May 9, 2019
For full passage click: Psalm 23:4-6 …“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.” vs. 6
We frequently hear the 23rd Psalm at funeral or memorial services; it’s the default Scripture choice for people looking for comforting passages. And it’s a good pick! There’s something about its familiar verses, especially in the King James Version, that soothes troubled souls. What’s ironic is that the psalmist is not writing about death at all! His focus is actually on life and the blessings of the journey. When he talks about dwelling in the house of the Lord he’s not talking about heaven, he has earthly habitations in mind. He wants his readers to put their trust in the Lord so that they can have a good life in this world! Jesus focused on that same idea in his preaching and teaching. The kingdom of heaven was something to be experienced now, there’s no need to wait for the life to come! In other words, life in Christ is about the journey and not the destination. What the psalmist teaches is that the Lord will take care of us, comfort us in times of darkness, and provide security from our enemies. His dream is that every person would be able to enjoy the good life on this earth. Of course, reality tells us that this doesn’t always happen, but that’s no reason to stop hoping. After all, some of our days are exceptionally fine! Praise God!
Thought for the Day: What Scripture verses give me the most comfort?
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