Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

The Futility of Idols and the Trustworthiness of God

^15 (A)Now the Lord had told Samuel in his ear the day before Saul came, saying, ¹⁶ “Tomorrow about this time ^(B)I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, ^(C)and you shall anoint him ^[a]commander over My people Israel, that he may save My people from the hand of the Philistines; for I have ^(D)looked upon My people, because their cry has come to Me.”

¹⁷ So when Samuel saw Saul, the Lord said to him, ^(E)“There he is, the man of whom I spoke to you. This one shall reign over My people.” ¹⁸ Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, “Please tell me, where is the seer’s house?”

¹⁹ Samuel answered Saul and said, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today; and tomorrow I will let you go and will tell you all that is in your heart. ²⁰ But as for ^(F)your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not be anxious about them, for they have been found. And ^[b]on whom ^(G)is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on you and on all your father’s house?”

²¹ And Saul answered and said, ^(H)“Am I not a Benjamite, of the ^(I)smallest of the tribes of Israel, and ^(J)my family the least of all the families of the ^[c]tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak like this to me?”

²² Now Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the hall, and had them sit in the place of honor among those who were invited; there were about thirty persons. ²³ And Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I said to you, ‘Set it apart.’ ” ²⁴ So the cook took up ^(K)the thigh with its upper part and set it before Saul. And Samuel said, “Here it is, what was kept back. It was set apart for you. Eat; for until this time it has been kept for you, since I said I invited the people.” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.

²⁵ When they had come down from the high place into the city, ^[d]Samuel spoke with Saul on ^(L)the top of the house. ²⁶ They arose early; and it was about the dawning of the day that Samuel called to Saul on the top of the house, saying, “Get up, that I may send you on your way.” And Saul arose, and both of them went outside, he and Samuel.

Saul Anointed King

²⁷ As they were going down to the outskirts of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us.” And he went on. “But you stand here ^[e]awhile, that I may announce to you the word of God.”

Samuel Anoints Saul

10 Then ^(M)Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it on his head, ^(N)and kissed him and said: “Is it not because ^(O)the Lord has anointed you commander over ^(P)His ^[f]inheritance?

Qualifications of Overseers

3 This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a ^[a]bishop, he desires a good work. ² A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach; ³ not ^[b]given to wine, not violent, ^[c]not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not ^[d]covetous; ⁴ one who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence ⁵ (for if a man does not know how to rule his own house, how will he take care of the church of God?); ⁶ not a ^[e]novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil. ⁷ Moreover he must have a good testimony among those who are outside, lest he fall into reproach and the ^(A)snare of the devil.

Qualifications of Deacons

⁸ Likewise deacons must be reverent, not double-tongued, ^(B)not given to much wine, not greedy for money, ⁹ holding the ^[f]mystery of the faith with a pure conscience.