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.

Which King Deserved Execution?--Sept. 6, 2017


One King of the Jews had many slaves,
lived in absolute luxury, receiving much gold,
spices in great quantity, and precious stones.
Another King of the Jews, in contrast,
was arrested after a life of poverty
and executed though innocent.
Of course we all make mistakes,
but this one should make us tremble.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 96; 147:1-11; 132; 134
1 Kings 9:24-10:13
James 3:1-12
Mark 15:1-11

Selected Verses
Ps. 96:9
 Worship the LORD in holy splendor;
          tremble before him, all the earth.

1 Kings 10:10
Then [the queen of Sheba] gave the king one hundred twenty talents of gold, a great quantity of spices, and precious stones; never again did spices come in such quantity as that which the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

James 3:2a
For all of us make many mistakes. 

Mark 15:9, 11
Then [Pilate] answered [the crowd], "Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?" …But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release Barabbas for them instead.

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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