Friday in Season after Pentecost

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

Exodus 10:21-29

Verse 21. Then the LORD said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, so that darkness may spread over the land of Egypt — a palpable darkness.” Verse 22. So Moses stretched out his hand toward heaven, and total darkness covered all the land of Egypt for three days. Verse 23. No one could see anyone else, and for three days no one left his place. Yet all the Israelites had light in their dwellings. Verse 24. Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and said, “Go, worship the LORD. Even your little ones may go with you; only your flocks and herds must stay behind.” Verse 25. But Moses replied, “You must also provide us with sacrifices and burnt offerings to present to the LORD our God. Verse 26. Even our livestock must go with us; not a hoof will be left behind, for we will need some of them to worship the LORD our God, and we will not know how we are to worship the LORD until we arrive.” Verse 27. But the LORD hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he was unwilling to let them go. Verse 28. “Depart from me!” Pharaoh said to Moses. “Make sure you never see my face again, for on the day you see my face, you will die.” Verse 29. “As you say,” Moses replied, “I will never see your face again.”

PSALM

Psalm 149

Hallelujah! Sing to the LORD a new song — His praise in the assembly of the godly.

Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King.

Let them praise His name with dancing, and make music to Him with tambourine and harp.

For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He adorns the afflicted with salvation.

Let the saints exult in glory; let them shout for joy upon their beds.

May the high praises of God be in their mouths, and a double-edged sword in their hands,

to inflict vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples,

to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with shackles of iron,

to execute the judgment written against them. This honor is for all His saints. Hallelujah!

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

Ezekiel 24:15-27

Verse 15. Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, Verse 16. “Son of man, behold, I am about to take away the desire of your eyes with a fatal blow. But you must not mourn or weep or let your tears flow. Verse 17. Groan quietly; do not mourn for the dead. Put on your turban and strap your sandals on your feet; do not cover your lips or eat the bread of mourners.” Verse 18. So I spoke to the people in the morning, and in the evening my wife died. And the next morning I did as I had been commanded. Verse 19. Then the people asked me, “Won’t you tell us what these things you are doing mean to us?” Verse 20. So I answered them, “The word of the LORD came to me, saying: Verse 21. Tell the house of Israel that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘I am about to desecrate My sanctuary, the pride of your power, the desire of your eyes, and the delight of your soul. And the sons and daughters you left behind will fall by the sword.’ Verse 22. Then you will do as I have done: You will not cover your lips or eat the bread of mourners. Verse 23. Your turbans will remain on your heads and your sandals on your feet. You will not mourn or weep, but you will waste away because of your sins, and you will groan among yourselves. Verse 24. ‘Thus Ezekiel will be a sign for you; you will do everything that he has done. When this happens, you will know that I am the Lord GOD.’ Verse 25. And you, son of man, know that on the day I take away their stronghold, their pride and joy — the desire of their eyes which uplifted their souls — and their sons and daughters as well, Verse 26. on that day a fugitive will come and tell you the news. Verse 27. On that day your mouth will be opened to him who has escaped; you will speak and no longer be mute. So you will be a sign to them, and they will know that I am the LORD.”

PSALM

Psalm 119:33-40

Teach me, O LORD, the way of Your statutes, and I will keep them to the end.

Give me understanding that I may obey Your law, and follow it with all my heart.

Direct me in the path of Your commandments, for there I find delight.

Turn my heart to Your testimonies and not to covetous gain.

Turn my eyes away from worthless things; revive me with Your word.

Establish Your word to Your servant, to produce reverence for You.

Turn away the disgrace I dread, for Your judgments are good.

How I long for Your precepts! Revive me in Your righteousness.

SECOND READING

Romans 10:15b-21

Verse 15. As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Verse 16. But not all of them welcomed the good news. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our message?” Verse 17. Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Verse 18. But I ask, did they not hear? Indeed they did: “Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” Verse 19. I ask instead, did Israel not understand? First, Moses says: “I will make you jealous by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation without understanding.” Verse 20. And Isaiah boldly says: “I was found by those who did not seek Me; I revealed Myself to those who did not ask for Me.” Verse 21. But as for Israel he says: “All day long I have held out My hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”