Judges 9

• 1. One day Gideon's son Abimelech went to Shechem to visit his mother's brothers. He said to them and to the rest of his mother's family,
• 2. "Ask the people of Shechem whether they want to be ruled by all seventy of Gideon's sons or by one man. And remember, I am your own flesh and blood!"
• 3. So Abimelech's uncles spoke to all the people of Shechem on his behalf. And after listening to their proposal, they decided in favor of Abimelech because he was their relative.
• 4. They gave him seventy silver coins from the temple of Baal-berith, which he used to hire some soldiers who agreed to follow him.
• 5. He took the soldiers to his father's home at Ophrah, and there, on one stone, they killed all seventy of his half brothers. But the youngest brother, Jotham, escaped and hid.
• 6. Then the people of Shechem and Beth-millo called a meeting under the oak beside the pillar at Shechem and made Abimelech their king.
• 7. When Jotham heard about this, he climbed to the top of Mount Gerizim and shouted, "Listen to me, people of Shechem! Listen to me if you want God to listen to you!
• 8. Once upon a time the trees decided to elect a king. First they said to the olive tree, `Be our king!'
• 9. But it refused, saying, `Should I quit producing the olive oil that blesses both God and people, just to wave back and forth over the trees?'
• 10. "Then they said to the fig tree, `You be our king!'
• 11. But the fig tree also refused, saying, `Should I quit producing my sweet fruit just to wave back and forth over the trees?'
• 12. "Then they said to the grapevine, `You be our king!'
• 13. But the grapevine replied, `Should I quit producing the wine that cheers both God and people, just to wave back and forth over the trees?'
• 14. "Then all the trees finally turned to the thornbush and said, `Come, you be our king!'
• 15. And the thornbush replied, `If you truly want to make me your king, come and take shelter in my shade. If not, let fire come out from me and devour the cedars of Lebanon.'
• 16. "Now make sure you have acted honorably and in good faith by making Abimelech your king, and that you have done right by Gideon and all of his descendants. Have you treated my father with the honor he deserves?
• 17. For he fought for you and risked his life when he rescued you from the Midianites.
• 18. But now you have revolted against my father and his descendants, killing his seventy sons on one stone. And you have chosen his slave woman's son, Abimelech, to be your king just because he is your relative.
• 19. If you have acted honorably and in good faith toward Gideon and his descendants, then may you find joy in Abimelech, and may he find joy in you.
• 20. But if you have not acted in good faith, then may fire come out from Abimelech and devour the people of Shechem and Beth-millo; and may fire come out from the people of Shechem and Beth-millo and devour Abimelech!"
• 21. Then Jotham escaped and lived in Beer because he was afraid of his brother Abimelech.
• 22. After Abimelech had ruled over Israel for three years,
• 23. God stirred up trouble between Abimelech and the people of Shechem, and they revolted.
• 24. In the events that followed, God punished Abimelech and the men of Shechem for murdering Gideon's seventy sons.
• 25. The people of Shechem set an ambush for Abimelech on the hilltops and robbed everyone who passed that way. But someone warned Abimelech about their plot.
• 26. At that time Gaal son of Ebed moved to Shechem with his brothers and gained the confidence of the people of Shechem.
• 27. During the annual harvest festival at Shechem, held in the temple of the local god, the wine flowed freely, and everyone began cursing Abimelech.
• 28. "Who is Abimelech?" Gaal shouted. "He's not a true descendant of Shechem! Why should we be Abimelech's servants? He's merely the son of Gideon, and Zebul is his administrator. Serve the men of Hamor, who are Shechem's true descendants. Why should we serve Abimelech?
• 29. If I were in charge, I would get rid of Abimelech. I would say to him, `Get some more soldiers, and come out and fight!'"
• 30. But when Zebul, the leader of the city, heard what Gaal was saying, he was furious.
• 31. He sent messengers to Abimelech in Arumah, telling him, "Gaal son of Ebed and his brothers have come to live in Shechem, and now they are inciting the city to rebel against you.
• 32. Come by night with an army and hide out in the fields.
• 33. In the morning, as soon as it is daylight, storm the city. When Gaal and those who are with him come out against you, you can do with them as you wish."
• 34. So Abimelech and his men went by night and split into four groups, stationing themselves around Shechem.
