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.

August 04, 2005

I. Readings
Psalms 26, 116, 130
2 Samuel 11:1-27
Acts 19:11-20
Mark 9:2-13

II. Selections
Ps. 116:15
Precious in the sight of the LORD
is the death of his faithful ones.

2 Sam. 11:25
David said to the messenger, "Thus you shall say to Joab, 'Do not let this matter trouble you, for the sword devours now one and now another; press your attack on the city, and overthrow it.' And encourage him."

Acts 19:13
Then some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, "I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims."

Mark 9:13
" ...But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written about him." [ Jesus in reply to Peter, James, and John]

III. Meditation: Power and compassion
Can the powerful be compassionate? All authority and power belong to you, and you are full of compassion. Precious in your sight is the death of your faithful ones. In contrast, those with human authority are continually tempted to abuse their power. King David was unperturbed over the news his soldiers had died-because the dead included the loyal warrior Uriah, whose death David had plotted to conceal his own adultery. Herod ordered the jailing and eventually the execution of John the Baptizer. Like the itinerant exorcists, we who lack authority even try to appropriate for selfish ends the authority that comes from you. Teach us to use for your compassionate purposes whatever power you have placed in our hands.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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