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.

As Mountains Surround Jerusalem--Sept. 23, 2020


 

Temptation comes to us at inopportune times, 

O God; surround your people, 

protect us.

 

When we suppose we are the most worthy 

of reward for the good things we do, 

correct us.

 

When stubbornly we cling to our old ways

and argue against your saving  grace,

rescue us.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 65; 147:1-11; 125; 91

Esth. 6:1-14

Acts 19:1-10

Luke 4:1-13

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 125:2

As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
          so the LORD surrounds his people,
          from this time on and forevermore.

 

Esth. 6:6

So Haman came in, and the king said to him, “What shall be done for the man whom the king wishes to honor?”  Haman said to himself, “Whom would the king wish to honor more than me?” 

 

Acts 19:9

When some stubbornly refused to believe and spoke evil of the Way before the congregation, [Paul] left them, taking the disciples with him, and argued daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. 

 

Luke 4:13

When the devil had finished every test, he departed from [Jesus] until an opportune time.


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)