Scripture quotations are from the Lexham English Bible. Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software. Lexham is a registered trademark of Logos Bible Software.
1 Kings 17
Elijah the Tishbite from Tishbe of Gilead said to Ahab, "As Yahweh lives, the God of Israel before whom I stand, there shall surely not be dew nor rain these years except by my command." Then the word of Yahweh came to him, saying, "Go from this place and turn to the east; you must hide yourself in the Wadi Kerith which faces the Jordan. It shall be that you shall drink from the wadi, and I have commanded the crows to sustain you there." So he went and did according to the word of Yahweh. He went and stayed in the Wadi Kerith which faces the Jordan. The crows were bringing bread and meat in the morning for him and bread and meat in the evening, and he drank from the wadi. It happened after a while that the wadi dried up, because there was no rain in the land.
Then the word of Yahweh came to him, saying, "Get up and go to Zarephath which belongs to Sidon and stay there. Look, I have commanded a woman there, a widow, to sustain you." So he arose and went to Zarephath and came to the gate of the city. There was a widow woman gathering wood, so he called to her, and he said, "Please bring a little water for me in a vessel so that I can drink." She went to fetch it, and he called to her and said, "Please bring me a morsel of bread in your hand." She said, "As Yahweh your God lives, surely I do not have a cake, but only a handful of flour in the jar and a little olive oil in the jug. Here I am gathering a few pieces of wood, and I will go and prepare it for me and my son, that we might eat it and die." Elijah said to her, "Don’t be afraid. Go and do according to your word; only make for me a small bread cake from it first, and bring it out to me. Make it for yourself and for your son afterward. For thus says Yahweh, the God of Israel: ‘The jar of flour will not be emptied and the jug of olive oil will not run out until the day Yahweh gives rain on the surface of the earth.’" So she went and did according to the word of Elijah; then both she and he ate with her household for many days. The jar of flour was not emptied and the jug of olive oil did not run out, according to the word of Yahweh which he spoke by the hand of Elijah.
It happened after these things that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became ill; and his illness was very severe until there was no breath left in him. She said to Elijah, "What do you have against me, O man of God, that you have come to me to make known my guilt and to cause my son to die?" Then he said to her, "Give me your son." He took him from her lap and carried him up to the upper room where he was staying, and he laid him on his bed. Then he called to Yahweh and said, "O Yahweh my God, are you also causing evil to come upon the widow with whom I am dwelling as an alien by causing her son to die?" He stretched himself out on the child three times and called to Yahweh and said, "O Yahweh my God, please let the life of this child return within him." Yahweh listened to the voice of Elijah, and the life of the child returned within him, and he lived. Elijah then took the child and brought him down from the upper room to the house and gave him to his mother. Elijah said, "Look, your son is alive." Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now this I know, that you are a man of God and the word of Yahweh in your mouth is truth."
1 Kings 18
It happened many days later that the word of Yahweh came to Elijah in the third year, saying, "Go, present yourself to Ahab so that I may give rain on the surface of the earth." So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria. Ahab summoned Obadiah who was over the house. (Now Obadiah was fearing Yahweh greatly. It had happened that when Jezebel killed the prophets of Yahweh, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in the cave and sustained them with food and water.) Ahab said to Obadiah, "Go through the land to all the springs of water and to all the wadis. Perhaps we may find green grass that we may keep horses and mules alive and that we might not lose any of the animals." So they divided the land for themselves in order to pass through it; Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went another way by himself.
It happened that Obadiah was on the way, and suddenly Elijah was there to meet him. When he recognized him, he fell on his face and said, "Is this you, my lord Elijah?" He said to him, "I am. Go, say to your lord, ‘Elijah is here.’" He said, "How have I sinned that you are giving your servant into the hand of Ahab to kill me? As Yahweh your God lives, surely there is not a nation or a kingdom to which my lord has not sent me to seek you. If they would say, ‘He is not here,’ then he would make the kingdom or the nation swear that it could not find you. Now you are saying, ‘Go, say to your lord: "Elijah is here."’ And it will happen that I will go from you and the Spirit of Yahweh will carry you up to where I do not know. Then I will come to tell Ahab, but he will not find you, and then he will kill me, even though your servant has feared Yahweh from my youth. Has it not been told to my lord what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of Yahweh? I hid a hundred men of the prophets of Yahweh by fifties in the cave, and I sustained them with food and water. Now you are saying, ‘Go, say to your lord: "Elijah is here,"’ and he will kill me." Elijah said, "As Yahweh of hosts lives, before whom I stand, I will certainly show myself to him today."
