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.

Humble Exhortation--September 3, 2010


I. Readings
Psalms 84, 148, 25, 40
Job 19:1-7, 14-27
Acts 13:13-25
John 9:18-41

II. Selections
Psalm 25:9
[The LORD] leads the humble in what is right,
      and teaches the humble his way.

Job 19:7
Even when I cry out, “Violence!” I am not answered;
      I call aloud, but there is no justice.

Acts 13:15-16a
After the reading of the law and the prophets, the officials of the synagogue sent them a message, saying, “Brothers, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, give it.” So Paul stood up and with a gesture began to speak…

John 9:20-21
[The man’s] parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.”

III. Meditation

O you who lead the humble in what is right,
you who teach the humble your way:

Sometimes we call to you and do not hear an answer,
or cry aloud for justice, but there is no reply.

Sometimes we have a chance to speak for you,
but we wait for others to speak up in our stead.

Give us the courage of Paul, who accepted
the invitation to tell the story of your deeds.

But keep us humble in our word of exhortation,
ever humble as you lead us in your way.
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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