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.

Rejoicing Without Understanding--August 14, 2010


I. Readings
Psalms 104, 149, 138, 98
Judges 16:1-14
Acts 7:30-43
John 5:1-18

II. Selections
Psalm 104:31
May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
      may the LORD rejoice in his works—
who looks on the earth and it trembles,
      who touches the mountains and they smoke.

Judges 16:6
So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me what makes your strength so great, and how you could be bound, so that one could subdue you.”

Acts 7:33
“…Then the Lord said to [Moses], ‘Take off the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy ground. … ’ … ” [from Stephen’s speech to the Council]

John 5:1-18
Therefore the Jews started persecuting Jesus, because he was doing such things on the sabbath. But Jesus answered them, “My Father is still working, and I also am working.”

III. Meditation

Jesus did not cease to do good works on the sabbath,
because he knew that you were still working then.

May you rejoice in your works; and may we rejoice in them,
though we understand your power even less than Delilah
understood Samson’s.

Delilah tried treachery to discover Samson’s secret.
We must be satisfied to remove our sandals and
stand in awe of yours.
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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