AME Zion Universal Reading July 17th 2022

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First Portion

Numbers Chapter 22

Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.3Moab became terrified of the people, for they were numerous, and Moab became disgusted because of the children of Israel.4Moab said to the elders of Midian, "Now this assembly will eat up everything around us, as the ox eats up the greens of the field. Balak the son of Zippor was king of Moab at that time.5He sent messengers to Balaam the son of Beor, to Pethor, which is by the river of the land of his people, to call for him, saying, "A people has come out of Egypt, and behold, they have covered the "eye" of the land, and they are stationed opposite me.6So now, please come and curse this people for me, for they are too powerful for me. Perhaps I will be able to wage war against them and drive them out of the land, for I know that whomever you bless is blessed and whomever you curse is cursed."7So the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian went, with magic charms in their hands, and they came to Balaam and conveyed Balak's message to him.8He said to them, "Lodge here for the night, and I will give you an answer when the Lord speaks to me." So the Moabite nobles stayed with Balaam.9God came to Balaam and said, "Who are these men with you?"10Balaam said to God, "Balak the son of Zippor the king of Moab has sent [them] to me, [saying]:11"Behold the people coming out of Egypt, a nation, has covered the 'eye' of the earth. Come and curse them for me, perhaps I will be able to fight against them and drive them out."12God said to Balaam, "You shall not go with them! You shall not curse the people because they are blessed."

John 12:27–50 (NLT):

27 “Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! 28 Father, bring glory to your name.”

Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.” 29 When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him.

30 Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out. 32 And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” 33 He said this to indicate how he was going to die.

34 The crowd responded, “We understood from Scripture that the Messiah would live forever. How can you say the Son of Man will die? Just who is this Son of Man, anyway?”

35 Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. 36 Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.”

After saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them.

The Unbelief of the People

37 But despite all the miraculous signs Jesus had done, most of the people still did not believe in him. 38 This is exactly what Isaiah the prophet had predicted:

“Lord, who has believed our message?

To whom has the Lord revealed his powerful arm?”

39 But the people couldn’t believe, for as Isaiah also said,

40 “The Lord has blinded their eyes

and hardened their hearts—

so that their eyes cannot see,

and their hearts cannot understand,

and they cannot turn to me

and have me heal them.”

41 Isaiah was referring to Jesus when he said this, because he saw the future and spoke of the Messiah’s glory. 42 Many people did believe in him, however, including some of the Jewish leaders. But they wouldn’t admit it for fear that the Pharisees would expel them from the synagogue. 43 For they loved human praise more than the praise of God.

44 Jesus shouted to the crowds, “If you trust me, you are trusting not only me, but also God who sent me. 45 For when you see me, you are seeing the one who sent me. 46 I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark. 47 I will not judge those who hear me but don’t obey me, for I have come to save the world and not to judge it. 48 But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken. 49 I don’t speak on my own authority. The Father who sent me has commanded me what to say and how to say it. 50 And I know his commands lead to eternal life; so I say whatever the Father tells me to say.”

Second Portion

Numbers Chapter 22

13 Balaam arose in the morning, he said to Balak's nobles, "Return to your country, for the Lord has refused to let me go with you."14Moab's nobles arose and came to Balak and said, "Balaam refuses to come with us."15So Balak continued to send dignitaries, more and higher in rank than these.16They came to Balaam and said to him, "So said Balak the son of Zippor, 'Please do not hesitate to come to me.17For I will honor you greatly and do whatever you tell me to do. So please come and curse this people for me.'"18Balaam answered and said to Balak's servants, "Even if Balak gives me a house full of silver and gold, I cannot do anything small or great that would transgress the word of the Lord, my God.19Now, you too, please remain here overnight, and I will know what the Lord will continue to speak with me."20God came to Balaam at night and said to him, "If these men have come to call for you, arise and go with them, but the word I speak to you-that you shall do."

Monday

John 3:1–8 (NLT):

There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. 2 After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”

3 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God.”

4 “What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”

5 Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. 6 Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. 7 So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”

