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 28, 2005

I. Readings
Psalms 81, 116, 143
2 Samuel 4:1-12
Acts 16:25-40
Mark 7:1-23

II. Selections
Ps. 143:9-10
Save me, O LORD, from my enemies;
I have fled to you for refuge.
Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God.
Let your good spirit lead me
on a level path.

2 Sam. 4:8
[ Rechab and Baanah] brought the head of Ishbaal to David at Hebron and said to the king, "Here is the head of Ishbaal, son of Saul your enemy who sought your life; the LORD has avenged my lord the king this day on Saul and on his offspring."

Acts 16:40
After leaving the prison [ Paul and Silas] went to Lydia's home; and when they had seen and encouraged the brothers and sisters there, they departed.

Mark 7:6-7
[ Jesus] said to them, "Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written, 'This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.' ..."

III. Meditation: Friends and enemies
We honor you with our lips, but we confess that our hearts are far from you. When we teach human precepts as doctrines, our worship is in vain. We forget about how we should treat our friends, and how we should deal with our enemies. Paul and Silas put encouraging sisters and brothers in the faith ahead of personal safety. King David was a rough-edged character, but even David knew that the enemies of his enemies were not necessarily his friends. We flee to you for refuge from our enemies, including our selfishness and anger, our foolishness and pride. Save us. Teach us to do your will, for you are our God. Let your Holy Spirit lead us on a level path, that we may honor you with our hearts as well as our lips.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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