Open Word

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

Hosea 1:11-2:15

Text not available in the Berean Standard Bible.

PSALM

Psalm 85

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. You showed favor to Your land, O LORD; You restored Jacob from captivity.

You forgave the iniquity of Your people; You covered all their sin.

You withheld all Your fury; You turned from Your burning anger.

Restore us, O God of our salvation, and put away Your displeasure toward us.

Will You be angry with us forever? Will You draw out Your anger to all generations?

Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?

Show us Your loving devotion, O LORD, and grant us Your salvation.

I will listen to what God the LORD will say; for He will surely speak peace to His people and His saints; He will not let them return to folly.

Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that His glory may dwell in our land.

Loving devotion and faithfulness have joined together; righteousness and peace have kissed.

Faithfulness sprouts from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven.

The LORD will indeed provide what is good, and our land will yield its increase.

Righteousness will go before Him to prepare the way for His steps.

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

Esther 4:1-17

Verse 1. When Mordecai learned of all that had happened, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the middle of the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. Verse 2. But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because the law prohibited anyone wearing sackcloth from entering that gate. Verse 3. In every province to which the king’s command and edict came, there was great mourning among the Jews. They fasted, wept, and lamented, and many lay in sackcloth and ashes. Verse 4. When Esther’s maidens and eunuchs came and told her about Mordecai, the queen was overcome with distress. She sent clothes for Mordecai to wear instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. Verse 5. Then Esther summoned Hathach, one of the king’s eunuchs appointed to her, and she dispatched him to Mordecai to learn what was troubling him and why. Verse 6. So Hathach went out to Mordecai in the city square in front of the king’s gate, Verse 7. and Mordecai told him all that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money that Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury in order to destroy the Jews. Verse 8. Mordecai also gave Hathach a copy of the written decree issued in Susa for the destruction of the Jews, to show and explain to Esther, urging her to approach the king, implore his favor, and plead before him for her people. Verse 9. So Hathach went back and relayed Mordecai’s response to Esther. Verse 10. Then Esther spoke to Hathach and instructed him to tell Mordecai, Verse 11. “All the royal officials and the people of the king’s provinces know that one law applies to every man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned— that he be put to death. Only if the king extends the gold scepter may that person live. But I have not been summoned to appear before the king for the past thirty days.” Verse 12. When Esther’s words were relayed to Mordecai, Verse 13. he sent back to her this reply: “Do not imagine that because you are in the king’s palace you alone will escape the fate of all the Jews. Verse 14. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows if perhaps you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” Verse 15. Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: Verse 16. “Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day, and I and my maidens will fast as you do. After that, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish! ” Verse 17. So Mordecai went and did all that Esther had instructed him.

PSALM

Psalm 138

Of David. I give You thanks with all my heart; before the gods I sing Your praises.

I bow down toward Your holy temple and give thanks to Your name for Your loving devotion and Your faithfulness; You have exalted Your name and Your word above all else.

On the day I called, You answered me; You emboldened me and strengthened my soul.

All the kings of the earth will give You thanks, O LORD, when they hear the words of Your mouth.

They will sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great.

Though the LORD is on high, He attends to the lowly; but the proud He knows from afar.

If I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve me from the anger of my foes; You extend Your hand, and Your right hand saves me.

The LORD will fulfill His purpose for me. O LORD, Your loving devotion endures forever — do not abandon the works of Your hands.

SECOND READING

Luke 8:22-25

Verse 22. One day Jesus said to His disciples, “Let us cross to the other side of the lake.” So He got into a boat with them and set out. Verse 23. As they sailed, He fell asleep, and a windstorm came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. Verse 24. The disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” Then Jesus got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters, and they subsided, and all was calm. Verse 25. “Where is your faith?” He asked. Frightened and amazed, they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him!”