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.

September 08, 2008

I. Readings
Psalms 5, 29, 82
Job 32:1-10, 19-33:1, 19-28
Acts 13:44-52
John 10:19-30

II. Selections
Psalm 82:2-3
" ...How long will you judge unjustly
and show partiality to the wicked?
Give justice to the weak and the orphan;
maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute. ... "
[ God to the divine council]

Job 32:19
"[ People to whom God speaks] are also chastened with pain upon their beds,
and with continual strife in their bones ... " [ Elihu to Job]

Acts 13:47
" ...For so the Lord has commanded us, saying,
'I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles,
so that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.' "

John 10:27
" ...My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. ... "
[ Jesus to the Jews who gathered around him in the temple]

III. Meditation: Different voices

Elihu was correct in this much: you speak to us in different voices.
Sometimes we are chastened with pain upon our beds or with
continual strife in our bones; at other times you call us to
maintain the right of the weak, lowly, and destitute;
and always you set us to be a light for salvation.
Teach us to hear your voice and follow you.

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