Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

A Davidic Psalm

Remembering God’s Love

Shalmaneser Attacks Samaria

⁹ In the fourth year of King Hezekiah’s reign (that is, during the seventh year of Elah’s son Hoshea’s reign as king of Israel), King Shalmaneser from Assyria invaded Samaria and besieged it. ¹⁰ Three years later, they captured Samaria during the sixth year of Hezekiah’s reign,^[a] which was the ninth year of Hoshea’s reign as king of Israel. ¹¹ After this, the king of Assyria carried Israel off into exile in Assyria, settling them in Halah, on the Habor River in Gozan, and in cities controlled by the Medes, ¹² because they would not obey the voice of the Lord their God. Instead, they transgressed his covenant, including everything that Moses, the servant of the Lord, had commanded, by neither listening nor putting what he had commanded^[b] into practice.

¹³ During the fourteenth year of the reign of^[c] King Hezekiah, King Sennacherib of Assyria approached all of the walled cities of Judah and seized them. ¹⁴ So Hezekiah sent this message to the king of Assyria at Lachish: “I have offended you. Withdraw from me, and I’ll accept whatever tribute you impose.” So the king of Assyria required Hezekiah to pay him 300 talents^[d] of silver and 30 talents^[e] of gold. ¹⁵ Hezekiah gave him all the silver that could be removed from the Lord’s Temple and from the treasuries in the king’s palace. ¹⁶ At that time, Hezekiah removed the doors to the Lord’s Temple and the doorposts that he had overlaid with gold,^[f] and gave the gold^[g] to the king of Assyria.

Assyria’s King Taunts Hezekiah^(A)

¹⁷ Sometime later, the king of Assyria sent Tartan, Rab-saris, and Rab-shakeh from Lachish to King Hezekiah in Jerusalem, accompanied with a large army. ¹⁸ When they called for the king, Hilkiah’s son Eliakim, who managed the household, Shebnah the scribe, and Asaph’s son Joah the recorder went out to them.

How to be a Good Servant of the Messiah Jesus

⁶ If you continue to point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good servant of the Messiah^[a] Jesus, nourished by the words of the faith and the healthy teaching that you have followed closely. ⁷ Do not have anything to do with godless myths and fables of old women. Instead, train yourself to be godly. ⁸ Physical exercise is of limited value, but

⁹ This is a trustworthy saying that deserves complete acceptance.^{[b] 10} To this end we work hard and struggle,^[c] because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, that is, of those who believe.

¹¹ These are the things you must insist on and teach. ¹² Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but be an example for other believers in your speech, behavior, love, faithfulness,^[d] and purity. ¹³ Until I arrive, give your full concentration to the public reading of Scripture,^[e] to exhorting, and to teaching. ¹⁴ Do not neglect^[f] the gift that is in you, which was given to you through prophecy when the elders laid their hands on you. ¹⁵ Think on these things. Devote your life to them so that everyone can see your progress. ¹⁶ Pay close attention to your life and your teaching. Persevere in these things, because if you do so, you will save both yourself and those who listen to you.