Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

ט TETH

Egypt Attacks Judah^(A)

12 Now ^(B)it came to pass, when Rehoboam had established the kingdom and had strengthened himself, that ^(C)he forsook the law of the Lord, and all Israel along with him. ^2 (D)And it happened in the fifth year of King Rehoboam that Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, because they had transgressed against the Lord, ³ with twelve hundred chariots, sixty thousand horsemen, and people without number who came with him out of Egypt—^(E)the Lubim and the Sukkiim and the Ethiopians. ⁴ And he took the fortified cities of Judah and came to Jerusalem.

⁵ Then ^(F)Shemaiah the prophet came to Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah, who were gathered together in Jerusalem because of Shishak, and said to them, “Thus says the Lord: ‘You have forsaken Me, and therefore I also have left you in the hand of Shishak.’ ”

⁶ So the leaders of Israel and the king ^(G)humbled themselves; and they said, ^(H)“The Lord is righteous.”

⁷ Now when the Lord saw that they humbled themselves, ^(I)the word of the Lord came to Shemaiah, saying, “They have humbled themselves; therefore I will not destroy them, but I will grant them some deliverance. My wrath shall not be poured out on Jerusalem by the hand of Shishak. ⁸ Nevertheless ^(J)they will be his servants, that they may distinguish ^(K)My service from the service of the kingdoms of the nations.”

^9 (L)So Shishak king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem, and took away the treasures of the house of the Lord and the treasures of the king’s house; he took everything. He also carried away the gold shields which Solomon had ^(M)made. ¹⁰ Then King Rehoboam made bronze shields in their place, and committed them ^(N)to the hands of the captains of the guard, who guarded the doorway of the king’s house. ¹¹ And whenever the king entered the house of the Lord, the guard would go and bring them out; then they would take them back into the guardroom. ¹² When he humbled himself, the wrath of the Lord turned from him, so as not to destroy him completely; and things also went well in Judah.

Concluding Religious Directions

⁷ Remember those who ^[a]rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct. ⁸ Jesus Christ is ^(A)the same yesterday, today, and forever. ⁹ Do not be carried ^[b]about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.

¹⁰ We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. ¹¹ For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. ¹² Therefore Jesus also, that He might ^[c]sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. ¹³ Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing ^(B)His reproach. ¹⁴ For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. ^15 (C)Therefore by Him let us continually offer ^(D)the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, ^(E)the fruit of our lips, ^[d]giving thanks to His name. ^16 (F)But do not forget to do good and to share, for ^(G)with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

^17 (H)Obey those who ^[e]rule over you, and be submissive, for ^(I)they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

Prayer Requested

^18 (J)Pray for us; for we are confident that we have ^(K)a good conscience, in all things desiring to live honorably. ¹⁹ But I especially urge you to do this, that I may be restored to you the sooner.

Benediction, Final Exhortation, Farewell

²⁰ Now may ^(L)the God of peace ^(M)who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, ^(N)that great Shepherd of the sheep, ^(O)through the blood of the everlasting covenant, ²¹ make you ^[f]complete in every good work to do His will, ^(P)working in ^[g]you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.