Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

King Shishak of Egypt Invades Judah

(1 Kings 14.25-28)

12 Soon after Rehoboam had control of his kingdom, he and everyone in Judah stopped obeying the Lord. ² So in the fifth year of Rehoboam's rule, the Lord punished them for their unfaithfulness and allowed King Shishak of Egypt to invade Judah. ³ Shishak attacked with his army of 1,200 chariots and 60,000 cavalry troops, as well as countless Egyptian soldiers from Libya, Sukkoth, and Ethiopia.^{[a] 4} He captured every one of the fortified cities in Judah and then marched to Jerusalem.

⁵ Rehoboam and the leaders of Judah had gone to Jerusalem to escape Shishak's invasion. And while they were there, Shemaiah the prophet told them, “The Lord says that because you have disobeyed him, he has now abandoned you. The Lord will not help you against Shishak!”

⁶ Rehoboam and the leaders were sorry for what they had done and admitted, “The Lord is right. We have deserted him.”

⁷ When the Lord heard this, he told Shemaiah:

The people of Judah are truly sorry for their sins, and so I won't let Shishak completely destroy them. But because I am still angry, ⁸ he will conquer and rule them.

Then my people will know what it's like to serve a foreign king instead of serving me.

^9 (A) Shishak attacked Jerusalem and took all the valuable things from the temple and from the palace, including Solomon's gold shields.

¹⁰ Rehoboam had bronze shields made to replace the gold ones, and he ordered the guards at the city gates to keep them safe. ¹¹ Whenever Rehoboam went to the Lord's temple, the guards carried the shields. But they always took them back to the guardroom as soon as he had finished worshiping.

¹² Rehoboam turned back to the Lord, and so the Lord did not let Judah be completely destroyed, and Judah was prosperous again.

⁷ Don't forget about your leaders who taught you God's message. Remember what kind of lives they lived and try to have faith like theirs.

⁸ Jesus Christ never changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. ⁹ Don't be fooled by any kind of strange teachings. It is better to receive strength from God's gift of undeserved grace than to depend on certain foods. After all, these foods don't really help the people who eat them. ¹⁰ But we have an altar where even the priests who serve in the place of worship have no right to eat.

^11 (A) After the high priest offers the blood of animals as a sin offering, the bodies of those animals are burned outside the camp. ¹² Jesus himself suffered outside the city gate, so his blood would make people holy. ¹³ This is why we should go outside the camp to Jesus and share in his disgrace. ¹⁴ On this earth we don't have a city that lasts forever, but we are waiting for such a city.

¹⁵ Our sacrifice is to keep offering praise to God in the name of Jesus. ¹⁶ But don't forget to help others and to share your possessions with them. This too is like offering a sacrifice that pleases God.

¹⁷ Obey your leaders and do what they say. They are watching over you, and they must answer to God. So don't make them sad as they do their work. Make them happy. Otherwise, they won't be able to help you at all.

¹⁸ Pray for us. Our consciences are clear, and we always try to live right. ¹⁹ I especially want you to pray that I can visit you again soon.

Final Prayers and Greetings

²⁰ God gives peace, and he raised our Lord Jesus Christ from death. Now Jesus is like a Great Shepherd whose blood was used to make God's eternal agreement with his flock.^{[a] 21 (B)} I pray God will make you ready to obey him and that you will always be eager to do right. May Jesus help you do what pleases God. To Jesus Christ be glory forever and ever! Amen.