The One Year Bible TLB (117 page)
Read The One Year Bible TLB Online
Authors: Tyndale
If you profit from constructive criticism, you will be elected to the wise men’s hall of fame. But to reject criticism is to harm yourself and your own best interests.
May 25When the Lord finally sent peace upon the land, and Israel was no longer at war with the surrounding nations,
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David said to Nathan the prophet, “Look! Here I am living in this beautiful cedar palace while the Ark of God is out in a tent!”
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“Go ahead with what you have in mind,” Nathan replied, “for the Lord is with you.”
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But that night the Lord said to Nathan,
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“Tell my servant David not to do it!
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For I have never lived in a temple. My home has been a tent ever since the time I brought Israel out of Egypt.
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And I have never once complained to Israel’s leaders, the shepherds of my people. Have I ever asked them, ‘Why haven’t you built me a beautiful cedar temple?’
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“Now go and give this message to David from the Lord of heaven: ‘I chose you to be the leader of my people Israel when you were a mere shepherd, tending your sheep in the pastureland.
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I have been with you wherever you have gone and have destroyed your enemies. And I will make your name greater yet, so that you will be one of the most famous men in the world!
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I have selected a homeland for my people from which they will never have to move. It will be their own land where the heathen nations won’t bother them as they did when the judges ruled my people. There will be no more wars against you; and your descendants shall rule this land for generations to come!
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For when you die, I will put one of your sons upon your throne, and I will make his kingdom strong.
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He is the one who shall build me a temple. And I will continue his kingdom into eternity.
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I will be his father and he shall be my son. If he sins, I will use other nations to punish him,
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but my love and kindness shall not leave him as I took it from Saul, your predecessor.
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Your family shall rule my kingdom forever.’”
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So Nathan went back to David and told him everything the Lord had said.
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Then David went into the Tabernacle and sat before the Lord and prayed, “O Lord God, why have you showered your blessings on such an insignificant person as I am?
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And now, in addition to everything else, you speak of giving me an eternal dynasty! Such generosity is far beyond any human standard! O Lord God!
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What can I say? For you know what I am like!
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You are doing all these things just because you promised to and because you want to!
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How great you are, Lord God! We have never heard of any other God like you. And there is no other God.
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What other nation in all the earth has received such blessings as Israel, your people? For you have rescued your chosen nation in order to bring glory to your name. You have done great miracles to destroy Egypt and its gods.
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You chose Israel to be your people forever, and you became our God.
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“And now, Lord God, do as you have promised concerning me and my family.
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And may you be eternally honored when you have established Israel as your people and have established my dynasty before you.
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For you have revealed to me, O Lord of heaven, God of Israel, that I am the first of a dynasty which will rule your people forever; that is why I have been bold enough to pray this prayer of acceptance.
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For you are indeed God, and your words are truth; and you have promised me these good things—
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so do as you have promised! Bless me and my family forever! May our dynasty continue on and on before you; for you, Lord God, have promised it.”
8:
1
After this David subdued and humbled the Philistines by conquering Gath, their largest city.
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He also devastated the land of Moab. He divided his victims by making them lie down side by side in rows. Two-thirds of each row, as measured with a tape, were butchered, and one-third were spared to become David’s servants—they paid him tribute each year.
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He also destroyed the forces of King Hadadezer (son of Rehob) of Zobah in a battle at the Euphrates River, for Hadadezer had attempted to regain his power.
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David captured seventeen hundred cavalry and twenty thousand infantry; then he lamed all of the chariot horses except for one hundred teams.
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He also slaughtered twenty-two thousand Syrians from Damascus when they came to help Hadadezer.
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David placed several army garrisons in Damascus, and the Syrians became David’s subjects and brought him annual tribute money. So the Lord gave him victories wherever he turned.
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David brought the gold shields to Jerusalem which King Hadadezer’s officers had used.
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He also carried back to Jerusalem a very large amount of bronze from Hadadezer’s cities of Betah and Berothai.
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When King Toi of Hamath heard about David’s victory over the army of Hadadezer,
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he sent his son Joram to congratulate him, for Hadadezer and Toi were enemies. He gave David presents made from silver, gold, and bronze.
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David dedicated all of these to the Lord, along with the silver and gold he had taken from Syria, Moab, Ammon, the Philistines, Amalek, and King Hadadezer.
