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.

Pluck Us Out, O God--Dec. 2, 2018

[Adapted from Nov. 27, 2004 archive]

Reared as your children, yet rebels,
scoffers, indulging in our own lusts,
we are unprepared for your coming.

Our lamps go out and we cannot see.
When at last we turn our eyes to you,
pluck our feet out of the net, O God.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 24; 150; 25; 110
Isa. 1:1-9
2 Peter 3:1-10
Matt. 25:1-13

Selected Verses
Ps. 25:15
My eyes are ever toward the LORD,
          for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

Isa. 1:2a
I reared children and brought them up,
          but they have rebelled against me.

2 Peter 3:3
First of all you must understand this, that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts…

Matt. 25:8
"…The foolish [bridesmaids] said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.'  …"  [Jesus to his disciples]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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