1 Timothy 4; Isaiah 38; Isaiah 39; Psalms 119:121-144

1 Timothy 4

1 Now the Spirit explicitly says that in the latter times some will depart from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and the teachings of demons,

2 through the hypocrisy of liars whose consciences are seared.

3 They forbid marriage and demand abstinence from foods that God created to be received with gratitude by those who believe and know the truth.

4 For everything created by God is good, and nothing should be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,

5 since it is sanctified by the word of God and by prayer.

6 If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, nourished by the words of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.

7 But have nothing to do with irreverent and silly myths. Rather, train yourself in godliness,

8 for, the training of the body has a limited benefit, but godliness is beneficial in every way, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

9 This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance.

10 In fact, we labor and strive for this, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of everyone, especially of those who believe.

11 Command and teach these things.

12 No one should despise your youth; instead, you should be an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

13 Until I come, give your attention to public reading, exhortation, and teaching.

14 Do not neglect the gift that is in you; it was given to you through prophecy, with the laying on of hands by the council of elders.

15 Practice these things; be committed to them, so that your progress may be evident to all.

16 Be conscientious about yourself and your teaching; persevere in these things, for by doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Isaiah 38

1 In those days Hezekiah became terminally ill. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz came and said to him, "This is what the Lord says: 'Put your affairs in order, for you are about to die; you will not recover.' "

2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord.

3 He said, "Please, Lord, remember how I have walked before You faithfully and wholeheartedly, and have done what is good in Your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

4 Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah:

5 "Go and tell Hezekiah that this is what the Lord God of your ancestor David says: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Look, I am going to add 15 years to your life.

6 And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria; I will defend this city.

7 This is the sign to you from the Lord that the Lord will do what He has promised:

8 I am going to make the sun's shadow that goes down on Ahaz's stairway return by 10 steps." So the sun's shadow went back the 10 steps it had descended.

9 A poem by Hezekiah king of Judah after he had been sick and had recovered from his illness:

10 I said: In the prime of my life I must go to the gates of Sheol; I am deprived of the rest of my years.

11 I said: I will never see the Lord, the Lord in the land of the living; I will not look on humanity any longer with the inhabitants of what is passing away.

12 My dwelling is plucked up and removed from me like a shepherd's tent. I have rolled up my life like a weaver; He cuts me off from the loom. You make an end of me from day until night.

13 I thought until the morning: He will break all my bones like a lion; You make an end of me day and night.

14 I chirp like a swallow [or] a crane; I moan like a dove. My eyes grow weak looking upward. Lord, I am oppressed; support me.

15 What can I say? He has spoken to me, and He Himself has done it. I walk along slowly all my years because of the bitterness of my soul,

16 Lord, because of these [promises] people live, and in all of them is the life of my spirit as well; You have restored me to health and let me live.

17 Indeed, it was for [my own] welfare that I had such great bitterness; but Your love [has delivered] me from the Pit of destruction, for You have thrown all my sins behind Your back.

18 For Sheol cannot thank You; Death cannot praise You. Those who go down to the Pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness.

19 The living, only the living can thank You, as I do today; a father will make Your faithfulness known to children.

20 The Lord will save me; we will play stringed instruments all the days of our lives at the house of the Lord.

21 Now Isaiah had said, "Let them take a lump of figs and apply it to his infected skin, so that he may recover."

22 And Hezekiah had asked, "What is the sign that I will go up to the Lord's temple?"

Isaiah 39

1 At that time Merodach-baladan son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a gift to Hezekiah since he heard that he had been sick and had recovered.

2 Hezekiah was pleased with them, and showed them his treasure house-the silver, the gold, the spices, and the precious oil-and all his armory, and everything that was found in his treasuries. There was nothing in his palace and in all his realm that Hezekiah did not show them.

3 Then Isaiah the prophet came to King Hezekiah and asked him, "What did these men say? The men who came to you-where were they from?" Hezekiah replied, "They came to me from a distant country, from Babylon."

4 And he asked, "What have they seen in your palace?" Hezekiah answered, "They have seen everything in my palace. There isn't anything in my storehouses that I didn't show them."

5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, "Hear the word of the Lord of Hosts:

6 'The time will certainly come when everything in your palace and all that your fathers have stored up until this day will be carried off to Babylon; nothing will be left,' says the Lord.

7 'Some of your descendants who come from you will be taken away, and they will be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.'"

8 Then Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "The word of the Lord that you have spoken is good." For he thought: There will be peace and security during my lifetime.

Psalms 119:121-144

121 I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my oppressors.

122 Guarantee Your servant's well-being; do not let the arrogant oppress me.

123 My eyes grow weary [looking for] Your salvation and for Your righteous promise.

124 Deal with Your servant based on Your faithful love; teach me Your statutes.

125 I am Your servant; give me understanding so that I may know Your decrees.

126 It is time for the Lord to act, [for] they have broken Your law.

127 Since I love Your commandments more than gold, even the purest gold,

128 I carefully follow all Your precepts and hate every false way.

129 Your decrees are wonderful; therefore I obey them.

130 The revelation of Your words brings light and gives understanding to the inexperienced.

131 I pant with open mouth because I long for Your commands.

132 Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is [Your] practice toward those who love Your name.

133 Make my steps steady through Your promise; don't let sin dominate me.

134 Redeem me from human oppression, and I will keep Your precepts.

135 Show favor to Your servant, and teach me Your statutes.

136 My eyes pour out streams of tears because people do not follow Your instruction.

137 You are righteous, Lord, and Your judgments are just.

138 The decrees You issue are righteous and altogether trustworthy.

139 My anger overwhelms me because my foes forget Your words.

140 Your word is completely pure, and Your servant loves it.

141 I am insignificant and despised, but I do not forget Your precepts.

142 Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and Your instruction is true.

143 Trouble and distress have overtaken me, but Your commands are my delight.

144 Your decrees are righteous forever. Give me understanding, and I will live.