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Exodus 20 ( Listen ) The Ten Commandments 20:1? And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. “You shall have no other gods before me. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you. “You shall not murder. “You shall not commit adultery. “You shall not steal. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.” Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.” Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.” The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was. Laws About Altars And the LORD said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the people of Israel: ‘You have seen for yourselves that I have talked with you from heaven. You shall not make gods of silver to be with me, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold. An altar of earth you shall make for me and sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings, your sheep and your oxen. In every place where I cause my name to be remembered I will come to you and bless you. If you make me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stones, for if you wield your tool on it you profane it. And you shall not go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness be not exposed on it.’ Luke 23 ( Listen ) Jesus Before Pilate 23:1? Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.” Jesus Before Herod When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other. Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. I will therefore punish and release him.” Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will. The Crucifixion And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?” Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” The Death of Jesus It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things. Jesus Is Buried Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment. Job 38 ( Listen ) The LORD Answers Job 38:1? Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind and said: “Who is this that darkens counsel by words without knowledge? Dress for action like a man; ?? I will question you, and you make it known to me. “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? ?? Tell me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements—surely you know! ?? Or who stretched the line upon it? On what were its bases sunk, ?? or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together ?? and all the sons of God shouted for joy? “Or who shut in the sea with doors ?? when it burst out from the womb, when I made clouds its garment ?? and thick darkness its swaddling band, and prescribed limits for it ?? and set bars and doors, and said, ‘Thus far shall you come, and no farther, ?? and here shall your proud waves be stayed’? “Have you commanded the morning since your days began, ?? and caused the dawn to know its place, that it might take hold of the skirts of the earth, ?? and the wicked be shaken out of it? It is changed like clay under the seal, ?? and its features stand out like a garment. From the wicked their light is withheld, ?? and their uplifted arm is broken. “Have you entered into the springs of the sea, ?? or walked in the recesses of the deep? Have the gates of death been revealed to you, ?? or have you seen the gates of deep darkness? Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth? ?? Declare, if you know all this. “Where is the way to the dwelling of light, ?? and where is the place of darkness, that you may take it to its territory ?? and that you may discern the paths to its home? You know, for you were born then, ?? and the number of your days is great! “Have you entered the storehouses of the snow, ?? or have you seen the storehouses of the hail, which I have reserved for the time of trouble, ?? for the day of battle and war? What is the way to the place where the light is distributed, ?? or where the east wind is scattered upon the earth? “Who has cleft a channel for the torrents of rain ?? and a way for the thunderbolt, to bring rain on a land where no man is, ?? on the desert in which there is no man, to satisfy the waste and desolate land, ?? and to make the ground sprout with grass? “Has the rain a father, ?? or who has begotten the drops of dew? From whose womb did the ice come forth, ?? and who has given birth to the frost of heaven? The waters become hard like stone, ?? and the face of the deep is frozen. “Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades ?? or loose the cords of Orion? Can you lead forth the Mazzaroth in their season, ?? or can you guide the Bear with its children? Do you know the ordinances of the heavens? ?? Can you establish their rule on the earth? “Can you lift up your voice to the clouds, ?? that a flood of waters may cover you? Can you send forth lightnings, that they may go ?? and say to you, ‘Here we are’? Who has put wisdom in the inward parts ?? or given understanding to the mind? Who can number the clouds by wisdom? ?? Or who can tilt the waterskins of the heavens, when the dust runs into a mass ?? and the clods stick fast together? “Can you hunt the prey for the lion, ?? or satisfy the appetite of the young lions, when they crouch in their dens ?? or lie in wait in their thicket? Who provides for the raven its prey, ?? when its young ones cry to God for help, ?? and wander about for lack of food? 2 Corinthians 8 ( Listen ) Encouragement to Give Generously 8:1? We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us. Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also. I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. And in this matter I give my judgment: this benefits you, who a year ago started not only to do this work but also to desire to do it. So now finish doing it as well, so that your readiness in desiring it may be matched by your completing it out of what you have. For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what he does not have. For I do not mean that others should be eased and you burdened, but that as a matter of fairness your abundance at the present time should supply their need, so that their abundance may supply your need, that there may be fairness. As it is written, “Whoever gathered much had nothing left over, and whoever gathered little had no lack.” Commendation of Titus But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you. For he not only accepted our appeal, but being himself very earnest he is going to you of his own accord. With him we are sending the brother who is famous among all the churches for his preaching of the gospel. And not only that, but he has been appointed by the churches to travel with us as we carry out this act of grace that is being ministered by us, for the glory of the Lord himself and to show our good will. We take this course so that no one should blame us about this generous gift that is being administered by us, for we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man. And with them we are sending our brother whom we have often tested and found earnest in many matters, but who is now more earnest than ever because of his great confidence in you. As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for your benefit. And as for our brothers, they are messengers of the churches, the glory of Christ. So give proof before the churches of your love and of our boasting about you to these men. ( ESV ) Footnotes [1] 20:3 Or besides [2] 20:6 Or to the thousandth generation [3] 20:13 The Hebrew word also covers causing human death through carelessness or negligence [4] 20:18 Samaritan, Septuagint, Syriac, Vulgate; Masoretic Text the people saw [5] 23:16 Here, or after verse 19, some manuscripts add verse 17: Now he was obliged to release one man to them at the festival [6] 23:34 Some manuscripts omit the sentence And Jesus?.?.?. what they do [7] 23:38 Some manuscripts add in letters of Greek and Latin and Hebrew [8] 23:39 Or blasphemed him [9] 23:44 That is, noon [10] 23:44 That is, 3 p.m. [11] 23:54 Greek was dawning [12] 38:3 Hebrew Gird up your loins [13] 38:32 Probably the name of a constellation [14] 38:36 Or in the ibis [15] 38:36 Or rooster [16] 8:1 Or brothers and sisters [17] 8:4 The Greek word charis can mean favor or grace or thanks , depending on the context [18] 8:7 Some manuscripts in your love for us [19] 8:17 Or he went [20] 8:18 Or we sent ; also verse 22 [21] 8:23 Greek apostles

Continued here:
March 9: Exodus 20, Luke 23, Job 38, 2 Corinthians 8

Psalm 75 ( Listen ) God Will Judge with Equity To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Psalm of Asaph. A Song. 75:1? We give thanks to you, O God; ?? we give thanks, for your name is near. We recount your wondrous deeds. “At the set time that I appoint ?? I will judge with equity. When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, ?? it is I who keep steady its pillars. ???? Selah I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’ ?? and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn; do not lift up your horn on high, ?? or speak with haughty neck.’” For not from the east or from the west ?? and not from the wilderness comes lifting up, but it is God who executes judgment, ?? putting down one and lifting up another. For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup ?? with foaming wine, well mixed, and he pours out from it, ?? and all the wicked of the earth ?? shall drain it down to the dregs. But I will declare it forever; ?? I will sing praises to the God of Jacob. All the horns of the wicked I will cut off, ?? but the horns of the righteous shall be lifted up. Psalm 76 ( Listen ) Who Can Stand Before You? To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm of Asaph. A Song. 76:1? In Judah God is known; ?? his name is great in Israel. His abode has been established in Salem, ?? his dwelling place in Zion. There he broke the flashing arrows, ?? the shield, the sword, and the weapons of war. ???? Selah Glorious are you, more majestic ?? than the mountains of prey. The stouthearted were stripped of their spoil; ?? they sank into sleep; all the men of war ?? were unable to use their hands. At your rebuke, O God of Jacob, ?? both rider and horse lay stunned. But you, you are to be feared! ?? Who can stand before you ?? when once your anger is roused? From the heavens you uttered judgment; ?? the earth feared and was still, when God arose to establish judgment, ?? to save all the humble of the earth. ???? Selah Surely the wrath of man shall praise you; ?? the remnant of wrath you will put on like a belt. Make your vows to the LORD your God and perform them; ?? let all around him bring gifts ?? to him who is to be feared, who cuts off the spirit of princes, ?? who is to be feared by the kings of the earth. Psalm 23 ( Listen ) The LORD Is My Shepherd A Psalm of David. 23:1? The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. ?? He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. ?? He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness ?? for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, ?? I will fear no evil, for you are with me; ?? your rod and your staff, ?? they comfort me. You prepare a table before me ?? in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; ?? my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me ?? all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD ?? forever. Psalm 27 ( Listen ) The LORD Is My Light and My Salvation Of David. 27:1? The LORD is my light and my salvation; ?? whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; ?? of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me ?? to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, ?? it is they who stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, ?? my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, ?? yet I will be confident. One thing have I asked of the LORD, ?? that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD ?? all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD ?? and to inquire in his temple. For he will hide me in his shelter ?? in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; ?? he will lift me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up ?? above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent ?? sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the LORD. Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud; ?? be gracious to me and answer me! You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, ?? “Your face, LORD, do I seek.” ?? Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, ?? O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, ?? O God of my salvation! For my father and my mother have forsaken me, ?? but the LORD will take me in. Teach me your way, O LORD, ?? and lead me on a level path ?? because of my enemies. Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; ?? for false witnesses have risen against me, ?? and they breathe out violence. I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD ?? in the land of the living! Wait for the LORD; ?? be strong, and let your heart take courage; ?? wait for the LORD! Genesis 43:16-34 ( Listen ) When Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the steward of his house, “Bring the men into the house, and slaughter an animal and make ready, for the men are to dine with me at noon.” The man did as Joseph told him and brought the men to Joseph’s house. And the men were afraid because they were brought to Joseph’s house, and they said, “It is because of the money, which was replaced in our sacks the first time, that we are brought in, so that he may assault us and fall upon us to make us servants and seize our donkeys.” So they went up to the steward of Joseph’s house and spoke with him at the door of the house, and said, “Oh, my lord, we came down the first time to buy food. And when we came to the lodging place we opened our sacks, and there was each man’s money in the mouth of his sack, our money in full weight. So we have brought it again with us, and we have brought other money down with us to buy food. We do not know who put our money in our sacks.” He replied, “Peace to you, do not be afraid. Your God and the God of your father has put treasure in your sacks for you. I received your money.” Then he brought Simeon out to them. And when the man had brought the men into Joseph’s house and given them water, and they had washed their feet, and when he had given their donkeys fodder, they prepared the present for Joseph’s coming at noon, for they heard that they should eat bread there. When Joseph came home, they brought into the house to him the present that they had with them and bowed down to him to the ground. And he inquired about their welfare and said, “Is your father well, the old man of whom you spoke? Is he still alive?” They said, “Your servant our father is well; he is still alive.” And they bowed their heads and prostrated themselves. And he lifted up his eyes and saw his brother Benjamin, his mother’s son, and said, “Is this your youngest brother, of whom you spoke to me? God be gracious to you, my son!” Then Joseph hurried out, for his compassion grew warm for his brother, and he sought a place to weep. And he entered his chamber and wept there. Then he washed his face and came out. And controlling himself he said, “Serve the food.” They served him by himself, and them by themselves, and the Egyptians who ate with him by themselves, because the Egyptians could not eat with the Hebrews, for that is an abomination to the Egyptians. And they sat before him, the firstborn according to his birthright and the youngest according to his youth. And the men looked at one another in amazement. Portions were taken to them from Joseph’s table, but Benjamin’s portion was five times as much as any of theirs. And they drank and were merry with him. 1 Corinthians 7:10-24 ( Listen ) To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife. To the rest I say (I, not the Lord) that if any brother has a wife who is an unbeliever, and she consents to live with him, he should not divorce her. If any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever, and he consents to live with her, she should not divorce him. For the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy. But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace. For how do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife? Live as You Are Called Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches. Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision, but keeping the commandments of God. Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.) For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ. You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men. So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God. Mark 5:1-20 ( Listen ) Jesus Heals a Man with a Demon 5:1? They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered the pigs, and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and were drowned in the sea. The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region. As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled. Footnotes [1] 75:1 Hebrew They [2] 76:10 Or extremity [3] 23:2 Hebrew beside waters of rest [4] 23:3 Or in right paths [5] 23:4 Or the valley of deep darkness [6] 23:6 Or Only [7] 23:6 Or steadfast love [8] 23:6 Or shall return to dwell [9] 23:6 Hebrew for length of days [10] 27:1 Or refuge [11] 27:3 Or in this [12] 27:4 Or meditate [13] 27:8 The command ( seek ) is addressed to more than one person [14] 27:8 The meaning of the Hebrew verse is uncertain [15] 27:13 Other Hebrew manuscripts Oh! Had I not believed [16] 43:34 Hebrew and became intoxicated [17] 7:15 Some manuscripts us [18] 7:21 Greek bondservant ; also twice in verse 22 and once in verse 23 (plural) [19] 7:24 Or brothers and sisters ; also verse 29 [20] 5:1 Some manuscripts Gergesenes ; some Gadarenes [21] 5:2 Greek he ; also verse 9 [22] 5:15 Greek daimonizomai ; also verses 16, 18; elsewhere rendered oppressed by demons [23] 5:17 Greek him The Holy Bible, English Standard Version copyright ??2001 by Crossway Bibles , a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Quotation information . This reading plan is adapted from the Daily Office Lectionary found in The Book of Common Prayer .

