Bible Society of South Africa

Season after Pentecost: Third Sunday after Pentecost

First reading and Psalm

4Then all the leaders of Israel met together, went to Samuel in Ramah, 5and said to him, “Look, you are getting old and your sons don't follow your example. So then, appoint a king to rule over us, so that we will have a king, as other countries have.” 6Samuel was displeased with their request for a king; so he prayed to the LORD, 7and the LORD said, “Listen to everything the people say to you. You are not the one they have rejected; I am the one they have rejected as their king. 8Ever since I brought them out of Egypt, they have turned away from me and worshipped other gods; and now they are doing to you what they have always done to me. 9So then, listen to them, but give them strict warnings and explain how their kings will treat them.”

10Samuel told the people who were asking him for a king everything that the LORD had said to him. 11“This is how your king will treat you,” Samuel explained. “He will make soldiers of your sons; some of them will serve in his war chariots, others in his cavalry, and others will run before his chariots.

1 Samuel 8:4-11GNBOpen in Bible reader

12He will make some of them officers in charge of a thousand men, and others in charge of fifty men. Your sons will have to plough his fields, harvest his crops, and make his weapons and the equipment for his chariots. 13Your daughters will have to make perfumes for him and work as his cooks and his bakers. 14He will take your best fields, vineyards, and olive groves, and give them to his officials. 15He will take a tenth of your corn and of your grapes for his court officers and other officials.

1 Samuel 8:12-15GNBOpen in Bible reader

16He will take your servants and your best cattle and donkeys, and make them work for him. 17He will take a tenth of your flocks. And you yourselves will become his slaves. 18When that time comes, you will complain bitterly because of your king, whom you yourselves chose, but the LORD will not listen to your complaints.”

19The people paid no attention to Samuel, but said “No! We want a king, 20so that we will be like other nations, with our own king to rule us and to lead us out to war and to fight our battles.”

1 Samuel 8:16-20GNBOpen in Bible reader

14And Samuel said to them, “Let us all go to Gilgal and once more proclaim Saul as our king.” 15So they all went to Gilgal, and there at the holy place they proclaimed Saul king. They offered fellowship sacrifices, and Saul and all the people of Israel celebrated the event.

1 Samuel 11:14-15GNBOpen in Bible reader

A Prayer of Thanksgiving

1I thank you, LORD, with all my heart;

I sing praise to you before the gods.

2I face your holy Temple,

bow down, and praise your name

because of your constant love and faithfulness,

because you have shown that your name and your commands are supreme.

3You answered me when I called to you;

with your strength you strengthened me.

4All the kings in the world will praise you, LORD,

because they have heard your promises.

5They will sing about what you have done

and about your great glory.

6Even though you are so high above,

you care for the lowly,

and the proud cannot hide from you.

7When I am surrounded by troubles,

you keep me safe.

You oppose my angry enemies

and save me by your power.

8You will do everything you have promised;

LORD, your love is eternal.

Complete the work that you have begun.

Psalms 138:1-8GNBOpen in Bible reader
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