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.

June 27, 2010--A Very Present Help


I. Readings
Psalms 67, 150, 46, 93
Numbers 21:4-9, 21-35
Acts 17:12-24
Luke 13:10-17

II. Selections
Psalm 46:1
God is our refuge and strength,
      a very present help in trouble.

Numbers 21:4
From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom; but the people became impatient on the way.

Acts 17:22
Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, “Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. … ”

Luke 13:12-13
When Jesus saw [the woman who was bent over], he called her over and said, “Woman, you are set free from your ailment.” When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God.

III. Meditation

You are our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
When we are bent over, lay your hands
on us and set us free from our ailment.

When we think we are extremely religious in every way,
but we are too impatient for results to praise you
for what you have done, or to wait for what you will do,
lay on your hands, that we may stand up straight.
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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