Hebrews 5:1 Every high priest is a man chosen to represent other people in their dealings with God. He presents their gifts to God and offers sacrifices for their sins.
2 And He is able to deal gently with ignorant and wayward people because He Himself is subject to the same weaknesses.
3 That is why He must offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as theirs.
4 And no one can become a high priest simply because he wants such an honor. He must be called by God for this work, just as Aaron was.
5 That is why Christ did not honor Himself by assuming He could become High Priest. No, He was chosen by God, who said to Him, "You are My Son. Today I have become Your Father. "
6 And in another passage God said to Him, "You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek."
7 While Jesus was here on earth, He offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the One who could rescue Him from death. And God heard His prayers because of His deep reverence for God.
8 Even though Jesus was God's Son, He learned obedience from the things He suffered.
9 In this way, God qualified Him as a perfect High Priest, and He became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey Him.
10 And God designated Him to be a High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.
11 There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don't seem to listen.
12 You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God's word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.
13 For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn't know how to do what is right.
14 Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.
Heb. 6:1 So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don't need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God.
2 You don't need further instruction about baptisms, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
3 And so, God willing, we will move forward to further understanding.
4 For it is impossible to bring back to repentance those who were once enlightened-those who have experienced the good things of heaven and shared in the Holy Spirit,
5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the power of the age to come-
6 and who then turn away from God. It is impossible to bring such people back to repentance; by rejecting the Son of God, they themselves are nailing Him to the cross once again and holding Him up to public shame.
7 When the ground soaks up the falling rain and bears a good crop for the farmer, it has God's blessing.
8 But if a field bears thorns and thistles, it is useless. The farmer will soon condemn that field and burn it.
9 Dear friends, even though we are talking this way, we really don't believe it applies to you. We are confident that you are meant for better things, things that come with salvation.
10 For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for Him and how you have shown your love to Him by caring for other believers, as you still do.
11 Our great desire is that you will keep on loving others as long as life lasts, in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true.
12 Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God's promises because of their faith and endurance.
13 For example, there was God's promise to Abraham. Since there was no one greater to swear by, God took an oath in His own name, saying:
14 "I will certainly bless you, and I will multiply your descendants beyond number."
15 Then Abraham waited patiently, and He received what God had promised.
16 Now when people take an oath, they call on someone greater than themselves to hold them to it. And without any question that oath is binding.
17 God also bound Himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that He would never change His mind.
18 So God has given both His promise and His oath. These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to Him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.
19 This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary.
20 Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.
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Psalms 68:1 For the choir director: A song. A psalm of David. Rise up, O God, and scatter Your enemies. Let those who hate God run for their lives.
2 Blow them away like smoke. Melt them like wax in a fire. Let the wicked perish in the presence of God.
3 But let the godly rejoice. Let them be glad in God's presence. Let them be filled with joy.
4 Sing praises to God and to His name! Sing loud praises to Him who rides the clouds. His name is the LORD-rejoice in His presence!
5 Father to the fatherless, defender of widows-this is God, whose dwelling is holy.
6 God places the lonely in families; He sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. But He makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.
7 O God, when You led your people out from Egypt, when You marched through the dry wasteland, Interlude
8 the earth trembled, and the heavens poured down rain before You, the God of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel.
9 You sent abundant rain, O God, to refresh the weary land.
10 There Your people finally settled, and with a bountiful harvest, O God, You provided for Your needy people.
11 The Lord gives the word, and a great army brings the good news.
12 Enemy kings and their armies flee, while the women of Israel divide the plunder.
13 Even those who lived among the sheepfolds found treasures-doves with wings of silver and feathers of gold.
14 The Almighty scattered the enemy kings like a blowing snowstorm on Mount Zalmon.
15 The mountains of Bashan are majestic, with many peaks stretching high into the sky.
16 Why do you look with envy, O rugged mountains, at Mount Zion, where God has chosen to live, where the LORD Himself will live forever?
17 Surrounded by unnumbered thousands of chariots, the Lord came from Mount Sinai into His sanctuary.
18 When You ascended to the heights, You led a crowd of captives. You received gifts from the people, even from those who rebelled against You. Now the LORD God will live among us there.
