Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Remembering God’s Help
For the director of music. For Jeduthun. A song of Asaph.
77 I cry out loud to God.
I call to God, and he will hear me.
2 I looked for the Lord on the day of trouble.
All night long I reached out my hands.
I cannot be comforted.
11 I remember what the Lord did.
I remember the miracles you did long ago.
12 I think about all the things you did.
I think about what you have done.
13 God, your ways are holy.
No god is as great as our God.
14 You are the God who did miracles.
You showed people your power.
15 By your power you have saved your people,
the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. Selah
16 God, the waters saw you.
They saw you and became afraid.
The deep waters shook with fear.
17 The clouds poured down their rain.
The sky thundered.
Your lightning flashed back and forth.
18 Your thunder sounded in the whirlwind.
Lightning lit up the world.
The earth trembled and shook.
19 You made a way through the sea
and paths through the deep waters.
But your footprints were not seen.
20 You led your people like a flock of sheep.
You led them by using Moses and Aaron.
Elijah and King Ahaziah
1 After Ahab died, Moab broke away from Israel’s rule. 2 Ahaziah fell down through the wooden bars in his upstairs room in Samaria. He was badly hurt. He sent messengers and told them, “Go. Ask Baal-Zebub god of Ekron if I will get well from my injuries.”
3 But the Lord’s angel said to Elijah the Tishbite, “Get up. Go meet the messengers sent by the king of Samaria. Say to them, ‘Why are you going to ask questions of Baal-Zebub god of Ekron? Is it because you think there is no God in Israel?’ 4 So this is what the Lord says: ‘You will not get up from the bed you are lying on. You will die.’” Then Elijah left.
5 The messengers came back to Ahaziah. He asked them, “Why have you come back?”
6 They said, “A man came to meet us. He said, ‘Go back to the king who sent you. Tell him what the Lord says: “Why do you send men to ask questions of Baal-Zebub god of Ekron? Is it because you think there is no God in Israel? This is why you will not get up from your bed. You will die.”’”
7 Ahaziah asked them, “What did the man look like who met you and told you this?”
8 They answered, “He wore a hairy coat and a leather belt around his waist.”
Ahaziah said, “It was Elijah the Tishbite.”
9 Then he sent a captain with his 50 men to Elijah. The captain went to Elijah, who was sitting on top of the hill. He said to Elijah, “Man of God, the king says, ‘Come down!’”
10 Elijah answered the captain, “I am a man of God. So let fire come down from heaven and burn up you and your 50 men.” Then fire came down from heaven. It burned up the captain and his 50 men.
11 Ahaziah sent another captain and 50 men to Elijah. The captain said to him, “Man of God, this is what the king says: ‘Come down quickly!’”
12 Elijah answered, “I am a man of God. So let fire come down from heaven and burn up you and your 50 men!” Then fire came down from heaven. It burned up the captain and his 50 men.
Paul’s Love for the Christians
8 In the past you did not know God. You were slaves to gods that were not real. 9 But now you know the true God. Really, it is God who knows you. So why do you turn back to those weak and useless rules you followed before? Do you want to be slaves to those things again? 10 You still follow teachings about special days, months, seasons, and years. 11 I am afraid for you. I fear that my work for you has been wasted.
12 Brothers, I was like you; so I beg you to become like me. You were very good to me before. 13 You remember that I came to you the first time because I was sick. That was when I preached the Good News to you. 14 Though my sickness was a trouble for you, you did not hate me or make me leave. But you welcomed me as an angel from God, as if I were Jesus Christ himself! 15 You were very happy then. Where is that joy now? I remember that you would have taken out your eyes and given them to me if that were possible. 16 Now am I your enemy because I tell you the truth?
17 Those people[a] are working hard to persuade you. But this is not good for you. They want to persuade you to turn against us. They want you to follow only them. 18 It is good for people to show interest in you, but only if their purpose is good. This is always true. It is true when I am with you and when I am away. 19 My little children, again I feel pain for you as a mother feels when she gives birth. I will feel this until you truly become like Christ. 20 I wish I could be with you now. Then maybe I could change the way I am talking to you. Now I do not know what to do about you.
The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.