Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

God Makes a Promise to David

17 David moved into his palace. Then he spoke to Nathan the prophet. He said, “Here I am, living in a house that has beautiful cedar walls. But the ark of the covenant of the Lord is under a tent.”

² Nathan replied to David, “Do what you want to. God is with you.”

³ But that night a message came to Nathan from God. He said,

⁴ “Go and speak to my servant David. Tell him, ‘The Lord says, “You are not the one who will build me a house to live in. ⁵ I have not lived in a house from the day I brought Israel up out of Egypt until now. I have moved my tent from one place to another. I have moved my home from one place to another. ⁶ I have moved from place to place with all the Israelites. I commanded their leaders to be shepherds over my people. I never asked any of those leaders, ‘Why haven’t you built me a house that has beautiful cedar walls?’ ” ’

⁷ “So tell my servant David, ‘The Lord who rules over all says, “I took you away from the grasslands. That is where you were taking care of your father’s sheep and goats. I appointed you ruler over my people Israel. ⁸ I have been with you everywhere you have gone. I destroyed all your enemies when you were attacking them. Now I will make you famous. Your name will be just as respected as the names of the most important people on earth. ⁹ I will provide a place where my people Israel can live. I will plant them in the land. Then they will have a home of their own. They will not be bothered anymore. Sinful people will no longer crush them, as they did at first. ¹⁰ That is what your enemies have done ever since I appointed leaders over my people Israel. But I will bring all your enemies under your control.

“ ‘ “I tell you that I, the Lord, will build a royal house for your family. ¹¹ Some day your life will come to an end. You will join the members of your family who have already died. Then I will give you one of your own sons to become the next king after you. I will make his kingdom secure. ¹² He is the one who will build me a house. I will set up his throne. It will last forever. ¹³ I will be his father. And he will be my son. I took my love away from the man who ruled before you. But I will never take my love away from your son. ¹⁴ I will place him over my house and my kingdom forever. His throne will last forever.” ’ ”

¹⁵ Nathan reported to David all the words that the Lord had spoken to him.

The Earth Is Made Like New Again

22 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life. It was as clear as crystal. It flowed from the throne of God and of the Lamb. ² It flowed down the middle of the city’s main street. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing 12 crops of fruit. Its fruit was ripe every month. The leaves of the tree bring healing to the nations. ³ There will no longer be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city. God’s servants will serve him. ⁴ They will see his face. His name will be on their foreheads. ⁵ There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun. The Lord God will give them light. They will rule for ever and ever.

John and the Angel

⁶ The angel said to me, “You can trust these words. They are true. The Lord is the God who gives messages to the prophets. He sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.”

⁷ “Look! I am coming soon! Words of prophecy are written in this book. Blessed is the person who obeys them.”

⁸ I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. After that, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel. He is the one who had been showing me these things. ⁹ But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I serve God, just as you do. I am God’s servant, just like the other prophets. And I serve God along with all who obey the words of this book. Worship God!”