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 10, 2005

I. Readings
Psalms 27, 36, 80
Nehemiah 6:1-19
Revelation 19:1-10
Matthew 16:1-12

II. Selections
Psalm 36:6
Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
your judgments are like the great deep;
you save humans and animals alike, O LORD.

Nehemiah 6:1-19
...for they all wanted to frighten us, thinking, "Their hands will drop from the work, and it will not be done." But now, O God, strengthen my hands.

Revelation 19:1-2a
After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, saying, "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power to our God, for his judgments are true and just ..."

Matthew 16:1
The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and to test Jesus they asked him to show them a sign from heaven.

III. Meditation: Strengthen our hands
Salvation and glory and power belong to you, O God, for your judgments are true and just. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your judgments are like the great deep; you save humans and animals alike. The antagonists of Jesus tried to test him, as enemies had tested Nehemiah with their threats. Save us from fear; strengthen our hands when we are tested and threatened, that our hands may not drop from our work.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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