Category: Daily Devotionals

Psalm 23

Valley walking can be a great joy.  We probably have favourite valleys.  Each one capturing a mood and a sense of spirituality.  I love the steep wooded sides of the Dart valley, dark but lightened by the bright foaming water of the river; or the wide peaceful green pastures of Dovedale.  But then the valley narrows and the craggy sides steepen casting menacing shadows. 

In Psalm 23 David draws upon his personal experience of Israel’s valleys or wadis.  Following the rains they provide rich pasture land but they are subject to flash floods and when the sides become cliffs the pilgrim ways become places of danger from bandits, the mood changes completely.

Psalm 23 is often associated with comfort at funerals but that only truly makes sense if in the context of a life led by the shepherd.  God as shepherd and his people as sheep led by him is a repeated image in the Old Testament. ^{Isaiah 40.11}  Jesus picks up on this, ‘I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me.’ ^{John 10.14}  Crucial to Jesus shepherding is the notion of him leading, in contrast to modern shepherding, where sheep are driven with a harrying sheep dog pushing them forward.  Where Jesus calls us to go he has already gone before.

The psalm contains three testimonies.

I shall lack nothing, ^vv1-3 and this is because he has provided plenty, (green pastures) ^v1 peace, (quiet waters) ^v2 refreshment, (soul food) ^v3 and righteousness (guidance along right paths.) ^v3

I will fear no evil as the joyous wide valley becomes harsher terrain, ‘shadow of death’ ^v4 is literally translated deepest darkness, which includes the darkness of death but also other life experiences.  At such times God promises to draw particularly close with a rod to protect and a staff to support.

I will safely dwell even though I am surrounded by hostile circumstances and people. ^v5 Here David may well be drawing on God’s hand through the abundant hospitality provided by Barzillai when he was being pursued by Absalom. ^{2 Samuel 17.27-29}  The psalm ends with assurance of God’s abundant blessing whatever our circumstances, be it in green pastures or dark valleys.  This provision is life long, ‘all the days of my life, ^v6 and beyond this life into eternity, ‘I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.’ ^v6  Jesus confirms this assurance with the words, ‘In my Father’s house there are many rooms … I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself.’ ^{John 14.2-3}

The Lord’s my Shepherd – Stuart Townend

Psalm 22 and Matthew 27.35-46

Black Dog, often used as a metaphor for depression, is regularly attributed to Winston Churchill although its use can be traced to earlier authors.  It is a metaphor not limited to depression but it does convey an ominous presence that is not under our control where it imposes strong negative influences on our minds.

Psalm 22 is an intense personal lament written by David in a time of great personal despair.  David probably wrote the psalm whilst fleeing from either Saul or Absalom although the intensity of suffering in verses 12 to 18 far outstrips anything David is recorded to have experienced.  The resonance with Jesus sufferings is pronounced both in words spoken and the derision of his treatment. ^{Matt 27.35-46}  The mental and physical suffering described in the psalm oppresses him spiritually.

The psalmist feels deserted by God and his desperate prayers are unanswered. ^v1  He cries in the daytime and cannot sleep at night. ^v2 He considers himself utterly derided for his faith in the Lord. ^vv6-9  He is surrounded by overwhelming enemies, ‘Many … strong bulls of Bashan surround me;’^v12 and ‘Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the dog!’ ^v20  His body is broken as if by torture. ^{v v14,15} 

It is heartbreaking to consider that this is still a literal experience for many and we see it in the accounts of huge numbers of refugees and victims of abuse.

How does David respond to this?  Despite his feelings he remembers that God is holy and has repeatedly in the past saved his people and on that basis appeals to God. ^vv3-5  He then remembers God has cared for him since his conception. ^vv9-11  From that he moves to publicly praise God by faith.  ‘I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.’ ^v22  In the end he asserts that he is what the Lord has made him.  ‘For kingship belongs to the Lord, and he rules over the nations.’ ^v28

David has learnt that as a disciple we are not what the black dog says or even what we feel at the time.  We are what the Lord has done and said.

You say by Lauran Daigle

Psalm 21

Schools, colleges and universities having closed more than a term before the end of the academic year, cohorts of students will miss their graduation celebrations.  That outpouring of relief having gone through the struggle of study and examination.  Proud parents buy cards, organize meals, friends gather together to celebrate with joy.  In a sense the battle is over.  Teachers, lecturers and parents are worrying that the students will miss out on this right of passage.

In a time when many are preoccupied with stressful situations, the battle is not over and we are still in the midst of it all, many will be wondering if they will ever celebrate with joy again.  Psalm 21 concentrates on the time after the battle when the crisis at the top of the mountain has been overcome and does so in the name of the king.  Whilst psalm 21 is a psalm of David it is also a messianic psalm that rejoices in the victory of the king to come, the Lord Jesus.

