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.

Lord, Protect Us from Deceit--Nov. 18, 2019


God the Lord,
in our hearts we turn to you
and listen to your Beloved;
speak peace to your people.

We entreat you, pray protect us
from the deceitful and from the powers
that would separate us from you and your Son.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 57; 145; 85; 47
Ezra 7:27-28, 8:21-36
Rev. 20:7-15
Matt. 17:1-13

Selected Verses
Ps. 85:8
Let me hear what God the LORD will speak,
          for he will speak peace to his people,
          to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.

Ezra 8:23
So we fasted and petitioned our God for [protection on our journey], and he listened to our entreaty.

Rev. 20:10a
And the devil who had deceived [the nations] was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur…

Matt. 17:5
While [Peter] was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” 

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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