Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

The Lord Is Always Merciful

David Brings the Sacred Chest Back to Jerusalem

(1 Chronicles 13.1-14; 15.1—16.3,43)

6 David brought together 30,000 of Israel's best soldiers and ^2 (A) led them to Baalah in Judah, which was also called Kiriath-Jearim. They were going there^[a] to get the sacred chest and bring it back to Jerusalem. The throne of the Lord All-Powerful is above the winged creatures^[b] on top of this chest, and he is worshiped there.^[c]

^3 (B) They put the sacred chest on a new ox cart and started bringing it down the hill from Abinadab's house. Abinadab's sons Uzzah and Ahio were guiding the ox cart, ⁴ with Ahio^[d] walking in front of it. ⁵ Some of the people of Israel were playing music on small harps and other stringed instruments, and on tambourines, castanets, and cymbals. David and the others were happy, and they danced for the Lord with all their might.

⁶ But when they came to Nacon's threshing-floor, the oxen stumbled, so Uzzah reached out and took hold of the sacred chest. ⁷ The Lord God was very angry with Uzzah for doing this, and he killed Uzzah right there beside the chest.

⁸ David got angry with God for killing Uzzah. He named that place “Bursting Out Against Uzzah,”^[e] and that's what it's still called.

⁹ David was afraid of the Lord and thought, “Should I really take the sacred chest to my city?” ¹⁰ He decided not to take it there. Instead, he turned off the road and took it to the home of Obed Edom, who was from Gath.^[f]

^11-12 (C) The chest stayed there for three months, and the Lord greatly blessed Obed Edom, his family, and everything he owned. Then someone told King David, “The Lord has done this because the sacred chest is in Obed Edom's house.”

At once, David went to Obed Edom's house to get the chest and bring it to David's City. Everyone was celebrating. ¹³ The people carrying the chest walked six steps, then David sacrificed an ox and a choice cow. ¹⁴ He was dancing for the Lord with all his might, but he wore only a linen cloth.^{[g] 15} He and everyone else were celebrating by shouting and blowing horns while the chest was being carried along.

Jesus Is Alive

(Matthew 28.1-10; Mark 16.1-8; John 20.1-10)

24 Very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, carrying the spices they had prepared. ² When they found the stone rolled away from the entrance, ³ they went in. But they did not find the body of the Lord^[a] Jesus, ⁴ and they did not know what to think.

Suddenly two men in shining white clothes stood beside them. ⁵ The women were afraid and bowed to the ground. But the men said, “Why are you looking in the place of the dead for someone who is alive? ^6 (A) Jesus isn't here! He has been raised from death. Remember that while he was still in Galilee, he told you, ⁷ ‘The Son of Man will be handed over to sinners who will nail him to a cross. But three days later he will rise to life.’ ” ⁸ Then they remembered what Jesus had said.

^9-10 Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and some other women were the ones who had gone to the tomb. When they returned, they told the eleven apostles and the others what had happened. ¹¹ The apostles thought it was all nonsense, and they would not believe.

¹² But Peter ran to the tomb. And when he stooped down and looked in, he saw only the burial clothes. Then he returned, wondering what had happened.^[b]