Old Testament: 2 Samuel 18:5-9, 15, 31-33

⁵The king ordered Joab and Abishai and Ittai, saying, “Deal gently for my sake with the young man Absalom.” And all the people heard when the king gave orders to all the commanders concerning Absalom. ⁶So the army went out into the field against Israel; and the battle was fought in the forest of Ephraim. ⁷The men of Israel were defeated there by the servants of David, and the slaughter there was great on that day, twenty thousand men. ⁸The battle spread over the face of all the country; and the forest claimed more victims that day than the sword.

⁹Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak. His head caught fast in the oak, and he was left hanging between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on. ¹⁵And ten young men, Joab’s armor-bearers, surrounded Absalom and struck him, and killed him. ³¹Then the Cushite came; and the Cushite said, “Good tidings for my lord the king! For the Lord has vindicated you this day, delivering you from the power of all who rose up against you.” ³²The king said to the Cushite, “Is it well with the young man Absalom?” The Cushite answered, “May the enemies of my lord the king, and all who rise up to do you harm, be like that young man.” ³³The king was deeply moved, and went up to the chamber over the gate, and wept; and as he went, he said, “O my son Absalom, my son, my son Absalom! Would I had died instead of you, O Absalom, my son, my son!”

Psalm: Psalm 130

¹ Out of the depths have I called to you, O Lord;
   Lord, hear my voice; *
       let your ears consider well the voice of my supplication.
² If you, Lord, were to note what is done amiss, *
       O Lord, who could stand?
³ For there is forgiveness with you; *
       therefore you shall be feared.
⁴ I wait for the Lord; my soul waits for him; *
       in his word is my hope.
⁵ My soul waits for the Lord,
   more than watchmen for the morning, *
       more than watchmen for the morning.
⁶ O Israel, wait for the Lord, *
       for with the Lord there is mercy;
⁷ With him there is plenteous redemption, *
       and he shall redeem Israel from all their sins.

Old Testament: 1 Kings 19:4-8

⁴But he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a solitary broom tree. He asked that he might die: “It is enough; now, O Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my ancestors.” ⁵Then he lay down under the broom tree and fell asleep. Suddenly an angel touched him and said to him, “Get up and eat.” ⁶He looked, and there at his head was a cake baked on hot stones, and a jar of water. He ate and drank, and lay down again. ⁷The angel of the Lordcame a second time, touched him, and said, “Get up and eat, otherwise the journey will be too much for you.” ⁸He got up, and ate and drank; then he went in the strength of that food forty days and forty nights to Horeb the mount of God.

Psalm: Psalm 34:1-8

¹ I will bless the Lord at all times; * 
       his praise shall ever be in my mouth.
² I will glory in the Lord; * 
       let the humble hear and rejoice.
³ Proclaim with me the greatness of the Lord; * 
       let us exalt his Name together.
⁴ I sought the Lord, and he answered me * 
       and delivered me out of all my terror.
⁵ Look upon him and be radiant, * 
       and let not your faces be ashamed.
⁶ I called in my affliction and the Lord heard me * 
       and saved me from all my troubles.
⁷ The angel of the Lord encompasses those who fear him, * 
       and he will deliver them.
⁸ Taste and see that the Lord is good; * 
       happy are they who trust in him!