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.

August 09, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 26, 116, 130
2 Samuel 11:1-27
Acts 19:11-20
Mark 9:2-13

II. Selections
Psalm 26:9
Do not sweep me away with sinners,
nor my life with the bloodthirsty ...

2 Samuel 11:25
David said to the messenger, "Thus you shall say to Joab, 'Do not let this matter trouble you, for the sword devours now one and now another; press your attack on the city, and overthrow it.' And encourage him."

Acts 19:16
Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on (the seven itinerant exorcists), mastered them all, and so overpowered them that they fled out of the house naked and wounded.

Mark 9:13
" ...But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they did to him whatever they pleased, as it is written about him." [ Jesus to Peter, James, and John, referring to John the Baptist]

III. Meditation: Power and evil

Evil can be overpowering, especially to the powerful.
Even the virtuous King David commanded evil deeds.

Yet the suffering brought on by evil power falls heavily
upon the innocent-Uriah, Bathsheba, John the Baptist.

You have given us power, O God; forbid that we use it
to promote bloodshed and evil, lest we be swept away.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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