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So David became very famous. After his return he destroyed eighteen thousand Edomites
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in Salt Valley,
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and then placed garrisons throughout Edom, so that the entire nation was forced to pay tribute to Israel—another example of the way the Lord made him victorious wherever he went.
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David reigned with justice over Israel and was fair to everyone.
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The general of his army was Joab (son of Zeruiah), and his secretary of state was Jehoshaphat (son of Ahilud).
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Zadok (son of Ahitub) and Ahimelech (son of Abiathar) were the High Priests, and Seraiah was the king’s private secretary.
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Benaiah (son of Jehoiada) was captain of his bodyguard,
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and David’s sons were his assistants.
“If you love me, obey me; and I will ask the Father and he will give you another Comforter, and he will never leave you.
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He is the Holy Spirit, the Spirit who leads into all truth. The world at large cannot receive him, for it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you do, for he lives with you now and some day shall be in you.
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No, I will not abandon you or leave you as orphans in the storm—I will come to you.
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In just a little while I will be gone from the world, but I will still be present with you. For I will live again—and you will too.
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When I come back to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.
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The one who obeys me is the one who loves me; and because he loves me, my Father will love him; and I will too, and I will reveal myself to him.”
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Judas (not Judas Iscariot, but his other disciple with that name) said to him, “Sir, why are you going to reveal yourself only to us disciples and not to the world at large?”
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Jesus replied,
“Because I will only reveal myself to those who love me and obey me. The Father will love them too, and we will come to them and live with them.
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Anyone who doesn’t obey me doesn’t love me. And remember, I am not making up this answer to your question! It is the answer given by the Father who sent me.
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“I am telling you these things now while I am still with you.
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But when the Father sends the Comforter
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instead of me—and by the Comforter I mean the Holy Spirit—he will teach you much, as well as remind you of everything I myself have told you.
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“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart! And the peace I give isn’t fragile like the peace the world gives. So don’t be troubled or afraid.
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Remember what I told you—I am going away, but I will come back to you again. If you really love me, you will be very happy for me, for now I can go to the Father, who is greater than I am.
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I have told you these things before they happen so that when they do, you will believe in me.
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“I don’t have much more time to talk to you, for the evil prince of this world approaches. He has no power over me,
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but I will freely do what the Father requires of me so that the world will know that I love the Father. Come, let’s be going.”
Just tell me what to do and I will do it, Lord. As long as I live I’ll wholeheartedly obey.
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Make me walk along the right paths, for I know how delightful they really are.
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Help me to prefer obedience to making money!
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Turn me away from wanting any other plan than yours.
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Revive my heart toward you.
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Reassure me that your promises are for me, for I trust and revere you.
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How I dread being mocked for obeying, for your laws are right and good.
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I long to obey them! Therefore in fairness renew my life, for this was your promise—yes, Lord, to save me! Now spare me by your kindness and your love. Then I will have an answer for those who taunt me, for I trust your promises.
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May I never forget your words, for they are my only hope.
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Therefore I will keep on obeying you forever and forever, free within the limits of your laws. I will speak to kings about their value, and they will listen with interest and respect.
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How I love your laws! How I enjoy your commands!
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“Come, come to me,” I call to them, for I love them and will let them fill my life.
Humility and reverence for the Lord will make you both wise and honored.
May 26One day David began wondering if any of Saul’s family was still living, for he wanted to be kind to them, as he had promised Prince Jonathan.
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He heard about a man named Ziba, who had been one of Saul’s servants, and summoned him.
“Are you Ziba?” the king asked.
“Yes, sir, I am,” he replied.
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The king then asked him, “Is anyone left from Saul’s family? If so, I want to fulfill a sacred vow by being kind to him.”
“Yes,” Ziba replied, “Jonathan’s lame son is still alive.”
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“Where is he?” the king asked.
“In Lo-debar,” Ziba told him. “At the home of Machir.”
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So King David sent for Mephibosheth—Jonathan’s son and Saul’s grandson. Mephibosheth arrived in great fear and greeted the king in deep humility, bowing low before him.
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But David said, “Don’t be afraid! I’ve asked you to come so that I can be kind to you because of my vow to your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul, and you shall live here at the palace!”
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Mephibosheth fell to the ground before the king. “Should the king show kindness to a dead dog like me?” he exclaimed.
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Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba. “I have given your master’s grandson everything that belonged to Saul and his family,” he said.
