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 22, 2007

I. Readings
Psalms 4, 15, 48
2 Samuel 18:19-33
Acts 23:23-35
Mark 12:13-27

II. Selections
Psalm 4:8
I will both lie down and sleep in peace;
for you alone, O LORD, make me lie down in safety.

2 Samuel 18:27b
The king said, "[ Ahimaaz] is a good man, and comes with good tidings."

Acts 23:23-24
Then [ the tribune] summoned two of the centurions and said, "Get ready to leave by nine o'clock tonight for Caesarea with two hundred soldiers, seventy horsemen, and two hundred spearmen. Also provide mounts for Paul to ride, and take him safely to Felix the governor."

Mark 12:13
Then [ the chief priests, scribes, and elders] sent to [ Jesus] some Pharisees and some Herodians to trap him in what he said.

III. Meditation: To lie down in safety

Even a good man may bear bad tidings-
notwithstanding the hearer is a king.

Soldiers and horsemen may provide protection,
but not necessarily against being kept in prison.

Those of high morality and reputation
may be used for nefarious purposes.

There is no safety apart from you;
you alone make us sleep in peace.

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