Wednesday in Season after Pentecost

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

2 Samuel 6:16-23

Verse 16. As the ark of the LORD was entering the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked down from a window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the LORD, and she despised him in her heart. Verse 17. So they brought the ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. Verse 18. When David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of Hosts. Verse 19. Then he distributed to every man and woman among the multitude of Israel a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. And all the people departed, each to his own home. Verse 20. When David returned home to bless his own household, Saul’s daughter Michal came out to meet him. “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today!” she said. “He has uncovered himself today in the sight of the maidservants of his subjects, like a vulgar person would do.” Verse 21. But David said to Michal, “I was dancing before the LORD, who chose me over your father and all his house when He appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel. I will celebrate before the LORD, Verse 22. and I will humiliate and humble myself even more than this. Yet I will be honored by the maidservants of whom you have spoken.” Verse 23. And Michal the daughter of Saul had no children to the day of her death.

PSALM

Psalm 68:24-35

They have seen Your procession, O God — the march of my God and King into the sanctuary.

The singers lead the way, the musicians follow after, among the maidens playing tambourines.

Bless God in the great congregation; bless the LORD from the fountain of Israel.

There is Benjamin, the youngest, ruling them, the princes of Judah in their company, the princes of Zebulun and of Naphtali.

Summon Your power, O God; show Your strength, O God, which You have exerted on our behalf.

Because of Your temple at Jerusalem kings will bring You gifts.

Rebuke the beast in the reeds, the herd of bulls among the calves of the nations, until it submits, bringing bars of silver. Scatter the nations who delight in war.

Envoys will arrive from Egypt; Cush will stretch out her hands to God.

Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth; sing praises to the Lord—

to Him who rides upon the highest heavens of old; behold, His mighty voice resounds.

Ascribe the power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose strength is in the skies.

O God, You are awesome in Your sanctuary; the God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to His people. Blessed be God!

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

Amos 9:11-15

Verse 11. “In that day I will restore the fallen tent of David. I will repair its gaps, restore its ruins, and rebuild it as in the days of old, Verse 12. that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations that bear My name,” Verse 13. “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when the plowman will overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes, the sower of seed. The mountains will drip with sweet wine, with which all the hills will flow. Verse 14. I will restore My people Israel from captivity; they will rebuild and inhabit the ruined cities. They will plant vineyards and drink their wine; they will make gardens and eat their fruit. Verse 15. I will firmly plant them in their own land, never again to be uprooted from the land that I have given them,”

PSALM

Psalm 142

A Maskil of David, when he was in the cave. A prayer. I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift my voice to the LORD for mercy.

I pour out my complaint before Him; I reveal my trouble to Him.

Although my spirit grows faint within me, You know my way. Along the path I travel they have hidden a snare for me.

Look to my right and see; no one attends to me. There is no refuge for me; no one cares for my soul.

I cry to You, O LORD: “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”

Listen to my cry, for I am brought quite low. Rescue me from my pursuers, for they are too strong for me.

Free my soul from prison, that I may praise Your name. The righteous will gather around me because of Your goodness to me.

SECOND READING

Luke 7:31-35

Verse 31. “To what, then, can I compare the men of this generation? What are they like? Verse 32. They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to one another: ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not weep.’ Verse 33. For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon!’ Verse 34. The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at this glutton and drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Verse 35. But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”