Wednesday in Season after Pentecost

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

2 Samuel 5:17-25

Verse 17. When the Philistines heard that David had been anointed king over Israel, they all went in search of him; but David learned of this and went down to the stronghold. Verse 18. Now the Philistines had come and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. Verse 19. So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” “Go up,” replied the LORD, “for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hand.” Verse 20. So David went to Baal-perazim, where he defeated the Philistines and said, “Like a bursting flood, the LORD has burst out against my enemies before me.” So he called that place Baal-perazim. Verse 21. There the Philistines abandoned their idols, and David and his men carried them away. Verse 22. Once again the Philistines came up and spread out in the Valley of Rephaim. Verse 23. So David inquired of the LORD, who answered, “Do not march straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees. Verse 24. As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because this will mean that the LORD has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.” Verse 25. So David did as the LORD had commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.

PSALM

Psalm 21

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O LORD, the king rejoices in Your strength. How greatly he exults in Your salvation!

You have granted his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips.

For You welcomed him with rich blessings; You placed on his head a crown of pure gold.

He asked You for life, and You granted it— length of days, forever and ever.

Great is his glory in Your salvation; You bestow on him splendor and majesty.

For You grant him blessings forever; You cheer him with joy in Your presence.

For the king trusts in the LORD; through the loving devotion of the Most High, he will not be shaken.

Your hand will apprehend all Your enemies; Your right hand will seize those who hate You.

You will place them in a fiery furnace at the time of Your appearing. In His wrath the LORD will engulf them, and the fire will consume them.

You will wipe their descendants from the earth, and their offspring from the sons of men.

Though they intend You harm, the schemes they devise will not prevail.

For You will put them to flight when Your bow is trained upon them.

Be exalted, O LORD, in Your strength; we will sing and praise Your power.

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

Jeremiah 16:14-21

Verse 14. Yet behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when they will no longer say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of the land of Egypt.’ Verse 15. Instead they will say, ‘As surely as the LORD lives, who brought the Israelites up out of the land of the north and all the other lands to which He had banished them.’ For I will return them to their land that I gave to their forefathers. Verse 16. But for now I will send for many fishermen, declares the LORD, and they will catch them. After that I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them down on every mountain and hill, even from the clefts of the rocks. Verse 17. For My eyes are on all their ways. They are not hidden from My face, and their guilt is not concealed from My eyes. Verse 18. And I will first repay them double their iniquity and their sin, because they have defiled My land with the carcasses of their detestable idols, and they have filled My inheritance with their abominations.” Verse 19. O LORD, my strength and my fortress, my refuge in the day of distress, the nations will come to You from the ends of the earth, and they will say, “Our fathers inherited nothing but lies, worthless idols of no benefit at all. Verse 20. Can man make gods for himself? Such are not gods!” Verse 21. “Therefore behold, I will inform them, and this time I will make them know My power and My might; then they will know that My name is the LORD.[’’]

PSALM

Psalm 119:81-88

My soul faints for Your salvation; I wait for Your word.

My eyes fail, looking for Your promise; I ask, “When will You comfort me?”

Though I am like a wineskin dried up by smoke, I do not forget Your statutes.

How many days must Your servant wait? When will You execute judgment on my persecutors?

The arrogant have dug pits for me in violation of Your law.

All Your commandments are faithful; I am persecuted without cause— help me!

They almost wiped me from the earth, but I have not forsaken Your precepts.

Revive me according to Your loving devotion, that I may obey the testimony of Your mouth.

SECOND READING

John 7:1-9

Verse 1. After this, Jesus traveled throughout Galilee. He did not want to travel in Judea, because the Jews there were trying to kill Him. Verse 2. However, the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near. Verse 3. So Jesus’ brothers said to Him, “Leave here and go to Judea, so that Your disciples there may see the works You are doing. Verse 4. For no one who wants to be known publicly acts in secret. Since You are doing these things, show Yourself to the world.” Verse 5. For even His own brothers did not believe in Him. Verse 6. Therefore Jesus told them, “Although your time is always at hand, My time has not yet come. Verse 7. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me, because I testify that its works are evil. Verse 8. Go up to the feast on your own. I am not going up to this feast, because My time has not yet come.” Verse 9. Having said this, Jesus remained in Galilee.