Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Psalm 54

Prayer for Deliverance

For the choir director: with stringed instruments. A Davidic Maskil. 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. So the Lord handed^(A) them over to Midian seven years, ² and they oppressed Israel.^(B) Because of Midian, the Israelites made hiding places^(C) for themselves in the mountains, caves, and strongholds. ³ Whenever the Israelites planted crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and the Qedemites^(D) 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. They and their camels were without number, and they entered the land to waste it. ⁶ So Israel became poverty-stricken because of Midian, and the Israelites cried out to the Lord.

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

Paul’s Proclamation

2 When I came to you, brothers, announcing the testimony^[a] of God to you, I did not come with brilliance^(A) of speech^(B) or wisdom. ² For I didn’t think it was a good idea to know anything 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 proclamation were not with persuasive^(H) words of wisdom^[b] but with a powerful demonstration by the Spirit, ⁵ so that your faith might not be based on men’s wisdom but on God’s power.^(I)