• 35. Gaal was standing at the city gates when Abimelech and his army came out of hiding.
• 36. When Gaal saw them, he said to Zebul, "Look, there are people coming down from the hilltops!" Zebul replied, "It's just the shadows of the hills that look like men."
• 37. But again Gaal said, "No, people are coming down from the hills. And another group is coming down the road past the Diviners' Oak. "
• 38. Then Zebul turned on him triumphantly. "Now where is that big mouth of yours?" he demanded. "Wasn't it you that said, `Who is Abimelech, and why should we be his servants?' The men you mocked are right outside the city! Go out and fight them!"
• 39. Gaal then led the men of Shechem into battle against Abimelech,
• 40. but he was defeated and ran away. Many of Shechem's warriors were killed, and the ground was covered with dead bodies all the way to the city gate.
• 41. Abimelech stayed in Arumah, and Zebul drove Gaal and his brothers out of Shechem.
• 42. The next day the people of Shechem went out into the fields to battle. When Abimelech heard about it,
• 43. he divided his men into three groups and set an ambush in the fields. When Abimelech saw the people coming out of the city, he and his men jumped up from their hiding places and attacked them.
• 44. Abimelech and his group stormed the city gate to keep the men of Shechem from getting back in, while Abimelech's other two groups cut them down in the fields.
• 45. The battle went on all day before Abimelech finally captured the city. He killed the people, leveled the city, and scattered salt all over the ground.
• 46. When the people who lived in the tower of Shechem heard what had happened, they took refuge within the walls of the temple of Baal-berith.
• 47. Someone reported to Abimelech that the people were gathered together in the temple,
• 48. so he led his forces to Mount Zalmon. He took an ax and chopped some branches from a tree, and he put them on his shoulder. "Quick, do as I have done!" he told his men.
• 49. So each of them cut down some branches, following Abimelech's example. They piled the branches against the walls of the temple and set them on fire. So all the people who had lived in the tower of Shechem died, about a thousand men and women.
• 50. Then Abimelech attacked the city of Thebez and captured it.
• 51. But there was a strong tower inside the city, and the entire population fled to it. They barricaded themselves in and climbed up to the roof of the tower.
• 52. Abimelech followed them to attack the tower. But as he prepared to set fire to the entrance,
• 53. a woman on the roof threw down a millstone that landed on Abimelech's head and crushed his skull.
• 54. He said to his young armor bearer, "Draw your sword and kill me! Don't let it be said that a woman killed Abimelech!" So the young man stabbed him with his sword, and he died.
• 55. When Abimelech's men saw that he was dead, they disbanded and returned to their homes.
• 56. Thus, God punished Abimelech for the evil he had done against his father by murdering his seventy brothers.
• 57. God also punished the men of Shechem for all their evil. So the curse of Jotham son of Gideon came true.

Acts 13

• 1. Among the prophets and teachers of the church at Antioch of Syria were Barnabas, Simeon (called "the black man" ), Lucius (from Cyrene), Manaen (the childhood companion of King Herod Antipas ), and Saul.
• 2. One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Dedicate Barnabas and Saul for the special work I have for them."
• 3. So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.
• 4. Sent out by the Holy Spirit, Saul and Barnabas went down to the seaport of Seleucia and then sailed for the island of Cyprus.
• 5. There, in the town of Salamis, they went to the Jewish synagogues and preached the word of God. (John Mark went with them as their assistant.)
• 6. Afterward they preached from town to town across the entire island until finally they reached Paphos, where they met a Jewish sorcerer, a false prophet named Bar-Jesus.
• 7. He had attached himself to the governor, Sergius Paulus, a man of considerable insight and understanding. The governor invited Barnabas and Saul to visit him, for he wanted to hear the word of God.
• 8. But Elymas, the sorcerer (as his name means in Greek), interfered and urged the governor to pay no attention to what Saul and Barnabas said. He was trying to turn the governor away from the Christian faith.
• 9. Then Saul, also known as Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked the sorcerer in the eye and said,
• 10. "You son of the Devil, full of every sort of trickery and villainy, enemy of all that is good, will you never stop perverting the true ways of the Lord?
• 11. And now the Lord has laid his hand of punishment upon you, and you will be stricken awhile with blindness." Instantly mist and darkness fell upon him, and he began wandering around begging for someone to take his hand and lead him.
