Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Psalm 125

Israel’s Stability

A song of ascents.

Elijah’s Message to Ahab

18 After a long time, the word of the Lord^(A) came to Elijah in the third year:^(B) “Go and present yourself to Ahab.^(C) I will send rain on the surface of the land.” ² So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab.

The famine was severe in Samaria.^{(D) 3} Ahab called for Obadiah, who was in charge of the palace.^(E) Obadiah was a man who greatly feared the Lord^{(F) 4} and took a hundred prophets and hid them, fifty men to a cave, and provided them with food and water when Jezebel^(G) slaughtered the Lord’s prophets.^{(H) 5} Ahab said to Obadiah, “Go throughout the land to every spring and to every wadi. Perhaps we’ll find grass so we can keep the horses and mules alive and not have to destroy any cattle.”^{(I) 6} They divided the land between them in order to cover it. Ahab went one way by himself, and Obadiah went the other way by himself.

⁷ While Obadiah was walking along the road, Elijah suddenly met him.^(J) When Obadiah recognized him, he fell facedown and said, “Is it you, my lord Elijah?”

⁸ “It is I,” he replied. “Go tell your lord, ‘Elijah is here!’” ^[a]

⁹ But Obadiah said, “What sin have I committed,^(K) that you are handing your servant over to Ahab to put me to death? ¹⁰ As the Lord your God lives, there is no nation or kingdom where my lord has not sent someone to search for you. When they said, ‘He is not here,’ he made that kingdom or nation swear they had not found you.

¹¹ “Now you say, ‘Go tell your lord, “Elijah is here!”’ ¹² But when I leave you, the Spirit of the Lord may carry you off^(L) to some place I don’t know. Then when I go report to Ahab and he doesn’t find you, he will kill me. But I, your servant, have feared the Lord from my youth. ¹³ Wasn’t it reported to my lord what I did when Jezebel slaughtered the Lord’s prophets? I hid a hundred of the prophets of the Lord, fifty men to a cave, and I provided them with food and water. ¹⁴ Now you say, ‘Go tell your lord, “Elijah is here!”’ He will kill me!”

¹⁵ Then Elijah said, “As the Lord of Armies lives,^(M) in whose presence I stand, today I will present myself to Ahab.”

¹⁶ Obadiah went to meet Ahab and told him. Then Ahab went to meet Elijah. ¹⁷ When Ahab saw Elijah, Ahab said to him, “Is that you, the one ruining Israel?” ^(N)

¹⁸ He replied, “I have not ruined Israel, but you and your father’s family have, because you have abandoned the Lord’s commands^(O) and followed the Baals.^(P)

Christian Warfare

¹⁰ Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength.^{(A) 11} Put on^(B) the full armor^(C) of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh^(D) and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities,^(E) against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil,^(F) spiritual forces in the heavens.^{(G) 13} For this reason take up the full armor^(H) of God, so that you may be able to resist^(I) in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. ¹⁴ Stand,^(J) therefore, with truth^(K) like a belt around your waist, righteousness^(L) like armor on your chest,^{(M) 15} and your feet sandaled with readiness for the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In every situation take up the shield^(N) of faith^(O) with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.^{(P) 17} Take the helmet^(Q) of salvation and the sword^(R) of the Spirit^(S)—which is the word of God.