Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Romans 4:7
1 Chronicles 24-25
1 Chronicles 24
Divisions of the Levites
1 These were the divisions of the sons of Aaron. The sons of Aaron were Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 2 But Nadab and Abihu died before their father and had no children, therefore Eleazar and Ithamar executed the office of priest.
3 David, with Zadok of the sons of Eleazar and Ahimelech of the sons of Ithamar, divided them according to the order of their service. 4 Since there were more leading men found from the descendants of Eleazar than from the descendants of Ithamar, they were divided acccordingly. Of the descendants of Eleazar there were sixteen family leaders, and of the descendants of Ithamar, there were eight. 5 Thus they were divided impartially by drawing lots, for there were officials of the sanctuary and officials of God, both from the descendants of Eleazar, and from the descendants of Ithamar. 6 Shemaiah the son of Nethanel the scribe, who was of the Levites, recorded them in the presence of the king: the officials, Zadok the priest, Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, and the heads of the families of the priests and of the Levites, one family being taken for Eleazar and one taken for Ithamar.
7 Now the first lot came out to Jehoiarib,
the second to Jedaiah,
8 the third to Harim,
the fourth to Seorim,
9 the fifth to Malchijah,
the sixth to Mijamin,
10 the seventh to Hakkoz,
the eighth to Abijah,
11 the ninth to Jeshua,
the tenth to Shecaniah,
12 the eleventh to Eliashib,
the twelfth to Jakim,
13 the thirteenth to Huppah,
the fourteenth to Jeshebeab,
14 the fifteenth to Bilgah,
the sixteenth to Immer,
15 the seventeenth to Hezir,
the eighteenth to Happizzez,
16 the nineteenth to Pethahiah,
the twentieth to Jehezkel,
17 the twenty-first to Jachin,
the twenty-second to Gamul,
18 the twenty-third to Delaiah,
and the twenty-fourth to Maaziah.
19 This was their established order in their service, to come into the house of the Lord according to the ordinance given to them by Aaron their father, as the Lord, the God of Israel, had commanded him.
The Remainder of the Levites
20 Of the rest of the descendants of Levi:
of the sons of Amram, Shubael;
of the sons of Shubael: Jehdeiah.
21 Of Rehabiah:
of the sons of Rehabiah: Isshiah the chief.
22 Of the Izharites: Shelomoth;
of the sons of Shelomoth: Jahath.
23 The sons of Hebron: Jeriah, Amariah the second, Jahaziel the third, and Jekameam the fourth.
24 The sons of Uzziel: Micah; of the sons of Micah, Shamir.
25 The brother of Micah: Isshiah; of the sons of Isshiah, Zechariah.
26 The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The son of Jaaziah: Beno.
27 The sons of Merari: of Jaaziah, Beno, Shoham, Zaccur, and Ibri.
28 Of Mahli: Eleazar, who had no sons.
29 Of Kish, the son of Kish: Jerahmeel.
30 The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth.
These were the sons of the Levites according to their families.
31 These likewise cast lots just as their brothers the descendants of Aaron did in the presence of David the king, Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the fathers’ households of the priests and of the Levites, the families of the eldest son, just as those of his younger brother.
1 Chronicles 25
Twenty-Four Divisions of Musicians
1 Moreover, David and the captains of the army set apart for the service some of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who were to prophesy with harps, with stringed instruments, and with cymbals. The number of those who did the work according to their service was:
2 From the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asharelah. The sons of Asaph were under the hand of Asaph, who prophesied at the order of the king.
3 From Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun were: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied in giving thanks and praising the Lord with the harp.
4 Of Heman, the sons of Heman were: Bukkiah, Mattaniah, Uzziel, Shebuel, Jerimoth, Hananiah, Hanani, Eliathah, Giddalti, Romamti-Ezer, Joshbekashah, Mallothi, Hothir, and Mahazioth. 5 All these were the sons of Heman the king’s seer in the words of the Lord, to lift up the horn. The Lord gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters.
6 All these were under the hands of their fathers for song in the house of the Lord, with cymbals, stringed instruments, and harps, for the service of the house of the Lord: Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman being under the order of the king. 7 The number of them, with their brothers who were instructed in singing to the Lord, all who were skillful, was 288.
8 They cast lots for their offices, all alike, the small as well as the great, the teacher as well as the student.
9 Now the first lot came out for Asaph to Joseph;
the second to Gedaliah, he and his brothers and sons were twelve;
10 the third to Zaccur, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
11 the fourth to Izri, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
12 the fifth to Nethaniah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
13 the sixth to Bukkiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
14 the seventh to Jesharelah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
15 the eighth to Jeshaiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
16 the ninth to Mattaniah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
17 the tenth to Shimei, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
18 the eleventh to Azarel, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
19 the twelfth to Hashabiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
20 for the thirteenth, Shubael, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
21 for the fourteenth, Mattithiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
22 for the fifteenth to Jeremoth, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
23 for the sixteenth to Hananiah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
24 for the seventeenth to Joshbekashah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
25 for the eighteenth to Hanani, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
26 for the nineteenth to Mallothi, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
27 for the twentieth to Eliathah, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
28 for the twenty-first to Hothir, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
29 for the twenty-second to Giddalti, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
30 for the twenty-third to Mahazioth, his sons and his brothers, twelve;
31 for the twenty-fourth to Romamti-Ezer, his sons and his brothers, twelve.
Romans 4:1-12
Abraham’s Justification by Faith
1 What then can we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found? 2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not toward God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him as righteousness.”
4 Now to him who works, the reward is not counted as grace but as something owed. 5 But to him who does not work, but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted as righteousness. 6 Just as David also pronounces blessing on the man to whom God counts righteousness apart from works,
7 “Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man whom the Lord will by no means charge with sin.” a
9 Is this blessing then pronounced on the circumcised or also on the uncircumcised? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham as righteousness. 10 How then was it counted? When he was in circumcision or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
11 He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while he was in uncircumcision, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they might be in uncircumcision, that righteousness might also be accounted to them. 12 He is the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had in uncircumcision.
Psalm 13
How Long, O Lord?
For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David.
1 How long, Lord?
Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
having sorrow in my heart every day?
How long shall my enemy triumph over me?
3 Answer me, Lord, my God.
Give light to my eyes, lest I sleep in death,
4 lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed against him,”
lest my adversaries rejoice when I fall.
5 But I trust in your loving kindness.
My heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing to the Lord
because he has been good to me.
Proverbs 19:15-16
15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep.
The idle soul shall suffer hunger.
16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul,
but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die.