Thursday in Season after Pentecost

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

Isaiah 44:1-5

Verse 1. But now listen, O Jacob My servant, Israel, whom I have chosen. Verse 2. This is the word of the LORD, your Maker, who formed you from the womb and who will help you: “Do not be afraid, O Jacob My servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. Verse 3. For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and currents on the dry ground. I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing on your offspring. Verse 4. They will sprout among the grass like willows by flowing streams. Verse 5. One will say, ‘I belong to the LORD,’ another will call himself by the name of Jacob, and still another will write on his hand, ‘The LORD’s,’ and will take the name of Israel.”

PSALM

Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O LORD, You have searched me and known me.

You know when I sit and when I rise; You understand my thoughts from afar.

You search out my path and my lying down; You are aware of all my ways.

Even before a word is on my tongue, You know all about it, O LORD.

You hem me in behind and before; You have laid Your hand upon me.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

Where can I go to escape Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence?

If I ascend to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in Sheol, You are there.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle by the farthest sea,

even there Your hand will guide me; Your right hand will hold me fast.

If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me, and the light become night around me”—

even the darkness is not dark to You, but the night shines like the day, for darkness is as light to You.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns.

See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the way everlasting.

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

Isaiah 41:21-29

Verse 21. “Present your case,” says the LORD. “Submit your arguments,” says the King of Jacob. Verse 22. “Let them come and tell us what will happen. Tell the former things, so that we may reflect on them and know the outcome. Or announce to us what is coming. Verse 23. Tell us the things that are to come, so that we may know that you are gods. Yes, do something good or evil, that we may look on together in dismay. Verse 24. Behold, you are nothing and your work is of no value. Anyone who chooses you is detestable. Verse 25. I have raised up one from the north, and he has come — one from the east who calls on My name. He will march over rulers as if they were mortar, like a potter who treads the clay. Verse 26. Who has declared this from the beginning, so that we may know, and from times past, so that we may say: ‘He was right’? No one announced it, no one foretold it, no one heard your words. Verse 27. I was the first to tell Zion: ‘Look, here they are!’ And I gave to Jerusalem a herald of good news. Verse 28. When I look, there is no one; there is no counselor among them; when I ask them, they have nothing to say. Verse 29. See, they are all a delusion; their works amount to nothing; their images are as empty as the wind.[’’]

PSALM

Psalm 86:11-17

Teach me Your way, O LORD, that I may walk in Your truth. Give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name.

I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify Your name forever.

For great is Your loving devotion to me; You have delivered me from the depths of Sheol.

The arrogant rise against me, O God; a band of ruthless men seeks my life; they have no regard for You.

But You, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in loving devotion and faithfulness.

Turn to me and have mercy; grant Your strength to Your servant; save the son of Your maidservant.

Show me a sign of Your goodness, that my enemies may see and be ashamed; for You, O LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

SECOND READING

Hebrews 2:1-9

Verse 1. We must pay closer attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. Verse 2. For if the message spoken by angels was binding, and every transgression and disobedience received its just punishment, Verse 3. how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, Verse 4. and was affirmed by God through signs, wonders, various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to His will. Verse 5. For it is not to angels that He has subjected the world to come, about which we are speaking. Verse 6. But somewhere it is testified in these words: “What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You care for him? Verse 7. You made him a little lower than the angels; You crowned him with glory and honor Verse 8. and placed everything under his feet.” When God subjected all things to him, He left nothing outside of his control. Yet at present we do not see everything subject to him. Verse 9. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.