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.

Faithful and Gracious, Salty and Peaceful--Aug. 12, 2013


 God, you are faithful in all your words,
you are gracious in all your deeds.

Jonadab's sham comfort to King David
was neither faithful nor gracious.

Paul's farewell to the elders of Ephesus
was heartfelt, full of salt and peace.

Pray make us like Paul,
not like Jonadab.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 5; 145; 82; 29
2 Sam. 13:23-39
Acts 20:17-38
Mark 9:42-50

Selected Verses

Ps. 145:13b
The Lord is faithful in all his words,
          and gracious in all his deeds.

2 Sam. 13:33
"…Now therefore, do not let my lord the king take it to heart, as if all the king’s sons were dead; for Amnon alone is dead."  [Jonadab, who had urged Amnon to rape Jonathan's sister, 'comforting' King David]

Acts 20:32
"…And now I commend you to God and to the message of his grace, a message that is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all who are sanctified. …"  [Paul's farewell to the Ephesian church elders]

Mark 9:50
"…Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it?  Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."  [Jesus to his disciples]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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