Third Portion

Numbers Chapter 22

21In the morning Balaam arose, saddled his she-donkey and went with the Moabite dignitaries.22God's wrath flared because he was going, and an angel of the Lord stationed himself on the road to thwart him, and he was riding on his she-donkey, and his two servants were with him.23The she-donkey saw the angel of the Lord stationed on the road with his sword drawn in his hand; so the she-donkey turned aside from the road and went into a field. Balaam beat the she-donkey to get it back onto the road.24The angel of the Lord stood in a path of the vineyards, with a fence on this side and a fence on that side.25The she-donkey saw the angel of the Lord, and she was pressed against the wall. She pressed Balaam's leg against the wall, and he beat her again.26The angel of the Lord continued going ahead, and he stood in a narrow place, where there was no room to turn right or left.27The she-donkey saw the angel of the Lord, and it crouched down under Balaam. Balaam's anger flared, and he beat the she-donkey with a stick.28The Lord opened the mouth of the she-donkey, and she said to Balaam, "What have I done to you that you have struck me these three times?"29Balaam said to the she-donkey, "For you have humiliated me; if I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now."30The she-donkey said to Balaam, "Am I not your she-donkey on which you have ridden since you first started until now? Have I been accustomed to do this to you?" He said, "No."31The Lord opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road, with a sword drawn in his hand. He bowed and prostrated himself on his face.32The angel of the Lord said to him, "Why have you beaten your she-donkey these three times? Behold, I have came out to thwart you, for the one embarking on the journey has hastened against me.33When the she-donkey saw me, it turned aside these three times. Had she not turned aside before me, now also I would also have killed you and spared her [the she-donkey]."34Balaam said to the angel of the Lord, "I have sinned, for I did not know that you were standing on the road before me. Now, if it displeases you, I will return."35The angel of the Lord said to Balaam, "Go with these men, but the word I will speak to you-that you shall speak." So Balaam went with Balak's dignitaries.36Balak heard that Balaam was coming; so he went out toward him to the city of Moab which is on the border of Arnon-at the extreme edge of the border.37Balak said to Balaam, "Did I not send to you to call for you? Why did you not come to me? Am I indeed incapable of honoring you?"38Balaam said to Balak, "Behold I have come to you, do I have any power to say anything? The word God puts into my mouth-that I will speak."

Tuesday

John 3:9–17 (NLT):

9 “How are these things possible?” Nicodemus asked.

10 Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things? 11 I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe our testimony. 12 But if you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven. 14 And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life.

16 “For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

Fourth Portion

Numbers Chapter 22

39Balaam went with Balak, and they arrived at Kiryath Huzoth [a city of streets].40Balak slaughtered cattle and sheep and sent [some] to Balaam and to the dignitaries with him.41And in the morning Balak took Balaam and led him up to Bamoth Baal, and from there he saw part of the people.

Numbers Chapter 23

1Balaam said to Balak, "Build me seven altars here, and prepare for me seven bulls and seven rams."2Balak did as Balaam had requested, and Balak and Balaam offered up a bull and a ram on [each] altar.3Balaam said to Balak, "Stand beside your burnt offering, and I will go. Perhaps the Lord will happen to appear to me, and He will show me something that I can tell you," and he went alone.4God chanced upon Balaam, and he said to Him, "I have set up the seven altars, and I have offered up a bull and a ram on [each] altar."5The Lord placed something into Balaam's mouth, and He said, "Return to Balak and say as follows."6When he returned, Balak was standing next to his burnt offering, he and all the Moabite dignitaries.7He took up his parable and said, "Balak the king of Moab has brought me from Aram, from the mountains of the east [saying], 'Come, curse Jacob for me and come invoke wrath against Israel.'8How can I curse whom God has not cursed, and how can I invoke wrath if the Lord has not been angered?9For from their beginning, I see them as mountain peaks, and I behold them as hills; it is a nation that will dwell alone, and will not be reckoned among the nations.10Who counted the dust of Jacob or the number of a fourth of [or, of the seed of] Israel? May my soul die the death of the upright and let my end be like his."11Balak said to Balaam, "What have you done to me? I took you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them!"12He answered, saying, "What the Lord puts into my mouth that I must take care to say."

Wednesday

2 Samuel 22:2–7 (NLT):

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior;

3 my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.

He is my shield, the power that saves me,

and my place of safety.

He is my refuge, my savior,

the one who saves me from violence.

4 I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise,

and he saved me from my enemies.

5 “The waves of death overwhelmed me;

floods of destruction swept over me.

6 The grave wrapped its ropes around me;

death laid a trap in my path.

7 But in my distress I cried out to the Lord;

yes, I cried to my God for help.

He heard me from his sanctuary;

my cry reached his ears.

