, sheep, and cheese from cows' milk for David and his people to eat. For they said, "The people have become hungry and tired and thirsty in the desert."
 

2 Corinthians 10,

1 By the meekness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you-I, Paul, who am "timid" when face to face with you, but "bold" when away!
 
2 I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world.
 
3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.
 
4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
 
5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
 
6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete.
 
7 You are looking only on the surface of things. If anyone is confident that he belongs to Christ, he should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as he.
 
8 For even if I boast somewhat freely about the authority the Lord gave us for building you up rather than pulling you down, I will not be ashamed of it.
 
9 I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters.
 
10 For some say, "His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing."
 
11 Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.
 
12 We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.
 
13 We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the field God has assigned to us, a field that reaches even to you.
 
14 We are not going too far in our boasting, as would be the case if we had not come to you, for we did get as far as you with the gospel of Christ.
 
15 Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our area of activity among you will greatly expand,
 
16 so that we can preach the gospel in the regions beyond you. For we do not want to boast about work already done in another man's territory.
 
17 But, "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."
 
18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.
 

Ezekiel 24,

1 In the ninth year, in the tenth month on the tenth day, the word of the LORD came to me:
 
2 "Son of man, record this date, this very date, because the king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day.
 
3 Tell this rebellious house a parable and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: " 'Put on the cooking pot; put it on and pour water into it.
 
4 Put into it the pieces of meat, all the choice pieces-the leg and the shoulder. Fill it with the best of these bones;
 
5 take the pick of the flock. Pile wood beneath it for the bones; bring it to a boil and cook the bones in it.
 
6 " 'For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: " 'Woe to the city of bloodshed, to the pot now encrusted, whose deposit will not go away! Empty it piece by piece without casting lots for them.
 
7 " 'For the blood she shed is in her midst: She poured it on the bare rock; she did not pour it on the ground, where the dust would cover it.
 
8 To stir up wrath and take revenge I put her blood on the bare rock, so that it would not be covered.
 
9 " 'Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: " 'Woe to the city of bloodshed! I, too, will pile the wood high.
 
10 So heap on the wood and kindle the fire. Cook the meat well, mixing in the spices; and let the bones be charred.
 
11 Then set the empty pot on the coals till it becomes hot and its copper glows so its impurities may be melted and its deposit burned away.
 
12 It has frustrated all efforts; its heavy deposit has not been removed, not even by fire.
 
13 " 'Now your impurity is lewdness. Because I tried to cleanse you but you would not be cleansed from your impurity, you will not be clean again until my wrath against you has subsided.
 
14 " 'I the LORD have spoken. The time has come for me to act. I will not hold back; I will not have pity, nor will I relent. You will be judged according to your conduct and your actions, declares the Sovereign LORD.' "
 
15 The word of the LORD came to me:
 
16 "Son of man, with one blow I am about to take away from you the delight of your eyes. Yet do not lament or weep or shed any tears.
 
17 Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Keep your turban fastened and your sandals on your feet; do not cover the lower part of your face or eat the customary food of mourners ."
 
18 So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. The next morning I did as I had been commanded.
 
19 Then the people asked me, "Won't you tell us what these things have to do with us?"
 
20 So I said to them, "The word of the LORD came to me:
 
21 Say to the house of Israel, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am about to desecrate my sanctuary-the stronghold in which you take pride, the delight of your eyes, the object of your affection. The sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword.
 
22 And you will do as I have done. You will not cover the lower part of your face or eat the customary food of mourners.
 
23 You will keep your turbans on your heads and your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn or weep but will waste away because of your sins and groan among yourselves.
 
24 Ezekiel will be a sign to you; you will do just as he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Sovereign LORD.'
 
25 "And you, son of man, on the day I take away their stronghold, their joy and glory, the delight of their eyes, their heart's desire, and their sons and daughters as well-
 
26 on that day a fugitive will come to tell you the news.
 
27 At that time your mouth will be opened; you will speak with him and will no longer be silent. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the LORD."
 

Psalm 72

1 Endow the king with your justice, O God, the royal son with your righteousness.
 
2 He will judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice.
 
3 The mountains will bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness.
 
4 He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; he will crush the oppressor.
 
5 He will endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations.
 
6 He will be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth.
 
7 In his days the righteous will flourish; prosperity will abound till the moon is no more.
 
8 He will rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth.
 
9 The desert tribes will bow before him and his enemies will lick the dust.
 
10 The kings of Tarshish and of distant shores will bring tribute to him; the kings of Sheba and Seba will present him gifts.
 
11 All kings will bow down to him and all nations will serve him.
 
12 For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help.
 
13 He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death.
 
14 He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.
 
15 Long may he live! May gold from Sheba be given him. May people ever pray for him and bless him all day long.
 
16 Let grain abound throughout the land; on the tops of the hills may it sway. Let its fruit flourish like Lebanon; let it thrive like the grass of the field.
 
17 May his name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. All nations will be blessed through him, and they will call him blessed.
 
18 Praise be to the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.
 
19 Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen.
 
20 This concludes the prayers of David son of Jesse.