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.

November 02, 2005

I. Readings
Psalms 1, 33, 89:1-18
Haggai 1:1-2:9
Revelation 12:1-12
Matthew 13:53-58

II. Selections
Psalm 33:17
The war horse is a vain hope for victory,
and by its great might it cannot save.

Haggai 2:8-9
The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the LORD of hosts. The latter splendor of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts; and in this place I will give prosperity, says the LORD of hosts.

Revelation 12:7a
And war broke out in heaven; Michael and his angels fought against the dragon.

Matthew 13:58
And [ Jesus] did not do many deeds of power [ in his hometown], because of their unbelief.

III. Meditation: A vain hope for victory
The war horse is a vain hope for victory, and by its great might it cannot save. Neither can we buy success with our wealth; the silver is yours, and the gold is yours. Only if we trust in you will we see deeds of power, for the war against evil is under your command.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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