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.

When Things I Do Displease You, O God--Aug. 6, 2021

[From Aug. 9, 2013 archive]

 

When the things I have done displease you, 

consider my affliction and my trouble; 

and forgive all my sins, O God. 

 

I try to make a defense before others 

and before you; I am not able. 

Have pity, Lord; help me. 

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 84; 148; 25; 40

2 Sam. 12:1-14

Acts 19:21-41

Mark 9:14-29

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 25:18 

Consider my affliction and my trouble, 
          and forgive all my sins. 

 

2 Sam. 12:1a 

But the thing that David had done displeased the LORD, and the LORD sent Nathan to David. 

 

Acts 19:33b 

And Alexander motioned for silence and tried to make a defense before the people. 

 

Mark 9:22 

“…[The spirit] has often cast [my son] into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us.”  [The father of the boy who had a seizure, to Jesus]


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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