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.

Wrath or Conscience?--July 21, 2012


We hear the commands--
"Wait until I tell you";
"Drink from it,
all of you."

Do we obey
for fear of wrath
(yours or our enemy's)
or because of conscience?
Or because we know
your right hand
delivers?

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 104; 149; 138; 98
Josh. 6:1-14
Rom. 13:1-7
Matt. 26:26-35

Selected Verses
Ps. 138:7
Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
      you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies;
you stretch out your hand,
      and your right hand delivers me.

Josh. 6:10
To the people Joshua gave this command: "You shall not shout or let your voice be heard, nor shall you utter a word, until the day I tell you to shout. Then you shall shout."

Rom. 13:5
Therefore one must be subject, not only because of wrath but also because of conscience.

Matt. 26:27
Then [Jesus] took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to [his disciples], saying, "Drink from it, all of you…
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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