The Dream of Solomon, c. 1693, Luca Giordano, oil on canvas at the Museo del Prado, Madrid

Prime Timers

The Prime Timers were a Bible study group at St. Martin's for eight years. One of the goals of our founder, Jackie Rose, was to have a weekly web page for the group and all the pages are still online here. The group disbanded but the readings below follow the Revised Common Lectionary as adapted for use in Episcopal worship.

Lectionary readings

The Readings for Sunday, August 18 -- Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost: Track 1: 1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14; Psalm 111 Track 2: Proverbs 9:1-6; Psalm 34:9-14 for both: Ephesians 5:15-20 and John 6:51-58. The text is from the Bible Study Tools - New Revised Standard Version.

Track 1

1 Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14

¹⁰ Then David slept with his ancestors, and was buried in the city of David. ¹¹ The time that David reigned over Israel was forty years; he reigned seven years in Hebron, and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. ¹² So Solomon sat on the throne of his father David; and his kingdom was firmly established.

^3:3 Solomon loved the Lord, walking in the statutes of his father David; only, he sacrificed and offered incense at the high places. ⁴ The king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the principal high place; Solomon used to offer a thousand burnt offerings on that altar. ⁵ At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night; and God said, "Ask what I should give you." ⁶ And Solomon said, "You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant my father David, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you; and you have kept for him this great and steadfast love, and have given him a son to sit on his throne today. ⁷ And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David, although I am only a little child; I do not know how to go out or come in. ⁸ And your servant is in the midst of the people whom you have chosen, a great people, so numerous they cannot be numbered or counted. ⁹ Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, able to discern between good and evil; for who can govern this your great people?"

¹⁰ It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this. ¹¹ God said to him, "Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches, or for the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, ¹² I now do according to your word. Indeed I give you a wise and discerning mind; no one like you has been before you and no one like you shall arise after you. ¹³ I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor all your life; no other king shall compare with you. ¹⁴ If you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your life."

Psalm 111

¹ Praise the Lord!
     I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
     in the company of the upright, in the congregation.

² Great are the works of the Lord,
     studied by all who delight in them.

³ Full of honor and majesty is his work,
     and his righteousness endures forever.

⁴ He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds;
     the Lord is gracious and merciful.

⁵ He provides food for those who fear him;
     he is ever mindful of his covenant.

⁶ He has shown his people the power of his works,
     in giving them the heritage of the nations.

⁷ The works of his hands are faithful and just;
     all his precepts are trustworthy.

⁸ They are established forever and ever,
     to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness.

⁹ He sent redemption to his people;
     he has commanded his covenant forever.
     Holy and awesome is his name.

¹⁰ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
     all those who practice it have a good understanding.
     His praise endures forever.

Track 2

Proverbs 9:1-6

¹ Wisdom has built her house,
she has hewn her seven pillars.

² She has slaughtered her animals, she has mixed her wine,
she has also set her table.

³ She has sent out her servant-girls, she calls
from the highest places in the town,

⁴ "You that are simple, turn in here!"

To those without sense she says,
⁵ "Come, eat of my bread and drink of the wine I have mixed.

⁶ Lay aside immaturity, and live,
and walk in the way of insight."

Psalm 34:9-14

⁹ O fear the Lord, you his holy ones,
     for those who fear him have no want.

¹⁰ The young lions suffer want and hunger,
     but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

¹¹ Come, O children, listen to me;
     I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

¹² Which of you desires life,
     and covets many days to enjoy good?

¹³ Keep your tongue from evil,
     and your lips from speaking deceit.

¹⁴ Depart from evil, and do good;
     seek peace, and pursue it.

for both

Ephesians 5:15-20

¹⁵ Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, ²⁰ giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

John 6:51-58

Jesus said, ⁵¹ "I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh."

⁵² The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, "How can this man give us his flesh to eat?" ⁵³ So Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. ⁵⁴ Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day; ⁵⁵ for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. ⁵⁶ Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them. ⁵⁷ Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me. ⁵⁸ This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever."

Thanks to Bible Study Tools for today's text.