Open Word

FIRST READING

1 Chronicles 21:1-17

Verse 1. Then Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel. Verse 2. So David said to Joab and the commanders of the troops, “Go and count the Israelites from Beersheba to Dan and bring me a report, so that I may know their number.” Verse 3. But Joab replied, “May the LORD multiply His troops a hundred times over. My lord the king, are they not all servants of my lord? Why does my lord want to do this? Why should he bring guilt on Israel?” Verse 4. Nevertheless , the king’s word prevailed against Joab. So Joab departed and traveled throughout Israel, and then he returned to Jerusalem. Verse 5. And Joab reported to David the total number of the troops. In all Israel there were 1,100,000 men who drew the sword, including 470,000 in Judah. Verse 6. But Joab did not include Levi and Benjamin in the count, because the king’s command was detestable to him. Verse 7. This command was also evil in the sight of God; so He struck Israel. Verse 8. Then David said to God, “I have sinned greatly because I have done this thing. Now I beg You to take away the iniquity of Your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.” Verse 9. And the LORD instructed Gad, David’s seer, Verse 10. “Go and tell David that this is what the LORD says: ‘I am offering you three options. Choose one of them, and I will carry it out against you.’” Verse 11. So Gad went and said to David, “This is what the LORD says: ‘You must choose Verse 12. between three years of famine, three months of being swept away before your enemies and overtaken by their swords, or three days of the sword of the LORD— days of plague upon the land, with the angel of the LORD ravaging every part of Israel.’ Now then, decide how I should reply to Him who sent me.” Verse 13. David answered Gad, “I am deeply distressed. Please, let me fall into the hand of the LORD, for His mercies are very great; but do not let me fall into the hands of men.” Verse 14. So the LORD sent a plague upon Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell dead. Verse 15. Then God sent an angel to destroy Jerusalem, but as the angel was doing so, the LORD saw it and relented from the calamity, and He said to the angel who was destroying the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand now!” At that time the angel of the LORD was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite. Verse 16. When David lifted up his eyes and saw the angel of the LORD standing between heaven and earth, with a drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem, David and the elders, clothed in sackcloth, fell facedown. Verse 17. And David said to God, “Was it not I who gave the order to count the people? I am the one who has sinned and acted wickedly. But these sheep, what have they done? O LORD my God, please let Your hand fall upon me and my father’s house, but do not let this plague remain upon Your people.”

PSALM

Psalm 17

A prayer of David. Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer— it comes from lips free of deceit.

May my vindication come from Your presence; may Your eyes see what is right.

You have tried my heart; You have visited me in the night. You have tested me and found no evil; I have resolved not to sin with my mouth.

As for the deeds of men — by the word of Your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent.

My steps have held to Your paths; my feet have not slipped.

I call on You, O God, for You will answer me. Incline Your ear to me; hear my words.

Show the wonders of Your loving devotion, You who save by Your right hand those who seek refuge from their foes.

Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings

from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.

They have closed their callous hearts; their mouths speak with arrogance.

They have tracked us down, and now surround us; their eyes are set to cast us to the ground,

like a lion greedy for prey, like a young lion lurking in ambush.

Arise, O LORD, confront them! Bring them to their knees; deliver me from the wicked by Your sword,

from such men, O LORD, by Your hand— from men of the world whose portion is in this life. May You fill the bellies of Your treasured ones and satisfy their sons, so they leave their abundance to their children.

As for me, I will behold Your face in righteousness; when I awake, I will be satisfied in Your presence.

SECOND READING

1 John 2:1-6

Verse 1. My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father — Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. Verse 2. He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. Verse 3. By this we can be sure that we have come to know Him: if we keep His commandments. Verse 4. If anyone says, “I know Him,” but does not keep His commandments, he is a liar, and the truth is not in him. Verse 5. But if anyone keeps His word, the love of God has been truly perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him: Verse 6. Whoever claims to abide in Him must walk as Jesus walked.