Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

Lead Me to the Rock

Psalm 61

David’s Kingdom Expands

8 Now afterward David attacked the Philistines and subdued them, and took Metheg-ammah^[a] from the hand of the Philistines. ² He also defeated Moab. He made them lie down on the ground and measured them with a cord. Every two measures of them were put to death, and the third measure was kept alive. So the Moabites became vassals to David, bringing tribute.

³ David also defeated King Hadadezer son of Rehob of Zobah, as he went to restore his dominion along the River^[b]. ⁴ David captured from him 1700 horsemen and 20,000 foot soldiers, and David hamstrung all the chariot horses, while reserving 100 of them for chariots. ⁵ When the Arameans of Damascus came to the aid of King Hadadezer of Zobah, David struck down 22,000 Aramean men. ⁶ Then David stationed garrisons in Aram of Damascus, and the Arameans became vassals to David, bringing tribute. So Adonai gave victory to David wherever he went ⁷ David also took the golden shields of Hadadezer’s officers and brought them to Jerusalem. ⁸ From Betah and Berothai, towns of Hadadezer, King David took a vast amount of bronze.

⁹ Now when King Toi of Hamath heard that David had defeated the entire army of Hadadezer, ¹⁰ Toi sent his son Joram to King David to greet him and congratulate him on his victory in battle over Hadadezer—for Hadadezer had been at war with Toi. Joram brought with him articles of silver, gold and bronze. ¹¹ These too King David consecrated to Adonai, along with the silver and gold that he had consecrated from all the nations that he had subdued: ¹² from Aram, Moab, the Ammonites, the Philistines, Amalek, and from the spoil of Hadadezer, son of Rehob, king of Zobah.

¹³ Then David made a name for himself when he returned from striking 18,000 down from Edom in the Valley of Salt. ¹⁴ Then he stationed garrisons in Edom. Throughout all Edom he stationed garrisons, so that all the Edomites became vassals to David. So Adonai gave victory to David wherever he went.

¹⁵ David reigned over all Israel, and David executed justice and righteousness for all his people. ¹⁶ Joab son of Zeruiah was commander over the army; Jehoshaphat son of Ahilud was recorder; ¹⁷ Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelech son of Abiathar were kohanim; Seraiah was scribe; ¹⁸ Benaiah son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites, and David’s sons were chief ministers.

¹⁷ From Miletus, dispatching someone to Ephesus, he called for the elders of the community. ¹⁸ When they came to him, he said to them, “You yourselves know how I behaved among you all the time from the first day I set foot in Asia, ¹⁹ serving the Lord with all humility and tears and trials which fell upon me through the plots of the Jewish leaders. ²⁰ I did not shrink back from proclaiming to you anything that was profitable, teaching you publicly as well as from house to house, ²¹ testifying to both Jewish and Greek people repentance to God and trust in our Lord Yeshua.

²² “And now, look, bound by the Ruach, I am going to Jerusalem—not knowing what will happen to me there, ²³ except that the Ruach ha-Kodesh bears witness to me from city to city, saying that bondage and afflictions await me. ²⁴ However, I don’t consider my life of any value, except that I might finish my course and the office I received from the Lord Yeshua, to declare the Good News of the grace of God.

²⁵ “Now, look! I know that none of you, among whom I have gone proclaiming the kingdom, will ever see my face again. ²⁶ Therefore, I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all. ²⁷ For I did not shrink back from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.

²⁸ “Take care of yourselves and all the flock of which the Ruach ha-Kodesh has made you overseers, to shepherd the community of God—which He obtained with the blood of His own. ^{[a] 29} I know that after my departure, savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. ^{[b] 30} Even from among yourselves will arise men speaking perversions, to draw the disciples away after themselves. ³¹ Therefore be alert, remembering that night and day for three years I did not stop warning you with tears.

³² “Now I commit you to God and the word of His grace, which is strong to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all who have been made holy. ³³ I coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothing. ³⁴ You yourselves know that these hands of mine have provided for my own needs as well as for those with me. ³⁵ In all things I have shown you an object lesson—that by hard work one must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Yeshua, that He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”^[c]

³⁶ When he had said these things, he knelt down and prayed with them all. ³⁷ They all began weeping and falling upon Paul’s neck and kissing him, ³⁸ grieving most of all over the statement he made that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship.