Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

David Moves the Ark

6 David again assembled all the choice men in Israel,^(A) 30,000. ² He and all his troops set out^(B) to bring the ark of God from Baale-judah.^[a] The ark is called by the Name, the name of Yahweh of Hosts who dwells 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 celebrating 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 set up 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 Yahweh of Hosts. 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 left, each to his own home.

Psalm 24

The King of Glory

A Davidic psalm.

God’s Rich Blessings

³ Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens.^{(A) 4} For He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in His sight.^[a](B) In love^{[b] 5} He predestined us to be adopted through Jesus Christ for Himself, according to His favor and will, ⁶ to the praise of His glorious grace^(C) that He favored us with in the Beloved.^(D)

⁷ We have redemption in Him^(E) through His blood, the forgiveness^(F) of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace ⁸ that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. ⁹ He made known to us the mystery of His will,^(G) according to His good pleasure that He planned in Him^{(H) 10} for the administration^[c] of the days of fulfillment^[d]—to bring everything together in the Messiah,^(I) both things in heaven and things on earth^(J) in Him.^(K)

¹¹ We have also received an inheritance^[e] in Him, predestined^(L) according to the purpose of the One who works out everything in agreement with the decision of His will, ¹² so that we who had already put our hope^(M) in the Messiah might bring praise to His glory.^(N)

¹³ When you heard the message of truth,^(O) the gospel of your salvation, and when you believed in Him, you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit.^{(P) 14} He is the down payment^(Q) of our inheritance, for the redemption of the possession,^[f] to the praise of His glory.

John the Baptist Beheaded

¹⁴ King^(A) Herod^(B) heard of this, because Jesus’ name^(C) had become well known. Some^[a] said, “John the Baptist^(D) has been raised from the dead,^(E) and that’s why supernatural powers^(F) are at work^(G) in him.” ¹⁵ But others said, “He’s Elijah.”^(H) Still others said, “He’s a prophet^[b]—like one of the prophets.”^(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, whom he had married.^{(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 was in awe^(T) of^[c] John and was protecting him, knowing he was a righteous^(U) and holy^(V) man. When Herod heard him he would be very disturbed,^[d](W) yet would hear him gladly.^(X)

²¹ Now 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^[e] 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 So he swore^(AD) oaths^(AE) to her: “Whatever you ask me I will give you, up to half my kingdom.”^(AF)

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

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

²⁵ Immediately she hurried to the king and said, “I want you to give me John the Baptist’s^(AH) head on a platter^(AI)—right now!”

²⁶ Though the king was deeply distressed,^(AJ) because of his oaths^(AK) and the guests^[f] 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 his disciples^[g](AM) heard about it, they came and removed his corpse and placed it in a tomb.^(AN)