Jesus’ battle took place on the cross as he overcame sin and death for the sake of his people and now there is great rejoicing.  ‘The king rejoices in your strength, Lord.  How great is his joy in the victories you give.’ ^v1  His great desire is the salvation of his people and this has not been withheld. ^v2  He is now crowned in glory and ‘a crown of pure gold’ ^v3 has been placed on his head.   Even through the spiritual, emotional and physical torment of Gethsemane and Calvary he trusted in the unfailing love of God the Father.  ‘For the king trusts in the Lord; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken.’ ^v8

The bible is clear, there will be judgement and evil will be destroyed, even if that seems very far off.  In David’s imagery, ‘Your hand will lay hold on all your enemies; your right hand will seize your foes.’ ^v8  That does not mean there will not be suffering and grief on the way.  There is hope and expectation that we will come to a time of celebration again through the victory of Jesus Christ.

My hope is built on nothing less:-

Psalm 21 and Genesis 49.8-12

All children are taught how to write a story based on a story mountain. At its simplest characters are introduced and a scene set, a problem arises and then a solution occurs followed by a conclusion.  In a sense Psalms 21 and 22 combine to form a story mountain in the mountain range of the salvation story.  They are royal psalms, focusing on the king.  They follow a common poetic pattern of parallelism where the first line’s meaning is repeated in the second line with a shift in emphasis.        ‘May he grant you your heart’s desire

And fulfill all your plans.’ ^v4

For verses 7 and 8 a variation of parallelism is used called Antithetical Parallelism, where the second line contrasts with the first.

‘Some trust in chariots and some in horses,

But we trust in the name of the Lord our God.’ ^v7

The scene is set, the people and probably the priests are praying for their king (David) before an unknown battle.  They pray for the king because he represents the people.  The characters are the people, priests, the king, the enemy and the Lord.  The problem is the threat of a foreign power against Israel.

The opening verse, ‘May the name of the God of Jacob protect you’ ^v1 appeals to Jacob’s prophetic blessing, ‘The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall come.’ ^{Gen 49.10}   This blessing applies to David as being in the line of Judah and also as a messianic type.  It is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus not only through his death and resurrection but also on his return and the final Victory, Judgement and Restoration. ^{Revelaton chps 19-21}

The meaning of verse 7 takes on a fresh perspective in the New Testament.  Despite various attempts in history Christ’s victory in bringing personal salvation to the nations has never been by military might.*  Might mostly serves to raise resistance rather than win over people’s hearts.  Rather the New Testament way is to come in weakness but in the name of the Lord.  Stephen pioneered the way, following in the sacrificial footsteps of his Lord.  He has been followed by myriads since.   God’s words to Paul were, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ ^{2Corinthians 12.9}  It is not the solution on the story mountain that David’s Israelites were expecting but it is the way of the cross.

The Cross Has the Final Word.

*Personal salvation is a separate issue to national salvation and whether or not it is possible to conduct a righteous war.

Psalm 19 and Romans 1.18-23

Everyone who has spent significant time with a small child has been questioned about the wonder of the world with the intensity of a John Grisham courtroom scene. Who made this?   Where did it come from?  How does it work?  Why is it green?  When will it happen again?

When somebody first becomes a Christian, the question is often asked, but what about people who have never heard of Jesus, how can they find God?  Psalm 19 starts to answer this question.  Creation itself reveals something of the Creator.  ‘The heavens declare the glory of God.’ ^v1  Observation of the world we live in has always raised those childlike questions and in that sense speaks to us of God.  Paul puts it like this, ‘For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.’ ^Romans1.20

Psalm 19 though recognizes the limitation of creation itself as a full revelation of the nature of God and his relationship with humanity. ‘There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. ^v3 Central to this psalm is verse 9, ‘the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.’  Scripture is clear, that through God’s creation alone we should understand that he is eternal and holy and consequently we should worship him through the holiness of our lives and be God seekers. ^{Rom 1.21}  But to more fully understand God and be in relationship with him we need the word of God.  For David, this was the law books in the Old Testament.  ‘The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.’ ^v7  

We however live in a different age and have the revelation of Jesus Christ the living Word of God.  ‘The law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.  No one has ever seen God, the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.’ ^John1.17

It is now our responsibility to communicate that word so the question, ‘How can they find God?’ is no longer asked.  How then are we being, ‘witnesses … to the ends of the earth?’ ^{Acts 1.8}

How great is our God!