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March 6 (2 Lent): Ps. 75, 76; Ps. 23, 27; Gen. 43:16-34; 1 Cor. 7:10-24; Mark 5:1-20 (ESV)

Leviticus 26 ( Listen ) Blessings for Obedience 26:1? “You shall not make idols for yourselves or erect an image or pillar, and you shall not set up a figured stone in your land to bow down to it, for I am the LORD your God. You shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary: I am the LORD. “If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them, then I will give you your rains in their season, and the land shall yield its increase, and the trees of the field shall yield their fruit. Your threshing shall last to the time of the grape harvest, and the grape harvest shall last to the time for sowing. And you shall eat your bread to the full and dwell in your land securely. I will give peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid. And I will remove harmful beasts from the land, and the sword shall not go through your land. You shall chase your enemies, and they shall fall before you by the sword. Five of you shall chase a hundred, and a hundred of you shall chase ten thousand, and your enemies shall fall before you by the sword. I will turn to you and make you fruitful and multiply you and will confirm my covenant with you. You shall eat old store long kept, and you shall clear out the old to make way for the new. I will make my dwelling among you, and my soul shall not abhor you. And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that you should not be their slaves. And I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect. Punishment for Disobedience “But if you will not listen to me and will not do all these commandments, if you spurn my statutes, and if your soul abhors my rules, so that you will not do all my commandments, but break my covenant, then I will do this to you: I will visit you with panic, with wasting disease and fever that consume the eyes and make the heart ache. And you shall sow your seed in vain, for your enemies shall eat it. I will set my face against you, and you shall be struck down before your enemies. Those who hate you shall rule over you, and you shall flee when none pursues you. And if in spite of this you will not listen to me, then I will discipline you again sevenfold for your sins, and I will break the pride of your power, and I will make your heavens like iron and your earth like bronze. And your strength shall be spent in vain, for your land shall not yield its increase, and the trees of the land shall not yield their fruit. “Then if you walk contrary to me and will not listen to me, I will continue striking you, sevenfold for your sins. And I will let loose the wild beasts against you, which shall bereave you of your children and destroy your livestock and make you few in number, so that your roads shall be deserted. “And if by this discipline you are not turned to me but walk contrary to me, then I also will walk contrary to you, and I myself will strike you sevenfold for your sins. And I will bring a sword upon you, that shall execute vengeance for the covenant. And if you gather within your cities, I will send pestilence among you, and you shall be delivered into the hand of the enemy. When I break your supply of bread, ten women shall bake your bread in a single oven and shall dole out your bread again by weight, and you shall eat and not be satisfied. “But if in spite of this you will not listen to me, but walk contrary to me, then I will walk contrary to you in fury, and I myself will discipline you sevenfold for your sins. You shall eat the flesh of your sons, and you shall eat the flesh of your daughters. And I will destroy your high places and cut down your incense altars and cast your dead bodies upon the dead bodies of your idols, and my soul will abhor you. And I will lay your cities waste and will make your sanctuaries desolate, and I will not smell your pleasing aromas. And I myself will devastate the land, so that your enemies who settle in it shall be appalled at it. And I will scatter you among the nations, and I will unsheathe the sword after you, and your land shall be a desolation, and your cities shall be a waste. “Then the land shall enjoy its Sabbaths as long as it lies desolate, while you are in your enemies’ land; then the land shall rest, and enjoy its Sabbaths. As long as it lies desolate it shall have rest, the rest that it did not have on your Sabbaths when you were dwelling in it. And as for those of you who are left, I will send faintness into their hearts in the lands of their enemies. The sound of a driven leaf shall put them to flight, and they shall flee as one flees from the sword, and they shall fall when none pursues. They shall stumble over one another, as if to escape a sword, though none pursues. And you shall have no power to stand before your enemies. And you shall perish among the nations, and the land of your enemies shall eat you up. And those of you who are left shall rot away in your enemies’ lands because of their iniquity, and also because of the iniquities of their fathers they shall rot away like them. “But if they confess their iniquity and the iniquity of their fathers in their treachery that they committed against me, and also in walking contrary to me, so that I walked contrary to them and brought them into the land of their enemies—if then their uncircumcised heart is humbled and they make amends for their iniquity, then I will remember my covenant with Jacob, and I will remember my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land. But the land shall be abandoned by them and enjoy its Sabbaths while it lies desolate without them, and they shall make amends for their iniquity, because they spurned my rules and their soul abhorred my statutes. Yet for all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not spurn them, neither will I abhor them so as to destroy them utterly and break my covenant with them, for I am the LORD their God. But I will for their sake remember the covenant with their forefathers, whom I brought out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the nations, that I might be their God: I am the LORD.” These are the statutes and rules and laws that the LORD made between himself and the people of Israel through Moses on Mount Sinai. Psalm 59 ( Listen ) Deliver Me from My Enemies To the choirmaster: according to Do Not Destroy. A Miktam of David, when Saul sent men to watch his house in order to kill him. 59:1? Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; ?? protect me from those who rise up against me; deliver me from those who work evil, ?? and save me from bloodthirsty men. For behold, they lie in wait for my life; ?? fierce men stir up strife against me. For no transgression or sin of mine, O LORD, ?? for no fault of mine, they run and make ready. Awake, come to meet me, and see! ?? You, LORD God of hosts, are God of Israel. Rouse yourself to punish all the nations; ?? spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. ???? Selah Each evening they come back, ?? howling like dogs ?? and prowling about the city. There they are, bellowing with their mouths ?? with swords in their lips— ?? for “Who,” they think, “will hear us?” But you, O LORD, laugh at them; ?? you hold all the nations in derision. O my Strength, I will watch for you, ?? for you, O God, are my fortress. My God in his steadfast love will meet me; ?? God will let me look in triumph on my enemies. Kill them not, lest my people forget; ?? make them totter by your power and bring them down, ?? O Lord, our shield! For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips, ?? let them be trapped in their pride. For the cursing and lies that they utter, ?? consume them in wrath; ?? consume them till they are no more, that they may know that God rules over Jacob ?? to the ends of the earth. ???? Selah Each evening they come back, ?? howling like dogs ?? and prowling about the city. They wander about for food ?? and growl if they do not get their fill. But I will sing of your strength; ?? I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress ?? and a refuge in the day of my distress. O my Strength, I will sing praises to you, ?? for you, O God, are my fortress, ?? the God who shows me steadfast love. Luke 23 ( Listen ) Jesus Before Pilate 23:1? Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.” Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, “I find no guilt in this man.” But they were urgent, saying, “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, from Galilee even to this place.” Jesus Before Herod When Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. And when he learned that he belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him over to Herod, who was himself in Jerusalem at that time. When Herod saw Jesus, he was very glad, for he had long desired to see him, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him. So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him. And Herod with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him. Then, arraying him in splendid clothing, he sent him back to Pilate. And Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before this they had been at enmity with each other. Pilate then called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was misleading the people. And after examining him before you, behold, I did not find this man guilty of any of your charges against him. Neither did Herod, for he sent him back to us. Look, nothing deserving death has been done by him. I will therefore punish and release him.” Pilate Delivers Jesus to Be Crucified But they all cried out together, “Away with this man, and release to us Barabbas”— a man who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection started in the city and for murder. Pilate addressed them once more, desiring to release Jesus, but they kept shouting, “Crucify, crucify him!” A third time he said to them, “Why, what evil has he done? I have found in him no guilt deserving death. I will therefore punish and release him.” But they were urgent, demanding with loud cries that he should be crucified. And their voices prevailed. So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus over to their will. The Crucifixion And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were mourning and lamenting for him. But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For behold, the days are coming when they will say, ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ For if they do these things when the wood is green, what will happen when it is dry?” Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” One of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying, “Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!” But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.” And he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” And he said to him, “Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” The Death of Jesus It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last. Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!” And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts. And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things. Jesus Is Buried Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man, who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God. This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment. ( ESV ) Footnotes [1] 26:11 Hebrew tabernacle [2] 26:26 Hebrew staff [3] 26:34 Or pay for ; twice in this verse; also verse 43 [4] 59:1 Probably a musical or liturgical term [5] 59:7 Hebrew lacks they think [6] 59:10 Or The God who shows me steadfast love [7] 59:11 Or wander [8] 23:16 Here, or after verse 19, some manuscripts add verse 17: Now he was obliged to release one man to them at the festival [9] 23:34 Some manuscripts omit the sentence And Jesus?.?.?. what they do [10] 23:38 Some manuscripts add in letters of Greek and Latin and Hebrew [11] 23:39 Or blasphemed him [12] 23:44 That is, noon [13] 23:44 That is, 3 p.m. [14] 23:54 Greek was dawning This reading plan is from the ESV Daily Reading Bible .

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March 4: Leviticus 26, Psalm 59, Luke 23