So Obadiah went to meet Ahab, and he told him, so Ahab went to meet Elijah. When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, "Is this you who throws Israel into confusion?" He said, "I did not throw Israel into confusion; rather you and the house of your father have by forsaking the commands of Yahweh when you went after the Baals! So then, send word and assemble all of Israel to me on Mount Carmel, with the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at the table of Jezebel."
So Ahab sent word among the Israelites, and he assembled the prophets to Mount Carmel. Elijah approached to all the people and said, "How long will you go limping over two opinions? If Yahweh is God, go after him; but if Baal, go after him." But the people did not answer him a word. Then Elijah said to the people, "I alone am left a prophet of Yahweh, but the prophets of Baal are four hundred and fifty men. Let them give us two bulls, and let them choose for themselves one bull, cut him in pieces, and put it on the wood, but don’t let them start a fire on it. I will prepare the other bull and set it on the wood, but I will put no fire on it. Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of Yahweh, and it shall be that the god who answers by fire, he is God." Then all the people answered and said, "The word is good!"
Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are the majority, and call on the name of your god, but don’t set fire under it." So they took the bull that he allowed to them, prepared it, and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, "O Baal, answer us!" But there was no voice and there was no answer, so they limped about the altar which they had made. It happened at noon that Elijah mocked them and said, "Call out with a loud voice, for he is a god! Perhaps he is meditating, or is using the bathroom, or is on a journey. Perhaps he is asleep and must wake up!" So they called out with a loud voice, and they cut themselves with swords and with spears as was their custom, until the blood poured out over them. It happened as noon passed, they raged until the time of the evening offering, but there was no voice, there was no answer, and no one paid attention.
Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come near to me," so all the people came closer to him. He repaired the altar of Yahweh that had been destroyed. Elijah took twelve stones according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the word of God came, saying, "Israel shall be your name." With them, he built an altar in the name of Yahweh, and he made a trench which would have held about two seahs of seed, all around the altar. And he arranged the wood, cut the bull into pieces, and placed it on the wood. Then he said, "Fill four jars with water, and pour it on the burnt offering and on the wood." He said, "Do it again!" They did it again. He said, "Do it a third time!" So they did it a third time. The water went all around the altar, and the trench also was filled with water.
It happened at the offering of the evening oblation, Elijah the prophet went near, and he said, "O Yahweh, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel; let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and that I have done all of these things by your words. Answer me, O Yahweh, answer me; that this people may know that you, O Yahweh, are God and that you have turned their hearts back again." Then the fire of Yahweh fell, and it consumed the burnt offering, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust; and the water which was in the trench it licked up! When all the people saw, they fell on their faces and said, "Yahweh, he is God! Yahweh, he is God!" Then Elijah said to them, "Seize the prophets of Baal; don’t let any man of them escape!" So they seized them, and Elijah brought them down to the wadi of Kishon and killed them there.
Then Elijah said to Ahab, "Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of the noise of rain." So Ahab went up to eat and to drink while Elijah went to the top of Carmel, bent down to the earth, and put his face between his knees. Then he said to his servant, "Please go and look in the direction of the sea." So he went up and looked; then he said, "There is nothing." Then he said, "Go back," seven times. It happened that at the seventh time, he said, "Look, there is a small cloud, as the hand of a man, coming up from the sea." Then Elijah said, "Go up, say to Ahab, ‘Harness your horses and go down, lest the rain stop you.’" In no time the heavens grew black with clouds and wind, and there was heavy rain. Ahab rode and he went to Jezreel, but the hand of Yahweh was on Elijah; he girded up his loins and ran before Ahab as one comes to Jezreel.
Psalm 119
Blessed are those whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of Yahweh.
Blessed are those who keep his testimonies;
they seek him with a whole heart.
They also do no wrong;
they walk in his ways.
You have commanded your precepts,
that we should keep them diligently.
Oh that my ways were steadfast,
to keep your statutes!
Then I would not be ashamed
when I look to all your commands.
