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.

Stretch Out Your Hand and Deliver--June 19, 2021

[From June 22, 2013 archive]

 

What is coming upon the world, dear God?

Thousands die in war; there is very great slaughter,

even of civilians; and great fear has seized the peoples.

 

Preserve against the wrath of their enemies those who

walk in the midst of trouble, O God; pray stretch 

out your right hand and deliver them.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 104; 149; 138; 98

1 Sam. 4:1b-11

Acts 4:32-5:11

Luke 21:20--28

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 138:7

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, 
          you preserve me against the wrath of my enemies; 
you stretch out your hand, 
          and your right hand delivers me.

 

1 Sam. 4:10

So the Philistines fought; Israel was defeated, and they fled, everyone to his home.  There was a very great slaughter, for there fell of Israel thirty thousand foot soldiers.

 

Acts 5:11

And great fear seized the whole church and all who heard of these things.

 

Luke 21:26

"…People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  …"  [Jesus to his disciples]


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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