2 Kings 9:30–10:17

9:30 Jehu approached Jezreel. When Jezebel heard the news, she put on some eye liner, fixed up her hair, and leaned out the window. 31When Jehu came through the gate, she said, “Is everything all right, Zimri, murderer of his master?” 32He looked up at the window and said, “Who is on my side? Who?” Two or three eunuchs looked down at him. 33He said, “Throw her down!” So they threw her down, and when she hit the ground, her blood splattered against the wall and the horses, and Jehu drove his chariot over her. 34He went inside and had a meal. Then he said, “Dispose of this accursed woman’s corpse. Bury her, for after all, she was a king’s daughter.” 35But when they went to bury her, they found nothing left but the skull, feet, and palms of the hands. 36So they went back and told him. Then he said, “It is the fulfillment of the Lord’s message that he had spoken through his servant, Elijah the Tishbite, ‘In the plot of land at Jezreel, dogs will devour Jezebel’s flesh. 37Jezebel’s corpse will be like manure on the surface of the ground in the plot of land at Jezreel. People will not be able to even recognize her.’”

10:1 Ahab had 70 sons living in Samaria. So Jehu wrote letters and sent them to Samaria to the leading officials of Jezreel and to the guardians of Ahab’s dynasty. This is what the letters said, 2“You have with you the sons of your master, chariots and horses, a fortified city, and weapons. So when this letter arrives, 3pick the best and most capable of your master’s sons, place him on his father’s throne, and defend your master’s dynasty.”

4They were absolutely terrified and said, “Look, two kings could not stop him! How can we?” 5So the palace supervisor, the city commissioner, the leaders, and the guardians sent this message to Jehu, “We are your subjects! Whatever you say, we will do. We will not make anyone king. Do what you consider proper.”

6He wrote them a second letter, saying, “If you are really on my side and are willing to obey me, then take the heads of your master’s sons and come to me in Jezreel at this time tomorrow.” Now the king had 70 sons, and the prominent men of the city were raising them. 7When they received the letter, they seized the king’s sons and executed all 70 of them. They put their heads in baskets and sent them to him in Jezreel. 8The messenger came and told Jehu, “They have brought the heads of the king’s sons.” Jehu said, “Stack them in two piles at the entrance of the city gate until morning.” 9In the morning he went out and stood there. Then he said to all the people, “You are innocent. I conspired against my master and killed him. But who struck down all of these men? 10Therefore take note that not one of the Lord’s words which he pronounced against Ahab’s dynasty will fail to materialize. The Lord has done what he announced through his servant Elijah.” 11Then Jehu killed all who were left of Ahab’s family in Jezreel, and all his nobles, close friends, and priests. He left no survivors.

12Jehu then left there and set out for Samaria. While he was traveling through Beth Eked of the Shepherds, 13Jehu encountered the relatives of King Ahaziah of Judah. He asked, “Who are you?” They replied, “We are Ahaziah’s relatives. We have come down to see how the king’s sons and the queen mother’s sons are doing.” 14He said, “Capture them alive!” So they captured them alive and then executed all 42 of them by the cistern at Beth Eked. He left no survivors.

15When he left there, he met Jehonadab son of Rekab who had been looking for him. Jehu greeted him and asked, “Are you as committed to me as I am to you?” Jehonadab answered, “I am!” Jehu replied, “If so, give me your hand.” So he offered his hand and Jehu pulled him up into the chariot. 16Jehu said, “Come with me and see how zealous I am for the Lord’s cause.” So he took him along in his chariot. 17He went to Samaria and killed each of Ahab’s remaining family members who were in Samaria until he destroyed them, in keeping with the Lord’s message which he had announced to Elijah.

Ps. 38

38:1 A psalm of David, written to get God’s attention.

O Lord, do not continue to rebuke me in your anger.

Do not continue to punish me in your raging fury.

2For your arrows pierce me,

and your hand presses me down.

3My whole body is sick because of your judgment;

I am deprived of health because of my sin.

4For my sins overwhelm me;

like a heavy load, they are too much for me to bear.

5My wounds are infected and starting to smell,

because of my foolish sins.

6I am dazed and completely humiliated;

all day long I walk around mourning.

7For I am overcome with shame,

and my whole body is sick.

8I am numb with pain and severely battered;

I groan loudly because of the anxiety I feel.

9O Lord, you understand my heart’s desire;

my groaning is not hidden from you.

10My heart beats quickly;

my strength leaves me.

I can hardly see.

11Because of my condition, even my friends and acquaintances keep their distance;

my neighbors stand far away.

12Those who seek my life try to entrap me;

those who want to harm me speak destructive words.

All day long they say deceitful things.

13But I am like a deaf man—I hear nothing;

I am like a mute who cannot speak.

14I am like a man who cannot hear

and is incapable of arguing his defense.

15Yet I wait for you, O Lord!

You will respond, O Lord, my God!

16I have prayed for deliverance, because otherwise they will gloat over me;

when my foot slips they will arrogantly taunt me.

17For I am about to stumble,

and I am in constant pain.

18Yes, I confess my wrongdoing,

and I am concerned about my sins.

19But those who are my enemies for no reason are numerous;

those who hate me without cause outnumber me.

20They repay me evil for the good I have done;

though I have tried to do good to them, they hurl accusations at me.

21Do not abandon me, O Lord.

My God, do not remain far away from me.

22Hurry and help me, O Lord, my deliverer.

Matt. 19:16–30

19:16 Now someone came up to him and said, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to gain eternal life?” 17He said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” 18“Which ones?” he asked. Jesus replied, “Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, 19honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as yourself.” 20The young man said to him, “I have wholeheartedly obeyed all these laws. What do I still lack?” 21Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go sell your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 22But when the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he was very rich.

23Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it will be hard for a rich person to enter the kingdom of heaven! 24Again I say, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter into the kingdom of God.” 25The disciples were greatly astonished when they heard this and said, “Then who can be saved?” 26Jesus looked at them and replied, “This is impossible for mere humans, but for God all things are possible.” 27Then Peter said to him, “Look, we have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?” 28Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth: In the age when all things are renewed, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on 12 thrones, judging the 12 tribes of Israel. 29And whoever has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30But many who are first will be last, and the last first.