Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Praise God Who Judges and Saves

David’s song from the time he acted crazy so Abimelech would send him away. And David did leave.

¹⁵ Hushai told these things to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests. He told them what Ahithophel had suggested to Absalom and the elders of Israel. He also reported to them what he himself had suggested. Hushai said, ¹⁶ “Quickly! Send a message to David. Tell him not to stay tonight at the crossings into the desert. Tell him to cross over the Jordan River at once. If he crosses the river, he and all his people won’t be caught.”

¹⁷ Jonathan and Ahimaaz were waiting at En Rogel. They did not want to be seen going into the town. So a servant girl would go out to them and give them messages. Then Jonathan and Ahimaaz would go and tell King David.

¹⁸ But a boy saw Jonathan and Ahimaaz and told Absalom. So Jonathan and Ahimaaz ran away quickly. They went to a man’s house in Bahurim. He had a well in his courtyard, and they climbed down into it. ¹⁹ The man’s wife spread a sheet over the opening of the well. Then she covered it with grain. No one could tell that Jonathan and Ahimaaz were hiding there.

²⁰ Absalom’s servants came to the woman at the house. They asked, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?”

She said to them, “They have already crossed the brook.”

Absalom’s servants then went to look for Jonathan and Ahimaaz. But they could not find them. So they went back to Jerusalem.

²¹ After Absalom’s servants had left, Jonathan and Ahimaaz climbed out of the well. Then they went to tell King David. They said, “Hurry, cross over the river! Ahithophel has said these things against you!” ²² So David and all his people crossed the Jordan River. By dawn, everyone had crossed the Jordan.

²³ Now Ahithophel saw that the Israelites did not accept his advice. So he saddled his donkey and went to his hometown. He gave orders for his family and property. Then he hung himself. After Ahithophel died, he was buried in his father’s tomb.

War Between David and Absalom

²⁴ David arrived at Mahanaim. And Absalom and all his Israelites crossed over the Jordan River. ²⁵ Now Absalom had made Amasa captain of the army instead of Joab. Amasa was the son of a man named Jether the Ishmaelite. Amasa’s mother was Abigail daughter of Nahash and sister of Zeruiah. Zeruiah was Joab’s mother. ²⁶ Absalom and the Israelites camped in the land of Gilead.

²⁷ Shobi, Makir and Barzillai were at Mahanaim when David arrived. Shobi son of Nahash was from the Ammonite town of Rabbah. Makir son of Ammiel was from Lo Debar. And Barzillai was from Rogelim in Gilead. ²⁸ They brought beds, bowls and clay pots. They brought wheat, barley, flour, roasted grain, beans and small peas. ²⁹ They also brought honey and milk curds, sheep, and cheese made from cows’ milk. They brought these things for David and his people. They had said, “The people have become hungry and tired and thirsty in the desert.”

Help Each Other

6 Brothers, someone in your group might do something wrong. You who are spiritual should go to him and help make him right again. You should do this in a gentle way. But be careful! You might be tempted to sin, too. ² Help each other with your troubles. When you do this, you truly obey the law of Christ. ³ If anyone thinks that he is important when he is really not important, he is only fooling himself. ⁴ He should not compare himself with others. Each person should judge his own actions. Then he can be proud for what he himself has done. ⁵ Each person must be responsible for himself.

⁶ Anyone who is learning the teaching of God should share all the good things he has with his teacher.

Life Is Like Planting a Field

⁷ Do not be fooled: You cannot cheat God. A person harvests only what he plants. ⁸ If he plants to satisfy his sinful self, his sinful self will bring him eternal death. But if he plants to please the Spirit, he will receive eternal life from the Spirit. ⁹ We must not become tired of doing good. We will receive our harvest of eternal life at the right time. We must not give up! ¹⁰ When we have the opportunity to help anyone, we should do it. But we should give special attention to those who are in the family of believers.