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.

Wisdom in My Secret Heart--July 15, 2022

[From July 20, 2012 archive]

 

I want to have truth in my inward being;

give me your wisdom in my heart.

I want to have love that is genuine, 

so I am able to hold fast to what is good.

 

I want to know what you command me;

I want to find strength to follow.

I want to hate what in me is evil,

to say, "Surely not I, Lord," and mean it.

 

Lectionary Readings

Ps. 51; 148; 142; 65

Josh. 4:19-5:1, 10-15

Rom. 12:9-21

Matt. 26:17-25

 

Selected Verses 

Ps. 51:6

You desire truth in the inward being; 
          therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.

 

Josh. 5:14b

And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped [the commander of the army of the LORD], and he said to him, “What do you command your servant, my lord?”

 

Rom. 12:9

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good…

 

Matt. 26:22

And [the twelve disciples] became greatly distressed and began to say to [Jesus] one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?”


Posted by Elmer E. Ewing

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