Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Heathen Idols Contrasted with the Lord.
115 (A)Not to us, O Lord, not to us,
But (B)to Your name give glory
Because of Your lovingkindness, because of Your [a]truth.
2 (C)Why should the nations say,
“(D)Where, now, is their God?”
3 But our (E)God is in the heavens;
He (F)does whatever He pleases.
4 Their (G)idols are silver and gold,
The (H)work of man’s hands.
5 They have mouths, but they (I)cannot speak;
They have eyes, but they cannot see;
6 They have ears, but they cannot hear;
They have noses, but they cannot smell;
7 [b]They have hands, but they cannot feel;
[c]They have feet, but they cannot walk;
They cannot make a sound with their throat.
8 (J)Those who make them [d]will become like them,
Everyone who trusts in them.
9 O (K)Israel, (L)trust in the Lord;
He is their (M)help and their shield.
10 O house of (N)Aaron, trust in the Lord;
He is their help and their shield.
11 You who [e](O)fear the Lord, trust in the Lord;
He is their help and their shield.
12 The Lord (P)has been mindful of us; He will bless us;
He will bless the house of Israel;
He will bless the house of Aaron.
13 He will (Q)bless those who [f]fear the Lord,
(R)The small together with the great.
14 May the Lord (S)give you increase,
You and your children.
15 May you be blessed of the Lord,
(T)Maker of heaven and earth.
God’s Choice for King
15 Now a day before Saul’s coming, (A)the Lord had [a]revealed this to Samuel saying, 16 “About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and (B)you shall anoint him to be prince over My people Israel; and he will deliver My people from the hand of the Philistines. For (C)I have regarded My people, because their cry has come to Me.” 17 When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord [b]said to him, “(D)Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you! This one shall rule over My people.” 18 Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate and said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.” 19 Samuel answered Saul and said, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today; and in the morning I will let you go, and will tell you all that is on your mind. 20 (E)As for your donkeys which were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they have been found. And (F)for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father’s household?” 21 Saul replied, “(G)Am I not a Benjamite, of (H)the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the [c]tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me in this way?”
22 Then Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the hall and gave them a place at the head of those who were invited, who were about thirty men. 23 Samuel said to the cook, “[d]Bring the portion that I gave you, concerning which I said to you, ‘Set it [e]aside.’” 24 Then the cook (I)took up the leg with what was on it and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, “Here is what has been reserved! Set it before you and eat, because it has been kept for you until the appointed time, [f]since I said I have invited the people.” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
25 When they came down from the high place into the city, Samuel spoke with Saul (J)on the [g]roof. 26 And they arose early; and at daybreak Samuel called to Saul on the roof, saying, “Get up, that I may send you away.” So Saul arose, and both he and Samuel went out into the street. 27 As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Say to the servant that he might go ahead of us and pass on, but you remain standing now, that I may proclaim the word of God to you.”
Saul among Prophets
10 Then (K)Samuel took the flask of oil, poured it on his head, (L)kissed him and said, “Has not (M)the Lord anointed you a ruler over (N)His inheritance?
Overseers and Deacons
3 (A)It is a trustworthy statement: if any man aspires to the (B)office of [a]overseer, it is a fine work he desires to do. 2 [b](C)An overseer, then, must be above reproach, (D)the husband of one wife, (E)temperate, prudent, respectable, (F)hospitable, (G)able to teach, 3 (H)not addicted to wine [c]or pugnacious, but gentle, peaceable, (I)free from the love of money. 4 He must be one who (J)manages his own household well, keeping his children under control with all dignity 5 (but if a man does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of (K)the church of God?), 6 and not a new convert, so that he will not become (L)conceited and fall into the (M)condemnation [d]incurred by the devil. 7 And he must (N)have a good reputation with (O)those outside the church, so that he will not fall into reproach and (P)the snare of the devil.
8 (Q)Deacons likewise must be men of dignity, not [e]double-tongued, [f](R)or addicted to much wine [g](S)or fond of sordid gain, 9 (T)but holding to the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience.
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