2 Chron. 7:1–10

7:1 When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the Lord’s splendor filled the temple. 2The priests were unable to enter the Lord’s temple because the Lord’s splendor filled the Lord’s temple. 3When all the Israelites saw the fire come down and the Lord’s splendor over the temple, they got on their knees with their faces downward toward the pavement. They worshiped and gave thanks to the Lord, saying, “Certainly he is good; certainly his loyal love endures!”

4The king and all the people were presenting sacrifices to the Lord. 5King Solomon sacrificed 22,000 cattle and 120,000 sheep. Then the king and all the people dedicated God’s temple. 6The priests stood in their assigned spots, along with the Levites who had the musical instruments used for praising the Lord. (These were the ones King David made for giving thanks to the Lord and which were used by David when he offered praise, saying, “Certainly his loyal love endures.”) Opposite the Levites, the priests were blowing the trumpets, while all Israel stood there. 7Solomon consecrated the middle of the courtyard that is in front of the Lord’s temple. He offered burnt sacrifices, grain offerings, and the fat from the peace offerings there because the bronze altar that Solomon had made was too small to hold all these offerings. 8At that time Solomon and all Israel with him celebrated a festival for seven days. This great assembly included people from Lebo Hamath in the north to the Stream of Egypt in the south. 9On the eighth day they held an assembly, for they had dedicated the altar for seven days and celebrated the festival for seven more days. 10On the twenty-third day of the seventh month, Solomon sent the people home. They left happy and contented because of the good the Lord had done for David, Solomon, and his people Israel.

Ps. 77

77:1 For the music director, Jeduthun; a psalm of Asaph.

I will cry out to God and call for help.

I will cry out to God and he will pay attention to me.

2In my time of trouble I sought the Lord.

I kept my hand raised in prayer throughout the night.

I refused to be comforted.

3I said, “I will remember God while I groan;

I will think about him while my strength leaves me.” (Selah)

4You held my eyelids open;

I was troubled and could not speak.

5I thought about the days of old,

about ancient times.

6I said, “During the night I will remember the song I once sang;

I will think very carefully.”

I tried to make sense of what was happening.

7I asked, “Will the Lord reject me forever?

Will he never again show me his favor?

8Has his loyal love disappeared forever?

Has his promise failed forever?

9Has God forgotten to be merciful?

Has his anger stifled his compassion?” (Selah)

10Then I said, “I am sickened by the thought

that the Most High might become inactive.

11I will remember the works of the Lord.

Yes, I will remember the amazing things you did long ago.

12I will think about all you have done;

I will reflect upon your deeds.”

13 O God, your deeds are extraordinary.

What god can compare to our great God?

14You are the God who does amazing things;

you have revealed your strength among the nations.

15You delivered your people by your strength—

the children of Jacob and Joseph. (Selah)

16The waters saw you, O God,

the waters saw you and trembled.

Yes, the depths of the sea shook with fear.

17The clouds poured down rain;

the skies thundered.

Yes, your arrows flashed about.

18Your thunderous voice was heard in the wind;

the lightning bolts lit up the world.

The earth trembled and shook.

19You walked through the sea;

you passed through the surging waters,

but left no footprints.

20You led your people like a flock of sheep,

by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Luke 6:37–49

6:37 “Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38Give, and it will be given to you: A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be poured into your lap. For the measure you use will be the measure you receive.”

39He also told them a parable: “Someone who is blind cannot lead another who is blind, can he? Won’t they both fall into a pit? 40A disciple is not greater than his teacher, but everyone when fully trained will be like his teacher. 41Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to see the beam of wood in your own? 42How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me remove the speck from your eye,’ while you yourself don’t see the beam in your own? You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

43“For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, 44for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from brambles. 45The good person out of the good treasury of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasury produces evil, for his mouth speaks from what fills his heart.

46“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do what I tell you?

47“Everyone who comes to me and listens to my words and puts them into practice—I will show you what he is like: 48He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on bedrock. When a flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well built. 49But the person who hears and does not put my words into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against that house, it collapsed immediately and was utterly destroyed!”