2 Samuel 23:1-7   Theme:  god
Theme one-liner:  song ; final

 

2 Samuel 23

David’s Last Words

   “David, the son of Jesse, speaks —
      David, the man who was raised up so high,
   David, the man anointed by the God of Jacob,
      David, the sweet psalmist of Israel.

 2 “The Spirit of the Lord speaks through me;
      his words are upon my tongue.
 3 The God of Israel spoke.
      The Rock of Israel said to me:
   ‘The one who rules righteously,
      who rules in the fear of God,
 4 is like the light of morning at sunrise ,
      like a morning without clouds,
   like the gleaming of the sun
      on new grass after rain.’

 5 “Is it not my family God has chosen ?
      Yes, he has made an everlasting covenant with me.
   His agreement is arranged and guaranteed in every detail.
      He will ensure my safety and success.
 6 But the godless are like thorns to be thrown away,
      for they tear the hand that touches them.
 7 One must use iron tools to chop them down;
      they will be totally consumed by fire .”

Psalm 132

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

 6 We heard that the Ark was in Ephrathah;
      then we found it in the distant countryside of Jaar.
 7 Let us go to the sanctuary of the Lord;
      let us worship at the footstool of his throne.
 8 Arise, O Lord, and enter your resting place,
      along with the Ark, the symbol of your power.
 9 May your priests be clothed in godliness;
      may your loyal servants sing for joy.
 10 For the sake of your servant David,
      do not reject the king you have anointed.
 11 The Lord swore an oath to David
      with a promise he will never take back:
   “I will place one of your descendants
      on your throne.
 12 If your descendants obey the terms of my covenant
      and the laws that I teach them,
   then your royal line
      will continue forever and ever.”

 13 For the Lord has chosen Jerusalem;
      he has desired it for his home.
 14 “This is my resting place forever,” he said.
      “I will live here, for this is the home I desired.
 15 I will bless this city and make it prosperous;
      I will satisfy its poor with food.
 16 I will clothe its priests with godliness;
      its faithful servants will sing for joy.
 17 Here I will increase the power of David;
      my anointed one will be a light for my people.
 18 I will clothe his enemies with shame ,
      but he will be a glorious king.”

 33 Then Pilate went back into his headquarters and called for Jesus to be brought to him. “Are you the king of the Jews?” he asked him.

 34 Jesus replied, “Is this your own question , or did others tell you about me?”

 35 “Am I a Jew?” Pilate retorted. “Your own people and their leading priests brought you to me for trial. Why ? What have you done?”

 36 Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.”

 37 Pilate said, “So you are a king?”

   Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”

John’s Greeting to the Seven Churches

   Grace and peace to you from the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come; from the sevenfold Spirit before his throne; 5 and from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead , and the ruler of all the kings of the world.

   All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us. 6 He has made us a Kingdom of priests for God his Father. All glory and power to him forever and ever! Amen.

 7 Look ! He comes with the clouds of heaven.
      And everyone will see him—
      even those who pierced him.
   And all the nations of the world
      will mourn for him.
   Yes! Amen!

 8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end," says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.”