John 18:19-38; 2 Chronicles 27; 2 Chronicles 28; Psalms 84

John 18:19-38

19 The high priest questioned Jesus about His disciples and about His teaching.

20 "I have spoken openly to the world," Jesus answered him. "I have always taught in the synagogue and in the temple complex, where all the Jews congregate, and I haven't spoken anything in secret.

21 Why do you question Me? Question those who heard what I told them. Look, they know what I said."

22 When He had said these things, one of the temple police standing by slapped Jesus, saying, "Is this the way you answer the high priest?"

23 "If I have spoken wrongly," Jesus answered him, "give evidence about the wrong; but if rightly, why do you hit Me?"

24 Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

25 Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They said to him, "You aren't one of His disciples too, are you?" He denied it and said, "I am not!"

26 One of the high priest's slaves, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, "Didn't I see you with Him in the garden?"

27 Peter then denied it again. Immediately a rooster crowed.

28 Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters. It was early morning. They did not enter the headquarters themselves; otherwise they would be defiled and unable to eat the Passover.

29 Then Pilate came out to them and said, "What charge do you bring against this man?"

30 They answered him, "If this man weren't a criminal, we wouldn't have handed Him over to you."

31 So Pilate told them, "Take Him yourselves and judge Him according to your law." "It's not legal for us to put anyone to death," the Jews declared.

32 They said this so that Jesus' words might be fulfilled signifying what sort of death He was going to die.

33 Then Pilate went back into the headquarters, summoned Jesus, and said to Him, "Are You the King of the Jews?"

34 Jesus answered, "Are you asking this on your own, or have others told you about Me?"

35 "I'm not a Jew, am I?" Pilate replied. "Your own nation and the chief priests handed You over to me. What have You done?"

36 "My kingdom is not of this world," said Jesus. "If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I wouldn't be handed over to the Jews. As it is, My kingdom does not have its origin here."

37 "You are a king then?" Pilate asked. "You say that I'm a king," Jesus replied. "I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice."

38 "What is truth?" said Pilate. After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, "I find no grounds for charging Him.

2 Chronicles 27

1 Jotham was 25 years old when he became king; he reigned 16 years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Jerushah daughter of Zadok.

2 He did what was right in the Lord's sight as his father Uzziah had done, except that he didn't enter the Lord's sanctuary. However, the people still behaved corruptly.

3 Jotham built the Upper Gate of the Lord's temple, and he built extensively on the wall of Ophel.

4 He also built cities in the hill country of Judah and fortresses and towers in the forests.

5 He waged war against the king of the Ammonites. He overpowered the Ammonites, and that year they gave him 7,500 pounds of silver, 50,000 bushels of wheat, and 50,000 bushels of barley. They paid him the same in the second and third years.

6 So Jotham strengthened himself because he did not waver in obeying the Lord his God.

7 As for the rest of the events of Jotham's [reign], along with all his wars and his ways, note that they are written about in the Book of the Kings of Israel and Judah.

8 He was 25 years old when he became king; he reigned 16 years in Jerusalem.

9 Jotham rested with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. His son Ahaz became king in his place.

2 Chronicles 28

1 Ahaz was 20 years old when he became king; he reigned 16 years in Jerusalem. He did not do what was right in the Lord's sight like his forefather David,

2 for he walked in the ways of the kings of Israel and made cast images of the Baals.

3 He burned incense in the Valley of Hinnom and burned his children in the fire, imitating the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had dispossessed before the Israelites.

4 He sacrificed and burned incense on the high places, on the hills, and under every green tree.

5 So the Lord his God handed Ahaz over to the king of Aram. He attacked him and took many captives to Damascus. Ahaz was also handed over to the king of Israel, who struck him with great force:

6 Pekah son of Remaliah killed 120,000 in Judah in one day-all brave men-because they had abandoned the Lord God of their ancestors.

7 An Ephraimite warrior named Zichri killed the king's son Maaseiah, Azrikam governor of the palace, and Elkanah who was second to the king.

8 Then the Israelites took 200,000 captives from their brothers-women, sons, and daughters. They also took a great deal of plunder from them and brought it to Samaria.

9 A prophet of the Lord named Oded was there. He went out to meet the army that came to Samaria and said to them, "Look, the Lord God of your ancestors handed them over to you because of His wrath against Judah, but you slaughtered them in a rage that has reached heaven.

10 Now you plan to reduce the people of Judah and Jerusalem, male and female, to slavery. Are you not also guilty before the Lord your God?

11 Listen to me and return the captives you took from your brothers, for the Lord's fierce wrath is on you."

12 So some men who were leaders of the Ephraimites-Azariah son of Johanan, Berechiah son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah son of Shallum, and Amasa son of Hadlai-stood in opposition to those coming from the war.

13 They said to them, "You must not bring the captives here, for you plan to bring guilt on us from the Lord to add to our sins and our guilt. For we have much guilt, and fierce wrath is on Israel."

14 The army left the captives and the plunder in the presence of the officers and the congregation.

15 Then the men who were designated by name took charge of the captives and provided clothes for their naked ones from the plunder. They clothed them, gave them sandals, food and drink, dressed their wounds, and provided donkeys for all the feeble. The Israelites brought them to Jericho, the City of Palms, among their brothers. Then they returned to Samaria.

16 At that time King Ahaz asked the king of Assyria for help.

17 The Edomites came again, attacked Judah, and took captives.

18 The Philistines also raided the cities of the Judean foothills and the Negev of Judah and captured Beth-shemesh, Aijalon, Gederoth, Soco and its villages, Timnah and its villages, Gimzo and its villages, and they lived there.

19 For the Lord humbled Judah because of King Ahaz of Judah, who threw off restraint in Judah and was unfaithful to the Lord.

20 Then Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria came against Ahaz; he oppressed him and did not give him support.

21 Although Ahaz plundered the Lord's temple and the palace of the king and of the rulers and gave the plunder to the king of Assyria, it did not help him.

22 At the time of his distress, King Ahaz himself became more unfaithful to the Lord.

23 He sacrificed to the gods of Damascus which had defeated him; he said, "Since the gods of the kings of Aram are helping them, I will sacrifice to them so that they will help me." But they were the downfall of him and of all Israel.

24 Then Ahaz gathered up the utensils of God's temple, cut them into pieces, shut the doors of the Lord's temple, and made himself altars on every street corner in Jerusalem.

25 He made high places in every city of Judah to offer incense to other gods, and he provoked the God of his ancestors.

26 As for the rest of his deeds and all his ways, from beginning to end, they are written about in the Book of the Kings of Judah and Israel.

27 Ahaz rested with his fathers and was buried in the city, in Jerusalem, but they did not bring him into the tombs of the kings of Israel. His son Hezekiah became king in his place.

Psalms 84

1 How lovely is Your dwelling place, Lord of Hosts.

2 I long and yearn for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh cry out for the living God.

3 Even a sparrow finds a home, and a swallow, a nest for herself where she places her young- near Your altars, Lord of Hosts, my King and my God.

4 How happy are those who reside in Your house, who praise You continually. Selah

5 Happy are the people whose strength is in You, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.

6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a source of springwater; even the autumn rain will cover it with blessings.

7 They go from strength to strength; each appears before God in Zion.

8 Lord God of Hosts, hear my prayer; listen, God of Jacob. Selah

9 Consider our shield, God; look on the face of Your anointed one.

10 Better a day in Your courts than a thousand [anywhere else]. I would rather be at the door of the house of my God than to live in the tents of the wicked.

11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield. The Lord gives grace and glory; He does not withhold the good from those who live with integrity.

12 Lord of Hosts, happy is the person who trusts in You!