Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Make a Joyful Noise to the Lord

A Psalm.

³ Now ^(A)Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him ^(B)in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put ^(C)the mediums and the necromancers out of the land. ⁴ The Philistines assembled and came and encamped ^(D)at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped ^(E)at Gilboa. ⁵ When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. ⁶ And when Saul enquired of the Lord, ^(F)the Lord did not answer him, either ^(G)by dreams, or ^(H)by Urim, or by prophets. ⁷ Then Saul said to his servants, ^(I)“Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and enquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a medium at ^(J)En-dor.”

⁸ So Saul ^(K)disguised himself and put on other garments and went, he and two men with him. And they came to the woman by night. And he said, ^(L)“Divine for me by a spirit and bring up for me whomever I shall name to you.” ⁹ The woman said to him, “Surely you know what Saul has done, ^(M)how he has cut off the mediums and the necromancers from the land. Why then are you laying a trap for my life to bring about my death?” ¹⁰ But Saul swore to her by the Lord, ^(N)“As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this thing.” ¹¹ Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” ¹² When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.” ¹³ The king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.” ¹⁴ He said to her, “What is his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped ^(O)in a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage.

¹⁵ Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and ^(P)God has turned away from me and ^(Q)answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.” ¹⁶ And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy? ¹⁷ The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me, for ^(R)the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbour, David. ^18 (S)Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. ¹⁹ Moreover, the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you ^(T)and your sons shall be with me. The Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.”

God's Wrath on Unrighteousness

¹⁸ For ^(A)the wrath of God ^(B)is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. ¹⁹ For what can be ^(C)known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. ²⁰ For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, ^(D)have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. ²¹ For although they knew God, they did not honour him as God or give thanks to him, but they ^(E)became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. ^22 (F)Claiming to be wise, they became fools, ²³ and ^(G)exchanged the glory of ^(H)the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.

²⁴ Therefore ^(I)God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to ^(J)the dishonouring of their bodies among themselves, ²⁵ because they exchanged the truth about God for ^(K)a lie and worshipped and served the creature rather than the Creator, ^(L)who is blessed for ever! Amen.