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.

July 16, 2005

I. Readings
Psalms 98, 104, 138
1 Samuel 22:1-23
Acts 13:26-43
Mark 3:19b-35

II. Selections
Ps. 98:3b
All the ends of the earth have seen
the victory of our God.

1 Sam. 22:2a
Everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was discontented gathered to him; and he became captain over them.

Acts 13:27
" ...Because the residents of Jerusalem and their leaders did not recognize him or understand the words of the prophets that are read every sabbath, they fulfilled those words by condemning him. ..." [ James]

Mark 3:27
" ...But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered." [ Jesus]

III. Meditation
You have entered the strong man's house and tied him up, so that we may go there without harm. All the ends of the earth have seen your victory, but they have not recognized what they have seen. Therefore the strong man still maintains control over them. As all who were troubled assembled around David for protection, so we need your protection from the strong man. Be our captain in the struggle.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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