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.

May 16, 2010


According to Your Surpassing Greatness

I. Readings
Psalms 93, 150, 136, 117
Exodus 3:1-12
Hebrews 12:18-29
Luke 10:17-24

II. Selections
Psalm 150:2
Praise him for his mighty deeds;
praise him according to his surpassing greatness!

Exodus 3:7-8a
Then the LORD said, “I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey … ”

Hebrews 12:28-29
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; for indeed our God is a consuming fire.

Luke 10:20
“…Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” [Jesus to his disciples]

III. Meditation

We praise you for your mighty deeds;
we praise you according to your surpassing greatness.

Teach us to rejoice in you, not because of the things you have
enabled us to do, but because you have called us in your service.

You have seen the misery of your people who are oppressed,
and you have heard their cries on account of their taskmasters.
Deliver them, and deliver us from contributing to oppression.

Only then can we offer you an acceptable worship
with reverence and awe, as we give thanks for a kingdom
that cannot be shaken; for indeed you are a consuming fire.
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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