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 18, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 98, 104, 138
2 Samuel 16:1-23
Acts 22:17-29
Mark 11:1-11

II. Selections
Psalm 98:1
O sing to the LORD a new song,
for he has done marvelous things.
His right hand and his holy arm
have gotten him victory.

2 Samuel 16:8
" ...The LORD has avenged on all of you the blood of the house of Saul, in whose place you have reigned; and the LORD has given the kingdom into the hand of your son Absalom. See, disaster has overtaken you; for you are a man of blood." [ Shimei to King David and company upon their flight from Jerusalem]

Acts 22:22
Up to this point [ the mob at the Temple] listened to [ Paul], but then they shouted, "Away with such a fellow from the earth! For he should not be allowed to live."

Mark 11:9
Then those who went ahead [ of Jesus upon his entry into Jerusalem] and those who followed were shouting,
"Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. ... "

III. Meditation: Ultimately you win

Indeed you have done marvelous things,
and in the end you are always victorious;
but we seldom recognize you have won.

Shimei was sure that David had lost the throne;
the mob was convinced that Paul was a heretic;
no one understood Jesus' ride into Jerusalem;
for it is in things ultimate your victory resides.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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