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 of the Thick Darkness--April 30, 2020


God of the thick darkness,
awesome in your sanctuary,
we worship only you,
serve only you;

give power
and strength
to your people.

Encourage our hearts,
and unite them in love,
that we may understand
your mystery—

which is Christ himself,
full of wisdom and treasure
and knowledge.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 47; 147:12-20; 68; 113
Exod. 20:1-21
Col. 1:24-2:7
Matt. 4:1-11

Selected Verses
Ps. 68:35a
Awesome is God in his sanctuary,
          the God of Israel;
          he gives power and strength to his people.

Exod. 20:21
Then the people stood at a distance, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.

Col. 2:2-3
I want their hearts to be encouraged and united in love, so that they may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Matt. 4:10
Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! for it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’”

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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