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 07, 2005

I. Readings
Psalms 103, 117, 139
2 Samuel 13:1-22
Romans 15:1-13
John 3:22-36

II. Selections
Ps. 103:14
For he knows how we were made;
he remembers that we are dust.

2 Sam. 13:3
But Amnon had a friend whose name was Jonadab, the son of David's brother Shimeah; and Jonadab was a very crafty man.

Romans 15:1-2
We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Each of us must please our neighbor for the good purpose of building up the neighbor.

John 3:29-30
He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease."

III. Meditation: Friends
You know how we were made; you remember that we are dust. You know that we are not perfect, and neither are our friends. But some friends are better than others. Jonadab was a vile friend to King David's eldest son, Amnon, and persuaded him to rape his half-sister. Paul counsels us to be patient with the weaknesses of our neighbors, and even to please them for the good purpose of building them up. John the Baptist went even further in his friendship for Jesus. He rejoiced when his own importance declined so that the importance of Jesus would increase. Make us grateful for good friends; make us be good friends to our neighbors.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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