Thursday in Season after Pentecost

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

2 Samuel 10:1-5

Verse 1. Some time later, the king of the Ammonites died and was succeeded by his son Hanun. Verse 2. And David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun son of Nahash, just as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent some of his servants to console Hanun concerning his father. But when they arrived in the land of the Ammonites, Verse 3. the princes of the Ammonites said to Hanun their lord, “Just because David has sent you comforters, do you really believe he is showing respect for your father? Has not David instead sent his servants to explore the city, spy it out, and overthrow it?” Verse 4. So Hanun took David’s servants, shaved off half of each man’s beard, cut off their garments at the hips, and sent them away. Verse 5. When this was reported to David, he sent messengers to meet the men, since they had been thoroughly humiliated. The king told them, “Stay in Jericho until your beards have grown back, and then return.”

PSALM

Psalm 14

For the choirmaster. Of David. The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt; their acts are vile. There is no one who does good.

The LORD looks down from heaven upon the sons of men to see if any understand, if any seek God.

All have turned away, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

Will the workers of iniquity never learn? They devour my people like bread; they refuse to call upon the LORD.

There they are, overwhelmed with dread, for God is in the company of the righteous.

You sinners frustrate the plans of the oppressed, yet the LORD is their shelter.

Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come from Zion! When the LORD restores His captive people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad!

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

1 Kings 19:19-21

Verse 19. So Elijah departed and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve teams of oxen, and he was with the twelfth team. Elijah passed by him and threw his cloak around him. Verse 20. So Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and then I will follow you.” “Go on back,” Elijah replied, “for what have I done to you?” Verse 21. So Elisha turned back from him, took his pair of oxen, and slaughtered them. Using the oxen’s equipment for fuel, he cooked the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow and serve Elijah.

PSALM

Psalm 145:10-18

All You have made will give You thanks, O LORD, and Your saints will bless You.

They will tell of the glory of Your kingdom and speak of Your might,

to make known to men Your mighty acts and the glorious splendor of Your kingdom.

Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures through all generations. The LORD is faithful in all His words and kind in all His actions.

The LORD upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.

The eyes of all look to You, and You give them their food in season.

You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing.

The LORD is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds.

The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call out to Him in truth.

SECOND READING

Colossians 1:9-14

Verse 9. For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, Verse 10. so that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, Verse 11. being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have full endurance and patience, and joyfully Verse 12. giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. Verse 13. He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, Verse 14. in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.