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June 29, 2008 - 7th Sunday after Pentecost
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths
for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff -
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
my whole life long.
-- Psalm 23
The 23rd Psalm is perhaps the most famous psalm of all, learned in childhood and
prayed at deathbeds. Psalm 23 gives voice to the varied experiences of life - comfort and
trust, darkness and evil, enemies and friends, blessing and joy, life and death.
This psalm is a prayer of faith that is attributed to King David, the most loved and
revered king in the history of God's people. We read in 1 & 2 Samuel of the many triumphs
and tragedies that David experienced - love and war, deceit and murder, dancing and joy.
David experienced it all like every other human, like you and me. It was human experience
that inspired him to write this prayer of trust.
"Back in the day" people of faith made the effort to memorize scripture, literally
internalizing God's word. What a comforting gift this has proved to be in times of darkness
and anxiety. Perhaps it's time to memorize a few Bible passages again, calling to mind
God's word that lives within. This psalm would be a great place to begin!
Read the psalm again - this time offering it as a prayer.
We pray: O God, you direct our lives by your grace, and your words of justice
and mercy reshape the world. Mold us into a people who welcome your word and serve one
another, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord. Amen
Lessons for the 7th Sunday after Pentecost:
(God's covenant with David)
- 2nd Samuel 7:1-17
- Psalm 23
Scripture quotations are from New Revised Standard Version Bible,
copyright © 1989, Division of Christian Education of the
National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America.
Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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