Fifth Portion

Numbers Chapter 23

13Balak said to him, "Come with me to another place from where you will see them; however, you will see only a part of them, not all of them and curse them for me from there.14He took him to the field of the lookouts, to the peak of the mountain, and he built seven altars and offered up a bull and a ram on [each] altar.15He said to Balak, "Stand here next to your burnt offering and I will be chanced on here.16The Lord chanced upon Balaam and placed something into his mouth. He said, "Return to Balak and so you shall speak."17When he came to him, he was standing next to his burnt offering, and the Moabite dignitaries were with him, and Balak said to him, "What did the Lord speak?"18He took up his parable and said, "Arise, Balak, and hear; listen closely to me, son of Zippor.19God is not a man that He should lie, nor is He a mortal that He should relent. Would He say and not do, speak and not fulfill?20I have received [an instruction] to bless, and He has blessed, and I cannot retract it.21He does not look at evil in Jacob, and has seen no perversity in Israel; the Lord, his God, is with him, and he has the King's friendship.22God has brought them out of Egypt with the strength of His loftiness.23For there is no divination in Jacob and no soothsaying in Israel. In time it will be said to Jacob and Israel, 'What has God wrought?'24Behold, a people that rises like a lioness (See Malbim) and raises itself like a lion. It does not lie down until it eats its prey and drinks the blood of the slain."25Balak said to Balaam, "You shall neither curse them nor shall you bless them."26Balaam answered and said to Balak, "Have I not spoken to you, saying, 'Everything the Lord speaks that I shall do."

Thursday

Psalm 62:1–12 (NLT):

1 I wait quietly before God,

for my victory comes from him.

2 He alone is my rock and my salvation,

my fortress where I will never be shaken.

3 So many enemies against one man—

all of them trying to kill me.

To them I’m just a broken-down wall

or a tottering fence.

4 They plan to topple me from my high position.

They delight in telling lies about me.

They praise me to my face

but curse me in their hearts.

Interlude

5 Let all that I am wait quietly before God,

for my hope is in him.

6 He alone is my rock and my salvation,

my fortress where I will not be shaken.

7 My victory and honor come from God alone.

He is my refuge, a rock where no enemy can reach me.

8 O my people, trust in him at all times.

Pour out your heart to him,

for God is our refuge.

Interlude

9 Common people are as worthless as a puff of wind,

and the powerful are not what they appear to be.

If you weigh them on the scales,

together they are lighter than a breath of air.

10 Don’t make your living by extortion

or put your hope in stealing.

And if your wealth increases,

don’t make it the center of your life.

11 God has spoken plainly,

and I have heard it many times:

Power, O God, belongs to you;

12 unfailing love, O Lord, is yours.

Surely you repay all people

according to what they have done.

Sixth Portion

Numbers Chapter 23

27Balak said to Balaam, "Come now, I will take you to a different place. Perhaps it will please God, and you will curse them for me from there.28So Balak took Balaam to the peak of Peor, overlooking the wastelands.29Balaam said to Balak, "Build me seven altars here and prepare for me seven bulls and seven rams.30Balak did as Balaam told him, and offered up a bull and a ram on [each] altar.

Numbers Chapter 24

1Balaam saw that it pleased the Lord to bless Israel; so he did not go in search of omens as he had done time and time again, but turned his face toward the desert.2Balaam raised his eyes and saw Israel dwelling according to its tribes, and the spirit of God rested upon him.3He took up his parable and said, "The word of Balaam the son of Beor and the word of the man with an open eye.4The word of the one who hears God's sayings, who sees the vision of the Almighty, fallen yet with open eyes.5How goodly are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel!6They extend like streams, like gardens by the river, like aloes which the Lord planted, like cedars by the water.7Water will flow from his wells, and his seed shall have abundant water; his king shall be raised over Agag, and his kingship exalted.8God, Who has brought them out of Egypt with the strength of His loftiness He shall consume the nations which are his adversaries, bare their bones and dip His arrows [into their blood].9He crouches and lies like a lion and like a lioness; who will dare rouse him? Those who bless you shall be blessed, and those who curse you shall be cursed.10Balak's anger flared against Balaam, and he clapped his hands. Balak said to Balaam, "I called you to curse my enemies, but you have blessed them these three times.11Now, hurry back to your place. I said I would honor you greatly, but the Lord has deprived you of honor."12Balaam said to Balak, "But I even told the messengers you sent to me, saying,13'If Balak gives me his house full of silver and gold, I cannot transgress the word of the Lord to do either good or evil on my own; only what the Lord speaks can I speak.'

Friday

Hebrews 2:1–9 (NLT):

A Warning against Drifting Away

So we must listen very carefully to the truth we have heard, or we may drift away from it. 2 For the message God delivered through angels has always stood firm, and every violation of the law and every act of disobedience was punished. 3 So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak? 4 And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose.

Jesus, the Man

5 And furthermore, it is not angels who will control the future world we are talking about. 6 For in one place the Scriptures say,

“What are mere mortals that you should think about them,

or a son of man that you should care for him?

7 Yet for a little while you made them a little lower than the angels

and crowned them with glory and honor.

8 You gave them authority over all things.”

Now when it says “all things,” it means nothing is left out. But we have not yet seen all things put under their authority. 9 What we do see is Jesus, who for a little while was given a position “a little lower than the angels”; and because he suffered death for us, he is now “crowned with glory and honor.” Yes, by God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone.

