Hello, this is Father Paul, and I'm glad we're
taking this journey together to read the Bible
in a year. Today's reading is from 1 Chronicles
chapter 22, along with Psalm 30 and 37. Psalm
37, inscription, a Psalm of David. Do not fret
because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers
of iniquity, for they shall soon be cut down
like the grass and wither as the green herb.
Trust in the Lord and do good. Dwell in the land
and feed on his faithfulness. Delight yourself
also in the Lord, and he shall give you the desires
of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust
also in him, and he shall bring it to pass. He
shall bring forth your righteousness as the light,
and your justice as the noonday. Rest in the
Lord and wait patiently for him. Do not fret
because of him who prospers in his way, because
of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
Cease from anger and forsake wrath. Do not fret,
it only causes harm. For evildoers shall be cut
off, but those who wait on the Lord, they shall
inherit the earth, for yet a little while and
the wicked shall be no more. Indeed, you look
carefully for his place, but it shall be no more.
But the meek shall inherit the earth, and shall
delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes
at him with his teeth. The Lord laughs at him,
for he sees that his day is coming. The wicked
have drawn the sword, and have bent their bow,
to cast down the poor and needy. to slay those
who are of upright conduct. Their sword shall
enter their own heart, and their bows shall be
broken. A little that a righteous man has is
better than the riches of many wicked. For the
arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord
upholds the righteous. The Lord knows the day
of the upright, and their inheritance shall be
forever. They shall not be ashamed in the evil
time, and in the days of famine they shall be
satisfied. But the wicked shall perish. And the
enemies of the Lord, like the splendor of the
meadows, shall vanish. Into smoke they shall
vanish away. The wicked borrows and does not
repay, but the righteous shows mercy and gives.
For those blessed by him shall inherit the earth,
but those cursed by him shall be cut off. The
steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord,
and he delights in his way. Though he fall, he
shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord
upholds him with his hand. I have been young,
and now I am old. Yet I have not seen the righteous
forsaken, nor his descendants begging bread.
He is ever merciful and lends, and his descendants
are blessed. Depart from evil and do good, and
dwell forevermore. For the Lord loves justice
and does not forsake his saints. They are preserved
forever, but the descendants of the wicked shall
be cut off. The righteous shall inherit the land
and dwell in it forever. The mouth of the righteous
speaks wisdom, and his tongue talks of justice.
The law of his God is in his heart. None of his
steps shall slide. The wicked watches the righteous
and seeks to slay him. The Lord will not leave
him in his hand, nor condemn him when he is judged.
Wait on the Lord and keep his way, and he shall
exalt you to inherit the land. When the wicked
are cut off, you shall see it. I have seen the
wicked in great power and spreading himself like
a native green tree. Yet he passed away, and
behold, he was no more. Indeed, I sought him,
but he could not be found. 1 Chronicles chapter
22 Then David said, This is the house of the
Lord God, and this is the altar of burnt offering
for Israel. So David commanded to gather the
aliens who were in the land of Israel, and he
appointed masons to cut hewn stones to build
the house of God. And David prepared iron in
abundance for the nails of the doors of the gates
and for the joints, and bronze in abundance beyond
measure, and cedar trees in abundance, for the
Sidonians and those from Tyre brought much cedar
wood to David. Now David said, So David made
abundant preparations before his death. Then
he called for his son Solomon and charged him
to build a house for the Lord God of Israel.
And David said to Solomon, My son, as for me,
it was in my mind to build a house to the name
of the Lord my God. But the word of the Lord
came to me, saying, You have shed much blood
and have made great wars. You shall not build
a house for my name, because you have shed much
blood on the earth in my sight. Behold, a son
shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest,
and I will give him rest from all his enemies
all around. His name shall be Solomon, for I
will give peace and quietness to Israel in his
days. He shall build a house for my name, and
he shall be my son, and I will be his father,
and I will establish the throne of his kingdom
over Israel forever. Now, my son, may the Lord
be with you, and may you prosper and build the
house of the Lord your God, as he has said to
you. Only may the Lord give you wisdom and understanding,
and give you a charge concerning Israel, that
you may keep the law of the Lord your God. Then
you will prosper if you take care to fulfill
the statutes and judgments with which the Lord
charged Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and
of good courage. Do not fear nor be dismayed.
Indeed, I have taken much trouble to prepare
for the house of the Lord one hundred thousand
talents of gold and one million talents of silver
and bronze and iron beyond measure, for it is
so abundant. I have prepared timber and stone
also, and you may add to them. Moreover, there
are workmen with you in abundance, woodsmen and
stonecutters, and all types of skillful men for
every kind of work. Of gold and silver and bronze
and iron there is no limit. Arise and begin working,
and the Lord be with you. David also commanded
all the leaders of Israel to help Solomon his
son, saying, And has he not given you rest on
every side? For he has given the inhabitants
of the land into my hand, and the land is subdued
before the Lord and before his people. Now set
your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your
God. Therefore arise and build the sanctuary
of the Lord God, to bring the ark of the covenant
of the Lord and the holy articles of God into
the house that is to be built for the name of
the Lord. Psalm 30 Inscription A Psalm, a song
at the dedication of the house of David. I will
extol you, O Lord, for you have lifted me up,
and have not let my foes rejoice over me. O Lord
my God, I cried out to you, and you healed me.
O Lord, you brought my soul up from the grave.
You have kept me alive, that I should not go
down to the pit. Sing praise to the Lord, you
saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance
of his holy name. For his anger is but for a
moment, his favor is for life. Weeping may endure
for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Now
in my prosperity, I said, I shall never be moved.
Lord, by your favor, you have made my mountain
stand strong. You hid your face and I was troubled.
I cried out to you, O Lord, and to the Lord I
made supplication. What profit is there in my
blood? When I go down to the pit, will the dust
praise you? Will it declare your truth? Hear,
O Lord, and have mercy on me. Lord, be my helper.
You have turned for me my mourning into dancing.
You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me
with gladness. To the end that my glory may sing
praise to you and not be silent. O Lord my God,
I will give thanks to you forever. I hope you
enjoyed today's reading as much as I did. And
I look forward to seeing you again tomorrow to
continue on our journey. God bless you and have
a great day.