Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

All Israel Anoints David King

5 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and spoke saying, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood. ² Even before, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led Israel out and back. Also Adonai said to you, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel and be ruler over Israel.’” ³ So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David cut a covenant with them at Hebron before Adonai. Then they anointed David king over Israel. ⁴ David was 30 years old when he began to reign and he reigned 40 years. ⁵ In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned 33 years over all Israel and Judah.

⁹ So David occupied the stronghold and renamed it the City of David. Then David fortified it all round from the Millo inward. ¹⁰ David continued to grow stronger, for Adonai Elohim-Tzva’ot was with him.

Consider Zion’s Towers

Psalm 48

² I know a man in Messiah (whether in the body I don’t know, or whether out of the body I don’t know—God knows)—fourteen years ago, he was caught up to the third heaven. ^{[a] 3} I know such a man (whether in the body or outside of the body I don’t know—God knows)— ⁴ he was caught up into Paradise and heard words too sacred to tell, which a human is not permitted to utter. ⁵ On behalf of such a man I will boast—but about myself I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses. ⁶ For if I should want to boast, I would not be foolish—for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, so that no one may think more of me than what he sees in me or hears from me— ⁷ even in the extraordinary quality of the revelations. So that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me—a a messenger of satan to torment me,^[b] so I would not exalt myself. ⁸ I pleaded with the Lord three times about this, that it might leave me. ⁹ But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Messiah may dwell in me. ¹⁰ For Messiah’s sake, then, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in distresses, in persecutions, in calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Responding to Rejection

6 Now Yeshua went out from there, and He comes to His hometown, and His disciples follow Him. ² When Shabbat came, He began to teach in the synagogue. Many listeners were amazed, saying, “Where did this fellow get these things? What’s this wisdom given to Him? Such miracles are done by His hands! ³ Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Miriam, and the brother of Jacob and Joseph and Judah and Simon? Aren’t His sisters here with us?” And they took offense at Him.

⁴ Then Yeshua began saying to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown, among his relatives, and in his own house.” ⁵ He was not able to do any miracle, except that He laid hands on a few sick people and healed them. ⁶ And He was astonished because of their unbelief.^[a] And He was going around among the villages teaching.

⁷ Yeshua summoned the Twelve, and He began to send them out two by two. And He gave them authority over the unclean spirits. ⁸ He directed them to take nothing for the journey except a walking stick—no bread, no bag, no copper coin in their belt— ⁹ but to wear sandals and not to put on two shirts.^[b]

¹⁰ He was also telling them, “Wherever you enter a house, stay there until you leave that place. ¹¹ And whatever place will not receive you or listen to you, as you leave from there, shake the dust off the bottom of your feet as a witness against them.” ¹² So they went out and proclaimed that all should repent, ¹³ and they were driving out many demons and anointing with oil many who were sick and healing them.