Seventh Portion

Numbers Chapter 24

14And now, I am going to my people. Come, I will advise you...what this people will do to your people at the end of days."15He took up his parable and said, "The word of Balaam, son of Beor, the word of a man with an open eye.16The word of the one who hears God's sayings and perceives the thoughts of the Most High; who sees the vision of the Almighty, fallen yet with open eyes.17I see it, but not now; I behold it, but not soon. A star has gone forth from Jacob, and a staff will arise from Israel which will crush the princes of Moab and uproot all the sons of Seth.18Edom shall be possessed, and Seir shall become the possession of his enemies, and Israel shall triumph.19A ruler shall come out of Jacob, and destroy the remnant of the city."20When he saw Amalek, he took up his parable and said, "Amalek was the first of the nations, and his fate shall be everlasting destruction."21When he saw the Kenite, he took up his parable and said, "How firm is your dwelling place, and your nest is set in a cliff.22For if Kain is laid waste, how far will Assyria take you captive?"23He took up his parable and said, Alas! Who can survive these things from God?24Ships will come from the Kittites and afflict Assyria and afflict those on the other side, but he too will perish forever."25Balaam arose, went, and returned home, and Balak went on his way.

Numbers Chapter 25

1Israel settled in Shittim, and the people began to commit harlotry with the daughters of the Moabites.2They invited the people to the sacrifices of their gods, and the people ate and prostrated themselves to their gods.3Israel became attached to Baal Peor, and the anger of the Lord flared against Israel.4The Lord said to Moses, "Take all the leaders of the people and hang them before the Lord, facing the sun, and then the flaring anger of the Lord will be removed from Israel.5Moses said to the judges of Israel, "Each of you shall kill the men who became attached to Baal Peor.6Then an Israelite man came and brought the Midianite woman to his brethren, before the eyes of Moses and before the eyes of the entire congregation of the children of Israel, while they were weeping at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.7Phinehas the son of Eleazar the son of Aaron the kohen saw this, arose from the congregation, and took a spear in his hand.8He went after the Israelite man into the chamber and drove [it through] both of them; the Israelite man, and the woman through her stomach, and the plague ceased from the children of Israel.9Those that died in the plague numbered twenty four thousand.

Saturday

John 12:27–36 (NLT):

27 “Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! 28 Father, bring glory to your name.”

Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.” 29 When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him.

30 Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out. 32 And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” 33 He said this to indicate how he was going to die.

34 The crowd responded, “We understood from Scripture that the Messiah would live forever. How can you say the Son of Man will die? Just who is this Son of Man, anyway?”

35 Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. 36 Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.”

Maftir Portion

Numbers Chapter 25

7Phinehas the son of Eleazar the son of Aaron the kohen saw this, arose from the congregation, and took a spear in his hand.8He went after the Israelite man into the chamber and drove [it through] both of them; the Israelite man, and the woman through her stomach, and the plague ceased from the children of Israel.9Those that died in the plague numbered twenty four thousand.

Haftarah

Micah Chapter 5:6

And the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many peoples-like dew sent by the Lord, like torrents of rain upon vegatation that does not hope for any man and does not wait for the sons of men.7And the remnant of Jacob shall be among the nations, in the midst of many peoples-like a lion among the beasts of the forest, like a young lion among the flocks of sheep, which, if it passes through, treads down and tears in pieces, and no one [can] save anything.8Your hand shall be raised above your oppressors, and all your enemies shall be destroyed.9And it shall come to pass on that day, says the Lord, that I will cut your horses out of your midst, and I will destroy your chariots.10And I will destroy the cities of your land, and I will break down all your fortresses.11And I will destroy sorcery from your hand, and you will have no soothsayers.12And I will destroy your graven images and your monuments from your midst, and you shall no longer prostrate yourself to your handiwork.13And I will uproot your asherim from your midst, and I will destroy your enemies.14And in anger and fury I will execute vengeance upon the nations who have paid no heed.

Micah Chapter 6

1Hear now what the Lord says; Rise; contend with the mountains, and may the hills hear My voice.2Hear ye, O mountains, the controversy of the Lord; and you mighty ones, the foundations of the earth; for the Lord has a controversy with His people, and with Israel He shall contend.3O My people, what have I done, and how have I wearied you? Testify against Me.4For I brought you up out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of slavery, and I sent before you Moses, Aaron, and Miriam.5My people, remember now what Balak king of Moab planned, and what Balaam the son of Beor answered him. From Shittim to Gilgal, may you recognize the righteous deeds of the Lord.6With what shall I come before the Lord, bow before the Most High God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with yearling calves?7Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with myriad streams of oil? Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?8He has told you, O man, what is good, and what the Lord demands of you; but to do justice, to love loving-kindness, and to walk discreetly with your God.