Today’s
Reading : 2Chronicles 16 – 19 and Galatians 4 (KJV)
2Chronicles 16
2Ch
16:1 In the six and thirtieth year of the reign of
Asa Baasha king of Israel
came up against Judah, and built Ramah, to the intent that he might let none go
out or come in to Asa king of Judah.
2Ch 16:2 Then Asa brought
out silver and gold out of the treasures of the house of the LORD and of the
king's house, and sent to Ben-hadad king of Syria,
that dwelt at Damascus, saying,
2Ch 16:3 There is a league between me and thee, as there was
between my father and thy father: behold, I have sent thee silver and gold; go,
break thy league with Baasha king of Israel, that he
may depart from me.
2Ch 16:4 And Ben-hadad
hearkened unto king Asa, and sent the captains of his
armies against the cities of Israel; and they smote Ijon,
and Dan, and Abel-maim, and all the store cities of Naphtali.
2Ch 16:5 And it came to pass, when Baasha
heard it, that he left off building of
Ramah, and let his work cease.
2Ch 16:6 Then Asa the king
took all Judah; and they carried away the stones of Ramah, and the timber
thereof, wherewith Baasha was building; and he built
therewith Geba and Mizpah.
2Ch 16:7 And at that time Hanani
the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto
him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD
thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.
2Ch 16:8 Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubims a huge host, with very many chariots and horsemen?
yet, because thou didst rely on the LORD, he delivered them into thine hand.
2Ch 16:9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro
throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is
perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth
thou shalt have wars.
2Ch 16:10 Then Asa was wroth
with the seer, and put him in a prison house; for he
was in a rage with him because of this thing. And Asa
oppressed some of the people the same
time.
2Ch 16:11 And, behold, the acts of Asa,
first and last, lo, they are written in
the book of the kings of Judah and Israel.
2Ch 16:12 And Asa in the
thirty and ninth year of his reign was diseased in his feet, until his disease was exceeding great:
yet in his disease he sought not to the LORD, but to the physicians.
2Ch 16:13 And Asa slept with
his fathers, and died in the one and fortieth year of his reign.
2Ch 16:14 And they buried him in his own sepulchres,
which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed
which was filled with sweet odours and divers kinds of
spices prepared by the apothecaries'
art: and they made a very great burning for him.
2Chronicles 17
2Ch
17:1 And Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his stead,
and strengthened himself against Israel.
2Ch 17:2 And he placed forces in all the fenced cities
of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah, and in the cities of Ephraim,
which Asa his father had taken.
2Ch 17:3 And the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he
walked in the first ways of his father David, and sought not unto Baalim;
2Ch 17:4 But sought to the LORD
God of his father, and walked in his commandments, and not after the doings of
Israel.
2Ch 17:5 Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in
his hand; and all Judah brought to Jehoshaphat presents; and he had riches and honour
in abundance.
2Ch 17:6 And his heart was lifted up in the ways of
the LORD: moreover he took away the high places and groves out of Judah.
2Ch 17:7 Also in the third year of his reign he sent
to his princes, even to Ben-hail, and to
Obadiah, and to Zechariah, and to Nethaneel, and to Michaiah, to teach in the cities of Judah.
2Ch 17:8 And with them he
sent Levites, even Shemaiah, and Nethaniah, and Zebadiah, and Asahel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehonathan, and Adonijah, and Tobijah, and Tob-adonijah,
Levites; and with them Elishama and Jehoram, priests.
2Ch 17:9 And they taught in Judah, and had the book of the law of the LORD with them,
and went about throughout all the cities of Judah, and taught the people.
2Ch 17:10 And the fear of the LORD fell upon all the
kingdoms of the lands that were round
about Judah, so that they made no war against Jehoshaphat.
2Ch 17:11 Also some
of the Philistines brought Jehoshaphat presents, and tribute silver; and the
Arabians brought him flocks, seven thousand and seven hundred rams, and seven
thousand and seven hundred he goats.
2Ch 17:12 And Jehoshaphat waxed great exceedingly; and
he built in Judah castles, and cities of store.
2Ch 17:13 And he had much business in the cities of
Judah: and the men of war, mighty men of valour, were
in Jerusalem.
2Ch 17:14 And these are
the numbers of them according to the house of their fathers: Of Judah, the
captains of thousands; Adnah the chief, and with him
mighty men of valour three hundred thousand.
2Ch 17:15 And next to him was
Jehohanan the captain, and with him two hundred and
fourscore thousand.
2Ch 17:16 And next him was
Amasiah the son of Zichri,
who willingly offered himself unto the LORD; and with him two hundred thousand
mighty men of valour.
2Ch 17:17 And of Benjamin; Eliada
a mighty man of valour, and with him armed men with bow and shield two hundred
thousand.
