Tale of Two Kings

Tale of Two Kings

Today’s Readings

2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10

Already king over Judah, the southern kingdom, David here is anointed king over Israel, the northern kingdom, as well. Captured by David, Jerusalem is chosen as the political and religious center for the new combined territory. It is known ever after as “the city of David.”

5 Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron, and said, “Look, we are your bone and flesh.  2 For some time, while Saul was king over us, it was you who led out Israel and brought it in. The Lord said to you: It is you who shall be shepherd of my people Israel, you who shall be ruler over Israel.”  3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron; and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel.  4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.  5 At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

9 David occupied the stronghold, and named it the city of David. David built the city all around from the Millo inward.  10 And David became greater and greater, for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him.

Psalm 48

1 Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised
in the city of our God.
His holy mountain,  2 beautiful in elevation,
is the joy of all the earth,
Mount Zion, in the far north,
the city of the great King.

3 Within its citadels God
has shown himself a sure defense.

4 Then the kings assembled,
they came on together.

5 As soon as they saw it, they were astounded;
they were in panic, they took to flight;

6 trembling took hold of them there,
pains as of a woman in labor,

7 as when an east wind shatters
the ships of Tarshish.

8 As we have heard, so have we seen
in the city of the Lord of hosts,
in the city of our God,
which God establishes forever.Selah

9 We ponder your steadfast love, O God,
in the midst of your temple.

10 Your name, O God, like your praise,
reaches to the ends of the earth.
Your right hand is filled with victory.

11 Let Mount Zion be glad,
let the towns of Judah rejoice
because of your judgments.

12 Walk about Zion, go all around it,
count its towers,

13 consider well its ramparts;
go through its citadels,
that you may tell the next generation

14 that this is God,
our God forever and ever.
He will be our guide forever.

Ephesians 1:3-14


In Jesus, all of God’s plans and purposes have been made known as heaven and earth are united in Christ. Through Jesus, we have been chosen as God’s children and have been promised eternal salvation.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,  4 just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love.  5 He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will,  6 to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.  7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace  8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight  9 he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ,  10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.  11 In Christ we have also obtained an inheritance, having been destined according to the purpose of him who accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will,  12 so that we, who were the first to set our hope on Christ, might live for the praise of his glory.  13 In him you also, when you had heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and had believed in him, were marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit;  14 this is the pledge of our inheritance toward redemption as God’s own people, to the praise of his glory.

Mark 6:14-29

As Jesus and his disciples begin to attract attention, Mark recalls the story of John the Baptist’s martyrdom. Like John, Jesus and his disciples will also suffer at the hands of those opposed to the gospel of salvation.

14 King Herod heard of it, for Jesus’ name had become known. Some were saying, “John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; and for this reason these powers are at work in him.”  15 But others said, “It is Elijah.” And others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.”  16 But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.”

17 For Herod himself had sent men who arrested John, bound him, and put him in prison on account of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, because Herod had married her.  18 For John had been telling Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”  19 And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not,  20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he protected him. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed; and yet he liked to listen to him.  21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and for the leaders of Galilee.  22 When his daughter Herodias came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it.”  23 And he solemnly swore to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.”  24 She went out and said to her mother, “What should I ask for?” She replied, “The head of John the baptizer.”  25 Immediately she rushed back to the king and requested, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”  26 The king was deeply grieved; yet out of regard for his oaths and for the guests, he did not want to refuse her.  27 Immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard with orders to bring John’s head. He went and beheaded him in the prison,  28 brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl. Then the girl gave it to her mother.  29 When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.