David learns of Saul’s death

1 After Saul’s death, when David had returned from defeating the Amalekites, he stayed in Ziklag two days. ² On the third day, a man showed up from Saul’s camp with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. When he reached David, he fell to the ground, bowing low out of respect.

³ “Where have you come from?” David asked him.

“I’ve escaped from the Israelite army!” he answered.

⁴ “What’s the report?” David asked him. “Tell me!”

The man answered, “The troops fled from the battle! Many of the soldiers have fallen and died. What’s more, Saul and his son Jonathan have also died!”

¹¹ Then David grabbed his clothes and ripped them—and all his soldiers did the same. ¹² They mourned and cried and fasted until evening for Saul, his son Jonathan, the Lord’s army, and the whole house of Israel, because they had died by the sword.

Psalm 80

For the music leader. According to “Lotus Blossoms.” A testimony of Asaph. A psalm.

⁵¹ I assure you that whoever keeps my word will never die.”

Abraham and Jesus

⁵² The Jewish opposition said to Jesus, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham and the prophets died, yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never die.’ ⁵³ Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died and the prophets died, so who do you make yourself out to be?”

⁵⁴ Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is meaningless. My Father, who you say is your God, is the one who glorifies me. ⁵⁵ You don’t know him, but I do. If I said I didn’t know him, I would be like you, a liar. But I do know him, and I keep his word. ⁵⁶ Your father Abraham was overjoyed that he would see my day. He saw it and was happy.”

⁵⁷ “You aren’t even 50 years old!” the Jewish opposition replied. “How can you say that you have seen Abraham?”

⁵⁸ “I assure you,” Jesus replied, “before Abraham was, I Am.” ⁵⁹ So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and left the temple.