Wednesday in Season after Pentecost

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

2 Samuel 19:1-18

Verse 1. Then it was reported to Joab, “The king is weeping and mourning over Absalom.” Verse 2. And that day’s victory was turned into mourning for all the people, because on that day they were told, “The king is grieving over his son.” Verse 3. So they returned to the city quietly that day, as people steal away in humiliation after fleeing a battle. Verse 4. But the king covered his face and cried out at the top of his voice, “O my son Absalom! O Absalom, my son, my son!” Verse 5. Then Joab went into the house and said to the king, “Today you have disgraced all your servants who have saved your life and the lives of your sons and daughters, of your wives, and of your concubines. Verse 6. You love those who hate you and hate those who love you! For you have made it clear today that the commanders and soldiers mean nothing to you. I know today that if Absalom were alive and all of us were dead, it would have pleased you! Verse 7. Now therefore get up! Go out and speak comfort to your servants, for I swear by the LORD that if you do not go out, not a man will remain with you tonight. This will be worse for you than all the adversity that has befallen you from your youth until now!” Verse 8. So the king got up and sat in the gate, and all the people were told: “Behold, the king is sitting in the gate.” So they all came before the king. Meanwhile, the Israelites had fled, each man to his home. Verse 9. And all the people throughout the tribes of Israel were arguing, “The king rescued us from the hand of our enemies and delivered us from the hand of the Philistines, but now he has fled the land because of Absalom. Verse 10. But Absalom, the man we anointed over us, has died in battle. So why do you say nothing about restoring the king?” Verse 11. Then King David sent this message to Zadok and Abiathar, the priests: “Say to the elders of Judah, ‘Why should you be the last to restore the king to his palace, since the talk of all Israel has reached the king at his quarters? Verse 12. You are my brothers, my own flesh and blood. So why should you be the last to restore the king?’ Verse 13. And say to Amasa, ‘Aren’t you my flesh and blood? May God punish me, and ever so severely, if from now on you are not the commander of my army in place of Joab!’” Verse 14. So he swayed the hearts of all the men of Judah as though they were one man, and they sent word to the king: “Return, you and all your servants.” Verse 15. So the king returned, and when he arrived at the Jordan, the men of Judah came to Gilgal to meet him and escort him across the Jordan. Verse 16. Then Shimei son of Gera, a Benjamite from Bahurim, hurried down with the men of Judah to meet King David, Verse 17. along with a thousand men of Benjamin, as well as Ziba the steward of the house of Saul and his fifteen sons and twenty servants. They rushed down to the Jordan before the king Verse 18. and crossed at the ford to carry over the king’s household and to do what was good in his sight. When Shimei son of Gera crossed the Jordan, he fell down before the king

PSALM

Psalm 57

For the choirmaster. To the tune of “Do Not Destroy.” A Miktam of David, when he fled from Saul into the cave. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy, for in You my soul takes refuge. In the shadow of Your wings I will take shelter until the danger has passed.

I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me.

He reaches down from heaven and saves me; He rebukes those who trample me. God sends forth His loving devotion and His truth.

My soul is among the lions; I lie down with ravenous beasts— with men whose teeth are spears and arrows, whose tongues are sharp swords.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; may Your glory cover all the earth.

They spread a net for my feet; my soul was despondent. They dug a pit before me, but they themselves have fallen into it!

My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast. I will sing and make music.

Awake, my glory! Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.

I will praise You, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing Your praises among the peoples.

For Your loving devotion reaches to the heavens, and Your faithfulness to the clouds.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; may Your glory cover all the earth.

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

Jeremiah 31:1-6

Verse 1. “At that time,” declares the LORD, “I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be My people.” Verse 2. This is what the LORD says: “The people who survived the sword found favor in the wilderness when Israel went to find rest.” Verse 3. The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with loving devotion. Verse 4. Again I will build you, and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel. Again you will take up your tambourines and go out in joyful dancing. Verse 5. Again you will plant vineyards on the hills of Samaria; the farmers will plant and enjoy the fruit. Verse 6. For there will be a day when watchmen will call out on the hills of Ephraim, ‘Arise, let us go up to Zion, to the LORD our God!’”

PSALM

Psalm 81

For the choirmaster. According to Gittith. Of Asaph. Sing for joy to God our strength; make a joyful noise to the God of Jacob.

Lift up a song, strike the tambourine, play the sweet-sounding harp and lyre.

Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon, and at the full moon on the day of our Feast.

For this is a statute for Israel, an ordinance of the God of Jacob.

He ordained it as a testimony for Joseph when he went out over the land of Egypt, where I heard an unfamiliar language:

“I relieved his shoulder of the burden; his hands were freed from the basket.

You called out in distress, and I rescued you; I answered you from the cloud of thunder; I tested you at the waters of Meribah.

Hear, O My people, and I will warn you: O Israel, if only you would listen to Me!

There must be no strange god among you, nor shall you bow to a foreign god.

I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth, and I will fill it.

But My people would not listen to Me, and Israel would not obey Me.

So I gave them up to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices.

If only My people would listen to Me, if Israel would follow My ways,

how soon I would subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their foes!

Those who hate the LORD would feign obedience, and their doom would last forever.

But I would feed you the finest wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

SECOND READING

John 6:35-40

Verse 35. Jesus answered, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst. Verse 36. But as I stated, you have seen Me and still you do not believe. Verse 37. Everyone the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never drive away. Verse 38. For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but to do the will of Him who sent Me. Verse 39. And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that I shall lose none of those He has given Me, but raise them up at the last day. Verse 40. For it is My Father’s will that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in Him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.”