Tuesday in Epiphany

FIRST READING

1 Samuel 24:1-22

Verse 1. After Saul had returned from pursuing the Philistines, he was told, “David is in the wilderness of En-gedi.” Verse 2. So Saul took three thousand chosen men from all Israel and went to look for David and his men in the region of the Rocks of the Wild Goats. Verse 3. Soon Saul came to the sheepfolds along the road, where there was a cave, and he went in to relieve himself. And David and his men were hiding in the recesses of the cave. Verse 4. So David’s men said to him, “This is the day about which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do with him as you wish.’” Then David crept up and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s robe. Verse 5. Afterward, David’s conscience was stricken because he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe. Verse 6. So he said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed. May I never lift my hand against him, since he is the LORD’s anointed.” Verse 7. With these words David restrained his men, and he did not let them rise up against Saul. Then Saul left the cave and went on his way. Verse 8. After that, David got up, went out of the cave, and called out to Saul, “My lord the king!” When Saul looked behind him, David bowed facedown in reverence Verse 9. and said to Saul, “Why do you listen to the words of men who say, ‘Look, David intends to harm you’ ? Verse 10. Behold, this day you have seen with your own eyes that the LORD delivered you into my hand in the cave. I was told to kill you, but I spared you and said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my lord, since he is the LORD’s anointed.’ Verse 11. See, my father, look at the corner of your robe in my hand. For I cut it off, but I did not kill you. Know and see that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands. I have not sinned against you, even though you are hunting me down to take my life. Verse 12. May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you, but my hand will never be against you. Verse 13. As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand will never be against you. Verse 14. Against whom has the king of Israel come out? Whom are you pursuing? A dead dog? A flea? Verse 15. May the LORD be our judge and decide between you and me. May He take notice and plead my case and deliver me from your hand.” Verse 16. When David had finished saying these things, Saul called back, “Is that your voice, David my son?” Then Saul wept aloud Verse 17. and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with evil. Verse 18. And you have declared this day how you have treated me well, for when the LORD delivered me into your hand, you did not kill me. Verse 19. When a man finds his enemy, does he let him go away unharmed? May the LORD reward you with good for what you have done for me this day. Verse 20. Now I know for sure that you will be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands. Verse 21. So now, swear to me by the LORD that you will not cut off my descendants or wipe out my name from my father’s house.” Verse 22. So David gave his oath to Saul. Then Saul returned home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

PSALM

Psalm 38

A Psalm of David, for remembrance. O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger or discipline me in Your wrath.

For Your arrows have pierced me deeply, and Your hand has pressed down on me.

There is no soundness in my body because of Your anger; there is no rest in my bones because of my sin.

For my iniquities have overwhelmed me; they are a burden too heavy to bear.

My wounds are foul and festering because of my sinful folly.

I am bent and brought low; all day long I go about mourning.

For my loins are full of burning pain, and no soundness remains in my body.

I am numb and badly crushed; I groan in anguish of heart.

O Lord, my every desire is before You; my groaning is not hidden from You.

My heart pounds, my strength fails, and even the light of my eyes has faded.

My beloved and friends shun my disease, and my kinsmen stand at a distance.

Those who seek my life lay snares; those who wish me harm speak destruction, plotting deceit all day long.

But like a deaf man, I do not hear; and like a mute man, I do not open my mouth.

I am like a man who cannot hear, whose mouth offers no reply.

I wait for You, O LORD; You will answer, O Lord my God.

For I said, “Let them not gloat over me — those who taunt me when my foot slips.”

For I am ready to fall, and my pain is ever with me.

Yes, I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin.

Many are my enemies without cause, and many hate me without reason.

Those who repay my good with evil attack me for pursuing the good.

Do not forsake me, O LORD; be not far from me, O my God.

Come quickly to help me, O Lord my Savior.

SECOND READING

1 Corinthians 11:17-22, 27-33

Verse 17. In the following instructions I have no praise to offer, because your gatherings do more harm than good. Verse 18. First of all, I hear that when you come together as a church, there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. Verse 19. And indeed, there must be differences among you to show which of you are approved. Verse 20. Now then, when you come together, it is not the Lord’s Supper you eat. Verse 21. For as you eat, each of you goes ahead without sharing his meal. While one remains hungry, another gets drunk. Verse 22. Don’t you have your own homes in which to eat and drink? Or do you despise the church of God and humiliate those who have nothing? What can I say to you? Shall I praise you for this? No, I will not! Verse 27. Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. Verse 28. Each one must examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. Verse 29. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. Verse 30. That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. Verse 31. Now if we judged ourselves properly, we would not come under judgment. Verse 32. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are being disciplined so that we will not be condemned with the world. Verse 33. So, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.