1 Chron. 26:1–32

26:1 The divisions of the gatekeepers:

From the Korahites: Meshelemiah, son of Kore, one of the sons of Asaph.

2Meshelemiah’s sons:

The firstborn Zechariah, the second Jediael, the third Zebadiah, the fourth Jathniel, 3the fifth Elam, the sixth Jehohanan, and the seventh Elihoenai.

4Obed-Edom’s sons:

The firstborn Shemaiah, the second Jehozabad, the third Joah, the fourth Sakar, the fifth Nethanel, 5the sixth Ammiel, the seventh Issachar, and the eighth Peullethai. (Indeed, God blessed Obed-Edom.)

6His son Shemaiah also had sons, who were leaders of their families, for they were highly respected. 7The sons of Shemaiah:

Othni, Rephael, Obed, and Elzabad. His relatives Elihu and Semakiah were also respected.

8All these were the descendants of Obed-Edom. They and their sons and relatives were respected men, capable of doing their responsibilities. There were sixty-two of them related to Obed-Edom.

9Meshelemiah had sons and relatives who were respected—eighteen in all.

10Hosah, one of the descendants of Merari, had sons:

The firstborn Shimri (he was not actually the firstborn, but his father gave him that status), 11the second Hilkiah, the third Tebaliah, and the fourth Zechariah. All Hosah’s sons and relatives numbered thirteen.

12These divisions of the gatekeepers, corresponding to their leaders, had assigned responsibilities, like their relatives, as they served in the Lord’s temple.

13They cast lots, both young and old, according to their families, to determine which gate they would be responsible for. 14The lot for the east gate went to Shelemiah. They then cast lots for his son Zechariah, a wise adviser, and the lot for the north gate went to him. 15Obed-Edom was assigned the south gate, and his sons were assigned the storehouses. 16Shuppim and Hosah were assigned the west gate, along with the Shalleketh gate on the upper road. One guard was adjacent to another. 17Each day there were six Levites posted on the east, four on the north, and four on the south. At the storehouses they were posted in pairs. 18At the court on the west there were four posted on the road and two at the court. 19These were the divisions of the gatekeepers who were descendants of Korah and Merari.

20Their fellow Levites were in charge of the storehouses in God’s temple and the storehouses containing consecrated items. 21The descendants of Ladan, who were descended from Gershon through Ladan and were leaders of the families of Ladan the Gershonite, included Jehieli 22and the sons of Jehieli, Zetham and his brother Joel. They were in charge of the storehouses in the Lord’s temple.

23As for the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites, and Uzzielites:

24Shebuel son of Gershom, the son of Moses, was the supervisor of the storehouses. 25His relatives through Eliezer included: Rehabiah his son, Jeshaiah his son, Joram his son, Zikri his son, and Shelomith his son. 26Shelomith and his relatives were in charge of all the storehouses containing the consecrated items dedicated by King David, the family leaders who led units of a thousand and a hundred, and the army officers. 27They had dedicated some of the plunder taken in battles to be used for repairs on the Lord’s temple. 28They were also in charge of everything dedicated by Samuel the prophet, Saul son of Kish, Abner son of Ner, and Joab son of Zeruiah; Shelomith and his relatives were in charge of everything that had been dedicated.

29As for the Izharites: Kenaniah and his sons were given responsibilities outside the temple as officers and judges over Israel.

30As for the Hebronites: Hashabiah and his relatives, 1,700 respected men, were assigned responsibilities in Israel west of the Jordan; they did the Lord’s work and the king’s service.

31As for the Hebronites: Jeriah was the leader of the Hebronites according to the genealogical records. In the fortieth year of David’s reign, they examined the records and discovered there were highly respected men in Jazer in Gilead. 32Jeriah had 2,700 relatives who were respected family leaders. King David placed them in charge of the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh; they took care of all matters pertaining to God and the king.

Ps. 119:145–152

119:145 ק (Qof)

I cried out with all my heart, “Answer me, O Lord!

I will observe your statutes.”

146I cried out to you, “Deliver me,

so that I can keep your rules.”

147I am up before dawn crying for help.

I find hope in your word.

148My eyes anticipate the nighttime hours

so that I can meditate on your word.

149Listen to me because of your loyal love.

O Lord, revive me, as you typically do.

150Those who are eager to do wrong draw near;

they are far from your law.

151You are near, O Lord,

and all your commands are reliable.

152I learned long ago that

you ordained your rules to last.

1 Cor. 9:15–27

9:15 But I have not used any of these rights. And I am not writing these things so that something will be done for me. In fact, it would be better for me to die than—no one will deprive me of my reason for boasting! 16For if I preach the gospel, I have no reason for boasting, because I am compelled to do this. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 17For if I do this voluntarily, I have a reward. But if I do it unwillingly, I am entrusted with a responsibility. 18What then is my reward? That when I preach the gospel I may offer the gospel free of charge, and so not make full use of my rights in the gospel.

19For since I am free from all I can make myself a slave to all, in order to gain even more people. 20To the Jews I became like a Jew to gain the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) to gain those under the law. 21To those free from the law I became like one free from the law (though I am not free from God’s law but under the law of Christ) to gain those free from the law. 22To the weak I became weak in order to gain the weak. I have become all things to all people, so that by all means I may save some.

23I do all these things because of the gospel, so that I can be a participant in it.

24Do you not know that all the runners in a stadium compete, but only one receives the prize? So run to win. 25Each competitor must exercise self-control in everything. They do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.

26So I do not run uncertainly or box like one who hits only air. 27Instead I subdue my body and make it my slave, so that after preaching to others I myself will not be disqualified.