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.

December 23, 2005

I. Readings
Psalms 16, 102, 130
Jeremiah 31:10-14
Galatians 3:15-22
Luke 1:67-80

II. Selections
Psalm 16
I keep the LORD always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

Jeremiah 31:10-11
Hear the word of the LORD, O nations,
and declare it in the coastlands far away;
say, "He who scattered Israel will gather him,
and will keep him as a shepherd a flock."
For the LORD has ransomed Jacob,
and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him.

Galatians 3:22
But the scripture has imprisoned all things under the power of sin, so that what was promised through faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

Luke 1:68
"Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. ..."

III. Meditation: Redeemed from hands too strong
We bless you, Lord God of Israel, for you have looked favorably on your people and redeemed them from hands too strong for them. You scatter, and you gather, but you have ransomed Jacob. You have given us, who are under the power of sin, the promise of redemption through faith in Jesus Christ. Stay always before us, and keep us as a shepherd a flock; for when you are at our right hand, we shall not be moved.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)