Song for today: There’s Power in the Blood

Today’s country: Burundi

The eyes of the Lord are in every place,
keeping watch on the evil and the good
•••
Better is a little with the fear of the Lord
than great treasure and trouble with it.
•••
Better is a dinner of herbs where love is
than a fattened ox and hatred with it.
•••
A hot-tempered man stirs up strife,
but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.
•••
Folly is a joy to him who lacks sense,
but a man of understanding walks straight ahead.
•••
The path of life leads upward for the prudent,
that he may turn away from Sheol beneath.
•••
The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
and good news refreshes the bones.
•••
The ear that listens to life-giving reproof
will dwell among the wise.
•••
The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom,
and humility comes before honor.
from Prov 15

Then all Israel gathered together to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh. In times past, even when Saul was king, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord your God said to you, You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over my people Israel.’” So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord. And they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the Lord by Samuel.
•••
Now these are the chiefs of David’s mighty men, who gave him strong support in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the Lord concerning Israel. This is an account of David’s mighty men:
from 1Chr 11

Now these are the men who came to David at Ziklag, while he could not move about freely because of Saul the son of Kish. And they were among the mighty men who helped him in war. They were bowmen and could shoot arrows and sling stones with either the right or the left hand; they were Benjaminites, Saul’s kinsmen.
•••
“We are yours, O David,
and with you, O son of Jesse!
Peace, peace to you,
and peace to your helpers!
For your God helps you.”
Then David received them and made them officers of his troops.
•••
These are the numbers of the divisions of the armed troops who came to David in Hebron to turn the kingdom of Saul over to him, according to the word of the Lord.
•••
Likewise, all the rest of Israel were of a single mind to make David king. And they were there with David for three days, eating and drinking, for their brothers had made preparation for them. And also their relatives, from as far as Issachar and Zebulun and Naphtali, came bringing food on donkeys and on camels and on mules and on oxen, abundant provisions of flour, cakes of figs, clusters of raisins, and wine and oil, oxen and sheep, for there was joy in Israel.
from 1Chr 12