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.

Up out of the Miry Bog--Dec. 16, 2013


 You know, O God,
how little power I have;
draw me up from the desolate pit,

out of the miry bog;
set my feet upon a rock,
and make my steps secure,
and do not let me be led astray.
 With compassion return; rebuild
your house--stretch out
your measuring line.

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 122; 145; 40; 67

Zech. 1:7-17
Rev. 3:7-13
Matt. 24:15-31

Selected Verses

Ps. 40:2

 [The LORD] drew me up from the desolate pit,
          out of the miry bog,
 and set my feet upon a rock,
          making my steps secure.

Zech. 1:16
Therefore, thus says the LORD, I have returned to Jerusalem with compassion; my house shall be built in it, says the LORD of hosts, and the measuring line shall be stretched out over Jerusalem.

Rev. 3:8b
I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

Matt. 24:24
"…For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and produce great signs and omens, to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.  …"  [Jesus to his disciples]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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