Daily Readings for November 25

Daily Readings for November 25
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Nehemiah 13

1.On that day they read in the book of Moses in the audience of the people; and therein was found written, that an Ammonite and a Moabite should not enter into the assembly of God forever, 2.because they didn't meet the children of Israel with bread and with water, but hired Balaam against them, to curse them: however our God turned the curse into a blessing. 3.It came to pass, when they had heard the law, that they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude. 4.Now before this, Eliashib the priest, who was appointed over the rooms of the house of our God, being allied to Tobiah, 5.had prepared for him a great room, where before they laid the meal offerings, the frankincense, and the vessels, and the tithes of the grain, the new wine, and the oil, which were given by commandment to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the wave offerings for the priests. 6.But in all this, I was not at Jerusalem; for in the two and thirtieth year of Artaxerxes king of Babylon I went to the king: and after certain days asked I leave of the king, 7.and I came to Jerusalem, and understood the evil that Eliashib had done for Tobiah, in preparing him a room in the courts of the house of God. 8.It grieved me severely: therefore I cast forth all the household stuff of Tobiah out of the room. 9.Then I commanded, and they cleansed the rooms: and there brought I again the vessels of the house of God, with the meal offerings and the frankincense. 10.I perceived that the portions of the Levites had not been given them; so that the Levites and the singers, who did the work, had fled everyone to his field. 11.Then I contended with the rulers, and said, "Why is the house of God forsaken?" I gathered them together, and set them in their place. 12.Then brought all Judah the tithe of the grain and the new wine and the oil to the treasuries. 13.I made treasurers over the treasuries, Shelemiah the priest, and Zadok the scribe, and of the Levites, Pedaiah: and next to them was Hanan the son of Zaccur, the son of Mattaniah; for they were counted faithful, and their business was to distribute to their brothers. 14.Remember me, my God, concerning this, and don't wipe out my good deeds that I have done for the house of my God, and for its observances. 15.In those days saw I in Judah some men treading winepresses on the Sabbath, and bringing in sheaves, and loading donkeys; as also wine, grapes, and figs, and all kinds of burdens, which they brought into Jerusalem on the Sabbath day: and I testified against them in the day in which they sold food. 16.There lived men of Tyre also therein, who brought in fish, and all kinds of wares, and sold on the Sabbath to the children of Judah, and in Jerusalem. 17.Then I contended with the nobles of Judah, and said to them, "What evil thing is this that you do, and profane the Sabbath day? 18.Didn't your fathers do thus, and didn't our God bring all this evil on us, and on this city? Yet you bring more wrath on Israel by profaning the Sabbath."

19.It came to pass that, when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath, I commanded that the doors should be shut, and commanded that they should not be opened until after the Sabbath. I set some of my servants over the gates, that no burden should be brought in on the Sabbath day. 20.So the merchants and sellers of all kinds of wares lodged outside of Jerusalem once or twice. 21.Then I testified against them, and said to them, "Why do you stay around the wall? If you do so again, I will lay hands on you." From that time on, they didn't come on the Sabbath. 22.I commanded the Levites that they should purify themselves, and that they should come and keep the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember to me, my God, this also, and spare me according to the greatness of your loving kindness. 23.In those days also saw I the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, of Ammon, and of Moab: 24.and their children spoke half in the speech of Ashdod, and could not speak in the Jews' language, but according to the language of each people. 25.I contended with them, and cursed them, and struck certain of them, and plucked off their hair, and made them swear by God, "You shall not give your daughters to their sons, nor take their daughters for your sons, or for yourselves. 26.Didn't Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? Yet among many nations was there no king like him, and he was beloved of his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless foreign women caused even him to sin. 27.Shall we then listen to you to do all this great evil, to trespass against our God in marrying foreign women?"

28.One of the sons of Joiada, the son of Eliashib the high priest, was son-in-law to Sanballat the Horonite: therefore I chased him from me. 29.Remember them, my God, because they have defiled the priesthood, and the covenant of the priesthood, and of the Levites. 30.Thus I cleansed them from all foreigners, and appointed duties for the priests and for the Levites, everyone in his work; 31.and for the wood offering, at times appointed, and for the first fruits. Remember me, my God, for good.

Amos 5

1.Listen to this word which I take up for a lamentation over you, O house of Israel. 2."The virgin of Israel has fallen; She shall rise no more. She is cast down on her land; there is no one to raise her up."

3.For thus says the Lord Yahweh: "The city that went forth a thousand shall have a hundred left, and that which went forth one hundred shall have ten left to the house of Israel."

