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 in Distress We Call--July 17

[From July 18, 2022 archive]

 

Rahab the prostitute and her family were rescued

from death in the utter destruction of Jericho;

Paul was rescued from a riot he instigated

between the Pharisees and Sadducees, 

and a paralytic was healed by Jesus.

In distress they called, and you 

answered them, dear God. 

 

Teach us to turn to you

when we are in distress,

but not to wait until then.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 19; 150; 81; 113

Josh. 6:15-27

Acts 22:30-23:11

Mark 2:1-12

 

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 81:5c-7a

I hear a voice I had not known: 
“I relieved your shoulder of the burden; 
          your hands were freed from the basket. 
In distress you called, and I rescued you…”

 

Josh. 6:21, 25

Then [the people of Israel] devoted to destruction by the edge of the sword all in [Jericho], both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys.  …But Rahab the prostitute, with her family and all who belonged to her, Joshua spared.  Her family has lived in Israel ever since.  For she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

 

Acts 23:10

When the dissension became violent, the tribune, fearing that they would tear Paul to pieces, ordered the soldiers to go down, take him by force, and bring him into the barracks.

 

Mark 2:10-11

“…But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—[Jesus] said to the paralytic—“I say to you, stand up, take your mat and go to your home.”


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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