Open Word

FIRST READING

Joshua 10:16-27

Verse 16. Now the five kings had fled and hidden in the cave at Makkedah. Verse 17. And Joshua was informed: “The five kings have been found; they are hiding in the cave at Makkedah.” Verse 18. So Joshua said, “Roll large stones against the mouth of the cave, and post men there to guard them. Verse 19. But you, do not stop there. Pursue your enemies and attack them from behind. Do not let them reach their cities, for the LORD your God has delivered them into your hand.” Verse 20. So Joshua and the Israelites continued to inflict a terrible slaughter until they had finished them off, and the remaining survivors retreated to the fortified cities. Verse 21. The whole army returned safely to Joshua in the camp at Makkedah, and no one dared to utter a word against the Israelites. Verse 22. Then Joshua said, “Open the mouth of the cave and bring those five kings out to me.” Verse 23. So they brought the five kings out of the cave — the kings of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmuth, Lachish, and Eglon. Verse 24. When they had brought the kings to Joshua, he summoned all the men of Israel and said to the army commanders who had accompanied him, “Come here and put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So the commanders came forward and put their feet on their necks. Verse 25. “Do not be afraid or discouraged,” Joshua said. “Be strong and courageous, for the LORD will do this to all the enemies you fight.” Verse 26. After this, Joshua struck down and killed the kings, and he hung their bodies on five trees and left them there until evening. Verse 27. At sunset Joshua ordered that they be taken down from the trees and thrown into the cave in which they had hidden. Then large stones were placed against the mouth of the cave, and the stones are there to this day.

PSALM

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His loving devotion endures forever.

Let Israel say, “His loving devotion endures forever.”

The LORD is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation.

Shouts of joy and salvation resound in the tents of the righteous: “The right hand of the LORD performs with valor!

The right hand of the LORD is exalted! The right hand of the LORD performs with valor!”

I will not die, but I will live and proclaim what the LORD has done.

The LORD disciplined me severely, but He has not given me over to death.

Open to me the gates of righteousness, that I may enter and give thanks to the LORD.

This is the gate of the LORD; the righteous shall enter through it.

I will give You thanks, for You have answered me, and You have become my salvation.

The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

This is from the LORD, and it is marvelous in our eyes.

This is the day that the LORD has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

SECOND READING

1 Corinthians 5:6b-8

Verse 6. Do you not know that a little leaven works through the whole batch of dough? Verse 7. Get rid of the old leaven, that you may be a new unleavened batch, as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Verse 8. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with the old bread, leavened with malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and of truth.