Open Word

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

Isaiah 43:1-7

Verse 1. But now, this is what the LORD says— He who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine! Verse 2. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you go through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched; the flames will not set you ablaze. Verse 3. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I give Egypt for your ransom, Cush and Seba in your place. Verse 4. Because you are precious and honored in My sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you and nations in place of your life. Verse 5. Do not be afraid, for I am with you; I will bring your offspring from the east and gather you from the west. Verse 6. I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back!’ Bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth— Verse 7. everyone called by My name and created for My glory, whom I have indeed formed and made.”

PSALM

Psalm 17:1-7, 15

A prayer of David. Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer— it comes from lips free of deceit.

May my vindication come from Your presence; may Your eyes see what is right.

You have tried my heart; You have visited me in the night. You have tested me and found no evil; I have resolved not to sin with my mouth.

As for the deeds of men — by the word of Your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.

My steps have held to Your paths; my feet have not slipped.

I call on You, O God, for You will answer me. Incline Your ear to me; hear my words.

Show the wonders of Your loving devotion, You who save by Your right hand those who seek refuge from their foes.

As for me, I will behold Your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied in Your presence.

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

Exodus 16:2-15, 31-35

Verse 2. And there in the desert the whole congregation of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron. Verse 3. “If only we had died by the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt!” they said. “There we sat by pots of meat and ate our fill of bread, but you have brought us into this desert to starve this whole assembly to death!” Verse 4. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to go out and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test whether or not they will follow My instructions. Verse 5. Then on the sixth day, when they prepare what they bring in, it will be twice as much as they gather on the other days.” Verse 6. So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, “This evening you will know that it was the LORD who brought you out of the land of Egypt, Verse 7. and in the morning you will see the LORD’s glory, because He has heard your grumbling against Him. For who are we, that you should grumble against us?” Verse 8. And Moses added, “The LORD will give you meat to eat this evening and bread to fill you in the morning, for He has heard your grumbling against Him. Who are we? Your grumblings are not against us but against the LORD.” Verse 9. Then Moses said to Aaron, “Tell the whole congregation of Israel, ‘Come before the LORD, for He has heard your grumbling.’” Verse 10. And as Aaron was speaking to the whole congregation of Israel, they looked toward the desert, and there in a cloud the glory of the LORD appeared. Verse 11. Then the LORD said to Moses, Verse 12. “I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, ‘At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the LORD your God.’” Verse 13. That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. Verse 14. When the layer of dew had evaporated, there were thin flakes on the desert floor, as fine as frost on the ground. Verse 15. When the Israelites saw it, they asked one another, “What is it?” For they did not know what it was. So Moses told them, “It is the bread that the LORD has given you to eat. Verse 31. Now the house of Israel called the bread manna. It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. Verse 32. Moses said, “This is what the LORD has commanded: ‘Keep an omer of manna for the generations to come, so that they may see the bread I fed you in the wilderness when I brought you out of the land of Egypt.’” Verse 33. So Moses told Aaron, “Take a jar and fill it with an omer of manna. Then place it before the LORD to be preserved for the generations to come.” Verse 34. And Aaron placed it in front of the Testimony, to be preserved just as the LORD had commanded Moses. Verse 35. The Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a land where they could settle; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan.

PSALM

Psalm 78:1-8, 17-29

A Maskil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my instruction; listen to the words of my mouth.

I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter things hidden from the beginning,

that we have heard and known and our fathers have relayed to us.

We will not hide them from their children but will declare to the next generation the praises of the LORD and His might and the wonders He has performed.

For He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which He commanded our fathers to teach to their children,

that the coming generation would know them— even children yet to be born— to arise and tell their own children

that they should put their confidence in God, not forgetting His works, but keeping His commandments.

Then they will not be like their fathers, a stubborn and rebellious generation, whose heart was not loyal, whose spirit was not faithful to God.

But they continued to sin against Him, rebelling in the desert against the Most High.

They willfully tested God by demanding the food they craved.

They spoke against God, saying, “Can God really prepare a table in the wilderness?

When He struck the rock, water gushed out and torrents raged. But can He also give bread or supply His people with meat?”

Therefore the LORD heard and was filled with wrath; so a fire was kindled against Jacob, and His anger flared against Israel,

because they did not believe God or rely on His salvation.

Yet He commanded the clouds above and opened the doors of the heavens.

He rained down manna for them to eat; He gave them grain from heaven.

Man ate the bread of angels; He sent them food in abundance.

He stirred the east wind from the heavens and drove the south wind by His might.

He rained meat on them like dust, and winged birds like the sand of the sea.

He felled them in the midst of their camp, all around their dwellings.

So they ate and were well filled, for He gave them what they craved.

SECOND READING

Matthew 15:32-39

Verse 32. Then Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, “I have compassion for this crowd, because they have already been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may faint along the way.” Verse 33. The disciples replied, “Where in this desolate place could we find enough bread to feed such a large crowd?” Verse 34. “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied, “and a few small fish.” Verse 35. And He instructed the crowd to sit down on the ground. Verse 36. Taking the seven loaves and the fish, He gave thanks and broke them. Then He gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people. Verse 37. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up seven basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. Verse 38. A total of four thousand men were fed, besides women and children. Verse 39. After Jesus had dismissed the crowds, He got into the boat and went to the region of Magadan.