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.

Sheer Silence--Jan. 3, 2022

 

Lord God, still the storm,

hush the waves of the sea,

let me find you in the quiet.

 

Teach me to value silence, 

and to withdraw by myself, 

so you can renew my spirit

in sheer silence.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 111; 145; 107; 15

1 Kings 19:9-18

Eph. 4:17-32

John 6:15-27

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 107:29

…[the LORD] made the storm be still,
          and the waves of the sea were hushed.

 

1 Kings 19:11b-12

…but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence.

 

Eph. 4:23

…and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds,

 

John 6:15

When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

2 comments:

  1. Mea SententiaJanuary 9, 2022 at 2:05 PM

    I meant to comment on how much I like this one. The 'sound of sheer silence' is my favorite rendering of that verse in 1 Kings. Peace to you. Chris

    ReplyDelete
  2. Elmer E. EwingJanuary 9, 2022 at 3:24 PM

    Thank you Chris. I agree with you about that rendering of the verse.

    ReplyDelete

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