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 the Melody of Harp and Lute--May 14, 2016


God, it is wonderful to declare your steadfast love
in the morning and your faithfulness by night,
whether in a quiet place of solitude or
in a bustling crowd of strangers,
whether breathed in stillness
or sung in worship to the
melody of harp and lute.
Teach us to pray for those
who boldly preach your gospel,
so through them, all may comprehend
your power to heal (though skeptics laugh)
and holiness and steadfast love and faithfulness.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 92; 149; 23; 114
Eze. 36:22-27
Eph. 6:1-24
Matt. 9:18-26
       
Selected Verses
Ps. 92:3-4
…to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
          and your faithfulness by night,
to the music of the lute and the harp,
          to the melody of the lyre. 

Eze. 36:23b
…and the nations shall know that I am the LORD, says the Lord GOD, when through you I display my holiness before their eyes. 

Eph. 6:19-20
Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains.  Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.

Matt. 9:23-24
When Jesus came to the leader's house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him.
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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