Open Word

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

Genesis 18:16-33

Verse 16. When the men got up to leave, they looked out over Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them off. Verse 17. And the LORD said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? Verse 18. Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and through him all the nations of the earth will be blessed. Verse 19. For I have chosen him, so that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is right and just, in order that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has promised.” Verse 20. Then the LORD said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is great. Because their sin is so grievous, Verse 21. I will go down to see if their actions fully justify the outcry that has reached Me. If not, I will find out.” Verse 22. And the two men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD. Verse 23. Abraham stepped forward and said, “Will You really sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Verse 24. What if there are fifty righteous ones in the city? Will You really sweep it away and not spare the place for the sake of the fifty righteous ones who are there? Verse 25. Far be it from You to do such a thing — to kill the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?” Verse 26. So the LORD replied, “If I find fifty righteous ones within the city of Sodom, on their account I will spare the whole place.” Verse 27. Then Abraham answered, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord— though I am but dust and ashes— Verse 28. suppose the fifty righteous ones lack five. Will You destroy the whole city for the lack of five?” He replied, “If I find forty-five there, I will not destroy it.” Verse 29. Once again Abraham spoke to the LORD, “Suppose forty are found there?” He answered, “On account of the forty, I will not do it.” Verse 30. Then Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak further. Suppose thirty are found there?” He replied, “If I find thirty there, I will not do it.” Verse 31. And Abraham said, “Now that I have ventured to speak to the Lord, suppose twenty are found there?” He answered, “On account of the twenty, I will not destroy it.” Verse 32. Finally, Abraham said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak once more. Suppose ten are found there?” And He answered, “On account of the ten, I will not destroy it.” Verse 33. When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, He departed, and Abraham returned home.

PSALM

Psalm 119:41-48

May Your loving devotion come to me, O LORD, Your salvation, according to Your promise.

Then I can answer him who taunts, for I trust in Your word.

Never take Your word of truth from my mouth, for I hope in Your judgments.

I will always obey Your law, forever and ever.

And I will walk in freedom, for I have sought Your precepts.

I will speak of Your testimonies before kings, and I will not be ashamed.

I delight in Your commandments because I love them.

I lift up my hands to Your commandments, which I love, and I meditate on Your statutes.

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

Hosea 14:1-9

Verse 1. Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God, for you have stumbled by your iniquity. Verse 2. Bring your confessions and return to the LORD. Say to Him: “Take away all our iniquity and receive us graciously, that we may present the fruit of our lips. Verse 3. Assyria will not save us, nor will we ride on horses. We will never again say, ‘Our gods!’ to the work of our own hands. For in You the fatherless find compassion.” Verse 4. I will heal their apostasy; I will freely love them, for My anger has turned away from them. Verse 5. I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like the lily and take root like the cedars of Lebanon. Verse 6. His shoots will sprout, and his splendor will be like the olive tree, his fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon. Verse 7. They will return and dwell in his shade; they will grow grain and blossom like the vine. His renown will be like the wine of Lebanon. Verse 8. O Ephraim, what have I to do anymore with idols? It is I who answer and watch over him. I am like a flourishing cypress; your fruit comes from Me. Verse 9. Whoever is wise, let him understand these things; whoever is discerning, let him know them. For the ways of the LORD are right, and the righteous walk in them but the rebellious stumble in them.

PSALM

Psalm 40:1-8

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; He inclined to me and heard my cry.

He lifted me up from the pit of despair, out of the miry clay; He set my feet upon a rock, and made my footsteps firm.

He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.

Blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, who has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.

Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders You have done, and the plans You have for us — none can compare to You — if I proclaim and declare them, they are more than I can count.

Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but my ears You have opened. Burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not require.

Then I said, “Here I am, I have come — it is written about me in the scroll:

I delight to do Your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.”

SECOND READING

Matthew 12:1-8

Verse 1. At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick the heads of grain and eat them. Verse 2. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to Him, “Look, Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.” Verse 3. Jesus replied, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? Verse 4. He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for them to eat, but only for the priests. Verse 5. Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple break the Sabbath and yet are innocent? Verse 6. But I tell you that One greater than the temple is here. Verse 7. If only you had known the meaning of ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. Verse 8. For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”