2Ch 17:18 And next him was
Jehozabad, and with him a hundred and fourscore
thousand ready prepared for the war.
2Ch 17:19 These waited on the king, beside those whom the king put in the fenced cities
throughout all Judah.
2Chronicles 18
2Ch
18:1 Now Jehoshaphat had riches and honour in
abundance, and joined affinity with Ahab.
2Ch 18:2 And after certain
years he went down to Ahab to Samaria. And Ahab killed sheep and oxen for him
in abundance, and for the people that he
had with him, and persuaded him to go up
with him
to Ramoth-gilead.
2Ch 18:3 And Ahab king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat
king of Judah, Wilt thou go with me to Ramoth-gilead?
And he answered him, I am as thou art, and my people as thy people; and we will be with thee in the war.
2Ch 18:4 And Jehoshaphat said unto the king of Israel,
Inquire, I pray thee, at the word of the LORD today.
2Ch 18:5 Therefore the king of Israel gathered
together of prophets four hundred men, and said unto them, Shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And they said,
Go up; for God will deliver it into the
king's hand.
2Ch 18:6 But Jehoshaphat said, Is there
not here a prophet of the LORD besides, that we might inquire of him?
2Ch 18:7 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat,
There is
yet one man, by whom we may inquire of the LORD: but I hate him; for he never
prophesied good unto me, but always evil: the same is
Micaiah the son of Imla.
And Jehoshaphat said, Let not the king say so.
2Ch 18:8 And the king of Israel called for one of his
officers, and said, Fetch quickly Micaiah the son of Imla.
2Ch 18:9 And the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat king
of Judah sat either of them on his throne, clothed in their robes, and they sat in a void place at the
entering in of the gate of Samaria; and all the prophets prophesied before
them.
2Ch 18:10 And Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah
had made him horns of iron, and said, Thus saith the
LORD, With these thou shalt push Syria until they be
consumed.
2Ch 18:11 And all the prophets prophesied so, saying,
Go up to Ramoth-gilead, and prosper: for the LORD
shall deliver it into the hand of the
king.
2Ch 18:12 And the messenger that went to call Micaiah spoke to him, saying, Behold, the words of the
prophets declare good to the king with
one assent; let thy word therefore, I pray thee, be like one of theirs, and
speak thou good.
2Ch 18:13 And Micaiah said, As the LORD liveth,
even what my God saith, that will I speak.
2Ch 18:14 And when he was come to the king, the king
said unto him, Micaiah, shall we go to Ramoth-gilead to battle, or shall I forbear? And he said, Go
ye up, and prosper, and they shall be delivered into your hand.
2Ch 18:15 And the king said to him, How many times
shall I adjure thee that thou say nothing but the truth to me in the name of
the LORD?
2Ch 18:16 Then he said, I did see all Israel scattered
upon the mountains, as sheep that have no shepherd: and the LORD said, These
have no master; let them return therefore
every man to his house in peace.
2Ch 18:17 And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat,
Did I not tell thee that he would not
prophesy good unto me, but evil?
2Ch 18:18 Again he said, Therefore hear the word of the
LORD; I saw the LORD sitting upon his throne, and all the host of heaven
standing on his right hand and on his
left.
2Ch 18:19 And the LORD said, Who shall entice Ahab king
of Israel, that he may go up and fall at Ramoth-gilead?
And one spoke saying after this manner, and another saying after that manner.
2Ch 18:20 Then there came out a spirit, and stood
before the LORD, and said, I will entice him. And the LORD said unto him,
Wherewith?
2Ch 18:21 And he said, I will go out, and be a lying
spirit in the mouth of all his prophets. And the
LORD said, Thou shalt
entice him, and thou shalt
also prevail: go out, and do even so.
2Ch 18:22 Now therefore, behold, the LORD hath put a
lying spirit in the mouth of these thy prophets, and the LORD hath spoken evil
against thee.
2Ch 18:23 Then Zedekiah the son of Chenaanah
came near, and smote Micaiah upon the cheek, and
said, Which way went the Spirit of the LORD from me to speak unto thee?
2Ch 18:24 And Micaiah said,
Behold, thou shalt see on that day when thou shalt go into an inner chamber to hide thyself.
2Ch 18:25 Then the king of Israel said, Take ye Micaiah, and carry him back to Amon
the governor of the city, and to Joash the king's
son;
2Ch 18:26 And say, Thus saith
the king, Put this fellow in the prison,
and feed him with bread of affliction and with water of affliction, until I
return in peace.
2Ch 18:27 And Micaiah said,
If thou certainly return in peace, then
hath not the LORD spoken by me. And he said, Hearken, all ye people.
