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 03, 2010


Our Help and Our Shield

I. Readings
Psalms 97, 145, 124, 115
Leviticus 16:1-19
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

II. Selections
Psalm 115:11
You who fear the LORD, trust the LORD!
He is their help and their shield.

Leviticus 16:16
Thus [Aaron] shall make atonement for the sanctuary, because of the uncleannesses of the people of Israel, and because of their transgressions, all their sins; and so he shall do for the tent of meeting, which remains with them in the midst of their uncleannesses.

1 Thessalonians 4:13
For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have died.

Matthew 6:1
“Beware of practicing your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. … ” [Jesus to the crowds on the mountain]

III. Meditation

You are our God, our help, and our shield.
We receive your help not by displaying
our piety before others, nor by our acts
of atonement when our piety is wanting.
We believe that Jesus died and rose again;
trusting in him, we trust in you for our help.
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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