Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Psalm 54

Prayer for Deliverance

For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A Maskil of David. When the Ziphites went and said to Saul, “Is David not hiding among us?” ^(A)

Midian Oppresses Israel

6 The Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.^(A) So the Lord handed^(B) them over to Midian seven years, ² and they oppressed Israel.^(C) Because of Midian, the Israelites made hiding places^(D) for themselves in the mountains, caves, and strongholds. ³ Whenever the Israelites planted crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and the people of the east^(E) came and attacked them. ⁴ They encamped against them and destroyed the produce of the land, even as far as Gaza. They left nothing for Israel to eat, as well as no sheep, ox, or donkey. ⁵ For the Midianites came with their cattle and their tents like a great swarm of locusts.^(F) They and their camels were without number, and they entered the land to lay waste to it. ⁶ So Israel became poverty-stricken because of Midian, and the Israelites cried out to the Lord.^(G)

⁷ When the Israelites cried out to him because of Midian, ⁸ the Lord sent a prophet^(H) to them. He said to them, “This is what the Lord^(I) God of Israel says: ‘I brought you out of Egypt and out of the place of slavery.^{(J) 9} I rescued you from the power of Egypt and the power of all who oppressed^(K) you. I drove them out before you and gave you their land. ¹⁰ I said to you: I am the Lord your God. Do not fear the gods of the Amorites whose land you live in.^(L) But you did not obey me.’”

Paul’s Proclamation

2 When I came to you, brothers and sisters, announcing the mystery^[a] of God to you, I did not come with brilliance^(A) of speech^(B) or wisdom. ² I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.^{(C) 3} I came to you in weakness,^(D) in fear,^(E) and in much trembling.^{(F) 4} My speech^(G) and my preaching were not with persuasive^(H) words of wisdom^[b] but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, ⁵ so that your faith might not be based on human wisdom but on God’s power.^(I)