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.

Let the Sea Roar--September 11, 2010


I. Readings
Psalms 104, 149, 138, 98
Job 38:1-17
Acts 15:22-35
John 11:45-54

II. Selections
Psalm 98:7-9
Let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
      the world and those who live in it.
Let the floods clap their hands;
      let the hills sing together for joy
at the presence of the LORD, for he is coming
      to judge the earth.

Job 38:17
“…Have the gates of death been revealed to you,
      or have you seen the gates of deep darkness? … ”
[The LORD to Job]

Acts 15:32
Judas and Silas, who were themselves prophets, said much to encourage and strengthen the believers.

John 11:48
“…If we let [Jesus] go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation.” [The chief priests and the Pharisees at council meeting]

III. Meditation

We agonize over the security of our place and our nation.
Teach us to heed your prophets, for we need strength and
encouragement to face the gates of deep darkness and death.

We cannot begin to understand your dimensions or those of
your bountiful creation; but let the sea roar and the floods
clap their hands, let the hills sing for joy. Let the whole
world rejoice at your coming and at your presence.
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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