• 12. When the governor saw what had happened, he believed and was astonished at what he learned about the Lord.
• 13. Now Paul and those with him left Paphos by ship for Pamphylia, landing at the port town of Perga. There John Mark left them and returned to Jerusalem.
• 14. But Barnabas and Paul traveled inland to Antioch of Pisidia. On the Sabbath they went to the synagogue for the services.
• 15. After the usual readings from the books of Moses and from the Prophets, those in charge of the service sent them this message: "Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for us, come and give it!"
• 16. So Paul stood, lifted his hand to quiet them, and started speaking. "People of Israel," he said, "and you devout Gentiles who fear the God of Israel, listen to me.
• 17. "The God of this nation of Israel chose our ancestors and made them prosper in Egypt. Then he powerfully led them out of their slavery.
• 18. He put up with them through forty years of wandering around in the wilderness.
• 19. Then he destroyed seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to Israel as an inheritance.
• 20. All this took about 450 years. After that, judges ruled until the time of Samuel the prophet.
• 21. Then the people begged for a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, who reigned for forty years.
• 22. But God removed him from the kingship and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said, 'David son of Jesse is a man after my own heart, for he will do everything I want him to.'
• 23. "And it is one of King David's descendants, Jesus, who is God's promised Savior of Israel!
• 24. But before he came, John the Baptist preached the need for everyone in Israel to turn from sin and turn to God and be baptized.
• 25. As John was finishing his ministry he asked, 'Do you think I am the Messiah? No! But he is coming soon--and I am not even worthy to be his slave. '
• 26. "Brothers--you sons of Abraham, and also all of you devout Gentiles who fear the God of Israel--this salvation is for us!
• 27. The people in Jerusalem and their leaders fulfilled prophecy by condemning Jesus to death. They didn't recognize him or realize that he is the one the prophets had written about, though they hear the prophets' words read every Sabbath.
• 28. They found no just cause to execute him, but they asked Pilate to have him killed anyway.
• 29. "When they had fulfilled all the prophecies concerning his death, they took him down from the cross and placed him in a tomb.
• 30. But God raised him from the dead!
• 31. And he appeared over a period of many days to those who had gone with him from Galilee to Jerusalem--these are his witnesses to the people of Israel.
• 32. "And now Barnabas and I are here to bring you this Good News. God's promise to our ancestors has come true in our own time,
• 33. in that God raised Jesus. This is what the second psalm is talking about when it says concerning Jesus, 'You are my Son. Today I have become your Father. '
• 34. For God had promised to raise him from the dead, never again to die. This is stated in the Scripture that says, 'I will give you the sacred blessings I promised to David.'
• 35. Another psalm explains more fully, saying, 'You will not allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.'
• 36. Now this is not a reference to David, for after David had served his generation according to the will of God, he died and was buried, and his body decayed.
• 37. No, it was a reference to someone else--someone whom God raised and whose body did not decay.
• 38. "Brothers, listen! In this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins.
• 39. Everyone who believes in him is freed from all guilt and declared right with God--something the Jewish law could never do.
• 40. Be careful! Don't let the prophets' words apply to you. For they said,
• 41. 'Look, you mockers, be amazed and die! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn't believe even if someone told you about it.'"
• 42. As Paul and Barnabas left the synagogue that day, the people asked them to return again and speak about these things the next week.
• 43. Many Jews and godly converts to Judaism who worshiped at the synagogue followed Paul and Barnabas, and the two men urged them, "By God's grace, remain faithful."
• 44. The following week almost the entire city turned out to hear them preach the word of the Lord.
• 45. But when the Jewish leaders saw the crowds, they were jealous; so they slandered Paul and argued against whatever he said.
• 46. Then Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and declared, "It was necessary that this Good News from God be given first to you Jews. But since you have rejected it and judged yourselves unworthy of eternal life--well, we will offer it to Gentiles.
• 47. For this is as the Lord commanded us when he said, 'I have made you a light to the Gentiles, to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth.'"
• 48. When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for his message; and all who were appointed to eternal life became believers.
• 49. So the Lord's message spread throughout that region.
• 50. Then the Jewish leaders stirred up both the influential religious women and the leaders of the city, and they incited a mob against Paul and Barnabas and ran them out of town.
