June 30
2Kings 9:19-37 & Galatians 4
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2Kings 9:19-37

2Kings 9:19-37

19So he sent out a second horseman, who went to them and said, "This is what the king asks: 'Do you come in peace?'"
Jehu answered, "What do you have to do with peace? Fall in behind me."
20Again the watchman reported, "He reached them but hasn't started back. Also, the driving is like that of Jehu son of Nimshi-he drives like a madman."
21"Harness!" Joram shouted, and they harnessed his chariot. Then Joram king of Israel and Ahaziah king of Judah set out, each in his own chariot, and met Jehu at the plot of land of Naboth the Jezreelite. 22When Joram saw Jehu he asked, "Do you come in peace, Jehu?"
He answered, "What peace can there be as long as there is so much prostitution and witchcraft from your mother Jezebel?"
23Joram turned around and fled, shouting to Ahaziah, "It's treachery, Ahaziah!"
24Then Jehu drew his bow and shot Joram between the shoulders. The arrow went through his heart, and he slumped down in his chariot. 25Jehu said to Bidkar his aide, "Pick him up and throw him on the plot of ground belonging to Naboth the Jezreelite. For remember when you and I were riding side by side behind his father Ahab, and the Lord uttered this oracle against him: 26'As surely as I saw the blood of Naboth and the blood of his sons yesterday'-this is the Lord's declaration-'so will I repay you on this plot of land'-this is the Lord's declaration. So now, according to the word of the Lord, pick him up and throw him on the plot of land."
27When King Ahaziah of Judah saw what was happening, he fled up the road toward Beth-haggan. Jehu pursued him, shouting, "Shoot him too!" So they shot him in his chariot at Gur Pass near Ibleam, but he fled to Megiddo and died there. 28Then his servants carried him to Jerusalem in a chariot and buried him in his fathers' tomb in the city of David. 29It was in the eleventh year of Joram son of Ahab that Ahaziah had become king over Judah.
30When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard about it, so she painted her eyes, adorned her head, and looked down from the window. 31As Jehu entered the gate, she said, "Do you come in peace, Zimri, killer of your master?"
32He looked up toward the window and said, "Who is on my side? Who?" Two or three eunuchs looked down at him, 33and he said, "Throw her down!" So they threw her down, and some of her blood splattered on the wall and on the horses, and Jehu rode over her.
34Then he went in, ate and drank, and said, "Take care of this cursed woman and bury her, since she's a king's daughter." 35But when they went out to bury her, they did not find anything but her skull, her feet, and the palms of her hands. 36So they went back and told him, and he said, "This fulfills the Lord's word that He spoke through His servant Elijah the Tishbite: 'In the plot of land at Jezreel, the dogs will eat Jezebel's flesh. 37Jezebel's corpse will be like manure on the surface of the field in the plot of land at Jezreel so that no one will be able to say: This is Jezebel.'"

Galatians 4

Chapter 4

4:1Now I say that as long as the heir is a child, he differs in no way from a slave, though he is the owner of everything. 2Instead, he is under guardians and stewards until the time set by his father. 3In the same way we also, when we were children, were in slavery under the elemental forces of the world. 4When the time came to completion, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. 6And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba, Father!" 7So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
8But in the past, when you didn't know God, you were enslaved to things that by nature are not gods. 9But now, since you know God, or rather have become known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and bankrupt elemental forces? Do you want to be enslaved to them all over again? 10You observe special days, months, seasons, and years. 11I am fearful for you, that perhaps my labor for you has been wasted.
12I beg you, brothers: Become like me, for I also became like you. You have not wronged me; 13you know that previously I preached the gospel to you because of a physical illness. 14You did not despise or reject me though my physical condition was a trial for you. On the contrary, you received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus Himself.
15What happened to this sense of being blessed you had? For I testify to you that, if possible, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17They are enthusiastic about you, but not for any good. Instead, they want to isolate you so you will be enthusiastic about them. 18Now it is always good to be enthusiastic about good-and not just when I am with you. 19My children, I am again suffering labor pains for you until Christ is formed in you. 20I would like to be with you right now and change my tone of voice, because I don't know what to do about you.
21Tell me, those of you who want to be under the law, don't you hear the law? 22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by a slave and the other by a free woman. 23But the one by the slave was born according to the impulse of the flesh, while the one by the free woman was born as the result of a promise. 24These things are illustrations, for the women represent the two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai and bears children into slavery-this is Hagar. 25Now Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. 26But the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother. 27For it is written:
Rejoice, childless woman,
who does not give birth.
Burst into song and shout,
you who are not in labor,
for the children of the desolate are many,
more numerous than those
of the woman who has a husband.
28Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29But just as then the child born according to the flesh persecuted the one born according to the Spirit, so also now. 30But what does the Scripture say?
Drive out the slave and her son, for the son of the slave will never be a co-heir with the son of the free woman.
31Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave but of the free woman.

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