1 Chronicles 22; 1 Chronicles 23; 1 Chronicles 24; John 8:28-59

1 Chronicles 22

1 Then David said, "This is where the LORD God's temple will be. Israel's altar for burnt offerings will also be here."

2 David ordered the foreigners living in Israel to gather. He appointed some of them to cut stones to build God's temple.

3 David prepared a large quantity of iron for nails and fittings on the doors of the gates. He also prepared so much bronze that it couldn't be weighed.

4 The men of Sidon and Tyre brought David so many cedar logs that the logs couldn't be counted.

5 David thought, "My son Solomon is young and inexperienced, and the temple that will be built for the LORD must be magnificent, large, famous, praised, and honored in all other countries. I'll prepare [the building materials] for him." So David prepared many materials [for Solomon] before he died.

6 He summoned his son Solomon and commanded him to build a temple for the LORD God of Israel.

7 David told his son Solomon, "I had my heart set on building a temple for the name of the LORD, my God.

8 But the LORD spoke his word to me by saying, 'You have caused a lot of bloodshed and fought in a lot of wars. You must not build a temple for my name because you have caused so much bloodshed in my presence.

9 You will have a son who will be a peaceful man. I will give him peace from all the enemies around him. His name will be Solomon [Peace], and in his time I will give Israel peace and quiet.

10 He will build a temple for my name. He will be my son, and I will be his father. I will establish the throne of his kingdom permanently over Israel.'"

11 [David continued,] "Now, son, the LORD will be with you. You will be successful, and you will build the temple of the LORD your God as he predicted you would.

12 The LORD will give you insight and understanding as he commands you to take charge of Israel and to follow the Teachings of the LORD your God.

13 Then you will succeed if you will carefully obey the laws and decrees the LORD commanded Moses to give to Israel. Be strong and courageous. Don't be afraid or terrified.

14 "Despite my troubles I've made preparations for the LORD's temple. There are 7,500,000 pounds of gold, 75,000,000 pounds of silver, and so much bronze and iron that it can't be weighed. I've also prepared wood and stones, and you may add to them.

15 You have many kinds of workers: stonecutters, masons, carpenters, and men skilled in every kind of work.

16 The gold, silver, bronze, and iron are more than can be counted. So get to work! May the LORD be with you."

17 David ordered all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon.

18 [David said,] "Isn't the LORD your God with you? Hasn't he given you peace with all your neighbors? He put the people who live in this country under my power, and the country has been conquered by the LORD and his people.

19 So dedicate your hearts and lives to serving the LORD your God. Start building the holy place of the LORD God so that you can bring the ark of the LORD's promise and God's holy utensils into the temple that will be built for the LORD's name."

1 Chronicles 23

1 When David had grown old and had lived out his years, he made his son Solomon king of Israel.

2 He gathered all the officials of Israel and the priests and Levites.

3 Every male Levite who was at least 30 years old was counted. There were 38,000.

4 Of these, 24,000 were appointed to supervise the work on the LORD's temple, 6,000 were appointed to be officers and judges,

5 4,000 were appointed to be gatekeepers, and 4,000 were appointed to praise the LORD with the instruments David had made for praising God.

6 David organized the Levites into divisions based on which of Levi's sons (Gershon, Kohath, or Merari) they were descended from.

7 Ladan and Shimei were Gershon's descendants.

8 Ladan had three sons: Jehiel was the first, then Zetham, and Joel.

9 Shimei had three sons: Shelomith, Haziel, and Haran. They were the heads of Ladan's families.

10 Shimei's sons were Jahath, Zina, Jeush, and Beriah. They were Shimei's four sons.

11 Jahath was the first, and Ziza was the second. Jeush and Beriah didn't have many sons, so they were given an assignment as one family.

12 Kohath had four sons: Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

13 Amram's sons were Aaron and Moses. Aaron and his sons were forever designated to dedicate the most holy things [to God], to offer sacrifices to the LORD, to serve him, and always give the blessing in his name.