2Ch 18:28 So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the
king of Judah went up to Ramoth-gilead.
2Ch 18:29 And the king of Israel said unto Jehoshaphat,
I will disguise myself, and will go to the battle; but put thou on thy robes.
So the king of Israel disguised himself; and they went to the battle.
2Ch 18:30 Now the king of Syria had commanded the
captains of the chariots that were with
him, saying, Fight ye not with small or great, save only with the king of
Israel.
2Ch 18:31 And it came to pass, when the captains of the
chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, It is
the king of Israel. Therefore they compassed about him to fight: but
Jehoshaphat cried out, and the LORD helped him; and God moved them to depart
from him.
2Ch 18:32 For it came to pass, that, when the captains
of the chariots perceived that it was not the king of Israel, they turned back
again from pursuing him.
2Ch 18:33 And a certain
man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of
the harness: therefore he said to his chariot man, Turn thine
hand, that thou mayest carry me out of the host; for
I am wounded.
2Ch 18:34 And the battle increased that day: howbeit
the king of Israel stayed himself up in his chariot against the Syrians until the even:
and about the time of the sun going down he died.
2Chronicles 19
2Ch
19:1 And Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned to
his house in peace to Jerusalem.
2Ch 19:2 And Jehu the son of Hanani
the seer went out to meet him, and said to king Jehoshaphat, Shouldest thou help the ungodly, and love them that hate
the LORD? therefore is wrath upon thee
from before the LORD.
2Ch 19:3 Nevertheless there are good things found in
thee, in that thou hast taken away the groves out of the land, and hast
prepared thine heart to seek God.
2Ch 19:4 And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he
went out again through the people from Beer-sheba to
mount Ephraim, and brought them back unto the LORD God of their fathers.
2Ch 19:5 And he set judges in the land throughout all
the fenced cities of Judah, city by city,
2Ch 19:6 And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do:
for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is
with you in the judgment.
2Ch 19:7 Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be
upon you; take heed and do it: for there is
no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.
2Ch 19:8 Moreover in Jerusalem did Jehoshaphat set of
the Levites, and of the priests, and of
the chief of the fathers of Israel, for the judgment of the LORD, and for
controversies, when they returned to Jerusalem.
2Ch 19:9 And he charged them, saying, Thus shall ye do
in the fear of the LORD, faithfully, and with a perfect heart.
2Ch 19:10 And what cause soever
shall come to you of your brethren that dwell in their cities, between blood
and blood, between law and commandment, statutes and judgments, ye shall even
warn them that they trespass not against the LORD, and so wrath come upon you, and upon your brethren:
this do, and ye shall not trespass.
2Ch 19:11 And, behold, Amariah
the chief priest is over you in all
matters of the LORD; and Zebadiah the son of Ishmael,
the ruler of the house of Judah, for all the king's matters: also the Levites shall be
officers before you. Deal courageously, and the LORD shall be with the good.
Galatians 4
Gal
4:1 Now I say, That
the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing
from a servant, though he be lord of all;
Gal 4:2 But is under tutors and governors until the
time appointed of the father.
Gal 4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in
bondage under the elements of the world:
Gal 4:4 But when the fullness of the time was come,
God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that
we might receive the adoption of sons.
Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth
the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
Gal 4:7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a
son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Gal 4:8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did
service unto them which by nature are no gods.
Gal 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or
rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements,
whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?
Gal 4:10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and
years.
Gal 4:11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon
you labour in vain.
Gal 4:12 Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am
as ye are: ye have not injured me at
all.
Gal 4:13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I
preached the gospel unto you at the first.
Gal 4:14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye
despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.
Gal 4:15 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own
eyes, and have given them to me.
Gal 4:16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I
tell you the truth?
Gal 4:17 They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that
ye might affect them.
Gal 4:18 But it
is good to be zealously affected always
in a good thing,
and not only when I am present with you.
Gal 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in
birth again until Christ be formed in you,
Gal 4:20 I desire to be present with you now, and to
change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.
Gal 4:21 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law,
do ye not hear the law?
Gal 4:22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons,
the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.
Gal 4:23 But he who
was of the bondwoman was born after the
flesh; but he of the freewoman was by
promise.
Gal 4:24 Which things are an allegory: for these are
the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which engendereth
to bondage, which is Hagar.
Gal 4:25 For this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with
her children.
Gal 4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which
is the mother of us all.
Gal 4:27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest
not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not;
for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath a husband.
Gal 4:28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the
children of promise.
Gal 4:29 But as then he that was born after the flesh
persecuted him that was born
after the Spirit, even so it is now.
Gal 4:30 Nevertheless what saith
the Scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman
shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman.
Gal 4:31 So then, brethren, we are not children of the
bondwoman, but of the free.