Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

A Prayer for Help

Absalom Plans Rebellion

15 After this, Absalom provided a chariot and horses for himself, and an escort of fifty men. ² He would get up early and go and stand by the road at the city gate. Whenever someone came there with a dispute that he wanted the king to settle, Absalom would call him over and ask him where he was from. And after the man had told him what tribe he was from, ³ Absalom would say, “Look, the law is on your side, but there is no representative of the king to hear your case.” ⁴ And he would add, “How I wish I were a judge! Then anyone who had a dispute or a claim could come to me, and I would give him justice.” ⁵ When the man would approach Absalom to bow down before him, Absalom would reach out, take hold of him, and kiss him. ⁶ Absalom did this with every Israelite who came to the king for judgment, and so he won their loyalty.

⁷ After four^[a] years Absalom said to King David, “Sir, let me go to Hebron and keep a promise I made to the Lord. ⁸ While I was living in Geshur in Syria, I promised the Lord that if he would take me back to Jerusalem, I would worship him in Hebron.”^[b]

⁹ “Go in peace,” the king said. So Absalom went to Hebron. ¹⁰ But he sent messengers to all the tribes of Israel to say, “When you hear the sound of trumpets, shout, ‘Absalom has become king at Hebron!’” ¹¹ There were two hundred men who at Absalom's invitation had gone from Jerusalem with him; they knew nothing of the plot and went in all good faith. ¹² And while he was offering sacrifices, Absalom also sent to the town of Gilo for Ahithophel, who was one of King David's advisers. The plot against the king gained strength, and Absalom's followers grew in number.

David Flees from Jerusalem

¹³ A messenger reported to David, “The Israelites are pledging their loyalty to Absalom.”

Ask, Seek, Knock^(A)

^7 (B)“Ask, and you will receive; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks will receive, and anyone who seeks will find, and the door will be opened to those who knock. ⁹ Would any of you who are fathers give your son a stone when he asks for bread? ¹⁰ Or would you give him a snake when he asks for a fish? ¹¹ As bad as you are, you know how to give good things to your children. How much more, then, will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!