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 if Truth is Not Welcome--Aug. 21, 2019



Help me speak truth from my heart,
O God, even if truth is not welcome.
Forfend that I should flatter, whether
to curry favor or to entrap someone,
and let me not embellish the truth
just to make myself look better.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 15; 147:1-11; 48; 4
2 Sam. 18:19-33
Acts 23:23-35
Mark 12:13-27

Selected Verses
Ps. 15:1-2
O LORD, who may abide in your tent?
          Who may dwell on your holy hill?
Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right,
          and speak the truth from their heart…

2 Sam. 18:27
The sentinel said, “I think the running of the first one is like the running of Ahimaaz son of Zadok.”  The king said, “He is a good man, and comes with good tidings.”

Acts 23:27
“…This man [Paul] was seized by the Jews and was about to be killed by them, but when I had learned that he was a Roman citizen, I came with the guard and rescued him.  …”  [excerpt from a letter to Gov. Felix, in which Claudius massages the truth about his own role]

Mark 12:14, 15b
And [some Pharisees and Herodians] came and said to [Jesus], “Teacher, we know that you are sincere, and show deference to no one; for you do not regard people with partiality, but teach the way of God in accordance with truth.  …”  But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, “Why are you putting me to the test?  …”

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

4 comments:

  1. Mea SententiaAugust 21, 2019 at 7:00 PM

    Forfend is a new word to me. It alliterates well with flatter and favor. Nicely done.

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  2. Mea SententiaAugust 21, 2019 at 8:01 PM

    Also... in order to speak the truth, I must know the truth. Know the truth not simply as a general principle, but as it emerges in a particular context and application. Knowing the truth in this particular way is not easy, simple, or certain.

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  3. Elmer E. EwingAugust 21, 2019 at 9:39 PM

    Well said, but I don't always do a good job of speaking the truth from my heart when I am pretty sure I do understand what the truth is.

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  4. Elmer E. EwingAugust 21, 2019 at 9:43 PM

    Thanks.
    "Forfend" is archaic, hardly ever used now, but I have come across it in older prayers. I think of it as a combination of "forbid" and "defend against."

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