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Thursday
The First
Lesson
Judges 16:23-31
23 Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for
to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice:
for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our
hand.
24 And when the people saw him, they praised their god: for they
said, Our god hath delivered into our hands our enemy, and the
destroyer of our country, which slew many of us.
25 And it came to pass, when their hearts were merry, that they
said, Call for Samson, that he may make us sport. And they called
for Samson out of the prison house; and he made them sport: and
they set him between the pillars.
26 And Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer
me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth,
that I may lean upon them.
27 Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords
of the Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about
three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport.
28 And Samson called unto the LORD, and said, O Lord GOD, remember
me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray thee, only this once,
O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my
two eyes.
29 And Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which
the house stood, and on which it was borne up, of the one with
his right hand, and of the other with his left.
30 And Samson said, Let me die with the Philistines. And he bowed
himself with all his might; and the house fell upon the lords,
and upon all the people that were therein. So the dead which
he slew at his death were more than they which he slew in his
life.
31 Then his brethren and all the house of his father came down,
and took him, and brought him up, and buried him between Zorah
and Eshtaol in the buryingplace of Manoah his father. And he
judged Israel twenty years.
1st Lesson Questions -
Am I willing to die for God's greater glory? RESOLVE.
The Second
Lesson
Luke 9:1-17
1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them
power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal
the sick.
3 And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither
staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have
two coats apiece.
4 And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence
depart.
5 And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that
city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony
against them.
6 And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the
gospel, and healing every where.
7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him: and
he was perplexed, because that it was said of some, that John
was risen from the dead;
8 And of some, that Elias had appeared; and of others, that one
of the old prophets was risen again.
9 And Herod said, John have I beheaded: but who is this, of whom
I hear such things? And he desired to see him.
10 And the apostles, when they were returned, told him all that
they had done. And he took them, and went aside privately into
a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.
11 And the people, when they knew it, followed him: and he received
them, and spake unto them of the kingdom of God, and healed them
that had need of healing.
12 And when the day began to wear away, then came the twelve,
and said unto him, Send the multitude away, that they may go
into the towns and country round about, and lodge, and get victuals:
for we are here in a desert place.
13 But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said,
We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should
go and buy meat for all this people.
14 For they were about five thousand men. And he said to his
disciples, Make them sit down by fifties in a company.
15 And they did so, and made them all sit down.
16 Then he took the five loaves and the two fishes, and looking
up to heaven, he blessed them, and brake, and gave to the disciples
to set before the multitude.
17 And they did eat, and were all filled: and there was taken
up of fragments that remained to them twelve baskets.
2nd Lesson Questions -
Have I ever had to shake the dust from myself? Should I have? RESOLVE.