Formation Journal Reading Plan

1 Chronicles 20

20:1 It happened, at the time of the return of the year, at the time when kings go out, that Joab led forth the army, and wasted the country of the children of Ammon, and came and besieged Rabbah. But David stayed at Jerusalem. Joab struck Rabbah, and overthrew it.
20:2 David took the crown of their king from off his head, and found it to weigh a talent of gold, and there were precious stones in it; and it was set on David’s head: and he brought forth the spoil of the city, exceeding much.
20:3 He brought forth the people who were therein, and cut them with saws, and with iron picks, and with axes. David did so to all the cities of the children of Ammon. David and all the people returned to Jerusalem.
20:4 It happened after this, that there arose war at Gezer with the Philistines: then Sibbecai the Hushathite killed Sippai, of the sons of the giant; and they were subdued.
20:5 There was again war with the Philistines; and Elhanan the son of Jair killed Lahmi the brother of Goliath the Gittite, the staff of whose spear was like a weaver’s beam.
20:6 There was again war at Gath, where there was a man of great stature, whose fingers and toes were twenty-four, six on each hand, and six on each foot; and he also was born to the giant.
20:7 When he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David’s brother killed him.
20:8 These were born to the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants.

Psalm 4

4:1 For the Chief Musician; on stringed instruments. A Psalm by David. Answer me when I call, God of my righteousness. Give me relief from my distress. Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.
4:2 You sons of men, how long shall my glory be turned into dishonor? Will you love vanity, and seek after falsehood? Selah.
4:3 But know that Yahweh has set apart for himself him who is godly: Yahweh will hear when I call to him.
4:4 Stand in awe, and don’t sin. Search your own heart on your bed, and be still. Selah.
4:5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness. Put your trust in Yahweh.
4:6 Many say, “Who will show us any good?” Yahweh, let the light of your face shine on us.
4:7 You have put gladness in my heart, more than when their grain and their new wine are increased.
4:8 In peace I will both lay myself down and sleep, for you, Yahweh alone, make me live in safety.

Acts 13:13-52

13:13 Now Paul and his company set sail from Paphos, and came to Perga in Pamphylia. John departed from them and returned to Jerusalem.
13:14 But they, passing on from Perga, came to Antioch of Pisidia. They went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and sat down.
13:15 After the reading of the law and the prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, speak.”
13:16 Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen.
13:17 The God of this people chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they stayed as aliens in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm, he led them out of it.
13:18 For a period of about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness.
13:19 When he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land for an inheritance, for about four hundred fifty years.
13:20 After these things he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.
13:21 Afterward they asked for a king, and God gave to them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.
13:22 When he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, to whom he also testified, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’
13:23 From this man’s seed, God has brought salvation to Israel according to his promise,
13:24 before his coming, when John had first preached the baptism of repentance to Israel.
13:25 As John was fulfilling his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. But behold, one comes after me the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’
13:26 Brothers, children of the stock of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, the word of this salvation is sent out to you.
13:27 For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they didn’t know him, nor the voices of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him.
13:28 Though they found no cause for death, they still asked Pilate to have him killed.
13:29 When they had fulfilled all things that were written about him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a tomb.
13:30 But God raised him from the dead,
13:31 and he was seen for many days by those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses to the people.
13:32 We bring you good news of the promise made to the fathers,
13:33 that God has fulfilled the same to us, their children, in that he raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second psalm, ‘You are my Son. Today I have become your father.’
13:34 “Concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he has spoken thus: ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’
13:35 Therefore he says also in another psalm, ‘You will not allow your Holy One to see decay.’
13:36 For David, after he had in his own generation served the counsel of God, fell asleep, and was laid with his fathers, and saw decay.
13:37 But he whom God raised up saw no decay.
13:38 Be it known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man is proclaimed to you remission of sins,
13:39 and by him everyone who believes is justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
13:40 Beware therefore, lest that come on you which is spoken in the prophets:
13:41 ‘Behold, you scoffers, and wonder, and perish; for I work a work in your days, a work which you will in no way believe, if one declares it to you.’”
13:42 So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.
13:43 Now when the synagogue broke up, many of the Jews and of the devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas; who, speaking to them, urged them to continue in the grace of God.
13:44 The next Sabbath almost the whole city was gathered together to hear the word of God.
13:45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with jealousy, and contradicted the things which were spoken by Paul, and blasphemed.
13:46 Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, and said, “It was necessary that God’s word should be spoken to you first. Since indeed you thrust it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles.
13:47 For so has the Lord commanded us, saying, ‘I have set you as a light for the Gentiles, that you should bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth.’”
13:48 As the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of God. As many as were appointed to eternal life believed.
13:49 The Lord’s word was spread abroad throughout all the region.
13:50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and prominent women and the chief men of the city, and stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and threw them out of their borders.
13:51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came to Iconium.
13:52 The disciples were filled with joy with the Holy Spirit.