Thursday in Season after Pentecost

15Verse 15. Now on the day before Saul’s arrival, the LORD had revealed to Samuel, 16Verse 16. “At this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you are to anoint him ruler over My people Israel; he will save them from the hand of the Philistines. For I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come to Me.” 17Verse 17. When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD told him, “Here is the man of whom I spoke; he shall rule over My people.” 18Verse 18. Saul approached Samuel in the gateway and asked, “Would you please tell me where the seer’s house is?” 19Verse 19. “I am the seer,” Samuel replied. “Go up before me to the high place, for you shall eat with me today. And when I send you off in the morning, I will tell you all that is in your heart. 20Verse 20. As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them, for they have been found. And upon whom is all the desire of Israel, if not upon you and all your father’s house?” 21Verse 21. Saul replied, “Am I not a Benjamite from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of Benjamin? So why would you say such a thing to me?” 22Verse 22. Then Samuel took Saul and his servant, brought them into the hall, and seated them in the place of honor among those who were invited — about thirty in all. 23Verse 23. And Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion I gave you and told you to set aside.” 24Verse 24. So the cook picked up the leg and what was attached to it and set it before Saul. Then Samuel said, “Here is what was kept back. It was set apart for you. Eat, for it has been kept for you for this occasion, from the time I said, ‘I have invited the people.’” So Saul dined with Samuel that day. 25Verse 25. And after they had come down from the high place into the city, Samuel spoke with Saul on the roof of his house. 26Verse 26. They got up early in the morning, and just before dawn Samuel called to Saul on the roof, “Get ready, and I will send you on your way!” So Saul got ready, and both he and Samuel went outside together. 27Verse 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 will reveal to you the word of God.” So the servant went on.

14Verse 14. So the LORD God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and every beast of the field! On your belly will you go, and dust you will eat, all the days of your life. 15Verse 15. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel. ” 16Verse 16. To the woman He said: “I will sharply increase your pain in childbirth; in pain you will bring forth children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” 17Verse 17. And to Adam He said: “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat, cursed is the ground because of you; through toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. 18Verse 18. Both thorns and thistles it will yield for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. 19Verse 19. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your bread, until you return to the ground — because out of it were you taken. For dust you are, and to dust you shall return.” 20Verse 20. And Adam named his wife Eve, because she would be the mother of all the living. 21Verse 21. And the LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and He clothed them. 22Verse 22. Then the LORD God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil. And now, lest he reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever...” 23Verse 23. Therefore the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24Verse 24. So He drove out the man and stationed cherubim on the east side of the Garden of Eden, along with a whirling sword of flame to guard the way to the tree of life.