Old and New Testament Readings

 

English Standard Version (ESV)

WORDcrafter Ministries Edition

Old and New Testament Readings

Easy reading, Easy listening, Better Understanding

August 14, 2016 – Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost

Hello, and welcome to August 14th, 2016 WORDcrafter readings of Old and New Testament Scriptures.

Readings during worship services in many churches include readings from the Old Testament, a Psalm, readings from the New Testament Epistles, and a reading from the Gospels. The following scriptures are being read in many Christian Churches who observe Sunday, August 14, 2016, as the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost.

WORDcrafter Ministries has permission to enhance the text of the English Standard Version of the Bible for easier reading, easier listening, and better understanding.

WORDcrafter texts and recordings are presented in Bible history order rather than the liturgical order that may be used in many church services.

The Levites were the one tribe of Israel chosen by God to be the spiritual leaders and caretakers of the tabernacle for the rest of the nation. Asaph was a Levite who was gifted as a worship leader, poet, and psalm writer. The Psalms of Asaph and his descendants were not just entertainment. The psalms of Asaph were possibly written as early as the reign of King David. Even at that time, the psalms warn against the very real influence of false gods and false prophets.

These Psalms were messages meant to be heard and taken to heart by the people. Today's Psalm, Psalm 82 is a Psalm of Asaph.

OLD TESTAMENT PSALM

Psalm 82 (ESV) Rescue the Weak and Needy

A Psalm of Asaph.

82 God has taken his place in the divine council;
 in the midst of the false gods

our God holds judgment:
2 Our God says, "How long will you false gods judge unjustly
 and show partiality to the people who are wicked?" Selah
3 Our God says to the false gods, "Give justice

to the people who are weak and the fatherless;
  maintain the right of the people who are

afflicted and destitute."
4 Our God says to the false gods, "Rescue the

people who are weak and needy;
  deliver the people who are fatherless, weak, afflicted, destitute, and needy from the hand of

people who are wicked.”

5 These people who are weak and needy have neither knowledge nor understanding,
 these people who are weak and needy walk about in darkness;
 all the foundations of the earth are shaken.

6 I said, “You are false gods,
 sons of the Most High, all of you;
7 nevertheless, like men you false gods shall die,
 and you false gods shall fall like any prince.”

8 Arise, O God, judge the earth;
 for you shall inherit all the nations!

THIS IS THE WORD OF THE LORD.

Psalm 119:81-88 (ESV)

81 My soul longs for your salvation, O Lord;
 I hope in your word.
82 My eyes long for your promise;
 I ask, “O Lord When will you comfort me?”
83 For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,
 yet I have not forgotten your statutes.
84 How long, O Lord, must your servant endure?
 When will you judge those people who persecute me?

85 People who are insolent, rude, and arrogant,

have dug pitfalls for me;
 insolent and rude people do not live according to your law.
86 All your commandments, O Lord, are sure;
 insolent and arrogant people persecute me with falsehood; 

help me, O Lord!
87 Those who persecute me have almost made an end of me on earth,
 but I have not forsaken your precepts.
88 O Lord, In your steadfast love, give me life,
 that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.

THIS IS THE WORD OF THE LORD.

OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY

Jeremiah 23:16-32 (ESV) About the false prophets

16 Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Do not listen to the words of the false prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. These false prophets speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. 17 These false prophets say continually to those who despise the word of the Lord, ‘It shall be well with you’; and to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, these false prophets say, ‘No disaster shall come upon you.’”

18 For who among the false prophets has stood

in the council of the Lord
  to see and to hear the Lord's word,
  or who among the false prophets has paid attention

to the Lord's word and listened?

19 Behold, the storm of the Lord!
  Wrath has gone forth,
a whirling tempest;
 the storm of the Lord will burst upon the head of the wicked.
20 The anger of the Lord will not turn back
 until he has executed and accomplished
 the intents of his heart.

In the latter days you will understand it clearly.

21 The Lord said, "I did not send the prophets,
 yet the false prophets ran;
I did not speak to them,
 yet the false prophets prophesied.
22 But if they had stood in my council,
 then the false prophets would have proclaimed

my words to my people,
and the false prophets would have turned my people from their evil way,
 and from the evil of their deeds."

23 “Am I a God who is at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God who is far away? 24 Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth?" declares the Lord. 

