“O wise and peaceful God,
all across the globe people are fearful.
Unrest and violence, division and angst, sadden our hearts.
Yet, somewhere in the depths of our hearts lives your wisdom.
Unite us. Lead us to the truth that love is more powerful than fear.”
Benedictine Macrina Wiederkehr
Psalm 27:1
The LORD is my light and my salvation;
Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the strength of my life;
Of whom shall I be afraid?
As for me and my house we will follow the Lord! Jesus came as the light and the truth. He gave us the words of freedom…DO NOT FEAR. Fear is the main tool of the enemy. He only comes to kill, steal and destroy God’s creation.Carla
Psalm 23:4-6
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.
As God’s adopted children we inherit the blessings of Abraham. No one could love us more than Jesus who gave up His sinless live for our redemption. In faith we become the children of promise. Carla
The valley of the shadow of death can refer to any distressing time in our lives. The awareness of our own mortality often comes with sickness, trials, and hardship. But the Lord, our Protector, can lead us through these dark and difficult valleys to eternal life with Him. There is no need to fear death’s power (1 Corinthians 15:25–27). The Good Shepherd is with us even in what seem the most difficult and troubling situations.
Ancient shepherds used the rod and staff to rescue, protect, and guide the sheep. Thus they become symbols of the Good Shepherd’s loving care over His flock. The sheep are not alone, their Shepherd is standing over them, guiding them into safety—just as the Lord stands over us and protects us.
God’s provision is as abundant as the wine offered to a guest by a generous host. The lavish treatment of the guest is indicative of the loving care of God for His people. The use of both goodness and mercy to describe God’s loyal love intensifies the meaning of the two words. What is described in verse 5 is God’s overabundant mercy—love that is in no way deserved.
The Hebrew verb, follow, describes an animal in pursuit. When the Lord is our Shepherd, instead of being stalked by wild beasts we are pursued by the loving care of the Lord. God’s promise for the Israelites was not just for the enjoyment of this life in the land of promise (6:1–3); it was also for the full enjoyment of the life to come in His blessed presence (16:9–11; 17:15; 49:15). The NKJV Study Bible
The psalmist acknowledges that life will not always be characterized by green pastures and quiet waters (verse 2). He will walk through darkness or gloom (107:10; Job 10:22).The Hebrew word used here for evil, ra'ah, can refer to harm or trouble (Job 2:10). Even in difficult times, the psalmist will not fear any harm. The psalmist does not fear because of Yahweh’s presence, which protects him from harm (Psalm 138:7; Isa 43:2).
Your rod and your staff were tools used by shepherds to guide sheep. Having sheep pass under a rod was a way of counting them (Leviticus 27:32). Here, the rod symbolizes Yahweh’s protection and care. Elsewhere, it serves as a symbol of divine discipline (Psalm. 89:32; 2 Samuel 7:14).
The psalmist switches from portraying Yahweh as a shepherd to portraying Him as a host. Hospitality in the ancient Near East required more than providing a meal. The host was also responsible for protecting his guest (Genesis 19) Since the psalmist, as a guest, enjoys Yahweh’s protection, he can eat safely in the presence of his enemies. My cup is overflowing emphasizes Yahweh’s generosity; He provides more than the psalmist needs. With Yahweh as his shepherd and host, the psalmist is confident that he will be protected by Yahweh’s unfailing covenantal love (Exododus 34:6).
The Hebrew phrase used here for a very long time, le'orekh yamim, literally means “for length of days.” This does not necessarily indicate eternity; it shows the psalmist expects to be Yahweh’s guest all of his life. Faithlife Study Bible
Isaiah 43:2
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.
Psalm 3:6
I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people
Who have set themselves against me all around.
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” Martin Luther King Jr.
And when that happens, I forgot, or didn’t remember (or didn't see and embrace the light inside of me) to tell the story of sanctuary, and empathy, and mercy.
The story of inclusion and compassion, in the face of cruelty.
The story of kindness and renewal, in the face of malice.
The story of grace.
There is no doubt; mercy and sanctuary and grace are not always convenient. Go figure.
And there is no perfect time to stand up. Or to do soul searching. Or to say this is who we are. Or to call on our better angels.
Easy? Heavens, no.
And yet. When John Lewis’ invitation is given, “Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime. Never, ever be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble”, look at what rises to the surface.
It did my heart good to read this from Krista Tippett. “At the very same time, this is one of those moments when the strange and beautiful reality of the human condition rises in the face of what would deny it. In Minnesota, where I raised my children and grew this On Being Project a world of care and dignity one human being towards another has flourished within and around all the images coming to us of violence and protest and despair. There are churches converted to food banks. There are families accompanying other families and neighbors delivering meals and other essentials to individuals who feel vulnerable for multitudes of reasons. There are strangers bearing witness, non-violently, as homes are approached and doors beaten down. There are teachers and librarians and healers stepping up to care for children and teenagers who are traumatized by all of this. I am hearing a thousand stories that are not making the ‘news’ as I’m trying to follow it, but they too are the story of our time, and they are stories of what makes us human and humane.
We want to meet what is hard and hurting.
We want to rise to what is beautiful and life-giving.
We want to do that where we live, and we want to do it walking alongside others.
We’re asking, where to begin?” (Thank you Krista)
There is a light in every one of us. Let us, let it shine.
People often like to ask me what I “believe”. I’ll go with what Walter Brueggemann (in Theology of the Old Testament) calls a “credo of five adjectives” that continually recurs in the Hebrew Scriptures: This God that Israel—and Jesus—discovered is consistently seen to be “merciful, gracious, faithful, forgiving, and steadfast in love.” Sabbath Moments”
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