Romans 6; 1 Samuel 15; Psalms 60

Romans 6

1 What should we say then? Should we continue in sin in order that grace may multiply?

2 Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?

4 Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life.

5 For if we have been joined with Him in the likeness of His death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of His resurrection.

6 For we know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that sin's dominion over the body may be abolished, so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin,

7 since a person who has died is freed from sin's claims.

8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him,

9 because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, no longer dies. Death no longer rules over Him.

10 For in that He died, He died to sin once for all; but in that He lives, He lives to God.

11 So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey its desires.

13 And do not offer any parts of it to sin as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, and all the parts of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness.

14 For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under law but under grace.

15 What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Absolutely not!

16 Do you not know that if you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of that one you obey-either of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness?

17 But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching you were entrusted to,

18 and having been liberated from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness.

19 I am using a human analogy because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you offered the parts of yourselves as slaves to moral impurity, and to greater and greater lawlessness, so now offer them as slaves to righteousness, which results in sanctification.

20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free from allegiance to righteousness.

21 And what fruit was produced then from the things you are now ashamed of? For the end of those things is death.

22 But now, since you have been liberated from sin and become enslaved to God, you have your fruit, which results in sanctification-and the end is eternal life!

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Samuel 15

1 Samuel told Saul, "The Lord sent me to anoint you as king over His people Israel. Now, listen to the words of the Lord.

2 This is what the Lord of Hosts says: 'I witnessed what the Amalekites did to the Israelites when they opposed them along the way as they were coming out of Egypt.

3 Now go and attack the Amalekites and completely destroy everything they have. Do not spare them. Kill men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.' "

4 Then Saul summoned the troops and counted them at Telaim: 200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men from Judah.

5 Saul came to the city of Amalek and set up an ambush in the wadi.

6 He warned the Kenites, "Since you showed kindness to all the Israelites when they came out of Egypt, go on and leave! Get away from the Amalekites, or I'll sweep you away with them." So the Kenites withdrew from the Amalekites.

7 Then Saul struck down the Amalekites from Havilah all the way to Shur, which is next to Egypt.

8 He captured Agag king of Amalek alive, but he completely destroyed all the rest of the people with the sword.

9 Saul and the troops spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, cattle, and fatlings, as well as the young rams and the best of everything else. They were not willing to destroy them, but they did destroy all the worthless and unwanted things.

10 Then the word of the Lord came to Samuel:

11 "I regret that I made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My instructions." So Samuel became angry and cried out to the Lord [all] night.

12 Early in the morning Samuel got up to confront Saul, but it was reported to Samuel, "Saul went to Carmel where he set up a monument for himself. Then he turned around and went down to Gilgal."

13 When Samuel came to him, Saul said, "May the Lord bless you. I have carried out the Lord's instructions."

14 Samuel replied, "Then what is this sound of sheep and cattle I hear?"

15 Saul answered, "The troops brought them from the Amalekites and spared the best sheep and cattle in order to offer a sacrifice to the Lord your God, but the rest we destroyed."

16 "Stop!" exclaimed Samuel. "Let me tell you what the Lord said to me last night." "Tell me," he replied.

17 Samuel continued, "Although you once considered yourself unimportant, have you not become the leader of the tribes of Israel? The Lord anointed you king over Israel

18 and then sent you on a mission and said: 'Go and completely destroy the sinful Amalekites. Fight against them until you have annihilated them.'

19 So why didn't you obey the Lord? Why did you rush on the plunder and do what was evil in the Lord's sight?"

20 "But I did obey the Lord!" Saul answered. "I went on the mission the Lord gave me: I brought back Agag, king of Amalek, and I completely destroyed the Amalekites.

21 The troops took sheep and cattle from the plunder-the best of what was set apart for destruction-to sacrifice to the Lord your God at Gilgal."

22 Then Samuel said: Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? Look: to obey is better than sacrifice, to pay attention [is better] than the fat of rams.

23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and defiance is like wickedness and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, He has rejected you as king.

24 Saul answered Samuel, "I have sinned. I have transgressed the Lord's command and your words. Because I was afraid of the people, I obeyed them.

25 Now therefore, please forgive my sin and return with me so I can worship the Lord."

26 Samuel replied to Saul, "I will not return with you. Because you rejected the word of the Lord, the Lord has rejected you from being king over Israel."

27 When Samuel turned to go, Saul grabbed the hem of his robe, and it tore.

28 Samuel said to him, "The Lord has torn the kingship of Israel away from you today and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you.

29 Furthermore, the Eternal One of Israel does not lie or change His mind, for He is not man who changes his mind."

30 Saul said, "I have sinned. Please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Come back with me so I can bow and worship the Lord your God."

31 Then Samuel went back, following Saul, and Saul bowed down to the Lord.

32 Samuel said, "Bring me Agag king of Amalek." Agag came to him trembling, for he thought, "Certainly the bitterness of death has come."

33 Samuel declared: As your sword has made women childless, so your mother will be childless among women. Then he hacked Agag to pieces before the Lord at Gilgal.

34 Samuel went to Ramah, and Saul went up to his home in Gibeah of Saul.

35 Even to the day of his death, Samuel never again visited Saul. Samuel mourned for Saul, and the Lord regretted He had made Saul king over Israel.

Psalms 60

1 God, You have rejected us; You have broken out against us; You have been angry. Restore us!

2 You have shaken the land and split it open. Heal its fissures, for it shudders.

3 You have made Your people suffer hardship; You have given us a wine to drink that made us stagger.

4 You have given a signal flag to those who fear You, so that they can flee before the archers. Selah

5 Save with Your right hand, and answer me, so that those You love may be rescued.

6 God has spoken in His sanctuary: "I will triumph! I will divide up Shechem. I will apportion the Valley of Succoth.

7 Gilead is Mine, Manasseh is Mine, and Ephraim is My helmet; Judah is My scepter.

8 Moab is My washbasin; on Edom I throw My sandal. Over Philistia I shout in triumph."

9 Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?

10 Is it not You, God, who have rejected us? God, You do not march out with our armies.

11 Give us aid against the foe, for human help is worthless.

12 With God we will perform valiantly; He will trample our foes.