Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

David Moves the Ark

6 David again assembled all the fit young men in Israel:^(A) thirty thousand. ² He and all his troops set out^(B) to bring the ark of God from Baale-judah.^[a] The ark bears the Name, the name of the Lord of Armies who is enthroned between the cherubim.^{(C) 3} They set the ark of God on a new cart and transported it from Abinadab’s house, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio,^[b] sons of Abinadab, were guiding the cart^{(D) 4} and brought it with the ark of God from Abinadab’s house on the hill. Ahio walked in front of the ark. ⁵ David and the whole house of Israel were dancing before the Lord with all kinds of fir wood instruments,^[c] lyres, harps, tambourines, sistrums,^[d] and cymbals.^(E)

¹² It was reported to King David, “The Lord has blessed Obed-edom’s family and all that belongs to him because of the ark of God.” So David went and had the ark of God brought up from Obed-edom’s house to the city of David with rejoicing.^{(A) 13} When those carrying the ark of the Lord advanced six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.^{(B) 14} David was dancing^[a] with all his might before the Lord wearing a linen ephod.^{(C) 15} He and the whole house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of the ram’s horn. ¹⁶ As the ark of the Lord was entering the city of David,^(D) Saul’s daughter Michal looked down from the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart.

¹⁷ They brought the ark of the Lord and set it in its place inside the tent David had pitched for it.^(E) Then David offered burnt offerings and fellowship offerings in the Lord’s presence. ¹⁸ When David had finished offering the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of Armies. ¹⁹ Then he distributed a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake to each one in the entire Israelite community, both men and women.^(F) Then all the people went home.

Psalm 24

The King of Glory

A psalm of David.

God’s Rich Blessings

³ Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ.^{(A) 4} For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.^{[a](B) 5} He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace^(C) that he lavished on us in the Beloved One.^(D)

⁷ In him we have redemption^(E) through his blood, the forgiveness^(F) of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace ⁸ that he richly poured out on us with all wisdom and understanding.^{[b] 9} He made known to us the mystery of his will,^(G) according to his good pleasure that he purposed in Christ^{(H) 10} as a plan for the right time^[c]—to bring everything together in Christ,^(I) both things in heaven and things on earth^(J) in him.^(K)

¹¹ In him we have also received an inheritance,^[d] because we were predestined^(L) according to the plan of the one who works out everything in agreement with the purpose of his will, ¹² so that we who had already put our hope^(M) in Christ might bring praise to his glory.^(N)

¹³ In him you also were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit^(O) when you heard the word of truth,^(P) the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed. ¹⁴ The Holy Spirit is the down payment^(Q) of our inheritance, until the redemption of the possession, to the praise of his glory.

John the Baptist Beheaded

¹⁴ King^(A) Herod^(B) heard about it, because Jesus’s name^(C) had become well known. Some^[a] said, “John the Baptist^(D) has been raised from the dead,^(E) and that’s why miraculous powers^(F) are at work^(G) in him.” ¹⁵ But others said, “He’s Elijah.”^(H) Still others said, “He’s a prophet, like one of the prophets from long ago.”^(I)

¹⁶ When Herod^(J) heard of it, he said, “John,^(K) the one I beheaded, has been raised!” ^(L)

¹⁷ For^(M) Herod himself had given orders to arrest John and to chain^(N) him in prison on account of Herodias,^(O) his brother Philip’s wife, because he had married her.^{(P) 18} John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful^(Q) for you to have your brother’s wife.”^{(R) 19} So Herodias held a grudge against him and wanted to kill^(S) him. But she could not, ²⁰ because Herod feared^(T) John and protected him, knowing he was a righteous^(U) and holy^(V) man. When Herod heard him he would be very perplexed,^[b](W) and yet he liked to listen to him.^(X)

²¹ An opportune time came on his birthday, when Herod gave a banquet^(Y) for his nobles,^(Z) military commanders,^(AA) and the leading men of Galilee.^{(AB) 22} When Herodias’s own daughter^[c] came in and danced,^(AC) she pleased Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask me whatever you want, and I’ll give it to you.” ²³ He promised her with an^(AD) oath:^(AE) “Whatever you ask me I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”^(AF)

²⁴ She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?”

“John the Baptist’s^(AG) head,” she said.

²⁵ At once she hurried to the king and said, “I want you to give me John the Baptist’s^(AH) head on a platter^(AI) immediately.” ²⁶ Although the king was deeply distressed,^(AJ) because of his oaths^(AK) and the guests^[d] he did not want to refuse^(AL) her. ²⁷ The king immediately sent for an executioner and commanded him to bring John’s head. So he went and beheaded him in prison, ²⁸ brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother. ²⁹ When John’s disciples^(AM) heard about it, they came and removed his corpse and placed it in a tomb.^(AN)