Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

(For the music leader. Use with stringed instruments. A special psalm that David wrote when the people of Ziph went to Saul and said, “David is hiding here with us.”)

Trusting God in Times of Trouble

6 ¹ Then once again the Israelites started disobeying the Lord, so he let the nation of Midian control Israel for seven years. ² The Midianites were so cruel that many Israelites ran to the mountains and hid in caves.

³ Every time the Israelites planted crops, the Midianites invaded Israel together with the Amalekites and other eastern nations. ^4-5 They rode in on their camels, set up their tents, and then let their livestock eat the crops as far as the town of Gaza. The Midianites stole food, sheep, cattle, and donkeys. Like a swarm of locusts,^[a] they could not be counted, and they ruined the land wherever they went.

^6-7 The Midianites took almost everything that belonged to the Israelites, and the Israelites begged the Lord for help. ^8-9 Then the Lord sent a prophet to them with this message:

I am the Lord God of Israel, so listen to what I say. You were slaves in Egypt, but I set you free and led you out of Egypt into this land. And when nations here made life miserable for you, I rescued you and helped you get rid of them and take their land. ¹⁰ I am your God, and I told you not to worship Amorite gods, even though you are living in the land of the Amorites. But you refused to listen.

Telling about Christ and the Cross

2 Friends, when I came and told you the mystery^[a] that God had shared with us, I didn't use big words or try to sound wise. ² In fact, while I was with you, I made up my mind to speak only about Jesus Christ, who had been nailed to a cross.

^3 (A) At first, I was weak and trembling with fear. ⁴ When I talked with you or preached, I didn't try to prove anything by sounding wise. I simply let God's Spirit show his power. ⁵ That way you would have faith because of God's power and not because of human wisdom.