Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

(A song for worship.)

Trusting the Lord in Times of Trouble

Samuel Helps David Escape

¹⁸ Meanwhile, David went to Samuel at Ramah and told him what Saul had done. Then Samuel and David went to Prophets Village^[a] and stayed there.

¹⁹ Someone told Saul, “David is at Prophets Village in Ramah.”

²⁰ Saul sent a few soldiers to bring David back. They went to Ramah and found Samuel in charge of a group of prophets who were all prophesying. Then the Spirit of God took control of the soldiers and they started prophesying too.

²¹ When Saul heard what had happened, he sent some more soldiers, but they prophesied just like the first group. He sent a third group of soldiers, but the same thing happened to them. ²² Finally, Saul left for Ramah himself. He went as far as the deep pit^[b] at the town of Secu, and he asked, “Where are Samuel and David?”

“At Prophets Village in Ramah,” the people answered.

²³ Saul left for Ramah. But as he walked along, the Spirit of God took control of him, and he started prophesying. Then, when he reached Prophets Village, ^24 (A) he stripped off his clothes and prophesied in front of Samuel. He dropped to the ground and lay there naked all that day and night. That's how the saying started, “Is Saul now a prophet?”

The Church Makes Paul Happy

² Make a place for us in your hearts! We haven't mistreated or hurt anyone. We haven't cheated anyone. ³ I am not saying this to be hard on you. But, as I have said before, you will always be in our thoughts, whether we live or die. ⁴ I trust you completely.^[a] I am always proud of you, and I am greatly encouraged. In all my trouble I am still very happy.

^5 (A) After we came to Macedonia, we didn't have any chance to rest. We were faced with all kinds of problems. We were troubled by enemies and troubled by fears. ⁶ But God cheers up people in need, and this is what he did when he sent Titus to us. ⁷ Of course, we were glad to see Titus, but what really made us glad is the way you cheered him up. He told how sorry you were and how concerned you were about me. And this made me even happier.

⁸ I don't feel bad anymore, even though my letter^[b] hurt your feelings. I did feel bad at first, but I don't now. I know that the letter hurt you for a while. ⁹ Now I am happy, but not because I hurt your feelings. It is because God used your hurt feelings to make you turn back to him, and none of you were harmed by us. ¹⁰ When God makes you feel sorry enough to turn to him and be saved, you don't have anything to feel bad about. But when this world makes you feel sorry, it can cause your death.

¹¹ Just look what God has done by making you feel sorry! You sincerely want to prove you are innocent. You are angry. You are shocked. You are eager to see that justice is done. You have proved that you were completely right in this matter. ¹² When I wrote you, it wasn't to accuse the one who was wrong or to take up for the one who was hurt. I wrote, so God would show you how much you do care for us. ¹³ And we were greatly encouraged.

Although we were encouraged, we felt even better when we saw how happy Titus was, because you had shown he had nothing to worry about. ¹⁴ We had told him how much we thought of you, and you did not disappoint us. Just as we have always told you the truth, so everything we told him about you has also proved to be true. ¹⁵ Titus loves all of you very much, especially when he remembers how you obeyed him and how you trembled with fear when you welcomed him. ¹⁶ It makes me really glad to know I can depend on you.