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.

Desolations and Bitter Distress--Sept. 22, 2013


 What desolations there are on the earth,
O God--so many in bitter distress.
How much more wrath is yet to come
you have hidden from our eyes.

Are these desolations your works, dear God,
or only what humankind has wrought?
Whatever their source, trusting in your love
we live in the comfort of your Spirit.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 67; 150; 46; 93
2 Kings 4:8-37
Acts 9:10-31
Luke 3:7-18

Selected Verses

Ps. 46:8
Come, behold the works of the LORD;
          see what desolations he has brought on the earth.

2 Kings 4:27c
But the man of God said, "Let her alone, for she is in bitter distress; the LORD has hidden it from me and has not told me."

Acts 9:31b
Living in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, [the church] increased in numbers.

Luke 3:7
John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers!  Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?  …"

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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