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.

September 27, 2005

I. Readings
Psalms 7, 12, 36, 146
2 Chronicles 29:1-3; 30:1-27
1 Corinthians 7:32-40
Matthew 7:1-12

II. Selections
Ps. 146:5-7
Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the LORD their God,
who made heaven and earth,
the sea, and all that is in them;
who keeps faith forever;
who executes justice for the oppressed;
who gives food to the hungry.

2 Chron. 29:1-2
Hezekiah began to reign when he was twenty-five years old; he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah. He did what was right in the sight of the LORD, just as his ancestor David had done.

1 Cor. 7:40
But in my judgment [ a widow] is more blessed if she remains as she is. And I think that I too have the Spirit of God.

Matt. 7:11
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

III. Meditation: Good things
Happy are those whose help is in you, the God of Jacob; whose hope is you, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. Surely you give good things to those who ask you. In grateful response, help us, like Hezekiah, do what is right in your sight. We may not agree with all of Paul's personal opinions, but help us to listen to what he said, for surely he too had your Spirit.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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