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.

To Abide in God’s Tent--July 20, 2022

[From July 20, 2016 archive]

 

Who may abide in your tent, O God, 

and dwell on your holy hill? 

 

The one who offers sacrifices on 

an altar of hewn stones?

Or the one who stood trial 

and told the high priest truth, 

when telling that truth 

cost him his life? 

 

Make me more like the truth-teller, 

seeking righteousness and peace 

and joy in the Spirit, 

pursuing what makes for peace 

and for mutual understanding.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 15; 147:1-11; 48; 4

Josh. 8:30-35

Rom. 14:13-23

Matt. 26:57-68

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 15:1-2 

O LORD, who may abide in your tent? 
          Who may dwell on your holy hill?

Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right, 
          and speak the truth from their heart… 

 

Josh. 8:31 

…just as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the Israelites, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, “an altar of unhewn stones, on which no iron tool has been used”; and they offered on it burnt-offerings to the LORD, and sacrificed offerings of well-being. 

 

Rom. 14:17-19 

For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.  The one who thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and has human approval.  Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. 

 

Matt. 26:63-64 

But Jesus was silent.  Then the high priest said to him, “I put you under oath before the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”  Jesus said to him, “You have said so.  But I tell you, From now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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