25 The Lord said, "I have heard what the false prophets have said who prophesy lies in my name, saying, ‘I have dreamed, I have dreamed!’ 26 How long shall there be lies in the heart of the false prophets who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart. 27 How long shall there be false prophets who think to make my people forget my name by their dreams that false prophets tell one another, even as their fathers forgot my name for the false god Baal?" 

28 The Lord said, "Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has my word speak my word faithfully."

"What has straw in common with wheat?" declares the Lord. 29 "Is not my word like fire," declares the Lord, "and is not my word like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?"

 30 Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, declares the Lord, who steal my words from one another. 31 Behold, I am against the prophets, declares the Lord, who use their tongues and declare, ‘declares the Lord.’ 32 Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, declares the Lord, and who tell these dreams and lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when I did not send them or charge them. So they do not profit this people at all, declares the Lord.

THIS IS THE WORD OF THE LORD.

NEW TESTAMENT GOSPEL

Luke 12:49-56 (ESV) Not Peace, but Division

49 Jesus said, "I came to cast fire on the earth, and would that the fire were already kindled!" 

50 Jesus said, "I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how great is my distress until my baptism is accomplished!" 

51 Jesus said, "Do you think that I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather I have come to bring division. 52 For from now on in one house there will be five family members divided, three against two and two against three. 53 Families will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.”

Interpreting the Time

54 Jesus also said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west, you say at once, ‘A shower is coming.’ And so the shower happens. 55 And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, ‘There will be scorching heat,’ and scorching heat happens. 56 You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

THIS IS THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD.

NEW TESTAMENT EPISTLE

Hebrews 11:29-12:3 (ESV)

29 By faith the people of Israel crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after the walls had been encircled for seven days by Joshua and the people of Israel. 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those people in Jericho who were disobedient, because Rahab had given a friendly welcome to the spies from Israel.

32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets. 33 Through faith, some of these men and women conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, and obtained promises. Through faith, some of these men and women stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, and escaped the edge of the sword.

Through faith, some of these men and women were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, and put foreign armies to flight. 35 Through faith, women received back their dead by resurrection.

Through faith, some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Through faith, others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 Through faith, some were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. Through faith, some went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated. 38 Of these men and women of faith the world was not worthy. Through faith, some of these men and women spent time wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

39 And all these men and women, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from those of us who are alive today, these faithful men and women of history should not be made perfect.

Jesus, Founder and Perfecter of Our Faith

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and lay aside every sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. 2 Let us look continually to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.  For the joy that was set before him, Jesus endured the cross, despising the shame, and Jesus is now seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Do Not Grow Weary

3 Consider him – Jesus - who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

THIS IS THE WORD OF THE LORD.

Heavenly Father, the ancestors of our faith faced the wrath of false prophets and faced the wrath of people who preferred to follow the vain promises and threats of false prophets and false gods.

Today, those of us who choose to follow you and your Son Jesus Christ also face pressure from false prophets. Some of these false prophets promise great benefits if only we purchase from them or vote for them. Some of these false prophets warn of great harm if we ignore their threats.

Like the people of Biblical history, we are inclined to listen to and be persuaded by these modern day false prophets. So quickly we follow them into sins of desire and sins of fear.

We choose to measure our sins by your word. While false prophets tell us all is well, your word finds us guilty of sin.

We confess our sinful hearts to you. We confess our sins to you.

While false prophets tell us that relief is a pill, a drink, or a trip, we choose to listen to your word that says that only the blood of Jesus can cleanse us from our sins.

While false prophets tell us that protection is one more new law, an army, or a wall, we choose to listen to your word that says that we can trust you to be with us now in times of threat and even death and that you will provide for us for all eternity.

You alone, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, are worthy of our praise and trust.

Help us to faithfully proclaim your word. Amen

The English Standard Version of the Bible is a faithful and accurate translation of the original Hebrew and Greek texts into modern English. The English Standard Version of the Bible is published by Crossway Bibles. Crossway Bibles is a ministry of Good News Publishers.

WORDcrafter Ministries has permission to enhance the text of the English Standard Version of the Bible for easier reading, easier listening, and better understanding.

Some words and phrases have been repeated or added to help the reader or listener better understand the scriptures. Great care is taken to maintain the accuracy of the original text while enhancing and improving the reading, listening, and understanding of the scriptures. If you are reading the text, these added words and phrases are highlighted in yellow.

Your comments and questions are welcome. Please contact us using the e-mail address in our website. Be blessed by and nourished by God's Word, the Bible.

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