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.

When Human Help Is Worthless--Sept. 29, 2019

[From Sept. 29, 2013 archive]

In matters great and small, there are times
when human help seems worthless.
A nation is carried into exile;
loved ones die; or we work
the night and catch nothing.
O Jesus, help us not to wait
until events overwhelm us before
we are ready to turn and obey your will.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 108; 150; 66; 23
2 Kings 17:1-18
Acts 9:36-43
Luke 5:1-11

Selected Verses
Ps. 108:12
O grant us help against the foe,
          for human help is worthless.

2 Kings 17:6a
In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria captured Samaria; he carried the Israelites away to Assyria.

Acts 9:39b
All the widows stood beside [Peter], weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them.

Luke 5:5
Simon answered [Jesus], "Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing.  Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets."

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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