19 Praise the Lord; praise God our savior! For each day He carries us in His arms. Interlude
20 Our God is a God who saves! The Sovereign LORD rescues us from death.
21 But God will smash the heads of His enemies, crushing the skulls of those who love their guilty ways.
22 The Lord says, "I will bring My enemies down from Bashan; I will bring them up from the depths of the sea.
23 You, My people, will wash your feet in their blood, and even your dogs will get their share!"
24 Your procession has come into view, O God-the procession of my God and King as He goes into the sanctuary.
25 Singers are in front, musicians behind; between them are young women playing tambourines.
26 Praise God, all you people of Israel; praise the LORD, the source of Israel's life.
27 Look, the little tribe of Benjamin leads the way. Then comes a great throng of rulers from Judah and all the rulers of Zebulun and Naphtali.
28 Summon Your might, O God. Display Your power, O God, as You have in the past.
29 The kings of the earth are bringing tribute to Your Temple in Jerusalem.
30 Rebuke these enemy nations-these wild animals lurking in the reeds, this herd of bulls among the weaker calves. Make them bring bars of silver in humble tribute. Scatter the nations that delight in war.
31 Let Egypt come with gifts of precious metals; let Ethiopia bow in submission to God.
32 Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth. Sing praises to the Lord. Interlude
33 Sing to the One who rides across the ancient heavens, His mighty voice thundering from the sky.
34 Tell everyone about God's power. His majesty shines down on Israel; His strength is mighty in the heavens.
35 God is awesome in His sanctuary. The God of Israel gives power and strength to His people. Praise be to God!
Ps. 69:1 For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be sung to the tune "Lilies." Save me, O God, for the floodwaters are up to my neck.
2 Deeper and deeper I sink into the mire; I can't find a foothold. I am in deep water, and the floods overwhelm me.
3 I am exhausted from crying for help; my throat is parched. My eyes are swollen with weeping, waiting for my God to help me.
4 Those who hate me without cause outnumber the hairs on my head. Many enemies try to destroy me with lies, demanding that I give back what I didn't steal.
5 O God, You know how foolish I am; my sins cannot be hidden from You.
6 Don't let those who trust in You be ashamed because of me, O Sovereign LORD of Heaven's Armies. Don't let me cause them to be humiliated, O God of Israel.
7 For I endure insults for Your sake; humiliation is written all over my face.
8 Even my own brothers pretend they don't know me; they treat me like a stranger.
9 Passion for Your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult You have fallen on me.
10 When I weep and fast, they scoff at me.
11 When I dress in burlap to show sorrow, they make fun of me.
12 I am the favorite topic of town gossip, and all the drunks sing about me.
13 But I keep praying to You, LORD, hoping this time You will show me favor. In Your unfailing love, O God, answer my prayer with Your sure salvation.
14 Rescue me from the mud; don't let me sink any deeper! Save me from those who hate me, and pull me from these deep waters.
15 Don't let the floods overwhelm me, or the deep waters swallow me, or the pit of death devour me.
16 Answer my prayers, O LORD, for Your unfailing love is wonderful. Take care of me, for Your mercy is so plentiful.
17 Don't hide from Your servant; answer me quickly, for I am in deep trouble!
18 Come and redeem me; free me from my enemies.
19 You know of my shame, scorn, and disgrace. You see all that my enemies are doing.
20 Their insults have broken my heart, and I am in despair. If only one person would show some pity; if only one would turn and comfort me.
21 But instead, they give me poison for food; they offer me sour wine for my thirst.
22 Let the bountiful table set before them become a snare and their prosperity become a trap.
23 Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see, and make their bodies shake continually.
24 Pour out Your fury on them; consume them with Your burning anger.
25 Let their homes become desolate and their tents be deserted.
26 To the one You have punished, they add insult to injury; they add to the pain of those You have hurt.
27 Pile their sins up high, and don't let them go free.
28 Erase their names from the Book of Life; don't let them be counted among the righteous.
29 I am suffering and in pain. Rescue me, O God, by Your saving power.
30 Then I will praise God's name with singing, and I will honor Him with thanksgiving.
31 For this will please the LORD more than sacrificing cattle, more than presenting a bull with its horns and hooves.
32 The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God's help be encouraged.
33 For the LORD hears the cries of the needy; He does not despise His imprisoned people.
34 Praise Him, O heaven and earth, the seas and all that move in them.
35 For God will save Jerusalem and rebuild the towns of Judah. His people will live there and settle in their own land.
36 The descendants of those who obey Him will inherit the land, and those who love Him will live there in safety.
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