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.

Who Are We to Argue with God?--July 12, 2018


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Gracious God, we know that in the past
you have listened to our prayers;
therefore, as long as we live
we will call on you.

We would especially like to know
about the future; pray tell us
what is in store for us?
You do not say.

We look for signs and see none--
predictions are easy to find,
but they lead us astray. 

We would like to know, Lord,
but who are we to argue
with you, our Maker?

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 116; 147:12-20; 26; 130
Deut. 3:18-28
Rom. 9:19-33
Matt. 24:1-14

Selected Verses
Ps. 116:2
Because he inclined his ear to me,
          therefore I will call on him as long as I live.

Deut. 3:25-26a
"…Let me cross over to see the good land beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and the Lebanon."  But the LORD was angry with me on your account and would not heed me.

Rom. 9:20
But who indeed are you, a human being, to argue with God?  Will what is molded say to the one who molds it, "Why have you made me like this?"

Matt. 24:3-4
When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?"  Jesus answered them, "Beware that no one leads you astray.  …"

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