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 21, 2005

I. Readings
Psalms 46, 67, 93
2 Samuel 24:1-2, 10-25
Galatians 3:23-4:7
John 8:12-20

II. Selections
Ps. 46:10
"Be still, and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations,
I am exalted in the earth."

2 Sam. 24:24
But the king said to Araunah, "No, but I will buy them from you for a price; I will not offer burnt offerings to the LORD my God that cost me nothing." So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

Gal. 4:6
And because you are children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"

John 8:15
You judge by human standards; I judge no one.

III. Meditation: Not for sale
You are exalted among the nations, you are exalted in the earth. We have every reason to pay dearly for the privilege of worshiping you. But we judge by human standards. Your love is not for sale. If only we will stop our clamor and complaint, and be still before you, and wait with the humility of little children, then you will send the Spirit of your Son into our hearts, crying "Abba! Father!"

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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