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.

Whose Voice Shall Prevail?--July 6, 2017


If only we would listen to you, Lord God,
if we would listen even when you admonish us,
even if you direct us to venture on a wilderness road,
what blessings we would find.

Instead, we do foolishly, ignore your commandments,
and allow the loud shouts of anger and vengeance to prevail.
Forgive our foolish lack of trust.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 143; 147:12-20; 81; 116
1 Sam. 13:5-18
Acts 8:26-40
Luke 23:13-25

Selected Verses
Ps. 81:8
"…Hear, O my people, while I admonish you;
          O Israel, if you would but listen to me!  …"

1 Sam. 13:13a
Samuel said to Saul, "You have done foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the LORD your God, which he commanded you.  …" 

Acts 8:26-27a
Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, "Get up and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza." (This is a wilderness road.)  So he got up and went.

Luke 23:23
But [the chief priests, the leaders, and the people] kept urgently demanding with loud shouts that [Jesus] should be crucified; and their voices prevailed. 

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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