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.

When You Hide Your Face--August 17, 2010


I. Readings
Psalms 123, 146, 30, 86
Judges 18:1-15
Acts 8:1-13
John 5:30-47

II. Selections
Psalm 30:6-7
As for me, I said in my prosperity,
      “I shall never be moved.”
By your favor, O LORD,
      you had established me as a strong mountain;
you hid your face;
      I was dismayed.

Judges 18:14
Then the five men who had gone to spy out the land (that is, Laish) said to their comrades, “Do you know that in these buildings there are an ephod, teraphim, and an idol of cast metal? Now therefore consider what you will do.”

Acts 8:1b
That day [when Stephen was stoned to death] a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria.

John 5:44
How can you believe when you accept glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the one who alone is God?

III. Meditation: When You Hide Your Face

We don’t need you, O God…or so we act much of the time.
In our prosperity we feel comfortable, firmly established.

We accept glory from another, not even thinking about the
glory that derives only from you, you who alone are God.

Then you hide your face, and we are dismayed. Aren’t you
always going to be available whenever we call upon you?

Can’t we just turn to our domesticated version of religion,
to our household gods, and find you ready to help us?

What will happen to our faux religion
if severe persecution sweeps over us?
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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