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.

The Foot of the Arrogant, Hand of the Wicked--June 29, 2017

[From June 25, 2015 archive]

You came to us, Lord Jesus, as one who serves,
but the foot of the arrogant treaded on you,
the hand of the wicked took you away.

Your people refused to listen to you--
determined to have a king like other nations,
one who would lead them and fight their battles.

God did not rescue you from all your afflictions,
but God was with you in them.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 36; 147:12-20; 80; 27
1 Sam. 8:1-22
Acts 6:15-7:16
Luke 22:24-30

Selected Verses
Ps. 36:11
Do not let the foot of the arrogant tread on me,
          or the hand of the wicked drive me away. 

1 Sam. 8:19-20
But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; they said, “No! but we are determined to have a king over us, so that we also may be like other nations, and that our king may govern us and go out before us and fight our battles.”

Acts 9b-10
"…but God was with [Joseph], and rescued him from all his afflictions, and enabled him to win favor and to show wisdom when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt, who appointed him ruler over Egypt and over all his household.  …"  [Stephen on trial before the council]

Luke 22:27
"…For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves?  Is it not the one at the table?  But I am among you as one who serves.  …"  [Jesus to his disciples]

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