Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

The Lord Calls Barak Through Deborah

4 After Ehud died, the people of Israel again did what the Lord considered evil. ² So the Lord used King Jabin of Canaan, who ruled at Hazor, to defeat them. The commander of King Jabin’s army was Sisera, who lived at Harosheth Haggoyim. ³ The people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help. King Jabin had 900 chariots made of iron and had cruelly oppressed Israel for 20 years.

⁴ Deborah, wife of Lappidoth, was a prophet. She was the judge in Israel at that time. ⁵ She used to sit under the Palm Tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the mountains of Ephraim. The people of Israel would come to her for legal decisions.

⁶ Deborah summoned Barak, son of Abinoam, from Kedesh in Naphtali. She told him, “The Lord God of Israel has given you this order: ‘Gather troops on Mount Tabor. Take 10,000 men from Naphtali and Zebulun with you. ⁷ I will lead Sisera (the commander of Jabin’s army), his chariots, and troops to you at the Kishon River. I will hand him over to you.’ ”

A song for going up to worship.

Be Ready for the Day of the Lord

5 Brothers and sisters, you don’t need anyone to write to you about times and dates. ² You know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. ³ When people say, “Everything is safe and sound!” destruction will suddenly strike them. It will be as sudden as labor pains come to a pregnant woman. They won’t be able to escape. ⁴ But, brothers and sisters, you don’t live in the dark. That day won’t take you by surprise as a thief would. ⁵ You belong to the day and the light not to the night and the dark. ⁶ Therefore, we must not fall asleep like other people, but we must stay awake and be sober. ⁷ People who sleep, sleep at night; people who get drunk, get drunk at night. ⁸ Since we belong to the day, we must be sober. We must put on faith and love as a breastplate and the hope of salvation as a helmet. ⁹ It was not God’s intention that we experience his anger but that we obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. ¹⁰ He died for us so that, whether we are awake in this life or asleep in death, we will live together with him. ¹¹ Therefore, encourage each other and strengthen one another as you are doing.

A Story about Three Servants

¹⁴ “The kingdom of heaven is like a man going on a trip. He called his servants and entrusted some money to them. ¹⁵ He gave one man ten thousand dollars, another four thousand dollars, and another two thousand dollars. Each was given money based on his ability. Then the man went on his trip.

¹⁶ “The one who received ten thousand dollars invested the money at once and doubled his money. ¹⁷ The one who had four thousand dollars did the same and also doubled his money. ¹⁸ But the one who received two thousand dollars went off, dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master’s money.

¹⁹ “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. ²⁰ The one who received ten thousand dollars brought the additional ten thousand. He said, ‘Sir, you gave me ten thousand dollars. I’ve doubled the amount.’

²¹ “His master replied, ‘Good job! You’re a good and faithful servant! You proved that you could be trusted with a small amount. I will put you in charge of a large amount. Come and share your master’s happiness.’

²² “The one who received four thousand dollars came and said, ‘Sir, you gave me four thousand dollars. I’ve doubled the amount.’

²³ “His master replied, ‘Good job! You’re a good and faithful servant! You proved that you could be trusted with a small amount. I will put you in charge of a large amount. Come and share your master’s happiness.’

²⁴ “Then the one who received two thousand dollars came and said, ‘Sir, I knew that you are a hard person to please. You harvest where you haven’t planted and gather where you haven’t scattered any seeds. ²⁵ I was afraid. So I hid your two thousand dollars in the ground. Here’s your money!’

²⁶ “His master responded, ‘You evil and lazy servant! If you knew that I harvest where I haven’t planted and gather where I haven’t scattered, ²⁷ then you should have invested my money with the bankers. When I returned, I would have received my money back with interest. ²⁸ Take the two thousand dollars away from him! Give it to the one who has the ten thousand! ²⁹ To all who have, more will be given, and they will have more than enough. But everything will be taken away from those who don’t have much. ³⁰ Throw this useless servant outside into the darkness. People will cry and be in extreme pain there.’