I am an emeritus professor from Cornell University and was a Commissioned Lay Preacher in the Presbyterian Church (USA). For many years I have followed the Daily Lectionary as printed in the Mission Yearbook of my church. For each day of a two-year cycle, the lectionary lists four psalms and three other scriptural passages--usually one from the Old Testament and two from the New Testament. My practice is to copy down a verse or two from one of the psalms and from each of the other three passages. After I have written out all four selections, I reflect upon them, rearrange their order, and incorporate them into a meditation. Sometimes I retain much of the original wording; sometimes all that remains of a selection is an idea that was stimulated when I read the original words. All selections are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible. For the Daily Lectionary, see the link below.

To Rejoice at the Voice of the Bridegroom--Dec. 14, 2014


Who shall climb up and stand before you?
The insolent tyrant?  The prideful and arrogant?
No, they who with reverence and awe gratefully
offer you an acceptable worship--their joy will
be fulfilled; they will greatly rejoice at
the voice of the bridegroom.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 24; 150; 25; 110
Isa. 13:1-13
Heb. 12:18-29
John 3:22-30

Selected Verses
Ps. 24:3
Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?
            And who shall stand in his holy place?

Isa. 13:11b
I will put an end to the pride of the arrogant,
     and lay low the insolence of tyrants.

Heb. 12:28
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe…

John 3:29
"…He who has the bride is the bridegroom.  The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice.  For this reason my joy has been fulfilled.  …"  [John the Baptist to his disciples]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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