Romans 7; 1 Samuel 16; Psalms 61

Romans 7

1 Since I am speaking to those who understand law, brothers, are you unaware that the law has authority over someone as long as he lives?

2 For example, a married woman is legally bound to her husband while he lives. But if her husband dies, she is released from the law regarding the husband.

3 So then, if she gives herself to another man while her husband is living, she will be called an adulteress. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law. Then, if she gives herself to another man, she is not an adulteress.

4 Therefore, my brothers, you also were put to death in relation to the law through the [crucified] body of the Messiah, so that you may belong to another-to Him who was raised from the dead-that we may bear fruit for God.

5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions operated through the law in every part of us and bore fruit for death.

6 But now we have been released from the law, since we have died to what held us, so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law.

7 What should we say then? Is the law sin? Absolutely not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin if it were not for the law. For example, I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, Do not covet.

8 And sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind. For apart from the law sin is dead.

9 Once I was alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life

10 and I died. The commandment that was meant for life resulted in death for me.

11 For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me, and through it killed me.

12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good.

13 Therefore, did what is good cause my death? Absolutely not! On the contrary, sin, in order to be recognized as sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that through the commandment sin might become sinful beyond measure.

14 For we know that the law is spiritual; but I am made out of flesh, sold into sin's power.

15 For I do not understand what I am doing, because I do not practice what I want to do, but I do what I hate.

16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree with the law that it is good.

17 So now I am no longer the one doing it, but it is sin living in me.

18 For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it.

19 For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do.

20 Now if I do what I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but it is the sin that lives in me.

21 So I discover this principle: when I want to do good, evil is with me.

22 For in my inner self I joyfully agree with God's law.

23 But I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body.

24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?

25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh, to the law of sin.

1 Samuel 16

1 The Lord said to Samuel, "How long are you going to mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him as king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil and go. I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem because I have selected a king from his sons."

2 Samuel asked, "How can I go? Saul will hear [about it] and kill me!" The Lord answered, "Take a young cow with you and say, 'I have come to sacrifice to the Lord.'

3 Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will let you know what you are to do. You are to anoint for Me the one I indicate to you."

4 Samuel did what the Lord directed and went to Bethlehem. When the elders of the town met him, they trembled and asked, "Do you come in peace?"

5 "In peace," he replied. "I've come to sacrifice to the Lord. Consecrate yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice." Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

6 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and said, "Certainly the Lord's anointed one is here before Him."

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or his stature, because I have rejected him. Man does not see what the Lord sees, for man sees what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart."

8 Jesse called Abinadab and presented him to Samuel. "The Lord hasn't chosen this one either," Samuel said.

9 Then Jesse presented Shammah, but Samuel said, "The Lord hasn't chosen this one either."

10 After Jesse presented seven of his sons to him, Samuel told Jesse, "The Lord hasn't chosen any of these."

11 Samuel asked him, "Are these all the sons you have?" "There is still the youngest," he answered, "but right now he's tending the sheep." Samuel told Jesse, "Send for him. We won't sit down to eat until he gets here."

12 So Jesse sent for him. He had beautiful eyes and a healthy, handsome appearance. Then the Lord said, "Anoint him, for he is the one."

13 So Samuel took the horn of oil, anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the Lord took control of David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.

14 Now the Spirit of the Lord had left Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord began to torment him,

15 so Saul's servants said to him, "You see that an evil spirit from God is tormenting you.

16 Let our lord command your servants here in your presence to look for someone who knows how to play the harp. Whenever the evil spirit from God [troubles] you, that person can play the harp, and you will feel better."

17 Then Saul commanded his servants, "Find me someone who plays well and bring him to me."

18 One of the young men answered, "I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play [the harp]. He is also a valiant man, a warrior, eloquent, handsome, and the Lord is with him."

19 Then Saul dispatched messengers to Jesse and said, "Send me your son David, who is with the sheep."

20 So Jesse took a donkey loaded with bread, a skin of wine, and one young goat and sent them by his son David to Saul.

21 When David came to Saul and entered his service, Saul admired him greatly, and David became his armor-bearer.

22 Then Saul sent word to Jesse: "Let David remain in my service, for I am pleased with him."

23 Whenever the spirit from God [troubled] Saul, David would pick up his harp and play, and Saul would then be relieved, feel better, and the evil spirit would leave him.

Psalms 61

1 God, hear my cry; pay attention to my prayer.

2 I call to You from the ends of the earth when my heart is without strength. Lead me to a rock that is high above me,

3 for You have been a refuge for me, a strong tower in the face of the enemy.

4 I will live in Your tent forever and take refuge under the shelter of Your wings. Selah

5 God, You have heard my vows; You have given a heritage to those who fear Your name.

6 Add days to the king's life; may his years span many generations.

7 May he sit enthroned before God forever; appoint faithful love and truth to guard him.

8 Then I will continually sing of Your name, fulfilling my vows day by day.