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 Lie Down in Peace and Safety--Aug. 17, 2016


We cannot sleep in peace,
and we wonder what is the matter.
We try to buy your peace with our riches,
and when we fail, we wonder what is the matter.
Meanwhile you wait to give us as much as we want.
O generous God, you alone make us lie down in safety.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 15; 147:1-11; 48; 4
Judg. 18:16-31
Acts 8:14-25
John 6:1-15
           
Selected Verses
Ps. 4:8
I will both lie down and sleep in peace;
          for you alone, O LORD, make me lie down in safety.

Judg. 18:24
[Micah] replied [to the Danites], "You take my gods that I made, and the priest, and go away, and what have I left?  How then can you ask me, 'What is the matter?'" 

Acts 8:20
But Peter said to [Simon], "May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain God's gift with money!  …" 

John 6:11
Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted.
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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