Epiphany

Tuesday in Epiphany

Tuesday, January 19, 2027

FIRST READING

1 Samuel 15:10-31

Verse 10. Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying, Verse 11. “I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My instructions.” And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the LORD all that night. Verse 12. Early in the morning Samuel got up to confront Saul, but he was told, “Saul has gone to Carmel, and behold, he has set up a monument for himself and has turned and gone down to Gilgal.” Verse 13. When Samuel reached him, Saul said to him, “May the LORD bless you. I have carried out the LORD’s instructions.” Verse 14. But Samuel replied, “Then what is this bleating of sheep and lowing of cattle that I hear?” Verse 15. Saul answered, “The troops brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD your God, but the rest we devoted to destruction.” Verse 16. “Stop!” exclaimed Samuel. “Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night.” “Tell me,” Saul replied. Verse 17. And Samuel said, “Although you were once small in your own eyes, have you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel Verse 18. and sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and devote to destruction the sinful Amalekites. Fight against them until you have wiped them out.’ Verse 19. So why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you rush upon the plunder and do evil in the sight of the LORD?” Verse 20. “But I did obey the LORD,” Saul replied. “I went on the mission that the LORD gave me. I brought back Agag king of Amalek and devoted the Amalekites to destruction. Verse 21. The troops took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of the things devoted to destruction, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.” Verse 22. But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams. Verse 23. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.” Verse 24. Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; I have transgressed the LORD’s commandment and your instructions, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. Verse 25. Now therefore, please forgive my sin and return with me so I can worship the LORD.” Verse 26. “I will not return with you,” Samuel replied. “For you have rejected the word of the LORD, and He has rejected you as king over Israel.” Verse 27. As Samuel turned to go, Saul grabbed the hem of his robe, and it tore. Verse 28. So Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you. Verse 29. Moreover, the Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind, for He is not a man, that He should change His mind.” Verse 30. “I have sinned,” Saul replied. “Please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God.” Verse 31. So Samuel went back with Saul, and Saul worshiped the LORD.

PSALM

Psalm 86

Verse 1. A prayer of David. Incline Your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.
Verse 2. Preserve my soul, for I am godly. You are my God; save Your servant who trusts in You.
Verse 3. Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I call to You all day long.
Verse 4. Bring joy to Your servant, for to You, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
Verse 5. For You, O Lord, are kind and forgiving, rich in loving devotion to all who call on You.
Verse 6. Hear my prayer, O LORD, and attend to my plea for mercy.
Verse 7. In the day of my distress I call on You, because You answer me.
Verse 8. O Lord, there is none like You among the gods, nor any works like Yours.
Verse 9. All the nations You have made will come and bow before You, O Lord, and they will glorify Your name.
Verse 10. For You are great and perform wonders; You alone are God.
Verse 11. Teach me Your way, O LORD, that I may walk in Your truth. Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name.
Verse 12. I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify Your name forever.
Verse 13. For great is Your loving devotion to me; You have delivered me from the depths of Sheol.
Verse 14. The arrogant rise against me, O God; a band of ruthless men seeks my life; they have no regard for You.
Verse 15. But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness.
Verse 16. Turn to me and have mercy; grant Your strength to Your servant; save the son of Your maidservant.
Verse 17. Show me a sign of Your goodness, that my enemies may see and be ashamed; for You, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

SECOND READING

Acts 5:1-11

Verse 1. Now a man named Ananias, together with his wife Sapphira, also sold a piece of property. Verse 2. With his wife’s full knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds for himself, but brought a portion and laid it at the apostles’ feet. Verse 3. Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and withhold some of the proceeds from the land? Verse 4. Did it not belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? How could you conceive such a deed in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God!” Verse 5. On hearing these words, Ananias fell down and died. And great fear came over all who heard what had happened. Verse 6. Then the young men stepped forward, wrapped up his body, and carried him out and buried him. Verse 7. About three hours later his wife also came in, unaware of what had happened. Verse 8. “Tell me,” said Peter, “is this the price you and your husband got for the land?” “Yes,” she answered, “that is the price.” Verse 9. “How could you agree to test the Spirit of the Lord?” Peter replied. “Look, the feet of the men who buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out also.” Verse 10. At that instant she fell down at his feet and died. Then the young men came in and, finding her dead, carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Verse 11. And great fear came over the whole church and all who heard about these events.