Open Word

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

2 Kings 5:15-19a

Verse 15. Then Naaman and all his attendants went back to the man of God, stood before him, and declared, “Now I know for sure that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel. So please accept a gift from your servant.” Verse 16. But Elisha replied, “As surely as the LORD lives, before whom I stand, I will not accept it.” And although Naaman urged him to accept it, he refused. Verse 17. “If you will not,” said Naaman, “please let me, your servant, be given as much soil as a pair of mules can carry. For your servant will never again make a burnt offering or a sacrifice to any other god but the LORD. Verse 18. Yet may the LORD forgive your servant this one thing: When my master goes into the temple of Rimmon to worship there, and he leans on my arm, and I bow down in the temple of Rimmon, may the LORD forgive your servant in this matter.” Verse 19. “Go in peace,” said Elisha.

PSALM

Psalm 6

For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments, according to Sheminith. A Psalm of David. O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger or discipline me in Your wrath.

Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am frail; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are in agony.

My soul is deeply distressed. How long, O LORD, how long?

Turn, O LORD, and deliver my soul; save me because of Your loving devotion.

For there is no mention of You in death; who can praise You from Sheol?

I am weary from groaning; all night I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears.

My eyes fail from grief; they grow dim because of all my foes.

Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity, for the LORD has heard my weeping.

The LORD has heard my cry for mercy; the LORD accepts my prayer.

All my enemies will be ashamed and dismayed; they will turn back in sudden disgrace.

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

Jeremiah 6:10-19

Verse 10. To whom can I give this warning? Who will listen to me? Look, their ears are closed, so they cannot hear. See, the word of the LORD has become offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it. Verse 11. But I am full of the LORD’s wrath; I am tired of holding it back. “Pour it out on the children in the street, and on the young men gathered together. For both husband and wife will be captured, the old and the very old alike. Verse 12. Their houses will be turned over to others, their fields and wives as well, for I will stretch out My hand against the inhabitants of the land,” Verse 13. “For from the least of them to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; from prophet to priest, all practice deceit. Verse 14. They dress the wound of My people with very little care, saying, ‘Peace, peace,’ when there is no peace at all. Verse 15. Are they ashamed of the abomination they have committed? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush. So they will fall among the fallen; when I punish them, they will collapse,” Verse 16. This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look. Ask for the ancient paths: ‘Where is the good way?’ Then walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it!’ Verse 17. I appointed watchmen over you and said, ‘Listen for the sound of the ram’s horn.’ But they answered, ‘We will not listen!’ Verse 18. Therefore hear, O nations, and learn, O congregations, what will happen to them. Verse 19. Hear, O earth! I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their own schemes, because they have paid no attention to My word and have rejected My instruction.

PSALM

Psalm 119:73-80

Your hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding to learn Your commandments.

May those who fear You see me and rejoice, for I have hoped in Your word.

I know, O LORD, that Your judgments are righteous, and that in faithfulness You have afflicted me.

May Your loving devotion comfort me, I pray, according to Your promise to Your servant.

May Your compassion come to me, that I may live, for Your law is my delight.

May the arrogant be put to shame for subverting me with a lie; I will meditate on Your precepts.

May those who fear You turn to me, those who know Your testimonies.

May my heart be blameless in Your statutes, that I may not be put to shame.

SECOND READING

Acts 19:21-27

Verse 21. After these things had happened, Paul resolved in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem, passing through Macedonia and Achaia. “After I have been there,” he said, “I must see Rome as well.” Verse 22. He sent two of his helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to Macedonia, while he stayed for a time in the province of Asia. Verse 23. About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. Verse 24. It began with a silversmith named Demetrius who made silver shrines of Artemis, bringing much business to the craftsmen. Verse 25. Demetrius assembled the craftsmen, along with the workmen in related trades. “Men,” he said, “you know that this business is our source of prosperity. Verse 26. And you can see and hear that not only in Ephesus, but in nearly the whole province of Asia, this Paul has persuaded a great number of people to turn away. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all. Verse 27. There is danger not only that our business will fall into disrepute, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited and her majesty deposed — she who is worshiped by all the province of Asia and the whole world.”