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.

Throw Down the Power of the Accuser--June 9, 2013


 Lord Jesus, they brought you the lame,
the maimed, the blind, the mute.
They put them at your feet;
and you cured them all.

Will you cure me of
my stubborn ways?

If you are with me,
I will fear no evil;

in the darkest valley
you will throw down
the power of the accuser.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 108; 150; 66; 23
Deut. 29:16-29
Rev. 12:1-12
Matt. 15:29-39

Selected Verses

Ps. 23:4
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
          I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
          your rod and your staff —
          they comfort me.

Deut. 29:19
All who hear the words of this oath and bless themselves, thinking in their hearts, "We are safe even though we go our own stubborn ways" (thus bringing disaster on moist and dry alike)…

Rev. 12:10
Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, proclaiming, "Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Messiah, for the accuser of our comrades has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.  …"

Matt. 15:30
Great crowds came to [Jesus], bringing with them the lame, the maimed, the blind, the mute, and many others. They put them at his feet, and he cured them…

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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