Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Psalm 97

The Majestic King

Why Israel Fell

⁷ This disaster happened because the people of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God who had brought them out of the land of Egypt from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt^(A) and because they had worshiped^[a] other gods.^{(B) 8} They had lived according to the customs of the nations that the Lord had dispossessed before the Israelites^(C) and the customs the kings of Israel had introduced.^{(D) 9} The Israelites secretly did what was not right^[b] against the Lord their God. They built high places in all their towns from watchtower^(E) to fortified city. ¹⁰ They set up for themselves sacred pillars^(F) and Asherah poles^(G) on every high hill and under every green tree.^{(H) 11} They burned incense on all the high places just like those nations that the Lord had driven out before them. They did evil things, provoking the Lord. ¹² They served idols, although the Lord had told them, “You must not do this.”^{(I) 13} Still, the Lord warned^(J) Israel and Judah through every prophet and every seer, saying, “Turn from your evil ways and keep My commands and statutes according to all the law I commanded your ancestors and sent to you through My servants the prophets.”^(K)

¹⁴ But they would not listen. Instead they became obstinate like^[c] their ancestors who did not believe the Lord their God.^{(L) 15} They rejected His statutes and His covenant He had made with their ancestors^(M) and the decrees He had given them. They pursued worthless idols and became worthless themselves,^(N) following the surrounding nations the Lord had commanded them not to imitate.^(O)

¹⁶ They abandoned all the commands of the Lord their God. They made cast images^(P) for themselves, two calves, and an Asherah pole.^(Q) They worshiped the whole heavenly host^(R) and served Baal.^{(S) 17} They made their sons and daughters pass through the fire^(T) and practiced divination and interpreted omens.^(U) They devoted themselves to do what was evil in the Lord’s sight and provoked Him.^(V)

¹⁸ Therefore, the Lord was very angry with Israel, and He removed them from His presence.^(W) Only the tribe of Judah remained.^{(X) 19} Even Judah did not keep the commands of the Lord their God^(Y) but lived according to the customs Israel had introduced.^{(Z) 20} So the Lord rejected all the descendants of Israel, afflicted them, and handed them over to plunderers until He had banished them from His presence.^(AA)

²⁵ When they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, “Rabbi,^(A) when did You get here?”

²⁶ Jesus answered, “I assure you: You are looking for Me, not because you saw^[a] the signs, but because you ate the loaves and were filled. ²⁷ Don’t work for the food that perishes^(B) but for the food that lasts for eternal life,^(C) which the Son of Man^(D) will give you, because God the Father^(E) has set His seal of approval on Him.”

²⁸ “What can we do to perform the works of God?” they asked.

²⁹ Jesus replied, “This is the work^(F) of God—that you believe in the One He has sent.”^(G)

³⁰ “What sign then are You going to do so we may see and believe You?” they asked. “What are You going to perform? ³¹ Our fathers ate the manna^(H) in the wilderness,^(I) just as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”^[b](J)[c]

³² Jesus said to them, “I assure you: Moses^(K) didn’t give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the real bread from heaven. ³³ For the bread of God is the One who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

³⁴ Then they said, “Sir, give us this bread always!”

³⁵ “I am^(L) the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to Me^(M) will ever be hungry,^(N) and no one who believes in Me^(O) will ever be thirsty^(P) again.