Open Word

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

Genesis 24:28-42

Verse 28. The girl ran and told her mother’s household about these things. Verse 29. Now Rebekah had a brother named Laban, and he rushed out to the man at the spring. Verse 30. As soon as he saw the ring, and the bracelets on his sister’s wrists, and heard Rebekah’s words, “The man said this to me,” he went and found the man standing by the camels near the spring. Verse 31. “Come, you who are blessed by the LORD,” said Laban. “Why are you standing out here? I have prepared the house and a place for the camels.” Verse 32. So the man came to the house, and the camels were unloaded. Straw and feed were brought to the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of his companions. Verse 33. Then a meal was set before the man, but he said, “I will not eat until I have told you what I came to say.” So Laban said, “Please speak.” Verse 34. “I am Abraham’s servant,” he replied. Verse 35. “The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become rich. He has given him sheep and cattle, silver and gold, menservants and maidservants, camels and donkeys. Verse 36. My master’s wife Sarah has borne him a son in her old age, and my master has given him everything he owns. Verse 37. My master made me swear an oath and said, ‘You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites in whose land I dwell, Verse 38. but you shall go to my father’s house and to my kindred to take a wife for my son.’ Verse 39. Then I asked my master, ‘What if the woman will not come back with me?’ Verse 40. And he told me, ‘The LORD, before whom I have walked, will send His angel with you and make your journey a success, so that you may take a wife for my son from my kindred and from my father’s house. Verse 41. And when you go to my kindred, if they refuse to give her to you, then you will be released from my oath.’ Verse 42. So when I came to the spring today, I prayed: O LORD, God of my master Abraham, if only You would make my journey a success!

PSALM

Psalm 113

Hallelujah! Give praise, O servants of the LORD; praise the name of the LORD.

Blessed be the name of the LORD both now and forevermore.

From where the sun rises to where it sets, the name of the LORD is praised.

The LORD is exalted over all the nations, His glory above the heavens.

Who is like the LORD our God, the One enthroned on high?

He humbles Himself to behold the heavens and the earth.

He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the dump

to seat them with nobles, with the princes of His people.

He settles the barren woman in her home as a joyful mother to her children. Hallelujah!

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

Ruth 4:7-22

Verse 7. Now in former times in Israel, concerning the redemption or exchange of property, to make any matter legally binding a man would remove his sandal and give it to the other party, and this was a confirmation in Israel. Verse 8. So the kinsman-redeemer removed his sandal and said to Boaz, “Buy it for yourself.” Verse 9. At this, Boaz said to the elders and all the people, “You are witnesses today that I am buying from Naomi all that belonged to Elimelech, Chilion, and Mahlon. Verse 10. Moreover, I have acquired Ruth the Moabitess, Mahlon’s widow, as my wife, to raise up the name of the deceased through his inheritance, so that his name will not disappear from among his brothers or from the gate of his home. You are witnesses today.” Verse 11. “We are witnesses,” said the elders and all the people at the gate. “May the LORD make the woman entering your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you be prosperous in Ephrathah and famous in Bethlehem. Verse 12. And may your house become like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring the LORD will give you by this young woman.” Verse 13. So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife. And when he had relations with her, the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. Verse 14. Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed be the LORD, who has not left you this day without a kinsman-redeemer. May his name become famous in Israel. Verse 15. He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth.” Verse 16. And Naomi took the child, placed him on her lap, and became a nurse to him. Verse 17. The neighbor women said, “A son has been born to Naomi,” and they named him Obed. He became the father of Jesse, the father of David. Verse 18. Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron, Verse 19. Hezron was the father of Ram, Ram was the father of Amminadab, Verse 20. Amminadab was the father of Nahshon, Nahshon was the father of Salmon, Verse 21. Salmon was the father of Boaz, Boaz was the father of Obed, Verse 22. Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of David.

PSALM

Psalm 94

O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth.

Rise up, O Judge of the earth; render a reward to the proud.

How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked exult?

They pour out arrogant words; all workers of iniquity boast.

They crush Your people, O LORD; they oppress Your heritage.

They kill the widow and the foreigner; they murder the fatherless.

They say, “The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob pays no heed.”

Take notice, O senseless among the people! O fools, when will you be wise?

He who affixed the ear, can He not hear? He who formed the eye, can He not see?

He who admonishes the nations, does He not discipline? He who teaches man, does He lack knowledge?

The LORD knows the thoughts of man, that they are futile.

Blessed is the man You discipline, O LORD, and teach from Your law,

to grant him relief from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked.

For the LORD will not forsake His people; He will never abandon His heritage.

Surely judgment will again be righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it.

Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will stand for me against the workers of iniquity?

Unless the LORD had been my helper, I would soon have dwelt in the abode of silence.

If I say, “My foot is slipping,” Your loving devotion, O LORD, supports me.

When anxiety overwhelms me, Your consolation delights my soul.

Can a corrupt throne be Your ally — one devising mischief by decree?

They band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.

But the LORD has been my stronghold, and my God is my rock of refuge.

He will bring upon them their own iniquity and destroy them for their wickedness. The LORD our God will destroy them.

SECOND READING

Luke 4:16-30

Verse 16. Then Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath. And when He stood up to read, Verse 17. the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. Unrolling it, He found the place where it was written: Verse 18. “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, Verse 19. to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Verse 20. Then He rolled up the scroll, returned it to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him, Verse 21. and He began by saying, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Verse 22. All spoke well of Him and marveled at the gracious words that came from His lips. “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” they asked. Verse 23. Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to Me: ‘Physician, heal yourself! Do here in Your hometown what we have heard that You did in Capernaum.’” Verse 24. Then He added, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in his hometown. Verse 25. But I tell you truthfully that there were many widows in Israel in the time of Elijah, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and great famine swept over all the land. Verse 26. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to the widow of Zarephath in Sidon. Verse 27. And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet. Yet not one of them was cleansed— only Naaman the Syrian.” Verse 28. On hearing this, all the people in the synagogue were enraged. Verse 29. They got up, drove Him out of the town, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw Him over the cliff. Verse 30. But Jesus passed through the crowd and went on His way.