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.

Strong Armor Is Not Enough--Oct. 26, 2020

 

I wear armor, strong armor, I think,

to ward off my foes.  I trust in it. 

 

But that is foolishness.  When the beast

from the bottomless pit comes up

to swallow me, my armor

will surely fail.

 

My trust is misplaced.

You are our refuge, O God. 

I pour out my heart before you.

Help me at all times to trust in you.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 62; 145; 73; 9

Jonah 1:17-2:10

Rev. 11:1-14

Luke 11:14-26

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 62:8

Trust in him at all times, O people;

            pour out your heart before him;

            God is a refuge for us.

 

Jonah 1:17

But the LORD provided a large fish to swallow up Jonah; and Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights.

 

Rev. 11:7

When [the two witnesses] have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them…

 

Luke 11:21-22

“…When a strong man, fully armed, guards his castle, his property is safe.  But when one stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his plunder.  …”  [Jesus, to those who were testing him]


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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