Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)
Psalm 115
Glory to God Alone
1 Not to us, Lord, not to us,
but to your name give glory
because of your faithful love, because of your truth.(A)
2 Why should the nations say,
“Where is their God?” (B)
3 Our God is in heaven
and does whatever he pleases.(C)
4 Their idols are silver and gold,
made by human hands.(D)
5 They have mouths but cannot speak,
eyes, but cannot see.
6 They have ears but cannot hear,
noses, but cannot smell.(E)
7 They have hands but cannot feel,
feet, but cannot walk.(F)
They cannot make a sound with their throats.(G)
8 Those who make them are[a] just like them,
as are all who trust in them.(H)
9 Israel,[b] trust in the Lord!(I)
He is their help and shield.(J)
10 House of Aaron, trust in the Lord!(K)
He is their help and shield.(L)
11 You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord!(M)
He is their help and shield.
12 The Lord remembers us and will bless us.
He will bless the house of Israel;
he will bless the house of Aaron;(N)
13 he will bless those who fear the Lord—
small and great alike.(O)
14 May the Lord add to your numbers,
both yours and your children’s.(P)
15 May you be blessed by the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.(Q)
16 The heavens are the Lord’s,[c]
but the earth he has given to the human race.(R)
17 It is not the dead who praise the Lord,
nor any of those descending into the silence of death.(S)
18 But we will bless the Lord,
both now and forever.(T)
Hallelujah!
15 Now the day before Saul’s arrival, the Lord had informed Samuel,(A) 16 “At this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him ruler over my people Israel.(B) He will save them from the Philistines because I have seen the affliction of my people,(C) for their cry has come to me.” 17 When Samuel saw Saul, the Lord told him, “Here is the man I told you about;(D) he will govern my people.”
18 Saul approached Samuel in the city gate and asked, “Would you please tell me where the seer’s house is?”
19 “I am the seer,” Samuel answered.[a] “Go up ahead of me to the high place and eat with me today. When I send you off in the morning, I’ll tell you everything that’s in your heart. 20 As for the donkeys that wandered away from you three days ago,(E) don’t worry about them because they’ve been found. And who does all Israel desire(F) but you and all your father’s family?”
21 Saul responded, “Am I not a Benjaminite(G) from the smallest of Israel’s tribes and isn’t my clan the least important of all the clans of the Benjaminite tribe?(H) So why have you said something like this to me?”
22 Samuel took Saul and his servant, brought them to the banquet hall, and gave them a place at the head of the thirty[b] or so men who had been invited. 23 Then Samuel said to the cook, “Get the portion of meat that I gave you and told you to set aside.”
24 The cook picked up the thigh(I) and what was attached to it and set it before Saul. Then Samuel said, “Notice that the reserved piece is set before you. Eat it because it was saved for you for this solemn event at the time I said, ‘I’ve invited the people.’” So Saul ate with Samuel that day. 25 Afterward, they went down from the high place to the city, and Samuel spoke with Saul on the roof.[c](J)
26 They got up early, and just before dawn, Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Get up, and I’ll send you on your way!” Saul got up, and both he and Samuel went outside. 27 As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us, but you stay for a while, and I’ll reveal the word of God to you.” So the servant went on.
10 Samuel took the flask of oil,(K) poured it out on Saul’s head,(L) kissed him, and said, “Hasn’t the Lord anointed you(M) ruler over his inheritance?[d](N)
Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons
3 This saying is trustworthy:(A) “If anyone aspires to be an overseer,[a](B) he desires a noble work.” 2 An overseer,(C) therefore, must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, self-controlled, sensible,(D) respectable, hospitable,(E) able to teach, 3 not an excessive drinker, not a bully but gentle, not quarrelsome, not greedy.(F) 4 He must manage his own household competently and have his children under control with all dignity. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a new convert, or he might become conceited and incur the same condemnation as the devil.(G) 7 Furthermore, he must have a good reputation among outsiders, so that he does not fall into disgrace and the devil’s(H) trap.
8 Deacons,(I) likewise, should be worthy of respect, not hypocritical, not drinking a lot of wine, not greedy for money, 9 holding the mystery of the faith(J) with a clear conscience.(K)
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