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“You and your sons and servants are to farm the land for him, to produce food for his family; but he will live here with me.”
Ziba, who had fifteen sons and twenty servants, replied, “Sir, I will do all you have commanded.”
And from that time on, Mephibosheth ate regularly with King David, as though he were one of his own sons.
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Mephibosheth had a young son, Mica. All the household of Ziba became Mephibosheth’s servants,
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but Mephibosheth (who was lame in both feet) moved to Jerusalem to live at the palace.
10:
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Some time after this the Ammonite king died and his son Hanun replaced him.
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“I am going to show special respect for him,” David said, “because his father, Nahash, was always so loyal and kind to me.” So David sent ambassadors to express regrets to Hanun about his father’s death.
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But Hanun’s officers told him, “These men aren’t here to honor your father! David has sent them to spy out the city before attacking it!”
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So Hanun took David’s men and shaved off half their beards and cut their robes off at the buttocks and sent them home half naked.
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When David heard what had happened he told them to stay at Jericho until their beards grew out; for the men were very embarrassed over their appearance.
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Now the people of Ammon realized how seriously they had angered David, so they hired twenty thousand Syrian mercenaries from the lands of Rehob and Zobah, one thousand from the king of Maacah, and ten thousand from the land of Tob.
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When David heard about this, he sent Joab and the entire Israeli army to attack them. The Ammonites defended the gates of their city while the Syrians from Zobah, Rehob, Tob, and Maacah fought in the fields.
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When Joab realized that he would have to fight on two fronts, he selected the best fighters in his army, placed them under his personal command, and took them out to fight the Syrians in the fields.
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He left the rest of the army to his brother Abishai, who was to attack the city.
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“If I need assistance against the Syrians, come out and help me,” Joab instructed him. “And if the Ammonites are too strong for you, I will come and help you.
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Courage! We must really act like men today if we are going to save our people and the cities of our God. May the Lord’s will be done.”
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And when Joab and his troops attacked, the Syrians began to run away.
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Then, when the Ammonites saw the Syrians running, they ran too, and retreated into the city. Afterwards Joab returned to Jerusalem.
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The Syrians now realized that they were no match for Israel. So when they regrouped, they were joined by additional Syrian troops summoned by Hadadezer from the other side of the Euphrates River. These troops arrived at Helam under the command of Shobach, the commander-in-chief of all of Hadadezer’s forces.
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When David heard what was happening, he personally led the Israeli army to Helam, where the Syrians attacked him.
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But again the Syrians fled from the Israelis, this time leaving seven hundred charioteers dead on the field, also forty thousand cavalrymen, including General Shobach.
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When Hadadezer’s allies saw that the Syrians had been defeated, they surrendered to David and became his servants. And the Syrians were afraid to help the Ammonites anymore after that.
11:
1
In the spring of the following year, at the time when wars begin, David sent Joab and the Israeli army to destroy the Ammonites. They began by laying siege to the city of Rabbah. But David stayed in Jerusalem.
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One night he couldn’t get to sleep
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and went for a stroll on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking her evening bath.
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He sent to find out who she was and was told that she was Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah.
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Then David sent for her and when she came he slept with her. (She had just completed the purification rites after menstruation.) Then she returned home.
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When she found that he had gotten her pregnant she sent a message to inform him.
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So David dispatched a memo to Joab: “Send me Uriah the Hittite.”
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When he arrived, David asked him how Joab and the army were getting along and how the war was prospering.
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Then he told him to go home and relax, and he sent a present to him at his home.
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But Uriah didn’t go there. He stayed that night at the gateway of the palace with the other servants of the king.
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When David heard what Uriah had done, he summoned him and asked him, “What’s the matter with you? Why didn’t you go home to your wife last night after being away for so long?”
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Uriah replied, “The Ark and the armies and the general and his officers are camping out in open fields, and should I go home to wine and dine and sleep with my wife? I swear that I will never be guilty of acting like that.”
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“Well, stay here tonight,” David told him, “and tomorrow you may return to the army.”
So Uriah stayed around the palace.
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David invited him to dinner and got him drunk; but even so he didn’t go home that night, but again he slept at the entry to the palace.
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Finally the next morning David wrote a letter to Joab and gave it to Uriah to deliver.
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The letter instructed Joab to put Uriah at the front of the hottest part of the battle—and then pull back and leave him there to die!
