Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Psalm 34^[a]

Presence of God, Protector of the Righteous

¹ Of David. When he pretended to be mad before Abimelech, who forced him to depart.^[b]

²⁰ The Medium Feeds Saul. Saul fell full length upon the ground for he was terrified because of what Samuel had said. His strength was gone, for he had not eaten anything all day and night. ²¹ When the woman came up to Saul and saw that he was greatly troubled, she said to him, “Look, your handmaid has obeyed your command. I have taken my life in my hands when I did what you had ordered me to do. ²² Therefore, please heed the voice of your handmaid. Let me give you something to eat, and then you will have the strength to go on your way.” ^23 [a]He refused and said, “I will not eat!”

But both his servants and the woman kept urging him, and he finally listened to them. He got up off the ground and sat on the couch. ²⁴ The woman had a fatted calf in the house, and she quickly killed it. She took some flour, kneaded it, and baked it into loaves of unleavened bread. ²⁵ She set it before Saul and his servants. They ate, and then they got up and went on their way that night.

Chapter 15

Patience and Self-Denial. ¹ Those of us who are strong must resolve to put up with the failings of the weak and not please ourselves. ² Each of us must consider his neighbor’s good for the purpose of building him up. ³ Even Christ never sought to please himself, but, as it is written, “The insults of those who insult you have fallen upon me.” ⁴ For everything that was written in the past was written for our instruction, so that by perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures, we may continue to have hope.

⁵ May the God of perseverance and encouragement grant that you may live in harmony with one another, following in the example of Jesus Christ, ⁶ so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.