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.

Internal Enemies--July 13, 2021

[From July 14, 2009 archive, adapted from my July 13, 1999 journal]

 

Saul sought to pin David to the wall with a spear.

King Herod had James killed by the sword.

I have no powerful enemies like these.

 

Mine are internal; yet they oppress me, 

cause me to walk about mournfully, 

raise questions in my heart. 

 

Free me from them, O Lord.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 42; 146; 102; 133

1 Sam. 19:1-24

Acts 12:1-17

Mark 2:1-12

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 42:9

I say to God, my rock,

            “Why have you forgotten me?

Why must I walk about mournfully

            because the enemy oppresses me?”

 

Sam. 19:10

Saul sought to pin David to the wall with the spear; but he eluded Saul, so that he struck the spear into the wall.  David fled and escaped that night.

 

Acts 12:1-2

About that time King Herod laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church.  He had James, the brother of John, killed with the sword.

 

Mark 2:8b

“…and [Jesus] said to [the scribes], “Why do you raise such questions in your hearts?  …  ”


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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