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.

Even to Your Hurt, God--June 27, 2018


[From June 27, 2012 archive]
  
Abraham's trust was justified; you do what you have promised.
You send us to our labor, promising to pay what is right;
then you stand between the dead and the living
and make atonement for your people.
You stand by your promise
even to your hurt.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 15; 147:1-11; 48; 4
Num. 16:36-50
Rom. 4:13-25
Matt. 20:1-16

Selected Verses
Ps. 15:1, 4c
O LORD, who may abide in your tent?
          Who may dwell on your holy hill?
… [those] who stand by their oath even to their hurt…

Numb. 16:47b-48
[Aaron] put on the incense, and made atonement for the people.  He stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stopped.

Rom. 4:20-21
No distrust made [Abraham] waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.

Matt. 20:3
"…When [the landowner] went out about nine o'clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; and he said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.'  So they went.  …"  [Jesus to his disciples]

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