Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Psalm 61

Assurance of God’s Protection

To the leader: with stringed instruments. Of David.

David’s Kindness to Mephibosheth

9 David asked, “Is there still anyone left of the house of Saul to whom I may show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” ² Now there was a servant of the house of Saul whose name was Ziba, and he was summoned to David. The king said to him, “Are you Ziba?” And he said, “At your service!” ³ The king said, “Is there anyone remaining of the house of Saul to whom I may show the kindness of God?” Ziba said to the king, “There remains a son of Jonathan; he is crippled in his feet.” ⁴ The king said to him, “Where is he?” Ziba said to the king, “He is in the house of Machir son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar.” ⁵ Then King David sent and brought him from the house of Machir son of Ammiel, at Lo-debar. ⁶ Mephibosheth^[a] son of Jonathan son of Saul came to David, and fell on his face and did obeisance. David said, “Mephibosheth!”^[b] He answered, “I am your servant.” ⁷ David said to him, “Do not be afraid, for I will show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan; I will restore to you all the land of your grandfather Saul, and you yourself shall eat at my table always.” ⁸ He did obeisance and said, “What is your servant, that you should look upon a dead dog such as I?”

⁹ Then the king summoned Saul’s servant Ziba, and said to him, “All that belonged to Saul and to all his house I have given to your master’s grandson. ¹⁰ You and your sons and your servants shall till the land for him, and shall bring in the produce, so that your master’s grandson may have food to eat; but your master’s grandson Mephibosheth^[c] shall always eat at my table.” Now Ziba had fifteen sons and twenty servants. ¹¹ Then Ziba said to the king, “According to all that my lord the king commands his servant, so your servant will do.” Mephibosheth^[d] ate at David’s^[e] table, like one of the king’s sons. ¹² Mephibosheth^[f] had a young son whose name was Mica. And all who lived in Ziba’s house became Mephibosheth’s^[g] servants. ¹³ Mephibosheth^[h] lived in Jerusalem, for he always ate at the king’s table. Now he was lame in both his feet.

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

15 Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. ² And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, “This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

³ So he told them this parable: ⁴ “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? ⁵ When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. ⁶ And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ ⁷ Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.