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.

February 07, 2006

I. Readings
Psalms 42, 102, 133
Genesis 26:1-6, 12-33
Hebrews 13:17-25
John 7:53-8:11

II. Selections
Psalm 42:8
By day the LORD commands his steadfast love,
and at night his song is with me,
a prayer to the God of my life.

Genesis 26:22
[ Isaac] moved from there and dug another well, and [ the herders of Gerar] did not quarrel over it; so he called it Rehoboth, saying, "Now the LORD has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land."

Hebrews 13:20-21
Now may the God of peace, who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, make you complete in everything good so that you may do his will, working among us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

John 8:5
Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?"

III. Meditation: By day you command your steadfast love
By day you command your steadfast love;
and at night your song is with us-
a prayer to you, the God of our life.

You have given us room,
a place to be fruitful in the land;
why should we encroach upon others?

Why should we search for excuses
to mete out harsh judgment,
and seek after cruel punishment?

O, God of peace,
you brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus,
the great shepherd of the sheep.

By the blood of the eternal covenant,
make us complete in everything good,
so that we may do your will.

Work among us that which is pleasing in your sight,
through Jesus Christ,
to whom be the glory forever and ever.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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