1 Chron. 20:1–8
20:1 In the spring, at the time when kings normally conduct wars, Joab led the army into battle and devastated the land of the Ammonites. He went and besieged Rabbah, while David stayed in Jerusalem. Joab defeated Rabbah and tore it down. 2David took the crown from the head of their king and wore it (its weight was a talent of gold, and it was set with precious stones). He took a large amount of plunder from the city. 3He removed the city’s residents and made them labor with saws, iron picks, and axes. This was his policy with all the Ammonite cities. Then David and all the army returned to Jerusalem.
4Later there was a battle with the Philistines in Gezer. At that time Sibbekai the Hushathite killed Sippai, one of the descendants of the Rephaim, and the Philistines were subdued.
5There was another battle with the Philistines in which Elhanan son of Jair the Bethlehemite killed the brother of Goliath the Gittite, whose spear had a shaft as big as the crossbeam of a weaver’s loom.
6In a battle in Gath there was a large man who had six fingers on each hand and six toes on each foot—twenty-four in all! He too was a descendant of Rapha. 7When he taunted Israel, Jonathan son of Shimea, David’s brother, killed him.
8These were the descendants of Rapha who lived in Gath; they were killed by the hand of David and his soldiers.
(NET Bible)Ps. 119:73–80
119:73 י (Yod)
Your hands made me and formed me.
Give me understanding so that I might learn your commands.
74Your loyal followers will be glad when they see me,
for I find hope in your word.
75I know, Lord, that your regulations are just.
You disciplined me because of your faithful devotion to me.
76May your loyal love console me,
as you promised your servant.
77May I experience your compassion so I might live.
For I find delight in your law.
78May the arrogant be humiliated, for they have slandered me.
But I meditate on your precepts.
79May your loyal followers turn to me,
those who know your rules.
80May I be fully committed to your statutes,
so that I might not be ashamed.
(NET Bible)1 Cor. 4
4:1 One should think about us this way—as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2Now what is sought in stewards is that one be found faithful. 3So for me, it is a minor matter that I am judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. 4For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not acquitted because of this. The one who judges me is the Lord. 5So then, do not judge anything before the time. Wait until the Lord comes. He will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the motives of hearts. Then each will receive recognition from God.
6I have applied these things to myself and Apollos because of you, brothers and sisters, so that through us you may learn “not to go beyond what is written,” so that none of you will be puffed up in favor of the one against the other. 7For who concedes you any superiority? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as though you did not? 8Already you are satisfied! Already you are rich! You have become kings without us! I wish you had become kings so that we could reign with you! 9For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to die, because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to people. 10We are fools for Christ, but you are wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are distinguished, we are dishonored! 11To the present hour we are hungry and thirsty, poorly clothed, brutally treated, and without a roof over our heads. 12We do hard work, toiling with our own hands. When we are verbally abused, we respond with a blessing, when persecuted, we endure, 13when people lie about us, we answer in a friendly manner. We are the world’s dirt and scum, even now.
14I am not writing these things to shame you, but to correct you as my dear children. 15For though you may have 10,000 guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, because I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16I encourage you, then, be imitators of me. 17For this reason, I have sent Timothy to you, who is my dear and faithful son in the Lord. He will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church. 18Some have become arrogant, as if I were not coming to you. 19But I will come to you soon, if the Lord is willing, and I will find out not only the talk of these arrogant people, but also their power. 20For the kingdom of God is demonstrated not in idle talk but with power. 21What do you want? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline or with love and a spirit of gentleness?
(NET Bible)
It was self-evident to Luther that the evangelists gave consideration to the plan according to which they would relate the history of Jesus and, with that in mind, selected and arranged their materials accordingly, abbreviating here and expanding there. In the Church Postil Luther says in the Sermon for the Twenty- fifth Sunday after Trinity (St. Matt. 24:15-28): “In this chapter is described the conclu-sion and end of both kingdoms, that of Judah and that of the whole world. But the two evangelists, Matthew and Mark, mingle the two and do not keep the order that has been preserved in Luke, for they are concerned only about telling and repeating the words without troubling themselves as to the order in which the words were spoken.” “So understand that Matthew here weaves together and combines the end of the Jewish nation and of the world, mixes them into one dish. But if you wish to understand it you must separate it and apply the parts to their respective ends.” (60–61)
–Johann Michael Reu, Luther on the Scriptures
This daily Bible reading guide, Reading the Word of God, was conceived and prepared as a result of the ongoing discussions between representatives of three church bodies: Lutheran Church—Canada (LCC), The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) and the North American Lutheran Church (NALC). The following individuals have represented their church bodies and approved this introduction and the reading guide: LCC: President Robert Bugbee; NALC: Bishop John Bradosky, Revs. Mark Chavez, James Nestingen, and David Wendel; LCMS: Revs. Albert Collver, Joel Lehenbauer, John Pless, and Larry Vogel.