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.

When Our Advice Is Ignored--Aug. 16, 2015

[From August 14, 2011 archive]

In distress we call you;
answer us when we are tested,
and give us courage to live by faith.

Forbid that we should act like Ahithophel,
so distraught when his good advice was ignored
that he went home and destroyed himself.

Forgive us when the glory accorded
by humans is more important
to us than glory from you.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 19:150; 81; 113
2 Sam. 17:1-23
Gal. 3:6-14
John 5:30-47

Selected Verses
Ps. 81:7
In distress you called, and I rescued you;
          I answered you in the secret place of thunder;
          I tested you at the waters of Meribah.     
Selah

2 Sam. 17:23
When Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his donkey and went off home to his own city.  He set his house in order, and hanged himself; he died and was buried in the tomb of his father.

Gal. 3:11
Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law; for "The one who is righteous will live by faith."

John 5:44
"…How can you believe when you accept glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the one who alone is God?  …"  [Jesus to those who persecuted him for healing on the Sabbath]

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