I will give you thanks with an upright heart,
when I learn your righteous laws.
I will heed your statutes;
do not utterly forsake me.
How can a young man keep his way pure?
By taking heed according to your word.
With my whole heart I have sought you;
do not let me stray from your commands.
In my heart I have hidden your word,
so that I may not sin against you.
Blessed are you, O Yahweh.
Teach me your statutes.
With my lips I have told of
all the ordinances of your mouth.
In the way of your testimonies I have rejoiced
as I would over all riches.
I will meditate on your precepts
and look at your ways.
I will take delight in your statutes;
I will not forget your word.
Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live
and heed your word.
Uncover my eyes, that I may look at
wonderful things from your law.
I am a sojourner on the earth;
do not hide your commands from me.
My soul is crushed with longing
for your ordinances at all times.
You rebuke the arrogant, the accursed,
who stray from your commands.
Remove from me scorn and contempt,
for I have kept your testimonies.
Even though princes sit and speak against me,
your servant meditates on your statutes.
Your testimonies are my delight,
my counselors.
My soul clings to the dust;
revive me according to your word.
I told of my ways, and you answered me;
teach me your statutes.
Make me understand the way of your precepts,
that I may meditate on your wonderful things.
My soul weeps because of grief;
strengthen me according to your word.
Remove from me the deceptive way,
and graciously give me your law.
I have chosen the faithful way;
I have set your ordinances before me.
I cling to your testimonies;
O Yahweh, do not let me be put to shame.
I will run the way of your commands,
for you will enlarge my heart.
Teach me, O Yahweh, the way of your statutes,
and I will keep it to the end.
Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
and heed it with my whole heart.
Cause me to walk in the path of your commands,
for I delight in it.
Incline my heart to your testimonies,
and not to dishonest gain.
Turn away my eyes from looking at what is worthless;
revive me in your ways.
Fulfill your word to your servant,
which is to bring about a reverence for you.
Turn away my disgrace that I dread,
for your ordinances are good.
Look, I have longed for your precepts;
revive me in your righteousness.
Let your acts of loyal love also come to me, O Yahweh,
your salvation according to your word.
Then I will have an answer for the one who taunts me,
for I trust your word.
And do not snatch the word of truth utterly from my mouth,
for I hope in your ordinances.
So I will heed your law continually,
forever and ever.
And I will go about freely,
for I have sought your precepts.
And I will speak of your testimonies before kings,
and will not be ashamed.
And I will take delight in your commands,
which I love.
And I will lift up my hands to your commands, which I love,
and I will meditate on your statutes.
Remember your word to your servant,
upon which you have caused me to hope.
This is my comfort in my misery:
that your word preserves my life.
The arrogant utterly deride me;
I have not turned aside from your law.
I remember your ordinances of old, O Yahweh,
and I take comfort.
Rage seizes me because of the wicked,
those who forsake your law.
Your statutes have been my songs
in the house of my sojourning.
I remember your name in the night, O Yahweh,
and I heed your law.
This has been mine,
that I have kept your precepts.
Yahweh is my portion;
I intend to heed your words.
I seek your favor with my whole heart;
be gracious to me according to your word.
I think about my ways,
and turn my feet to your testimonies.
I hurry and do not delay
to heed your commands.
The cords of the wicked surround me,
but I do not forget your law.
In the middle of the night I rise to give you thanks,
because of your righteous ordinances.
I am a companion of all who fear you
and heed your precepts.
The earth, O Yahweh, is full of your loyal love.
Teach me your statutes.
You have dealt well with your servant,
O Yahweh, according to your word.
Teach me good discernment and knowledge,
for I believe your commands.
Before I was afflicted, I was going astray,
but now I heed your word.
You are good and do good;
teach me your statutes.
The arrogant smear me with lies;
I keep your precepts with my whole heart.
Their heart is insensitive like fat;
As for me, I take delight in your law.
It is good for me that I was afflicted,
so that I might learn your statutes.
The law of your mouth is better to me
than thousands of gold and silver coins.
Your hands have made me and established me;
give me understanding that I may learn your commands.
Those who fear you will see me and be glad,
because I hope in your word.
I know, O Yahweh, that your judgments are right,
and that in faithfulness you afflicted me.
Please let your loyal love comfort me,
according to your word to your servant.
