Easter 4
Preaching
Aids To The Psalms
Exploring The Message
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.
Alternate Image
The Singer is having lunch with friends. Her friends are all
successful in their fields of endeavor as is the Singer. They
share stories of their successes. One friend proudly proclaims
that she never asked for anything from her family or friends to
begin her business but earned all the seed money herself. Another
talks about all the long hours she put in to begin her business
and now she sees her hard efforts bearing fruit. Another speaks
of her years and years of training to develop the expertise she
now has and for which she is being handsomely rewarded. Story
after story is shared before the meal about hard work and
perseverance that has made possible
their achievements and successes. The Singer has been strangely
silent. Her friends turn to her and ask her to share her success
story as well. Spying the waiter bearing their food out of the
corner of her eye, she asks if she can say grace instead. A
little surprised and embarrassed, her friends say that would be
fine. The Singer prays, "Thank you Lord for being my provider,
for giving me all that I need. You have given me a wonderful life
and have refreshed me on all my travels. Even when things did not
go so well, you were with me and gave me the strength to carry
on. You have prepared all that has allowed us to come to this
table today and we are blessed beyond our wildest imaginings.
Life is good, and we expect it will remain so, because you are
with us. Thank you. Amen."
Reflection
This beloved Psalm was likely written during the peaceful
contented days of David's kingdom. It is a Psalm of how good life
is when one is blessed materially and in other ways. It describes
a condition we all want. It is an unusual Psalm in that often
when prosperity comes to us, we like to think of all that we did
to achieve such a condition. At those times we are likely to
enjoy our affluence and relax in the enjoyments that are possible
and in the process, forget about God. This psalmist remembers the
sources of all gifts and gives thanks for them. Furthermore he
expresses his trust that God will continue to provide and care
for him his entire life. That sense of God's providence makes him
very happy. That happiness is the source of his urge and desire
to worship.
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.
Alternate Image
The Singer is having lunch with friends. Her friends are all
successful in their fields of endeavor as is the Singer. They
share stories of their successes. One friend proudly proclaims
that she never asked for anything from her family or friends to
begin her business but earned all the seed money herself. Another
talks about all the long hours she put in to begin her business
and now she sees her hard efforts bearing fruit. Another speaks
of her years and years of training to develop the expertise she
now has and for which she is being handsomely rewarded. Story
after story is shared before the meal about hard work and
perseverance that has made possible
their achievements and successes. The Singer has been strangely
silent. Her friends turn to her and ask her to share her success
story as well. Spying the waiter bearing their food out of the
corner of her eye, she asks if she can say grace instead. A
little surprised and embarrassed, her friends say that would be
fine. The Singer prays, "Thank you Lord for being my provider,
for giving me all that I need. You have given me a wonderful life
and have refreshed me on all my travels. Even when things did not
go so well, you were with me and gave me the strength to carry
on. You have prepared all that has allowed us to come to this
table today and we are blessed beyond our wildest imaginings.
Life is good, and we expect it will remain so, because you are
with us. Thank you. Amen."
Reflection
This beloved Psalm was likely written during the peaceful
contented days of David's kingdom. It is a Psalm of how good life
is when one is blessed materially and in other ways. It describes
a condition we all want. It is an unusual Psalm in that often
when prosperity comes to us, we like to think of all that we did
to achieve such a condition. At those times we are likely to
enjoy our affluence and relax in the enjoyments that are possible
and in the process, forget about God. This psalmist remembers the
sources of all gifts and gives thanks for them. Furthermore he
expresses his trust that God will continue to provide and care
for him his entire life. That sense of God's providence makes him
very happy. That happiness is the source of his urge and desire
to worship.