14 The sons of Moses, the man of God, were counted with the tribe of Levi.

15 Moses' sons were Gershom and Eliezer.

16 Gershom's only son was Shebuel.

17 Eliezer's only son was Rehabiah. Eliezer had no other sons, but Rehabiah had many sons.

18 Izhar's only son was Shelomith.

19 Hebron's first son was Jeriah; his second was Amariah; his third was Jahaziel; his fourth was Jekameam.

20 Uzziel's first son was Micah; his second was Isshiah.

21 Merari's sons were Mahli and Mushi. Mahli's sons were Eleazar and Kish.

22 Eleazar died without having any sons. He only had daughters. Their cousins, the sons of Kish, married them.

23 Mushi had three sons: Mahli, Eder, and Jeremoth.

24 These were Levi's descendants, who were grouped according to their families. The heads of their families were registered by name as they were counted. Everyone who served in the LORD's temple was at least 20 years old.

25 David had said, "The LORD God of Israel has given his people rest. He will now live in Jerusalem forever.

26 The Levites will no longer have to carry the tent and all the utensils used in worship."

27 David's last instructions were to count the Levites who were at least 20 years old.

28 They were appointed to stand beside Aaron's descendants to serve in the LORD's temple. They were appointed to be in charge of the courtyards and the temple rooms, to ensure that all the holy things were clean, and to serve in God's temple.

29 They were also responsible for the rows of bread, the flour for the grain offerings, the unleavened bread wafers, and the bread made in frying pans. In addition, they were responsible for mixing the ingredients and keeping track of all weights and measures.

30 They were appointed to stand to give thanks and praise to the LORD every morning. They were appointed to do the same thing in the evening.

31 They were appointed to stand in front of the LORD in the required numbers whenever burnt offerings were made--on weekly worship days, at New Moon Festivals, and on appointed annual festivals.

32 They were appointed to follow the regulations for the tent of meeting and the holy place and to help their relatives, Aaron's descendants, as they served in the LORD's temple.

1 Chronicles 24

1 The divisions of Aaron's descendants were as follows: Aaron's sons were Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

2 Nadab and Abihu died before their father died, and neither had any children. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests.

3 David, Eleazar's descendant Zadok, and Ithamar's descendant Ahimelech divided Aaron's descendants into groups for service.

4 Since Eleazar's descendants had more men who were family heads than Ithamar's descendants, they were divided so that Eleazar's descendants had 16 family leaders and Ithamar's descendants had 8 family leaders.

5 Both groups were divided impartially by drawing lots so that there were officers for the holy place and officers for God among both Eleazar's and Ithamar's descendants.

6 The scribe Shemaiah was a son of Nethanel and a descendant of Levi. Shemaiah recorded their names in the presence of the king, the princes, the priest Zadok, Ahimelech (son of Abiathar), and the family leaders of the priests and Levites. One family was chosen for Eleazar, another for Ithamar.

7 The first lot drawn was for Jehoiarib, the second for Jedaiah,

8 the third for Harim, the fourth for Seorim,

9 the fifth for Malchiah, the sixth for Mijamin,

10 the seventh for Hakkoz, the eighth for Abijah,

11 the ninth for Jeshua, the tenth for Shecaniah,

12 the eleventh for Eliashib, the twelfth for Jakim,

13 the thirteenth for Huppah, the fourteenth for Jeshebeab,

14 the fifteenth for Bilgah, the sixteenth for Immer,

15 the seventeenth for Hezir, the eighteenth for Happizzez,

16 the nineteenth for Pethahiah, the twentieth for Jehezkel,

17 the twenty-first for Jachin, the twenty-second for Gamul,

18 the twenty-third for Delaiah, the twenty-fourth for Maaziah.

19 These were their priestly groups when they went to serve at the LORD's temple. Their ancestor Aaron made these rules for them, as the LORD God of Israel had commanded him.

