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.

Judgment with Mercy--July 8, 2020


How can we settle our own disputes?
All by ourselves, the burden
is too heavy to bear.

But let trees of the forest sing for joy,
the settling depends not on our
human will or exertion.

Ultimate judgement is not made by us,
but made by the one who comes
in the name of the Lord.

He is Jesus the Christ,
and he judges with mercy.
As he is merciful, so may we be.

Lectionary Readings
Ps. 96; 147:1-11; 132; 134
Deut. 1:1-18
Rom. 9:1-18
Matt. 23:27-39

Selected Verses
Ps. 96:12b-13a
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
          before the LORD; for he is coming,
          for he is coming to judge the earth.

Deut. 1:12
“…But how can I bear the heavy burden of your disputes all by myself?  …”  [Moses, to all Israel]

Rom. 9:16
So it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God who shows mercy. 

Matt. 23:39
“…For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, ‘Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.’”  [Jesus, to Jerusalem]

Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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