Saturday in Season after Pentecost

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

Numbers 10:11-36

Verse 11. On the twentieth day of the second month of the second year, the cloud was lifted from above the tabernacle of the Testimony, Verse 12. and the Israelites set out from the Wilderness of Sinai, traveling from place to place until the cloud settled in the Wilderness of Paran. Verse 13. They set out this first time according to the LORD’s command through Moses. Verse 14. First, the divisions of the camp of Judah set out under their standard, with Nahshon son of Amminadab in command. Verse 15. Nethanel son of Zuar was over the division of the tribe of Issachar, Verse 16. and Eliab son of Helon was over the division of the tribe of Zebulun. Verse 17. Then the tabernacle was taken down, and the Gershonites and the Merarites set out, transporting it. Verse 18. Then the divisions of the camp of Reuben set out under their standard, with Elizur son of Shedeur in command. Verse 19. Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai was over the division of the tribe of Simeon, Verse 20. and Eliasaph son of Deuel was over the division of the tribe of Gad. Verse 21. Then the Kohathites set out, transporting the holy objects; the tabernacle was to be set up before their arrival. Verse 22. Next, the divisions of the camp of Ephraim set out under their standard, with Elishama son of Ammihud in command. Verse 23. Gamaliel son of Pedahzur was over the division of the tribe of Manasseh, Verse 24. and Abidan son of Gideoni was over the division of the tribe of Benjamin. Verse 25. Finally, the divisions of the camp of Dan set out under their standard, serving as the rear guard for all units, with Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai in command. Verse 26. Pagiel son of Ocran was over the division of the tribe of Asher, Verse 27. and Ahira son of Enan was over the division of the tribe of Naphtali. Verse 28. This was the order of march for the Israelite divisions as they set out. Verse 29. Then Moses said to Hobab, the son of Moses’ father-in-law Reuel the Midianite, “We are setting out for the place of which the LORD said: ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will treat you well, for the LORD has promised good things to Israel.” Verse 30. “I will not go,” Hobab replied. “Instead, I am going back to my own land and my own people.” Verse 31. “Please do not leave us,” Moses said, “since you know where we should camp in the wilderness, and you can serve as our eyes. Verse 32. If you come with us, we will share with you whatever good things the LORD gives us.” Verse 33. So they set out on a three-day journey from the mountain of the LORD, with the ark of the covenant of the LORD traveling ahead of them for those three days to seek a resting place for them. Verse 34. And the cloud of the LORD was over them by day when they set out from the camp. Verse 35. Whenever the ark set out, Moses would say, “Rise up, O LORD! May Your enemies be scattered; may those who hate You flee before You.” Verse 36. And when it came to rest, he would say: “Return, O LORD, to the countless thousands of Israel.”

PSALM

Psalm 24

A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof, the world and all who dwell therein.

For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.

Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in His holy place?

He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear deceitfully.

He will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from the God of his salvation.

Such is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face, O God of Jacob.

Lift up your heads, O gates! Be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of Glory may enter!

Who is this King of Glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.

Lift up your heads, O gates! Be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of Glory may enter!

Who is He, this King of Glory? The LORD of Hosts — He is the King of Glory.

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

Amos 4:6-13

Verse 6. “I afflicted all your cities with cleanness of teeth and all your towns with lack of bread, yet you did not return to Me,” Verse 7. “I also withheld the rain from you when the harvest was three months away. I sent rain on one city but withheld it from another. One field received rain; another without rain withered. Verse 8. People staggered from city to city for water to drink, but they were not satisfied; yet you did not return to Me,” Verse 9. “I struck you with blight and mildew in your growing gardens and vineyards; the locust devoured your fig and olive trees, yet you did not return to Me,” Verse 10. “I sent plagues among you like those of Egypt; I killed your young men with the sword, along with your captured horses. I filled your nostrils with the stench of your camp, yet you did not return to Me,” Verse 11. “Some of you I overthrew as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah, and you were like a firebrand snatched from a blaze, yet you did not return to Me,” Verse 12. “Therefore, that is what I will do to you, O Israel, and since I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God, O Israel! Verse 13. For behold, He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind and reveals His thoughts to man, who turns the dawn to darkness and strides on the heights of the earth— the LORD, the God of Hosts, is His name.”

PSALM

Psalm 85:8-13

I will listen to what God the LORD will say; for He will surely speak peace to His people and His saints; He will not let them return to folly.

Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that His glory may dwell in our land.

Loving devotion and faithfulness have joined together; righteousness and peace have kissed.

Faithfulness sprouts from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven.

The LORD will indeed provide what is good, and our land will yield its increase.

Righteousness will go before Him to prepare the way for His steps.

SECOND READING

Luke 1:57-80

Verse 57. When the time came for Elizabeth to have her child, she gave birth to a son. Verse 58. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they rejoiced with her. Verse 59. On the eighth day, when they came to circumcise the child, they were going to name him after his father Zechariah. Verse 60. But his mother replied, “No! He shall be called John.” Verse 61. They said to her, “There is no one among your relatives who bears this name.” Verse 62. So they made signs to his father to find out what he wanted to name the child. Verse 63. Zechariah asked for a tablet and wrote, “His name is John.” And they were all amazed. Verse 64. Immediately Zechariah’s mouth was opened and his tongue was released, and he began to speak, praising God. Verse 65. All their neighbors were filled with awe, and people throughout the hill country of Judea were talking about these events. Verse 66. And all who heard this wondered in their hearts and asked, “What then will this child become?” For the Lord’s hand was with him. Verse 67. Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: Verse 68. “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people. Verse 69. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David, Verse 70. as He spoke through His holy prophets, those of ages past, Verse 71. salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, Verse 72. to show mercy to our fathers and to remember His holy covenant, Verse 73. the oath He swore to our father Abraham, to grant us Verse 74. deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear, Verse 75. in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives. Verse 76. And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for Him, Verse 77. to give to His people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, Verse 78. because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the Dawn will visit us from on high, Verse 79. to shine on those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” Verse 80. And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until the time of his public appearance to Israel.