Sunday, 01 December

1.   Concerning the divisions of the gatekeepers: of the Korahites, Meshelemiah the son of Kore, of the sons of Asaph. 2.   And the sons of Meshelemiah were Zechariah the firstborn, Jediael the second, Zebadiah the third, Jathniel the fourth, 3.   Elam the fifth, Jehohanan the sixth, Eliehoenai the seventh. 4.   Moreover the sons of Obed–Edom were Shemaiah the firstborn, Jehozabad the second, Joah the third, Sacar the fourth, Nethanel the fifth, 5.   Ammiel the sixth, Issachar the seventh, Peulthai the eighth; for God blessed him. 6.   Also to Shemaiah his son were sons born who governed their fathers’ houses, because they were men of great ability. 7.   The sons of Shemaiah were Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad, whose brothers Elihu and Semachiah were able men. 8.   All these were of the sons of Obed–Edom, they and their sons and their brethren, able men with strength for the work: sixty–two of Obed–Edom. 9.   And Meshelemiah had sons and brethren, eighteen able men. 10.   Also Hosah, of the children of Merari, had sons: Shimri the first (for though he was not the firstborn, his father made him the first), 11.   Hilkiah the second, Tebaliah the third, Zechariah the fourth; all the sons and brethren of Hosah were thirteen. 12.   Among these were the divisions of the gatekeepers, among the chief men, having duties just like their brethren, to serve in the house of the LORD. 13.   And they cast lots for each gate, the small as well as the great, according to their father’s house. 14.   The lot for the East Gate fell to Shelemiah. Then they cast lots for his son Zechariah, a wise counselor, and his lot came out for the North Gate; 15.   to Obed–Edom the South Gate, and to his sons the storehouse. 16.   To Shuppim and Hosah the lot came out for the West Gate, with the Shallecheth Gate on the ascending highway––watchman opposite watchman. 17.   On the east were six Levites, on the north four each day, on the south four each day, and for the storehouse two by two. 18.   As for the Parbar on the west, there were four on the highway and two at the Parbar. 19.   These were the divisions of the gatekeepers among the sons of Korah and among the sons of Merari. 20.   Of the Levites, Ahijah was over the treasuries of the house of God and over the treasuries of the dedicated things. 21.   The sons of Laadan, the descendants of the Gershonites of Laadan, heads of their fathers’ houses , of Laadan the Gershonite: Jehieli. 22.   The sons of Jehieli, Zetham and Joel his brother, were over the treasuries of the house of the LORD. 23.   Of the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites: 24.   Shebuel the son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was overseer of the treasuries. 25.   And his brethren by Eliezer were Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his son, Zichri his son, and Shelomith his son. 26.   This Shelomith and his brethren were over all the treasuries of the dedicated things which King David and the heads of fathers’ houses , the captains over thousands and hundreds, and the captains of the army, had dedicated. 27.   Some of the spoils won in battles they dedicated to maintain the house of the LORD. 28.   And all that Samuel the seer, Saul the son of Kish, Abner the son of Ner, and Joab the son of Zeruiah had dedicated, every dedicated thing , was under the hand of Shelomith and his brethren. 29.   Of the Izharites, Chenaniah and his sons performed duties as officials and judges over Israel outside Jerusalem. 30.   Of the Hebronites, Hashabiah and his brethren, one thousand seven hundred able men, had the oversight of Israel on the west side of the Jordan for all the business of the LORD, and in the service of the king. 31.   Among the Hebronites, Jerijah was head of the Hebronites according to his genealogy of the fathers. In the fortieth year of the reign of David they were sought, and there were found among them capable men at Jazer of Gilead. 32.   And his brethren were two thousand seven hundred able men, heads of fathers’ houses , whom King David made officials over the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half–tribe of Manasseh, for every matter pertaining to God and the affairs of the king.

1.   "For behold, in those days and at that time, When I bring back the captives of Judah and Jerusalem, 2.   I will also gather all nations, And bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; And I will enter into judgment with them there On account of My people, My heritage Israel, Whom they have scattered among the nations; They have also divided up My land. 3.   They have cast lots for My people, Have given a boy as payment for a harlot, And sold a girl for wine, that they may drink. 4.   "Indeed, what have you to do with Me, O Tyre and Sidon, and all the coasts of Philistia? Will you retaliate against Me? But if you retaliate against Me, Swiftly and speedily I will return your retaliation upon your own head; 5.   Because you have taken My silver and My gold, And have carried into your temples My prized possessions. 6.   Also the people of Judah and the people of Jerusalem You have sold to the Greeks, That you may remove them far from their borders. 7.   "Behold, I will raise them Out of the place to which you have sold them, And will return your retaliation upon your own head. 8.   I will sell your sons and your daughters Into the hand of the people of Judah, And they will sell them to the Sabeans, To a people far off; For the LORD has spoken." 9.   Proclaim this among the nations: "Prepare for war! Wake up the mighty men, Let all the men of war draw near, Let them come up. 10.   Beat your plowshares into swords And your pruning hooks into spears; Let the weak say, ‘I am strong.’" 11.   Assemble and come, all you nations, And gather together all around. Cause Your mighty ones to go down there, O LORD. 12.   "Let the nations be wakened, and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; For there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations. 13.   Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Come, go down; For the winepress is full, The vats overflow––For their wickedness is great." 14.   Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision. 15.   The sun and moon will grow dark, And the stars will diminish their brightness. 16.   The LORD also will roar from Zion, And utter His voice from Jerusalem; The heavens and earth will shake; But the LORD will be a shelter for His people, And the strength of the children of Israel. 17.   "So you shall know that I am the LORD your God, Dwelling in Zion My holy mountain. Then Jerusalem shall be holy, And no aliens shall ever pass through her again." 18.   And it will come to pass in that day That the mountains shall drip with new wine, The hills shall flow with milk, And all the brooks of Judah shall be flooded with water; A fountain shall flow from the house of the LORD And water the Valley of Acacias. 19.   "Egypt shall be a desolation, And Edom a desolate wilderness, Because of violence against the people of Judah, For they have shed innocent blood in their land. 20.   But Judah shall abide forever, And Jerusalem from generation to generation. 21.   "For I will acquit them of the guilt of bloodshed, whom I had not acquitted; For the LORD dwells in Zion."

1.   After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias, and in this way He showed Himself : 2.   Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together. 3.   Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We are going with you also." They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. 4.   But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5.   Then Jesus said to them, "Children, have you any food?" They answered Him, "No." 6.   And He said to them, "Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some ." So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish. 7.   Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea. 8.   But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. 9.   Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread. 10.   Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish which you have just caught." 11.   Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty–three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. 12.   Jesus said to them, "Come and eat breakfast." Yet none of the disciples dared ask Him, "Who are You?" ––knowing that it was the Lord. 13.   Jesus then came and took the bread and gave it to them, and likewise the fish. 14.   This is now the third time Jesus showed Himself to His disciples after He was raised from the dead. 15.   So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Feed My lambs." 16.   He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My sheep." 17.   He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Feed My sheep. 18.   "Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish." 19.   This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, "Follow Me." 20.   Then Peter, turning around, saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following, who also had leaned on His breast at the supper, and said, "Lord, who is the one who betrays You?" 21.   Peter, seeing him, said to Jesus, "But Lord, what about this man?" 22.   Jesus said to him, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me." 23.   Then this saying went out among the brethren that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, "If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you?" 24.   This is the disciple who testifies of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true. 25.   And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.