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.

Hellfire Missiles Go Before Us--Oct. 10, 2013


[from Oct. 6, 2011 archive]

We play the role of God; our Hellfire missiles
go before us and consume our adversaries on every side.

Their sons and daughters pass through fire
in our modern Molech worship.

You have given your people many gifts,
all from one and the same Spirit.

How can those who receive your gifts
come to such opposite conclusions about war?

Lay your hand on those consumed by war
and on those consumed by the desire to make war.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 97; 147:12-20; 16; 62
2 Kings 23:4-25
1 Cor. 12:1-11
Matt. 9:18-26

Selected Verses

Ps. 97:3
Fire goes before [the LORD],
          and consumes his adversaries on every side.

2 Kings 23:10
[King Josiah] defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of Ben-hinnom, so that no one would make a son or a daughter pass through fire as an offering to Molech.

1 Cor. 12:11
All these are activated by one and the same Spirit, who allots to each one individually just as the Spirit chooses.

Matt. 9:18
While [Jesus] was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue came in and knelt before him, saying, "My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live."

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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