Let your mercies come to me, that I may live,
for your law is my delight.
Let the arrogant be put to shame,
because they have wronged me with lies.
As for me, I will meditate on your precepts.
Let those who fear you turn to me,
even those who know your testimonies.
May my heart be blameless in your statutes,
so that I may not be ashamed.
My soul languishes for your salvation;
I hope in your word.
My eyes long for your word,
saying, "When will you comfort me?"
For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,
yet I have not forgotten your statutes.
How many are the days of your servant?
When will you execute justice against those who persecute me?
The arrogant have dug pits for me,
which is not according to your law.
All your commands are faithful.
They persecute me deceitfully; help me!
They have almost destroyed me on the earth,
but I have not forsaken your precepts.
According to your loyal love preserve me alive,
so that I may heed the testimony from your mouth.
Forever, O Yahweh,
your word is settled in heaven.
Your faithfulness endures throughout all generations.
You have established the earth and it stands.
By your ordinances they stand today,
for all are your servants.
Unless your law had been my delight,
then I would have perished in my misery.
I will not ever forget your precepts,
for by them you revive me.
I am yours. Save me,
for I have sought your precepts.
For me the wicked lie in wait to destroy me.
I give attention to your testimonies.
I have seen a limit to every perfection;
your command is very broad.
How I love your law!
The whole day it is my meditation.
Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,
because they are ever with me.
I have more insight than all my teachers,
for your testimonies are my meditation.
I understand more than the elders,
for I keep your precepts.
I have restrained my feet from every evil way,
so that I may heed your word.
I have not turned aside from your ordinances,
for you have taught me.
How smooth are your words to my palate,
more than honey in my mouth.
From your precepts I get understanding,
therefore I hate every false way.
Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light to my path.
I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,
to heed your righteous ordinances.
I am very much afflicted;
O Yahweh, revive me according to your word.
Please accept the freewill offerings of my mouth, O Yahweh,
and teach me your ordinances.
My life is in danger continually,
yet I do not forget your law.
The wicked have laid a snare for me,
yet I do not wander from your precepts.
I have taken as my own your testimonies forever,
for they are the joy of my heart.
I have inclined my heart to do your statutes
forever, to the end.
I hate the double-minded,
but I love your law.
You are my hiding place and my shield;
I hope in your word.
Turn aside from me, you evildoers,
for I will keep the commands of my God.
Sustain me according to your word, that I may live,
and do not let me be ashamed of my hope.
Uphold me, that I may be delivered,
and have regard for your statutes continually.
You reject all who stray from your statutes,
for their deceit is a breach of faith.
You remove all the wicked of the earth like dross,
therefore I love your testimonies.
My flesh trembles for fear of you,
and I am afraid of your judgments.
I have done justice and righteousness;
do not leave me to my oppressors.
Pledge good for your servant;
do not let the arrogant oppress me.
My eyes long for your salvation,
and your righteous word.
Deal with your servant according to your loyal love,
and teach me your statutes.
I am your servant; give me understanding,
that I may know your statutes.
It is time for Yahweh to act,
for they have broken your law.
Therefore I love your commands
more than gold, even fine gold.
Therefore all your precepts of everything I regard as right;
I hate every false way.
Your testimonies are miracles,
therefore my soul keeps them.
The unfolding of your words gives light,
giving understanding to the simple.
I open my mouth and pant,
because I long for your commands.
Turn to me and be gracious to me,
as is proper for those who love your name.
Direct my steps in your word,
and do not let any iniquity gain power over me.
Redeem me from the oppression of humankind,
that I may heed your precepts.
Shine your face on your servant,
and teach me your statutes.
Streams of water flow down from my eyes,
because people do not heed your law.
You are righteous, O Yahweh,
and your ordinances are upright.
You have ordained your testimonies in righteousness,
and in exceeding faithfulness.
My zeal consumes me,
because my enemies have forgotten your words.
Your word is very pure,
and your servant loves it.
I am small and despised,
yet I do not forget your precepts.
Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
and your law is truth.
Trouble and anguish have found me;
your commands delight me.
The righteousness of your testimonies is forever;
give me understanding that I may live.
I call with my whole heart; answer me, O Yahweh.
I will keep your statutes.
I call to you. Save me,
and I will heed your testimonies.
