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 06, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 96, 132, 134
Judges 7:19-8:12
Acts 3:12-26
John 1:29-42

II. Selections
Psalm 132:1
O LORD, remember in David's favor
all the hardships he endured ...

Judges 7:20
So the three companies blew the trumpets and broke the jars, holding in their left hands the torches, and in their right hands the trumpets to blow; and they cried, "A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!"

Acts 3:12
When Peter saw [ the astonishment of all the people over the healing], he addressed the people, "You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? ..."

John 1:31
" ...I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel." [ John the Baptist, upon seeing Jesus approach]

III. Meditation: Credit where due

David endured great hardships, but
how much of your favor belonged to him?

Did Gideon deserve equal booking
with you-and were their swords for you?

John the Baptist did not seek glory;
he pointed to Jesus as the one to save Israel.

Peter was right-you healed the beggar;
he and John had neither the piety nor the power.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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