Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

The Victorious King

Psalm 21

All Israel Anoints David King

5 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and spoke saying, “Here we are, your own flesh and blood. ² Even before, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led Israel out and back. Also Adonai said to you, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel and be ruler over Israel.’” ³ So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David cut a covenant with them at Hebron before Adonai. Then they anointed David king over Israel. ⁴ David was 30 years old when he began to reign and he reigned 40 years. ⁵ In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and in Jerusalem he reigned 33 years over all Israel and Judah.

Securing Jerusalem

⁶ Now the king and his soldiers marched to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the region. But they said to David, “You’ll never get in here! Even the blind and the lame could ward you off,” thinking, “David can’t get in here.” ⁷ Nevertheless, David did capture the stronghold of Zion (that is, the City of David). ⁸ On that day David said, “Whoever would conquer the Jebusites must strike through the water shaft to those ‘lame and blind’ whom David’s soul despises.” That is why they used to say, “The blind or lame couldn’t get into the house.” ⁹ So David occupied the stronghold and renamed it the City of David. Then David fortified it all round from the Millo inward. ¹⁰ David continued to grow stronger, for Adonai Elohim-Tzva’ot was with him.

Paul Boasts in the Lord

¹⁶ I say again, let no one consider me to be a fool. But if you do, accept me as a fool, so that I also may boast a little. ¹⁷ What I am saying, I am saying not according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this self-confident boasting. ¹⁸ Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast. ¹⁹ For you, being so wise, put up with fools gladly. ²⁰ For you put up with it if someone enslaves you, if someone devours you, if someone takes advantage of you, if someone puts on airs, if someone slaps you on the face. ²¹ To my shame I must say that we have been weak.

Yet whatever anyone else dares to boast about—I speak in foolishness—I dare, too. ²² Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the descendants of Abraham? So am I. ²³ Are they servants of Messiah? I am more so—I speak like I’m out of my mind—in labors much more, in prisons much more, in beatings more brutal, near death often. ²⁴ Five times from the Jewish leaders I received forty lashes minus one. ^{[a] 25} Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I suffered shipwreck. A night and a day I spent in the open sea. ²⁶ In my many journeys I have been in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the desert, dangers in the sea, dangers among false brothers, ²⁷ in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. ²⁸ Besides these other things, there is daily pressure on me of concern for all of Messiah’s communities. ²⁹ Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is led into sin, and I do not burn with indignation? ³⁰ If I must boast, I will boast of my weakness. ³¹ The God and Father of the Lord Yeshua, who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying. ³² In Damascus the governor under King Aretas was guarding the city of the Damascenes in order to seize me, ³³ and I was lowered in a basket through a window in the wall and escaped his hands.^[b]