20 [The following men were leaders] for Levi's descendants [from Kohath]: Jehdeiah (for Amram's descendants through Shubael),

21 Isshiah ([for Amram's descendants] through Rehabiah),

22 Jahath (for Izhar's descendants through Shelomoth),

23 Jeriah (for Hebron's descendants ), Amariah (the second [of Hebron's descendants]), Jahaziel (the third [of Hebron's descendants]), Jekameam (the fourth [of Hebron's descendants]),

24 Shamir (for Uzziel's descendants through Micah),

25 and Zechariah (for [Uzziel's] descendants through Micah's brother Isshiah).

26 The following men were leaders from Levi's descendants from Merari: Mahli, Mushi, and Merari's son Jaaziah,

27 Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri (for Merari's descendants through his son Jaaziah),

28 Eleazar (who had no sons, for Mahli's descendants),

29 Jerahmeel (for [Mahli's] descendants through Kish),

30 Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth (for Mushi's descendants). These were Levi's descendants according to their families.

31 They drew lots as their relatives, Aaron's descendants, had done. They drew them in front of King David, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the leaders of the families of the priests and Levites. The families of the oldest brother were treated the same way as those of the youngest.

John 8:28-59

28 So Jesus told them, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you'll know that I am the one and that I can't do anything on my own. Instead, I speak as the Father taught me.

29 Besides, the one who sent me is with me. He hasn't left me by myself. I always do what pleases him."

30 As Jesus was saying this, many people believed in him.

31 So Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, "If you live by what I say, you are truly my disciples.

32 You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

33 They replied to Jesus, "We are Abraham's descendants, and we've never been anyone's slaves. So how can you say that we will be set free?"

34 Jesus answered them, "I can guarantee this truth: Whoever lives a sinful life is a slave to sin.

35 A slave doesn't live in the home forever, but a son does.

36 So if the Son sets you free, you will be absolutely free.

37 I know that you're Abraham's descendants. However, you want to kill me because you don't like what I'm saying.

38 What I'm saying is what I have seen in my Father's presence. But you do what you've heard from your father."

39 The Jews replied to Jesus, "Abraham is our father." Jesus told them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do what Abraham did.

40 I am a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. But now you want to kill me. Abraham wouldn't have done that.

41 You're doing what your father does." The Jews said to Jesus, "We're not illegitimate children. God is our only Father."

42 Jesus told them, "If God were your Father, you would love me. After all, I'm here, and I came from God. I didn't come on my own. Instead, God sent me.

43 Why don't you understand the language I use? Is it because you can't understand the words I use?

44 You come from your father, the devil, and you desire to do what your father wants you to do. The devil was a murderer from the beginning. He has never been truthful. He doesn't know what the truth is. Whenever he tells a lie, he's doing what comes naturally to him. He's a liar and the father of lies.

45 So you don't believe me because I tell the truth.

46 Can any of you convict me of committing a sin? If I'm telling the truth, why don't you believe me?

47 The person who belongs to God understands what God says. You don't understand because you don't belong to God."

48 The Jews replied to Jesus, "Aren't we right when we say that you're a Samaritan and that you're possessed by a demon?"

49 Jesus answered, "I'm not possessed. I honor my Father, but you dishonor me.

50 I don't want my own glory. But there is someone who wants it, and he is the judge.

51 I can guarantee this truth: Whoever obeys what I say will never see death."

52 The Jews told Jesus, "Now we know that you're possessed by a demon. Abraham died, and so did the prophets, but you say, 'Whoever does what I say will never taste death.'

53 Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets have also died. Who do you think you are?"

54 Jesus said, "If I bring glory to myself, my glory is nothing. My Father is the one who gives me glory, and you say that he is your God.

55 Yet, you haven't known him. However, I know him. If I would say that I didn't know him, I would be a liar like all of you. But I do know him, and I do what he says.

56 Your father Abraham was pleased to see that my day was coming. He saw it and was happy."

57 The Jews said to Jesus, "You're not even fifty years old. How could you have seen Abraham?"

58 Jesus told them, "I can guarantee this truth: Before Abraham was ever born, I am."

59 Then some of the Jews picked up stones to throw at Jesus. However, Jesus was concealed, and he left the temple courtyard.