Sunday, 11 August

23.   And the garrison of the Philistines went out to the pass of Michmash.

1.   Now it happened one day that Jonathan the son of Saul said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come, let us go over to the Philistines’ garrison that is on the other side." But he did not tell his father. 2.   And Saul was sitting in the outskirts of Gibeah under a pomegranate tree which is in Migron. The people who were with him were about six hundred men. 3.   Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD’S priest in Shiloh, was wearing an ephod. But the people did not know that Jonathan had gone. 4.   Between the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistines’ garrison, there was a sharp rock on one side and a sharp rock on the other side. And the name of one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. 5.   The front of one faced northward opposite Michmash, and the other southward opposite Gibeah. 6.   Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the LORD will work for us. For nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few." 7.   So his armorbearer said to him, "Do all that is in your heart. Go then; here I am with you, according to your heart." 8.   Then Jonathan said, "Very well, let us cross over to these men, and we will show ourselves to them. 9.   "If they say thus to us, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stand still in our place and not go up to them. 10.   "But if they say thus, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up. For the LORD has delivered them into our hand, and this will be a sign to us." 11.   So both of them showed themselves to the garrison of the Philistines. And the Philistines said, "Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes where they have hidden." 12.   Then the men of the garrison called to Jonathan and his armorbearer, and said, "Come up to us, and we will show you something." Jonathan said to his armorbearer, "Come up after me, for the LORD has delivered them into the hand of Israel." 13.   And Jonathan climbed up on his hands and knees with his armorbearer after him; and they fell before Jonathan. And as he came after him, his armorbearer killed them. 14.   That first slaughter which Jonathan and his armorbearer made was about twenty men within about half an acre of land. 15.   And there was trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and the raiders also trembled; and the earth quaked, so that it was a very great trembling. 16.   Now the watchmen of Saul in Gibeah of Benjamin looked, and there was the multitude, melting away; and they went here and there. 17.   Then Saul said to the people who were with him, "Now call the roll and see who has gone from us." And when they had called the roll, surprisingly, Jonathan and his armorbearer were not there . 18.   And Saul said to Ahijah, "Bring the ark of God here" (for at that time the ark of God was with the children of Israel). 19.   Now it happened, while Saul talked to the priest, that the noise which was in the camp of the Philistines continued to increase; so Saul said to the priest, "Withdraw your hand." 20.   Then Saul and all the people who were with him assembled, and they went to the battle; and indeed every man’s sword was against his neighbor, and there was very great confusion. 21.   Moreover the Hebrews who were with the Philistines before that time, who went up with them into the camp from the surrounding country , they also joined the Israelites who were with Saul and Jonathan. 22.   Likewise all the men of Israel who had hidden in the mountains of Ephraim, when they heard that the Philistines fled, they also followed hard after them in the battle. 23.   So the LORD saved Israel that day, and the battle shifted to Beth Aven.

1.   The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2.   "Hear the words of this covenant, and speak to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem; 3.   "and say to them, ‘Thus says the LORD God of Israel: "Cursed is the man who does not obey the words of this covenant 4.   "which I commanded your fathers in the day I brought them out of the land of Egypt, from the iron furnace, saying, ‘Obey My voice, and do according to all that I command you; so shall you be My people, and I will be your God,’ 5.   "that I may establish the oath which I have sworn to your fathers, to give them ‘a land flowing with milk and honey,’ as it is this day."’" And I answered and said, "So be it, LORD." 6.   Then the LORD said to me, "Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying: ‘Hear the words of this covenant and do them. 7.   ‘For I earnestly exhorted your fathers in the day I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, until this day, rising early and exhorting, saying, "Obey My voice." 8.   ‘Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but everyone followed the dictates of his evil heart; therefore I will bring upon them all the words of this covenant, which I commanded them to do, but which they have not done.’" 9.   And the LORD said to me, "A conspiracy has been found among the men of Judah and among the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 10.   "They have turned back to the iniquities of their forefathers who refused to hear My words, and they have gone after other gods to serve them; the house of Israel and the house of Judah have broken My covenant which I made with their fathers." 11.   Therefore thus says the LORD: "Behold, I will surely bring calamity on them which they will not be able to escape; and though they cry out to Me, I will not listen to them. 12.   "Then the cities of Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem will go and cry out to the gods to whom they offer incense, but they will not save them at all in the time of their trouble. 13.   "For according to the number of your cities were your gods, O Judah; and according to the number of the streets of Jerusalem you have set up altars to that shameful thing, altars to burn incense to Baal. 14.   "So do not pray for this people, or lift up a cry or prayer for them; for I will not hear them in the time that they cry out to Me because of their trouble. 15.   "What has My beloved to do in My house, Having done lewd deeds with many? And the holy flesh has passed from you. When you do evil, then you rejoice. 16.   The LORD called your name, Green Olive Tree, Lovely and of Good Fruit. With the noise of a great tumult He has kindled fire on it, And its branches are broken. 17.   "For the LORD of hosts, who planted you, has pronounced doom against you for the evil of the house of Israel and of the house of Judah, which they have done against themselves to provoke Me to anger in offering incense to Baal." 18.   Now the LORD gave me knowledge of it , and I know it ; for You showed me their doings. 19.   But I was like a docile lamb brought to the slaughter; and I did not know that they had devised schemes against me, saying , "Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be remembered no more." 20.   But, O LORD of hosts, You who judge righteously, Testing the mind and the heart, Let me see Your vengeance on them, For to You I have revealed my cause. 21.   "Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the men of Anathoth who seek your life, saying, ‘Do not prophesy in the name of the LORD, lest you die by our hand’ –– 22.   "therefore thus says the LORD of hosts: ‘Behold, I will punish them. The young men shall die by the sword, their sons and their daughters shall die by famine; 23.   ‘and there shall be no remnant of them, for I will bring catastrophe on the men of Anathoth, even the year of their punishment.’"

21.   And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. 22.   Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23.   (as it is written in the law of the Lord, "Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the LORD"), 24.   and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, "A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons." 25.   And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26.   And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27.   So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, 28.   he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said: 29.   "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; 30.   For my eyes have seen Your salvation 31.   Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, 32.   A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel." 33.   And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. 34.   Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against 35.   "(yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed." 36.   Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; 37.   and this woman was a widow of about eighty–four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. 38.   And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem. 39.   So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. 40.   And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. 41.   His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42.   And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. 43.   When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it ; 44.   but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45.   So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. 46.   Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47.   And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48.   So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously." 49.   And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?" 50.   But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them. 51.   Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. 52.   And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.