Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Surely God is My Helper

Psalm 54

²⁴ Then Zedekiah son of Chenaanah approached Micaiah, struck him on the cheek and said, “Which way did the Ruach Adonai pass from me to speak to you?”

²⁵ Micaiah replied, “Behold, you will see on that day when you go into an inner chamber to hide.”

²⁶ Then the king of Israel said, “Take Micaiah and take him back to Amon the city governor and to Joash the king’s son, ²⁷ and say, “Thus says the king: ‘Put this fellow in the prison, and feed him only bread and water until I return safely.’”

²⁸ Micaiah then said, “If you ever return safely, then Adonai has not spoken through me.” And he added, “Did you hear, all you people?”

²⁹ So the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah marched to Ramot-gilead. ³⁰ Then the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into the battle, but you, put on your robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into the battle.

³¹ Now the king of Aram had commanded his 32 chariot commanders saying, “Do no single combat with anyone, small or great—except the king of Israel.” ³² So when the chariot commanders saw Jehoshaphat, they said, “He must be the king of Israel!” and they turned aside to do combat with him, but Jehoshaphat cried out. ³³ When the captains of the chariots realized that he was not the king of Israel, they turned back from pursuing him.

³⁴ But a man drew his bow aimlessly and struck the king of Israel between the lower armor and the breastplate. Then he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I’m wounded.” ³⁵ The battle raged that day, and the king remained propped up in his chariot facing the Arameans. But he died at evening—and the blood ran out of the wound into the bottom of the chariot. ³⁶ As the sun was setting, a shout went throughout the army, saying, “Each man to his town, and each man to his land!”

³⁷ So the king died, and was brought to Samaria; and they buried the king in Samaria. ³⁸ Then they washed the chariot at the pool of Samaria where the harlots washed and the dogs licked up his blood—just as was the word of Adonai that He had spoken.

³⁹ Now the rest of Ahab’s deeds and all he did, including the ivory palace he built and all the cities he fortified, are they not written in Book of the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel? ⁴⁰ So Ahab slept with his fathers, and his son Ahaziah became king in his place.

The Mystery Revealed!

²⁵ For I do not want you, brothers and sisters, to be ignorant of this mystery—lest you be wise in your own eyes^[a]—that a partial hardening has come upon Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in; ^{[b] 26} and in this way^[c] all Israel will be saved, as it is written,

²⁸ Concerning the Good News, they are hostile for your sake; but concerning chosenness, they are loved on account of the fathers^[f]— ²⁹ for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. ^{[g] 30} For just as you once were disobedient to God but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience, ³¹ in like manner these also have now been disobedient with the result that, because of the mercy shown to you, they also may receive mercy. ³² For God has shut up all in disobedience, so that He might show mercy to all.