Open Word

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

Isaiah 9:8-17

Verse 8. The Lord has sent a message against Jacob, and it has fallen upon Israel. Verse 9. All the people will know it — Ephraim and the dwellers of Samaria. With pride and arrogance of heart they will say: Verse 10. “The bricks have fallen, but we will rebuild with finished stone; the sycamores have been felled, but we will replace them with cedars.” Verse 11. The LORD has raised up the foes of Rezin against him and joined his enemies together. Verse 12. Aram from the east and Philistia from the west have devoured Israel with open mouths. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised. Verse 13. But the people did not return to Him who struck them; they did not seek the LORD of Hosts. Verse 14. So the LORD will cut off Israel’s head and tail, both palm branch and reed in a single day. Verse 15. The head is the elder and honorable man, and the tail is the prophet who teaches lies. Verse 16. For those who guide this people mislead them, and those they mislead are swallowed up. Verse 17. Therefore the Lord takes no pleasure in their young men; He has no compassion on their fatherless and widows. For every one of them is godless and wicked, and every mouth speaks folly. Despite all this, His anger is not turned away; His hand is still upraised.

PSALM

Psalm 50:1-8, 22-23

A Psalm of Asaph. The Mighty One, God the LORD, speaks and summons the earth from where the sun rises to where it sets.

From Zion, perfect in beauty, God shines forth.

Our God approaches and will not be silent! Consuming fire precedes Him, and a tempest rages around Him.

He summons the heavens above, and the earth, that He may judge His people:

“Gather to Me My saints, who made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.”

And the heavens proclaim His righteousness, for God Himself is Judge.

“Hear, O My people, and I will speak, O Israel, and I will testify against you: I am God, your God.

I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices, and your burnt offerings are ever before Me.

Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you:

He who sacrifices a thank offering honors Me, and to him who rightly orders his way, I will show the salvation of God.”

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

Job 21:1-16

Verse 1. Then Job answered: Verse 2. “Listen carefully to my words; let this be your consolation to me. Verse 3. Bear with me while I speak; then, after I have spoken, you may go on mocking. Verse 4. Is my complaint against a man? Then why should I not be impatient? Verse 5. Look at me and be appalled; put your hand over your mouth. Verse 6. When I remember, terror takes hold, and my body trembles in horror. Verse 7. Why do the wicked live on, growing old and increasing in power? Verse 8. Their descendants are established around them, and their offspring before their eyes. Verse 9. Their homes are safe from fear; no rod of punishment from God is upon them. Verse 10. Their bulls breed without fail; their cows bear calves and do not miscarry. Verse 11. They send forth their little ones like a flock; their children skip about, Verse 12. singing to the tambourine and lyre and making merry at the sound of the flute. Verse 13. They spend their days in prosperity and go down to Sheol in peace. Verse 14. Yet they say to God: ‘Leave us alone! For we have no desire to know Your ways. Verse 15. Who is the Almighty, that we should serve Him, and what would we gain if we pray to Him?’ Verse 16. Still, their prosperity is not in their own hands, so I stay far from the counsel of the wicked.

PSALM

Psalm 33:12-22

Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He has chosen as His inheritance!

The LORD looks down from heaven; He sees all the sons of men.

From His dwelling place He gazes on all who inhabit the earth.

He shapes the hearts of each; He considers all their works.

No king is saved by his vast army; no warrior is delivered by his great strength.

A horse is a vain hope for salvation; even its great strength cannot save.

Surely the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His loving devotion

to deliver them from death and keep them alive in famine.

Our soul waits for the LORD; He is our help and our shield.

For our hearts rejoice in Him, since we trust in His holy name.

May Your loving devotion rest on us, O LORD, as we put our hope in You.

SECOND READING

Romans 9:1-9

Verse 1. I speak the truth in Christ; I am not lying, as confirmed by my conscience in the Holy Spirit. Verse 2. I have deep sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. Verse 3. For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my own flesh and blood, Verse 4. the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory and the covenants; theirs the giving of the law, the temple worship, and the promises. Verse 5. Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them proceeds the human descent of Christ, who is God over all, forever worthy of praise! Amen. Verse 6. It is not as though God’s word has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. Verse 7. Nor because they are Abraham’s descendants are they all his children. On the contrary, “Through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned.” Verse 8. So it is not the children of the flesh who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as offspring. Verse 9. For this is what the promise stated: “At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son.”