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.

Redeemed from Hands too Strong For Us--Dec. 23, 2013


 Great God, greatly to be praised,
surely your greatness is unsearchable.
Imprisoned under the power of sin, we sat
in darkness, in the shadow of death; but through
faith in Jesus Christ you have given us light,
redeemed us from hands too strong for us.
Guide our feet into the way of peace.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 122; 145; 40; 67
Jer. 31:10-14
Gal. 3:15-22
Luke 1:67-80

Selected Verses

Ps. 145:3
Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
          his greatness is unsearchable.

Jer. 31:11
For the LORD has ransomed Jacob,
            and has redeemed him from hands too strong for him.

Gal. 3:22
But the scripture has imprisoned all things under the power of sin, so that what was promised through faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

Luke 1:79
"…to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
            to guide our feet into the way of peace."  [Zechariah' prophecy]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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