2 Kings 9:14–29

9:14 Then Jehu son of Jehoshaphat son of Nimshi conspired against Joram.

Jehu the Assassin

Now Joram had been in Ramoth Gilead with the whole Israelite army, guarding against an invasion by King Hazael of Syria. 15But King Joram had returned to Jezreel to recover from the wounds he received from the Syrians when he fought against King Hazael of Syria. Jehu told his supporters, “If you really want me to be king, then don’t let anyone escape from the city to go and warn Jezreel.” 16Jehu drove his chariot to Jezreel, for Joram was recuperating there. (Now King Ahaziah of Judah had come down to visit Joram.)

17Now the watchman was standing on the tower in Jezreel and saw Jehu’s troops approaching. He said, “I see troops!” Joram ordered, “Send a rider out to meet them and have him ask, ‘Is everything all right?’” 18So the horseman went to meet him and said, “This is what the king says, ‘Is everything all right?’” Jehu replied, “None of your business! Follow me.” The watchman reported, “The messenger reached them, but hasn’t started back.” 19So he sent a second horseman out to them and he said, “This is what the king says, ‘Is everything all right?’” Jehu replied, “None of your business! Follow me.” 20The watchman reported, “He reached them, but hasn’t started back. The one who drives the lead chariot drives like Jehu son of Nimshi; he drives recklessly.” 21Joram ordered, “Hitch up my chariot.” When his chariot had been hitched up, King Joram of Israel and King Ahaziah of Judah went out in their respective chariots to meet Jehu. They met up with him in the plot of land that had once belonged to Naboth of Jezreel.

22When Joram saw Jehu, he asked, “Is everything all right, Jehu?” He replied, “How can everything be all right as long as your mother Jezebel promotes idolatry and pagan practices?” 23Joram turned his chariot around and took off. He said to Ahaziah, “It’s a trap, Ahaziah!” 24Jehu aimed his bow and shot an arrow right between Joram’s shoulders. The arrow went through his heart and he fell to his knees in his chariot. 25Jehu ordered his officer Bidkar, “Pick him up and throw him into the part of the field that once belonged to Naboth of Jezreel. Remember, you and I were riding together behind his father, Ahab, when the Lord pronounced this oracle against him, 26‘“Know for sure that I saw the shed blood of Naboth and his sons yesterday,” says the Lord, “and that I will give you what you deserve right here in this plot of land,” says the Lord.’ So now pick him up and throw him into this plot of land, just as in the Lord’s message.”

27When King Ahaziah of Judah saw what happened, he took off up the road to Beth Haggan. Jehu chased him and ordered, “Shoot him too.” They shot him while he was driving his chariot up the ascent of Gur near Ibleam. He fled to Megiddo and died there. 28His servants took his body back to Jerusalem and buried him in his tomb with his ancestors in the City of David. 29Ahaziah had become king over Judah in the eleventh year of Joram son of Ahab.

Ps. 37:23–40

37:23 The Lord grants success to the one

whose behavior he finds commendable.

24Even if he trips, he will not fall headlong,

for the Lord holds his hand.

25I was once young, now I am old.

I have never seen the godly abandoned,

or their children forced to search for food.

26All day long they show compassion and lend to others,

and their children are blessed.

27Turn away from evil. Do what is right.

Then you will enjoy lasting security.

28For the Lord promotes justice,

and never abandons his faithful followers.

They are permanently secure,

but the children of the wicked are wiped out.

29The godly will possess the land

and will dwell in it permanently.

30The godly speak wise words

and promote justice.

31The law of their God controls their thinking;

their feet do not slip.

32The wicked set an ambush for the godly

and try to kill them.

33But the Lord does not surrender the godly,

or allow them to be condemned in a court of law.

34Rely on the Lord. Obey his commands.

Then he will permit you to possess the land;

you will see the demise of the wicked.

35I have seen ruthless, wicked people

growing in influence, like a green tree grows in its native soil.

36But then one passes by, and suddenly they have disappeared.

I looked for them, but they could not be found.

37Take note of the one who has integrity. Observe the upright.

For the one who promotes peace has a future.

38Sinful rebels are totally destroyed;

the wicked have no future.

39But the Lord delivers the godly;

he protects them in times of trouble.

40The Lord helps them and rescues them;

he rescues them from the wicked and delivers them,

for they seek his protection.

Matt. 19:1–15

19:1 Now when Jesus finished these sayings, he left Galilee and went to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan River. 2Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there.

3Then some Pharisees came to him in order to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful to divorce a wife for any cause?” 4He answered, “Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female, 5and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will be united with his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? 6So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” 7They said to him, “Why then did Moses command us to give a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her?” 8Jesus said to them, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because of your hard hearts, but from the beginning it was not this way. 9Now I say to you that whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another commits adultery.” 10The disciples said to him, “If this is the case of a husband with a wife, it is better not to marry!” 11He said to them, “Not everyone can accept this statement, except those to whom it has been given. 12For there are some eunuchs who were that way from birth, and some who were made eunuchs by others, and some who became eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who is able to accept this should accept it.”

13Then little children were brought to him for him to lay his hands on them and pray. But the disciples scolded those who brought them. 14But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not try to stop them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” 15And he placed his hands on them and went on his way.