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So Joab assigned Uriah to a spot close to the besieged city where he knew that the enemies’ best men were fighting;
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and Uriah was killed along with several other Israeli soldiers.
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When Joab sent a report to David of how the battle was going,
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he told his messenger, “If the king is angry and asks, ‘Why did the troops go so close to the city? Didn’t they know there would be shooting from the walls? Wasn’t Abimelech killed at Thebez by a woman who threw down a millstone on him?’—then tell him, ‘Uriah was killed too.’”
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So the messenger arrived at Jerusalem and gave the report to David.
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“The enemy came out against us,” he said, “and as we chased them back to the city gates,
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the men on the wall attacked us; and some of our men were killed, and Uriah the Hittite is dead too.”
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“Well, tell Joab not to be discouraged,” David said. “The sword kills one as well as another!
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Fight harder next time, and conquer the city; tell him he is doing well.”
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When Bathsheba heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him;
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then, when the period of mourning was over, David sent for her and brought her to the palace and she became one of his wives; and she gave birth to his son. But the Lord was very displeased with what David had done.
“I am the true Vine, and my Father is the Gardener.
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He lops off every branch that doesn’t produce. And he prunes those branches that bear fruit for even larger crops.
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He has already tended you by pruning you back for greater strength and usefulness by means of the commands I gave you.
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Take care to live in me, and let me live in you. For a branch can’t produce fruit when severed from the vine. Nor can you be fruitful apart from me.
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“Yes, I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in me and I in him shall produce a large crop of fruit. For apart from me you can’t do a thing.
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If anyone separates from me, he is thrown away like a useless branch, withers, and is gathered into a pile with all the others and burned.
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But if you stay in me and obey my commands, you may ask any request you like, and it will be granted!
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My true disciples produce bountiful harvests. This brings great glory to my Father.
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“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Live within my love.
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When you obey me you are living in my love, just as I obey my Father and live in his love.
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I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your cup of joy will overflow!
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I demand that you love each other as much as I love you.
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And here is how to measure it—the greatest love is shown when a person lays down his life for his friends;
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and you are my friends if you obey me.
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I no longer call you slaves, for a master doesn’t confide in his slaves; now you are my friends, proved by the fact that I have told you everything the Father told me.
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“You didn’t choose me! I chose you! I appointed you to go and produce lovely fruit always, so that no matter what you ask for from the Father, using my name, he will give it to you.
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I demand that you love each other,
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for you get enough hate from the world! But then, it hated me before it hated you.
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The world would love you if you belonged to it; but you don’t—for I chose you to come out of the world, and so it hates you.
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Do you remember what I told you? ‘A slave isn’t greater than his master!’ So since they persecuted me, naturally they will persecute you. And if they had listened to me, they would listen to you!
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The people of the world will persecute you because you belong to me, for they don’t know God who sent me.
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“They would not be guilty if I had not come and spoken to them. But now they have no excuse for their sin.
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Anyone hating me is also hating my Father.
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If I hadn’t done such mighty miracles among them they would not be counted guilty. But as it is, they saw these miracles and yet they hated both of us—me and my Father.
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This has fulfilled what the prophets said concerning the Messiah, ‘They hated me without reason.’
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“But I will send you the Comforter—the Holy Spirit, the source of all truth. He will come to you from the Father and will tell you all about me.
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And you also must tell everyone about me because you have been with me from the beginning.”
Never forget your promises to me your servant, for they are my only hope. They give me strength in all my troubles; how they refresh and revive me!
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Proud men hold me in contempt for obedience to God, but I stand unmoved.
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From my earliest youth I have tried to obey you; your Word has been my comfort.
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I am very angry with those who spurn your commands.
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For these laws of yours have been my source of joy and singing through all these years of my earthly pilgrimage.
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I obey them even at night and keep my thoughts, O Lord, on you.
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What a blessing this has been to me—to constantly obey.
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Jehovah is mine! And I promise to obey!
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With all my heart I want your blessings. Be merciful just as you promised.
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I thought about the wrong direction in which I was headed, and turned around and came running back to you.
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Evil men have tried to drag me into sin, but I am firmly anchored to your laws.
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At midnight I will rise to give my thanks to you for your good laws.
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Anyone is my brother who fears and trusts the Lord and obeys him.
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O Lord, the earth is full of your loving-kindness! Teach me your good paths.