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.

Millstones--Aug. 10, 2015

[from August 8, 2011 archive]

Clearly Jonadab, who instigated Amnon's attack on Tamar,
and who later assured David that Amnon alone was dead,
flattered with his tongue and had a destructive heart.
Paul warned the Ephesian elders not to follow
those who had no truth in their mouths,
and Jesus warned even his disciples
not to lead his little ones astray.
God, cleanse our hearts
and our tongues.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 5; 145; 82; 29
2 Sam. 13:23-39
Acts 20:17-38
Mark 9:42-50

Selected Verses
Psalm 5:9
For there is no truth in their mouths;
            their hearts are destructive;
their throats are open graves;
            they flatter with their tongues.

2 Samuel 13:32-33
But Jonadab, the son of David's brother Shimeah, said, "Let not my lord suppose that they have killed all the young men the king's sons; Amnon alone is dead.  This has been determined by Absalom from the day Amnon raped his sister Tamar.  Now therefore, do not let my lord the king take it to heart, as if all the king's sons were dead; for Amnon alone is dead."

Acts 20:30
" ...Some even from your own group will come distorting the truth in order to entice the disciples to follow them. ... " [Paul's farewell to the Ephesian elders]

Mark 9:42
" ...If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea ... " [Jesus to his twelve disciples]
Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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