Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Psalm 18^[a]

A King’s Thanksgiving for Victory

¹ For the leader. Of David, the servant of the Lord, who sang to the Lord the words of this song after the Lord had rescued him from the clutches of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. ² He said:^(A)

I

II

VI

Chapter 10

Death of Saul and His Sons. ^1 (A)Now the Philistines went to war against Israel, and Israel fled before them, and they fell, slain on Mount Gilboa. ² The Philistines pressed hard after Saul and his sons. When the Philistines had struck down Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, sons of Saul, ³ the fury of the battle converged on Saul. Then the archers hit him, and he was severely wounded.

⁴ Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through; otherwise these uncircumcised will come and abuse me.” But the armor-bearer, badly frightened, refused, so Saul took his own sword and fell upon it. ⁵ When the armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell upon his sword and died. ⁶ Thus Saul, and his three sons, his whole house, died together. ⁷ When all the Israelites in the valley saw that Saul and his sons had fled and that they had died, they abandoned their cities and fled. Then the Philistines came and lived in those cities.

⁸ On the following day, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his sons fallen on Mount Gilboa. ⁹ They stripped him, and took his head and his armor; these they sent throughout the land of the Philistines to bring the good news to their idols and to the people. ¹⁰ They put his armor in the temple of their gods, but his skull they impaled at the temple of Dagon.

Burial of Saul. ¹¹ When all the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead heard all that the Philistines had done to Saul, ¹² all their warriors set out, recovered the corpses of Saul and his sons, and brought them to Jabesh. They buried their bones under the oak of Jabesh, and fasted for seven days.^(B)

^13 [a]Thus Saul died because of his treason against the Lord in disobeying his word, and also because he had sought counsel from a ghost,^{(C) 14} rather than from the Lord. Therefore the Lord took his life, and turned his kingdom over to David, the son of Jesse.^(D)

¹⁴ When they came to the disciples,^(A) they saw a large crowd around them and scribes arguing with them. ¹⁵ Immediately on seeing him, the whole crowd was utterly amazed. They ran up to him and greeted him. ¹⁶ He asked them, “What are you arguing about with them?” ¹⁷ Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I have brought to you my son possessed by a mute spirit. ¹⁸ Wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, grinds his teeth, and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive it out, but they were unable to do so.” ¹⁹ He said to them in reply, “O faithless generation, how long will I be with you? How long will I endure you? Bring him to me.” ²⁰ They brought the boy to him. And when he saw him, the spirit immediately threw the boy into convulsions. As he fell to the ground, he began to roll around and foam at the mouth. ²¹ Then he questioned his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” He replied, “Since childhood. ²² It has often thrown him into fire and into water to kill him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” ²³ Jesus said to him, “‘If you can!’ Everything is possible to one who has faith.” ²⁴ Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!” ²⁵ Jesus, on seeing a crowd rapidly gathering, rebuked the unclean spirit and said to it, “Mute and deaf spirit, I command you: come out of him and never enter him again!” ²⁶ Shouting and throwing the boy into convulsions, it came out. He became like a corpse, which caused many to say, “He is dead!” ²⁷ But Jesus took him by the hand, raised him, and he stood up. ²⁸ When he entered the house, his disciples asked him in private, “Why could we not drive it out?” ^29 [a]He said to them, “This kind can only come out through prayer.”