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 29, 2005

I. Readings
Psalms 26, 116, 130, 147:12-20
2 Kings 18:28-37
1 Corinthians 9:1-15
Matthew 7:22-29

II. Selections
Ps. 116:6-7
The LORD protects the simple;
when I was brought low, he saved me.
Return, O my soul, to your rest,
for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.

2 Kings 18:32b-33
Do not listen to Hezekiah when he misleads you by saying, The LORD will deliver us. Has any of the gods of the nations ever delivered its land out of the hand of the king of Assyria?

1 Cor. 9:12b
Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.

Matthew 7:22-23
On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?' Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.'

III. Meditation: Who is able to deliver us, and who gets delivered? ;
Who is able to deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria? You protect the simple and save those who have been brought low. These souls may rest, for you deal bountifully with them. Yet many who prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name you dismiss as evildoers. We can never take salvation for granted, but we know it comes from you. Help us follow the example of Paul, who was willing to endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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