Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Prayer for Victory over Enemies.

For the choir director. A Psalm of David.

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.”

Earth Subject to Man

⁵ For He did not subject to angels ^[a](A)the world to come, concerning which we are speaking. ⁶ But one has testified ^(B)somewhere, saying,

For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now ^(F)we do not yet see all things subjected to him.

Jesus Briefly Humbled

⁹ But we do see Him who was ^(G)made ^[d]for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, ^(H)because of the suffering of death ^(I)crowned with glory and honor, so that ^(J)by the grace of God He might ^(K)taste death ^(L)for everyone.