Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

(A special psalm by David.)

The Best Choice

The Lord Condemns Ahaziah

1 ^1-2 Soon after King Ahab of Israel died, the country of Moab rebelled against his son King Ahaziah.^[a]

One day, Ahaziah fell through the wooden slats around the porch on the flat roof of his palace in Samaria, and he was badly injured. So he sent some messengers to the town of Ekron^[b] with orders to ask the god Baalzebub if he would get well.

³ About the same time, an angel from the Lord sent Elijah the prophet from Tishbe to say to the king's messengers, “Ahaziah has rejected Israel's own God by sending you to ask Baalzebub about his injury. ⁴ Tell him that because he has done this, he's on his deathbed!” And Elijah did what he was told.

⁵ When the messengers returned to Ahaziah, he asked, “Why are you back so soon?”

⁶ “A man met us along the road with a message for you from the Lord,” they answered. “The Lord wants to know why you sent us to ask Baalzebub about your injury and why you don't believe there's a God in Israel. The man also told us that the Lord says you're going to die.”

⁷ “What did the man look like?” Ahaziah asked.

^8 (A) “He was hairy^[c] and had a leather belt around his waist,” they answered.

“It must be Elijah!” replied Ahaziah. ⁹ So at once he sent an army officer and 50 soldiers to meet Elijah.

Elijah was sitting on top of a hill^[d] at the time. The officer went up to him and said, “Man of God,^[e] the king orders you to come down and talk with him.”

^10 (B) “If I am a man of God,” Elijah answered, “God will send down fire on you and your 50 soldiers.” Fire immediately came down from heaven and burned up the officer and his men.

¹¹ Ahaziah sent another officer and 50 more soldiers to Elijah. The officer said, “Man of God, the king orders you to come see him at once.”

¹² “If I am a man of God,” Elijah answered, “fire will destroy you and your 50 soldiers.” And God sent down fire^[f] from heaven on the officer and his men.

¹³ Ahaziah sent a third army officer and 50 more soldiers. This officer went up to Elijah, then he got down on his knees and begged, “Man of God, please be kind to me and these 50 servants of yours. Let us live! ¹⁴ Fire has already wiped out the other officers and their soldiers. Please don't let it happen to me.”

¹⁵ The angel from the Lord said to Elijah, “Go with him and don't be afraid.” So Elijah got up and went with the officer.

¹⁶ When Elijah arrived, he told Ahaziah, “The Lord wants to know why you sent messengers to Ekron to ask Baalzebub about your injury. Don't you believe there's a God in Israel? Ahaziah, because you did that, the Lord says you will die.”

Paul's Concern for the Galatians

⁸ Before you knew God, you were slaves of gods that are not real. ⁹ But now you know God, or better still, God knows you. How can you turn back and become the slaves of those weak and pitiful powers?^{[a] 10} You even celebrate certain days, months, seasons, and years. ¹¹ I am afraid I have wasted my time working with you.

¹² My friends, I beg you to be like me, just as I once tried to be like you. Did you mistreat me ¹³ when I first preached to you? No you didn't, even though you knew I had come there because I was sick. ¹⁴ My illness must have caused you some trouble, but you didn't hate me or turn me away because of it. You welcomed me as though I were one of God's angels or even Christ Jesus himself. ¹⁵ Where is that good feeling now? I am sure if it had been possible, you would have taken out your own eyes and given them to me. ¹⁶ Am I now your enemy, just because I told you the truth?

¹⁷ Those people may be paying you a lot of attention, but it isn't for your good. They only want to keep you away from me, so you will pay them a lot of attention. ¹⁸ It is always good to give your attention to something worthwhile, even when I am not with you. ¹⁹ My children, I am in terrible pain until Christ may be seen living in you. ²⁰ I wish I were with you now. Then I would not have to talk this way. You really have me puzzled.