August 3, 2021
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in some selections from Psalms & Proverbs? Here’s today’s reading:
Psalms 23-24 (NIV)
A psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
I love the two pictures of God in these two chapters…one picture of the soft, caring shepherd that cares for us, comforts us, and provides our needs and then in the next chapter the King of Glory who is mighty, strong , powerful, and victorious.
He is all these things and so much more but the Lion and the Lamb is what we see here.
So much in these two Psalms, they are such a reassuring of how God takes care of us, how he loves us, how he leads us, what a comfort to read these chapters.
Amazing how the psalms comfort us at the exact time when we are in need of Gods presence protection and reassurance. Was laying in a hospital 25 years ago reading. A shepherds Guide to psalm 23. Brought me a tremendous amount of peace. Psalm 24. First verse. Gives me so much peace. Knowing that everything including me is the property of God. I love being a slave to God. That’s where true freedom is!!
Psalms 22-23
The Lord Almighty…the King of Glory. “Our God is an awesome God.”
Psalm 23
I notice that David is declarative in his wording. He speaks as one convinced of God’s providential care in providing refreshment, guidance, protection, and abundance. It is the bedrock of his faith.
Psalm 24
This psalm contrasts God’s imagery as a shepherd, for here he is the creator of all things, the King of glory, the Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
As I read verses 3 and 4, I think of the hymn “Are You Washed in the Blood”, for all have sinned, all are guilty and fall short of the glory of God. Aside from his cleansing none of us could enter into God’s presence.
The call to “Lift up your heads, O gates!” was initially confusing. For when I consider a gate, I think of one opening on hinges. Perhaps the gates in Jerusalem lifted rather than swing on hinges? This is a poetic image that speaks of keeping ourselves open to the presence of God, the King of glory.
Yes, how comforting to see in these two Psalms that God is both a shepherd who cares, guides, provides and protects as well as the Lord of glory, who comes in power and might. One would be to have a God who cares without having the power to carry it out. The other by itself would be to have the power and authority but lacking compassion. Praise God that He is both and provides vivid pictures of both in these Psalms. How absolutely vulnerable sheep are and yet that is the pictures God gives here of us. And it is great to see that God provides things that will benefit our lives as well as things that will make us the people He wants us to be. I was really struck by the line “you prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies”. If not for being found in the most popular Psalm and practically memorized by many, what an odd idea, except when God is the one doing it. On one hand it is a picture of providing something good for your enemies, even though they are…..well your enemies….and only God makes that possible. And it is also a picture that even amidst enemies, there is a place of repose and provision in God’s economy. Praise the Lord! He is worthy of full access to us, so let’s let Him in.
Psalms 23-24
4Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
7Lift up your heads, you gates;
be lifted up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
8Who is this King of glory?
The Lord strong and mighty,
the Lord mighty in battle.
9Lift up your heads, you gates;
lift them up, you ancient doors,
that the King of glory may come in.
10Who is he, this King of glory?
The Lord Almighty—
he is the King of glory.
“I will fear no evil, for You are with me.” So comforting.