Wednesday in Season after Pentecost

Semicontinuous (Track 1)

FIRST READING

Isaiah 24:14-23

Verse 14. They raise their voices, they shout for joy; from the west they proclaim the majesty of the LORD. Verse 15. Therefore glorify the LORD in the east. Extol the name of the LORD, the God of Israel in the islands of the sea. Verse 16. From the ends of the earth we hear singing: “Glory to the Righteous One.” But I said, “I am wasting away! I am wasting away! Woe is me.” The treacherous betray; the treacherous deal in treachery. Verse 17. Terror and pit and snare await you, O dweller of the earth. Verse 18. Whoever flees the sound of panic will fall into the pit, and whoever climbs from the pit will be caught in the snare. For the windows of heaven are open, and the foundations of the earth are shaken. Verse 19. The earth is utterly broken apart, the earth is split open, the earth is shaken violently. Verse 20. The earth staggers like a drunkard and sways like a shack. Earth’s rebellion weighs it down, and it falls, never to rise again. Verse 21. In that day the LORD will punish the host of heaven above and the kings of the earth below. Verse 22. They will be gathered together like prisoners in a pit. They will be confined to a dungeon and punished after many days. Verse 23. The moon will be confounded and the sun will be ashamed; for the LORD of Hosts will reign on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before His elders with great glory.

PSALM

Psalm 11

For the choirmaster. Of David. In the LORD I take refuge. How then can you say to me: “Flee like a bird to your mountain!

For behold, the wicked bend their bows. They set their arrow on the string to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.

If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”

The LORD is in His holy temple; the LORD is on His heavenly throne. His eyes are watching closely; they examine the sons of men.

The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked; His soul hates the lover of violence.

On the wicked He will rain down fiery coals and sulfur; a scorching wind will be their portion.

For the LORD is righteous; He loves justice. The upright will see His face.

Complementary (Track 2)

FIRST READING

Jeremiah 33:14-26

Verse 14. Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the gracious promise that I have spoken to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. Verse 15. In those days and at that time I will cause to sprout for David a righteous Branch, and He will administer justice and righteousness in the land. Verse 16. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely, and this is the name by which it will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness. Verse 17. For this is what the LORD says: David will never lack a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel, Verse 18. nor will the priests who are Levites ever fail to have a man before Me to offer burnt offerings, to burn grain offerings, and to present sacrifices.” Verse 19. And the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: Verse 20. “This is what the LORD says: If you can break My covenant with the day and My covenant with the night, so that day and night cease to occupy their appointed time, Verse 21. then My covenant may also be broken with David My servant and with My ministers the Levites who are priests, so that David will not have a son to reign on his throne. Verse 22. As the hosts of heaven cannot be counted and as the sand on the seashore cannot be measured, so too will I multiply the descendants of My servant David and the Levites who minister before Me.” Verse 23. Moreover, the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah: Verse 24. “Have you not noticed what these people are saying: ‘The LORD has rejected the two families He had chosen’? So they despise My people and no longer regard them as a nation. Verse 25. This is what the LORD says: If I have not established My covenant with the day and the night and the fixed order of heaven and earth, Verse 26. then I would also reject the descendants of Jacob and of My servant David, so as not to take from his descendants rulers over the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. For I will restore them from captivity and will have compassion on them.”

PSALM

Psalm 89:1-18

A Maskil of Ethan the Ezrahite. I will sing of the loving devotion of the LORD forever; with my mouth I will proclaim Your faithfulness to all generations.

For I have said, “Loving devotion is built up forever; in the heavens You establish Your faithfulness.”

You said, “I have made a covenant with My chosen one, I have sworn to David My servant:

‘I will establish your offspring forever and build up your throne for all generations.’”

The heavens praise Your wonders, O LORD — Your faithfulness as well — in the assembly of the holy ones.

For who in the skies can compare with the LORD? Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD?

In the council of the holy ones, God is greatly feared, and awesome above all who surround Him.

O LORD God of Hosts, who is like You? O mighty LORD, Your faithfulness surrounds You.

You rule the raging sea; when its waves mount up, You still them.

You crushed Rahab like a carcass; You scattered Your enemies with Your mighty arm.

The heavens are Yours, and also the earth. The earth and its fullness You founded.

North and south You created; Tabor and Hermon shout for joy at Your name.

Mighty is Your arm; strong is Your hand. Your right hand is exalted.

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; loving devotion and faithfulness go before You.

Blessed are those who know the joyful sound, who walk, O LORD, in the light of Your presence.

They rejoice in Your name all day long, and in Your righteousness they exult.

For You are the glory of their strength, and by Your favor our horn is exalted.

Surely our shield belongs to the LORD, and our king to the Holy One of Israel.

SECOND READING

Luke 12:41-48

Verse 41. “Lord,” said Peter, “are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?” Verse 42. And the Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their portion at the proper time? Verse 43. Blessed is that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Verse 44. Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. Verse 45. But suppose that servant says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and he begins to beat the menservants and maidservants, and to eat and drink and get drunk. Verse 46. The master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not anticipate. Then he will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. Verse 47. That servant who knows his master’s will but does not get ready or follow his instructions will be beaten with many blows. Verse 48. But the one who unknowingly does things worthy of punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and from him who has been entrusted with much, even more will be demanded.