Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

A Song of Ascents

God is Secure

Elijah Rebukes Ahab

18 Quite some time later—three years later!—this message from the Lord came to Elijah: “Go visit Ahab, and I’ll send some rain to the surface of the ground.” ² So Elijah went to show himself to Ahab, right when the famine in Samaria was most severe.

³ Ahab called for Obadiah, his household supervisor. This man, who feared the Lord very much, ⁴ had taken 100 prophets and had hidden them by fifties in a cave, providing them with food and water when Jezebel was trying to destroy the Lord’s prophets.

⁵ Ahab had instructed Obadiah, “Go throughout the land to all of the water springs and to all of the valleys. Maybe we’ll find some grass to keep the horses and mules alive. Also, maybe we won’t have to kill some of our cattle.” ⁶ So they divided the land between them so they could conduct their survey. Ahab went off by himself in one direction and Obadiah went off by himself in the other.

⁷ While Obadiah was on the road, Elijah met him. Obadiah recognized him and bowed down with his face to the ground. “It’s you, isn’t it, my master Elijah?”

⁸ “I am,” he replied. “Go tell your master, ‘Look! Elijah!’”

⁹ But Obadiah replied, “What did I do wrong, that you would put me in a position where Ahab would execute me? ¹⁰ As surely as the Lord your God lives, there isn’t a nation or kingdom where my master hasn’t tried to find you. Whenever they would say ‘He isn’t here,’ he forced that kingdom or nation to swear that they hadn’t seen you. ¹¹ But now you’re saying ‘Go tell your master, “Elijah is here!”’ ¹² As soon as I’ve left you, the Spirit of the Lord will carry you off to I don’t know where! Then when I go tell Ahab and he can’t find you, he’ll kill me, even though I have been your servant and have feared the Lord since I was young! ¹³ Hasn’t anyone told you, my master, what I did when Jezebel was killing the Lord’s prophets? I hid 100 of the Lord’s prophets by fifties in a cave and provided food and water for them. ¹⁴ Now you’re saying, ‘Go tell your master, “Elijah’s here!”’ He’s sure to kill me!”

¹⁵ But Elijah promised him, “As the Lord of the Heavenly Armies lives, in whose presence I stand, I will appear to Ahab today.”

¹⁶ So Obadiah went out to meet Ahab and reported to him. Then Ahab went to meet Elijah. ¹⁷ When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab asked him, “Is it really you, you destroyer of Israel?”

¹⁸ But Elijah^[a] replied, “I’m no destroyer of Israel. But you and your ancestor’s household have been doing that, because you have abandoned the Lord’s commandments and have followed the Baals.

Putting on the Whole Armor of God

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord, relying on his mighty strength. ¹¹ Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the Devil’s strategies.^{[a] 12} For our^[b] struggle is not against human opponents,^[c] but against rulers, authorities, cosmic powers in the darkness around us,^[d] and evil spiritual forces in the heavenly realm. ¹³ For this reason, take up the whole armor of God so that you may be able to take a stand whenever evil comes. And when you have done everything you could, you will be able to stand firm.

¹⁴ Stand firm, therefore, having fastened the belt of truth around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, ¹⁵ and being firm-footed in the gospel of peace.^{[e] 16} In addition to having clothed yourselves with these things, having taken up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to put out all the flaming arrows of the evil one, ¹⁷ also take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.