4.For thus says Yahweh to the house of Israel: "Seek me, and you will live; 5.but don't seek Bethel, nor enter into Gilgal, and don't pass to Beersheba: for Gilgal shall surely go into captivity, and Bethel shall come to nothing. 6.Seek Yahweh, and you will live; lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph, and it devour, and there be no one to quench it in Bethel. 7.You who turn justice to wormwood, and cast down righteousness to the earth: 8.seek him who made the Pleiades and Orion, and turns the shadow of death into the morning, and makes the day dark with night; who calls for the waters of the sea, and pours them out on the surface of the earth, Yahweh is his name, 9.who brings sudden destruction on the strong, so that destruction comes on the fortress. 10.They hate him who reproves in the gate, and they abhor him who speaks blamelessly. 11.Forasmuch therefore as you trample on the poor, and take taxes from him of wheat: You have built houses of cut stone, but you will not dwell in them. You have planted pleasant vineyards, but you shall not drink their wine. 12.For I know how many your offenses, and how great are your sins-- you who afflict the just, who take a bribe, and who turn aside the needy in the courts. 13.Therefore a prudent person keeps silent in such a time, for it is an evil time. 14.Seek good, and not evil, that you may live; and so Yahweh, the God of Armies, will be with you, as you say. 15.Hate evil, love good, and establish justice in the courts. It may be that Yahweh, the God of Armies, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph."

16.Therefore thus says Yahweh, the God of Armies, the Lord: "Wailing will be in all the broad ways; and they will say in all the streets, 'Alas! Alas!' and they will call the farmer to mourning, and those who are skillful in lamentation to wailing. 17.In all vineyards there will be wailing; for I will pass through the midst of you," says Yahweh. 18."Woe to you who desire the day of Yahweh! Why do you long for the day of Yahweh? It is darkness, and not light. 19.As if a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him; Or he went into the house and leaned his hand on the wall, and a snake bit him. 20.Won't the day of Yahweh be darkness, and not light? Even very dark, and no brightness in it? 21.I hate, I despise your feasts, and I can't stand your solemn assemblies. 22.Yes, though you offer me your burnt offerings and meal offerings, I will not accept them; neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat animals. 23.Take away from me the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. 24.But let justice roll on like rivers, and righteousness like a mighty stream.

25."Did you bring to me sacrifices and offerings in the wilderness forty years, house of Israel? 26.You also carried the tent of your king and the shrine of your images, the star of your god, which you made for yourselves. 27.Therefore will I cause you to go into captivity beyond Damascus," says Yahweh, whose name is the God of Armies.

2Timothy 2

1.You therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2.The things which you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit the same to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. 3.You therefore must endure hardship, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4.No soldier on duty entangles himself in the affairs of life, that he may please him who enrolled him as a soldier. 5.Also, if anyone competes in athletics, he isn't crowned unless he has competed by the rules. 6.The farmers who labor must be the first to get a share of the crops. 7.Consider what I say, and may the Lord give you understanding in all things.

8.Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, of the seed of David, according to my Good News, 9.in which I suffer hardship to the point of chains as a criminal. But God's word isn't chained. 10.Therefore I endure all things for the chosen ones' sake, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11.This saying is faithful: "For if we died with him, we will also live with him. 12.If we endure, we will also reign with him. If we deny him, he also will deny us. 13.If we are faithless, he remains faithful. He can't deny himself."

14.Remind them of these things, charging them in the sight of the Lord, that they don't argue about words, to no profit, to the subverting of those who hear.

15.Give diligence to present yourself approved by God, a workman who doesn't need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth. 16.But shun empty chatter, for it will go further in ungodliness, 17.and those words will consume like gangrene, of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 18.men who have erred concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past, and overthrowing the faith of some. 19.However God's firm foundation stands, having this seal, "The Lord knows those who are his,"¹ and, "Let every one who names the name of the Lord² depart from unrighteousness." 20.Now in a large house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of clay. Some are for honor, and some for dishonor. 21.If anyone therefore purges himself from these, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, and suitable for the master's use, prepared for every good work.

22.Flee from youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 23.But refuse foolish and ignorant questionings, knowing that they generate strife. 24.The Lord's servant must not quarrel, but be gentle towards all, able to teach, patient, 25.in gentleness correcting those who oppose him: perhaps God may give them repentance leading to a full knowledge of the truth, 26.and they may recover themselves out of the devil's snare, having been taken captive by him to his will.