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Monday
The First
Lesson
Nehemiah 5:1-13
1 And there was a great cry of the people and of their wives
against their brethren the Jews.
2 For there were that said, We, our sons, and our daughters,
are many: therefore we take up corn for them, that we may eat,
and live.
3 Some also there were that said, We have mortgaged our lands,
vineyards, and houses, that we might buy corn, because of the
dearth.
4 There were also that said, We have borrowed money for the king's
tribute, and that upon our lands and vineyards.
5 Yet now our flesh is as the flesh of our brethren, our children
as their children: and, lo, we bring into bondage our sons and
our daughters to be servants, and some of our daughters are brought
unto bondage already: neither is it in our power to redeem them;
for other men have our lands and vineyards.
6 And I was very angry when I heard their cry and these words.
7 Then I consulted with myself, and I rebuked the nobles, and
the rulers, and said unto them, Ye exact usury, every one of
his brother. And I set a great assembly against them.
8 And I said unto them, We after our ability have redeemed our
brethren the Jews, which were sold unto the heathen; and will
ye even sell your brethren? or shall they be sold unto us? Then
held they their peace, and found nothing to answer.
9 Also I said, It is not good that ye do: ought ye not to walk
in the fear of our God because of the reproach of the heathen
our enemies?
10 I likewise, and my brethren, and my servants, might exact
of them money and corn: I pray you, let us leave off this usury.
11 Restore, I pray you, to them, even this day, their lands,
their vineyards, their oliveyards, and their houses, also the
hundredth part of the money, and of the corn, the wine, and the
oil, that ye exact of them.
12 Then said they, We will restore them, and will require nothing
of them; so will we do as thou sayest. Then I called the priests,
and took an oath of them, that they should do according to this
promise.
13 Also I shook my lap, and said, So God shake out every man
from his house, and from his labour, that performeth not this
promise, even thus be he shaken out, and emptied. And all the
congregation said, Amen, and praised the LORD. And the people
did according to this promise.
1st Lesson Questions -
How much of today's unrest can be traced to economic ills? How often is money tied to sin? RESOLVE.
The Second
Lesson
Acts 13:44-14:7
44 And the Next
sabbath day came almost the whole city together
to hear the word of God.
45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with
envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul,
contradicting and blaspheming.
46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary
that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but
seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting
life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee
to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation
unto the ends of the earth.
48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified
the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal
life believed.
49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the
region.
50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and
the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul
and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts.
51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and
came unto Iconium.
52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy
Ghost.
1 And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together
into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude
both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.
2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made
their minds evil affected against the brethren.
3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord,
which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted
signs and wonders to be done by their hands.
4 But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with
the Jews, and part with the apostles.
5 And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and
also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully,
and to stone them,
6 They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities
of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:
7 And there they preached the gospel.
2nd Lesson Questions -
Paul said the people judged themselves through their own actions - that is, by what they did in life. Does that happen today? RESOLVE.