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.

God, Great and Awesome--March 9, 2019


God, great and awesome,
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deceit and injustice abound.
Defend the cause of those who
devote themselves to good works,
things excellent and profitable to all,
and take from us every shred of deceit.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 43; 149; 31; 143
Deut. 7:17-26
Titus 3:1-15
John 3:43-51

Selected Verses
Ps. 43:1
Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause
          against an ungodly people;
from those who are deceitful and unjust
          deliver me! 

Deut. 7:21
Have no dread of them, for the LORD your God, who is present with you, is a great and awesome God.

Titus 3:8b
I desire that you insist on these things, so that those who have come to believe in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works; these things are excellent and profitable to everyone. 

John 3:47
When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!"

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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