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.

An Ivory House, or only a Foundation?--Sept. 19, 2013


King Ahab built an ivory house for himself, and cities;
but the book which tells about them is long gone.
Ahab is remembered instead for his sins.

Saint Paul laid a foundation upon which
many others were able to build.
Paul is remembered as a
hero of the faith.

Blessed are
the pure in heart,
for they will see God.

Restore us, O God of hosts;
let your face shine, that
we may be saved.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 36; 147:12-20; 80; 27
1 Kings 22:29-45
1 Cor. 2:14-3:15
Matt. 5:1-10

Selected Verses

Ps. 80:3
Restore us, O God;
     let your face shine, that we may be saved.

1 Kings 22:39
Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house that he built, and all the cities that he built, are they not written in the Book of the Annals of the Kings of Israel?

1 Cor. 3:10a
According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it.

Matt. 5:8
"…Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.  …"

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