Romans 4; 1 Samuel 13; Psalms 58

Romans 4

1 What then can we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?

2 If Abraham was justified by works, then he has something to brag about-but not before God.

3 For what does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness.

4 Now to the one who works, pay is not considered as a gift, but as something owed.

5 But to the one who does not work, but believes on Him who declares righteous the ungodly, his faith is credited for righteousness.

6 Likewise, David also speaks of the blessing of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

7 How happy those whose lawless acts are forgiven and whose sins are covered!

8 How happy the man whom the Lord will never charge with sin!

9 Is this blessing only for the circumcised, then? Or is it also for the uncircumcised? For we say, Faith was credited to Abraham for righteousness.

10 How then was it credited-while he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while he was circumcised, but uncircumcised.

11 And he received the sign of circumcision as a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while still uncircumcised. This was to make him the father of all who believe but are not circumcised, so that righteousness may be credited to them also.

12 And he became the father of the circumcised, not only to those who are circumcised, but also to those who follow in the footsteps of the faith our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised.

13 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith.

14 If those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made empty and the promise is canceled.

15 For the law produces wrath; but where there is no law, there is no transgression.

16 This is why the promise is by faith, so that it may be according to grace, to guarantee it to all the descendants-not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of Abraham's faith. He is the father of us all

17 in God's sight. As it is written: I have made you the father of many nations. He believed in God, who gives life to the dead and calls things into existence that do not exist.

18 Against hope, with hope he believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what had been spoken: So will your descendants be.

19 He considered his own body to be already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb, without weakening in the faith.

20 He did not waver in unbelief at God's promise, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God,

21 because he was fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.

22 Therefore, it was credited to him for righteousness.

23 Now it was credited to him was not written for Abraham alone,

24 but also for us. It will be credited to us who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead.

25 He was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.

1 Samuel 13

1 Saul was 30 years old when he became king, and he reigned 42 years over Israel.

2 He chose 3,000 men from Israel for himself: 2,000 were with Saul at Michmash and in Bethel's hill country, and 1,000 were with Jonathan in Gibeah of Benjamin. He sent the rest of the troops away, each to his own tent.

3 Jonathan attacked the Philistine garrison that was in Geba, and the Philistines heard about it. So Saul blew the ram's horn throughout the land saying, "Let the Hebrews hear!"

4 And all Israel heard the news, "Saul has attacked the Philistine garrison, and Israel is now repulsive to the Philistines." Then the troops were summoned to join Saul at Gilgal.

5 The Philistines also gathered to fight against Israel: 3,000 chariots, 6,000 horsemen, and troops as numerous as the sand on the seashore. They went up and camped at Michmash, east of Beth-aven.

6 The men of Israel saw that they were in trouble because the troops were in a difficult situation. They hid in caves, thickets, among rocks, and in holes and cisterns.

7 Some Hebrews even crossed the Jordan to the land of Gad and Gilead. Saul, however, was still at Gilgal, and all his troops were gripped with fear.

8 He waited seven days for the appointed time that Samuel had set, but Samuel didn't come to Gilgal, and the troops were deserting him.

9 So Saul said, "Bring me the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings." Then he offered the burnt offering.

10 Just as he finished offering the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. So Saul went out to greet him,

11 and Samuel asked, "What have you done?" Saul answered, "When I saw that the troops were deserting me and you didn't come within the appointed days and the Philistines were gathering at Michmash,

12 I thought: The Philistines will now descend on me at Gilgal, and I haven't sought the Lord's favor. So I forced myself to offer the burnt offering."

13 Samuel said to Saul, "You have been foolish. You have not kept the command which the Lord your God gave you. It was at this time that the Lord would have permanently established your reign over Israel,

14 but now your reign will not endure. The Lord has found a man loyal to Him,and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not done what the Lord commanded."

15 Then Samuel went from Gilgal to Gibeah in Benjamin. Saul registered the troops who were with him, about 600 men.

16 Saul, his son Jonathan, and the troops who were with them were staying in Geba of Benjamin, and the Philistines were camped at Michmash.

17 Raiding parties went out from the Philistine camp in three divisions. One division headed toward the Ophrah road leading to the land of Shual.

18 The next division headed toward the Beth-horon road, and the last division headed down the border road that looks out over the valley of Zeboim toward the wilderness.

19 No blacksmith could be found in all the land of Israel, because the Philistines had said, "Otherwise, the Hebrews will make swords or spears."

20 So all the Israelites went to the Philistines to sharpen their plowshares, mattocks, axes, and sickles.

21 The price was two-thirds of a shekel for plowshares and mattocks, and one-third [of a shekel] for pitchforks and axes, and for putting a point on an oxgoad.

22 So on the day of battle not a sword or spear could be found in the hand of any of the troops who were with Saul and Jonathan; only Saul and his son Jonathan had [weapons].

23 Now a Philistine garrison took control of the pass at Michmash.

Psalms 58

1 Do you really speak righteously, you mighty ones? Do you judge people fairly?

2 No, you practice injustice in your hearts; with your hands you weigh out violence in the land.

3 The wicked go astray from the womb; liars err from birth.

4 They have venom like the venom of a snake, like the deaf cobra that stops up its ears,

5 that does not listen to the sound of the charmers who skillfully weave spells.

6 God, knock the teeth out of their mouths; Lord, tear out the young lions' fangs.

7 They will vanish like water that flows by; they will aim their useless arrows.

8 Like a slug that moves along in slime, like a woman's miscarried [child], they will not see the sun.

9 Before your pots can feel the heat of the thorns- whether green or burning- He will sweep them away.

10 The righteous will rejoice when he sees the retribution; he will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.

11 Then people will say, "Yes, there is a reward for the righteous! There is a God who judges on earth!"