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.

Precious in Your Sight--August 26, 2010


I. Readings
Psalms 143, 147:12-20, 81, 116
Job 8:1-10, 20-22
Acts 10:17-33
John 7:14-36

II. Selections
Psalm 116:15-16
Precious in the sight of the LORD
      is the death of his faithful ones.
O LORD, I am your servant;
      I am your servant, the child of your serving girl.
      You have loosed my bonds.

Job 8:21
“[God] will yet fill your mouth with laughter,
      and your lips with shouts of joy. … ” [Bildad the Shuhite answering Job]

Acts 10:33b
“So now all of us are here in the presence of God to listen to all that the Lord has commanded you to say.” [Cornelius replies to Peter]

John 7:18
“…Those who speak on their own seek their own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and there is nothing false in him. … ” [Jesus teaching in the temple]

III. Meditation

When we speak, forbid that it should be to seek our own glory;
let it always be to seek your glory—then our speaking will be true.

Likewise, when we gather together in your presence, may it be
to listen to all that you have commanded the speaker to say.

Precious in your sight is the death of your faithful ones.
Your servants have died, the children of your serving girls.

You have loosed their bonds. We grieve their deaths;
but we know you will yet fill their mouths with laughter,
and on their lips put sounds of joy to celebrate your glory.
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)