Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)

Psalm 54

For the Music Director. With stringed instruments. A Contemplative Maskil of David, when the Ziphites went and told Saul, “Is David not hiding among us?”

Gideon

6 The children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord gave them into the hands of Midian for seven years. ² The hands of Midian dominated Israel, and because of Midian the children of Israel made hiding places for themselves in the mountains, caves, and strongholds. ³ Whenever Israel would plant crops, the Midianites, Amalekites, and the people from the east would come up against them. ⁴ Then they would make camp by them and ruin crops of the land all the way to Gaza. They did not leave any provisions behind in Israel—neither sheep, nor cattle, nor donkeys. ⁵ For they came with their livestock and tents like a swarm of locusts. They and their camels were too numerous to count, and they came into the land to destroy it. ⁶ Israel was made weak before Midian and cried out to the Lord.

⁷ When the children of Israel cried out to the Lord because of Midian, ⁸ the Lord sent them a prophet who said, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: I brought you up from Egypt and out of that place of slavery. ⁹ I delivered you from the hands of Egypt and all your oppressors. I drove them out from before you and gave you their land. ¹⁰ I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God. Do not worship the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living.’ But you have disobeyed Me.”

Proclaiming Christ Crucified

2 Brothers, when I came to you, I did not come with superiority of speech or wisdom, declaring to you the testimony of God. ² For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. ³ I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. ⁴ My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, ⁵ so that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.