I rise early in the dawn and cry for help;
I hope in your word.
My eyes anticipate the night watches,
that I may meditate on your word.
Hear my voice according to your loyal love;
O Yahweh, preserve my life according to your justice.
Those who pursue a wicked purpose draw near;
they are far from your law.
You are near, O Yahweh,
and all your commands are truth.
Concerning your testimonies, I knew long ago
that you have established them forever.
See my misery and rescue me,
for I do not forget your law.
Plead my cause and redeem me;
preserve my life according to your word.
Salvation is far from the wicked,
for they do not seek your statutes.
Your mercies are great, O Yahweh;
preserve my life according to your ordinances.
My persecutors and enemies are many,
yet I do not turn aside from your testimonies.
I see the treacherous and I feel disgust,
because they do not heed your word.
Consider that I love your precepts;
O Yahweh, according to your loyal love preserve my life.
The whole of your word is truth,
and your every righteous judgment endures forever.
Princes persecute me without cause,
but my heart trembles because of your word.
I am rejoicing over your word,
like one who finds great spoil.
I hate and abhor falsehood;
I love your law.
I praise you seven times in the day
for your righteous ordinances.
Great peace is for those who love your law,
and they do not have a cause for stumbling.
I hope for your salvation, O Yahweh,
and do your commands.
My soul heeds your testimonies,
and I love them exceedingly.
I heed your precepts and testimonies,
because all my ways are before you.
Let my cry come before you, O Yahweh;
give me understanding according to your word.
Let my plea come before you;
Deliver me according to your word.
Let my lips pour out praise,
because you teach me your statutes.
Let my tongue sing of your word,
because all your commands are right.
Let your hand be my help,
because I have chosen your precepts.
I long for your salvation, O Yahweh,
and your law is my delight.
Let my soul live that it may praise you,
and let your ordinances help me.
I have wandered like a lost sheep; seek your servant,
because I do not forget your commands.
Jude 1
Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are called, loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ. May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you.
Dear friends, although I was making every effort to write to you concerning our common salvation, I considered it a necessity to write to you to encourage you to contend for the faith delivered once and for all to the saints. For certain men have slipped in stealthily, who were designated long ago for this condemnation, ungodly ones, who change the grace of our God into licentiousness and who deny our only Master and Lord Jesus Christ.
Now I want to remind you, although you know everything once and for all, that Jesus, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, the second time destroyed those who did not believe. And the angels who did not keep to their own domain but deserted their proper dwelling place, he has kept in eternal bonds under deep gloom for the judgment of the great day, as Sodom and Gomorrah and the towns around them indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire in the same way as these, are exhibited as an example by undergoing the punishment of eternal fire.
Despite that, in the same way also these men, because of their dreams, defile the flesh and reject authority and blaspheme majestic beings. But Michael the archangel, when he argued with the devil, disputing concerning the body of Moses, did not dare to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" But these persons blaspheme all that they do not understand, and all that they understand by instinct like the irrational animals, by these things they are being destroyed. Woe to them! For they have traveled in the way of Cain, and have given themselves up to the error of Balaam for gain, and have perished in the rebellion of Korah. These are the ones feasting together without reverence, hidden reefs at your love feasts, caring for themselves, waterless clouds carried away by winds, late autumn trees without fruit, twice dead, uprooted, wild waves of the sea foaming up their own shameful deeds, wandering stars, for whom the deep gloom of darkness has been reserved for eternity.
And Enoch, the seventh from Adam, also prophesied about these people, saying, "Behold, the Lord came with tens of thousands of his holy ones to execute judgment against all, and to convict all the ungodly concerning all their ungodly deeds that they have committed in an ungodly way, and concerning all the harsh things that ungodly sinners have spoken against him. These people are grumblers, discontented, proceeding according to their desires, and their mouths speaking pompous words, showing partiality to gain an advantage.
But you, dear friends, remember the words proclaimed beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, for they said to you, "In the end time there will be scoffers following according to their own ungodly desires." These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly, not having the Spirit. But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith, by praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt, and save others by snatching them from the fire, and have mercy on others with fear, hating even the tunic stained by the flesh.
Now to the one who is able to protect you from stumbling and make you to stand before his glory blameless with exultation, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority before all time and now and for all eternity. Amen.