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.

April 10, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 47, 68, 113
Exodus 20:1-21
Colossians 1:24-2:7
Matthew 4:1-11

II. Selections
Psalm 47:3
[ The LORD] subdued peoples under us,
and nations under our feet.

Exodus 20:2
I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery ...

Colossians 2:1
For I want you to know how much I am struggling for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for all who have not seen me face to face.

Matthew 4:8
Again, the devil took [ Jesus] to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor ...

III. Meditation: Nations under our feet?

Satan showed Jesus the splendor of all the world's kingdoms.
How shall we think about those who live in other nations?
Do you intend for us to subdue them, march over them?
Did you liberate us from slavery to make them slaves?
Or do you want us to struggle for the welfare of all?

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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