• 51. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them and went to the city of Iconium.
• 52. And the believers were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

Jeremiah 22

• 1. Then the LORD said to me, "Go over and speak directly to the king of Judah. Say to him,
• 2. `Listen to this message from the LORD, you king of Judah, sitting on David's throne. Let your officials and your people listen, too.
• 3. This is what the LORD says: Be fair-minded and just. Do what is right! Help those who have been robbed; rescue them from their oppressors. Quit your evil deeds! Do not mistreat foreigners, orphans, and widows. Stop murdering the innocent!
• 4. If you obey me, there will always be a descendant of David sitting on the throne here in Jerusalem. The king will ride through the palace gates in chariots and on horses, with his parade of officials and subjects.
• 5. But if you refuse to pay attention to this warning, I swear by my own name, says the LORD, that this palace will become a pile of rubble.'"
• 6. Now this is what the LORD says concerning the royal palace: "You are as beloved to me as fruitful Gilead and the green forests of Lebanon. But I will destroy you and leave you deserted, with no one living within your walls.
• 7. I will call for wreckers, who will bring out their tools to dismantle you. They will tear out all your fine cedar beams and throw them on the fire.
• 8. People from many nations will pass by the ruins of this city and say to one another, `Why did the LORD destroy such a great city?'
• 9. And the answer will be, `Because they violated their covenant with the LORD their God by worshiping other gods.'"
• 10. Do not weep for the dead king or mourn his loss. Instead, weep for the captive king being led away! For he will never return to see his native land again.
• 11. For this is what the LORD says about Jehoahaz, who succeeded his father, King Josiah, and was taken away as a captive: "He will never return.
• 12. He will die in a distant land and never again see his own country."
• 13. And the LORD says, "Destruction is certain for Jehoiakim, who builds his palace with forced labor. By not paying wages, he builds injustice into its walls and oppression into its doorframes and ceilings.
• 14. He says, `I will build a magnificent palace with huge rooms and many windows, paneled throughout with fragrant cedar and painted a lovely red.'
• 15. "But a beautiful palace does not make a great king! Why did your father, Josiah, reign so long? Because he was just and right in all his dealings. That is why God blessed him.
• 16. He made sure that justice and help were given to the poor and needy, and everything went well for him. Isn't that what it means to know me?" asks the LORD.
• 17. "But you! You are full of selfish greed and dishonesty! You murder the innocent, oppress the poor, and reign ruthlessly."
• 18. Therefore, this is the LORD's decree of punishment against King Jehoiakim, who succeeded his father, Josiah, on the throne: "His family will not weep for him when he dies. His subjects will not even care that he is dead.
• 19. He will be buried like a dead donkey--dragged out of Jerusalem and dumped outside the gate!
• 20. Weep, for your allies are all gone. Search for them in Lebanon. Shout for them at Bashan. Search for them in the regions east of the river. See, they are all destroyed. Not one is left to help you.
• 21. "When you were prosperous, I warned you, but you replied, `Don't bother me.' Since childhood you have been that way--you simply will not listen!
• 22. And now your allies have all disappeared with a puff of wind. All your friends have been taken away as captives. Surely at last you will see your wickedness and be ashamed.
• 23. It may be nice to live in a beautiful palace lined with lumber from the cedars of Lebanon, but soon you will cry and groan in anguish--anguish like that of a woman about to give birth.
• 24. "And as surely as I live," says the LORD, "I will abandon you, Jehoiachin son of Jehoiakim, king of Judah. Even if you were the signet ring on my right hand, I would pull you off.
• 25. I will hand you over to those who seek to kill you, of whom you are so desperately afraid--to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon and the mighty Babylonian army.
• 26. I will expel you and your mother from this land, and you will die in a foreign country.
• 27. You will never again return to the land of your desire.
• 28. "Why is this man Jehoiachin like a discarded, broken dish? Why are he and his children to be exiled to distant lands?
• 29. O earth, earth, earth! Listen to this message from the LORD!
• 30. This is what the LORD says: Let the record show that this man Jehoiachin was childless, for none of his children will ever sit on the throne of David to rule in Judah. His life will amount to nothing."

New Living Translation: 207 of 365 days.