Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Psalm 78
Lessons from Israel’s Past
A Maskil of Asaph.(A)
1 My people, hear my instruction;
listen to what I say.(B)
2 I will declare wise sayings;
I will speak mysteries from the past(C)—
3 things we have heard and known
and that our fathers have passed down to us.(D)
4 We must not hide them from their children,
but must tell a future generation
the praises of the Lord,
His might, and the wonderful works
He has performed.(E)
5 He established a testimony in Jacob
and set up a law in Israel,
which He commanded our fathers
to teach to their children(F)
6 so that a future generation—
children yet to be born—might know.
They were to rise and tell their children(G)
7 so that they might put their confidence in God
and not forget God’s works,
but keep His commands.(H)
8 Then they would not be like their fathers,
a stubborn and rebellious generation,
a generation whose heart was not loyal
and whose spirit was not faithful to God.(I)
17 But they continued to sin against Him,
rebelling in the desert against the Most High.(A)
18 They deliberately[a] tested God,
demanding the food they craved.(B)
19 They spoke against God, saying,
“Is God able to provide food in the wilderness?
20 Look! He struck the rock and water gushed out;
torrents overflowed.(C)
But can He also provide bread
or furnish meat for His people?”(D)
21 Therefore, the Lord heard and became furious;
then fire broke out against Jacob,
and anger flared up against Israel(E)
22 because they did not believe God
or rely on His salvation.(F)
23 He gave a command to the clouds above
and opened the doors of heaven.(G)
24 He rained manna for them to eat;
He gave them grain from heaven.(H)
25 People[b] ate the bread of angels.[c]
He sent them an abundant supply of food.(I)
26 He made the east wind blow in the skies
and drove the south wind by His might.(J)
27 He rained meat on them like dust,
and winged birds like the sand of the seas.
28 He made them fall in His camp,
all around His tent.[d][e](K)
29 They ate and were completely satisfied,
for He gave them what they craved.(L)
Remember the Lord
8 “You must carefully follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase, and may enter and take possession of the land(A) the Lord swore to your fathers. 2 Remember that the Lord your God led you on the entire journey these 40 years in the wilderness, so that He might humble you and test you to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep His commands. 3 He humbled you by letting you go hungry; then He gave you manna to eat, which you and your fathers had not known, so that you might learn that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.(B) 4 Your clothing did not wear out, and your feet did not swell these 40 years.(C) 5 Keep in mind that the Lord your God has been disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son. 6 So keep the commands of the Lord your God by walking in His ways and fearing Him. 7 For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land,(D) a land with streams of water, springs, and deep water sources, flowing in both valleys and hills; 8 a land of wheat, barley, vines, figs, and pomegranates; a land of olive oil and honey; 9 a land where you will eat food without shortage, where you will lack nothing; a land whose rocks are iron and from whose hills you will mine copper. 10 When you eat and are full,(E) you will praise the Lord your God for the good land(F) He has given you.
Paul’s Desire to Visit Rome
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you because the news of your faith[a] is being reported in all the world.(A) 9 For God, whom I serve with my spirit(B) in telling the good news about His Son, is my witness(C) that I constantly mention you,(D) 10 always asking in my prayers that if it is somehow in God’s will, I may now at last succeed in coming to you.(E) 11 For I want very much to see you,(F) so I may impart to you some spiritual gift to strengthen you, 12 that is, to be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.
13 Now I want you to know,[b](G) brothers, that I often planned to come to you (but was prevented until now(H)) in order that I might have a fruitful ministry[c] among you,(I) just as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am obligated both to Greeks and barbarians,[d](J) both to the wise and the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the good news(K) to you also who are in Rome.
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