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 Human Help Is Worthless--Sept. 26, 2021

[From Sept. 29, 2013 archive]

 

In matters great and small, there are times 

when human help seems worthless. 

A nation is carried into exile; 

loved ones die; or we work 

the night and catch nothing. 

O Jesus, help us not to wait 

until events overwhelm us before 

we are ready to turn and obey your will. 

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 108; 150; 66; 23

2 Kings 17:1-18

Acts 9:36-43

Luke 5:1-11

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 108:12 

O grant us help against the foe, 
          for human help is worthless. 

 

2 Kings 17:6a 

In the ninth year of Hoshea the king of Assyria captured Samaria; he carried the Israelites away to Assyria. 

 

Acts 9:39b 

All the widows stood beside [Peter], weeping and showing tunics and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was with them. 

 

Luke 5:5 

Simon answered [Jesus], “Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing.  Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets.”


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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