Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

ט Teth

Shishak Attacks Jerusalem^(A)

12 After Rehoboam’s position as king was established^(B) and he had become strong,^(C) he and all Israel^[a](D) with him abandoned^(E) the law of the Lord. ² Because they had been unfaithful^(F) to the Lord, Shishak^(G) king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem in the fifth year of King Rehoboam. ³ With twelve hundred chariots and sixty thousand horsemen and the innumerable troops of Libyans,^(H) Sukkites and Cushites^[b](I) that came with him from Egypt, ⁴ he captured the fortified cities^(J) of Judah and came as far as Jerusalem.

⁵ Then the prophet Shemaiah^(K) came to Rehoboam and to the leaders of Judah who had assembled in Jerusalem for fear of Shishak, and he said to them, “This is what the Lord says, ‘You have abandoned me; therefore, I now abandon^(L) you to Shishak.’”

⁶ The leaders of Israel and the king humbled^(M) themselves and said, “The Lord is just.”^(N)

⁷ When the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, this word of the Lord came to Shemaiah: “Since they have humbled themselves, I will not destroy them but will soon give them deliverance.^(O) My wrath^(P) will not be poured out on Jerusalem through Shishak. ⁸ They will, however, become subject^(Q) to him, so that they may learn the difference between serving me and serving the kings of other lands.”

⁹ When Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem, he carried off the treasures of the temple of the Lord and the treasures of the royal palace. He took everything, including the gold shields^(R) Solomon had made. ¹⁰ So King Rehoboam made bronze shields to replace them and assigned these to the commanders of the guard on duty at the entrance to the royal palace. ¹¹ Whenever the king went to the Lord’s temple, the guards went with him, bearing the shields, and afterward they returned them to the guardroom.

¹² Because Rehoboam humbled^(S) himself, the Lord’s anger turned from him, and he was not totally destroyed. Indeed, there was some good^(T) in Judah.

⁷ Remember your leaders,^(A) who spoke the word of God^(B) to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate^(C) their faith. ⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.^(D)

⁹ Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.^(E) It is good for our hearts to be strengthened^(F) by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods,^(G) which is of no benefit to those who do so.^{(H) 10} We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle^(I) have no right to eat.^(J)

¹¹ The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering,^(K) but the bodies are burned outside the camp.^{(L) 12} And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate^(M) to make the people holy^(N) through his own blood.^{(O) 13} Let us, then, go to him^(P) outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore.^{(Q) 14} For here we do not have an enduring city,^(R) but we are looking for the city that is to come.^(S)

¹⁵ Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice^(T) of praise—the fruit of lips^(U) that openly profess his name. ¹⁶ And do not forget to do good and to share with others,^(V) for with such sacrifices^(W) God is pleased.

¹⁷ Have confidence in your leaders^(X) and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you^(Y) as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

¹⁸ Pray for us.^(Z) We are sure that we have a clear conscience^(AA) and desire to live honorably in every way. ¹⁹ I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.^(AB)

Benediction and Final Greetings

²⁰ Now may the God of peace,^(AC) who through the blood of the eternal covenant^(AD) brought back from the dead^(AE) our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,^{(AF) 21} equip you with everything good for doing his will,^(AG) and may he work in us^(AH) what is pleasing to him,^(AI) through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.^(AJ)