As I was reading the 23rd Psalm, I was trying to check on the time it was written. Evidently David was a young shepherd boy at that time. “If” he was alone with just him, the pasture, the sky and all the beautiful stars (when clear) and his shepherd, the Lord, David wrote or penned this beautiful Psalm. It is one we usually memorize and hold dear.
We know that God looks on the heart. We know David in later years when he became king, broke many of the Lord’s commandments and he suffered many heartaches over his past deeds, but God and nobody else knew his heart.
I believe that even today many think God cannot or will not forgive their sins. Hey! That is why our Heavenly Father sent his only begotten Son — to seek and to save the lost.
I surely will not tell you there will not be consequences over some seeds we have sown. I will tell you he will make our sins as white as snow because of the blood He shed for us. Isn’t it wonderful how, even though David didn’t know all we know and have access to today, he still knew how real our God was — and is to this day?
Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures. He restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before the presence of mine enemies. Thou anointest my head with oil. My cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
What a prophetic understanding David had of God and His goodness.
Another Psalm I think is very special is Psalm 91. According to what I found out, it is uncertain who wrote this Psalm. But it is very special and so encouraging.
Psalm 91: “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the almighty shall abide in the shadow of the most high. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress, my God. In Him will I trust. Surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fouler and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers and under his wing shalt thy trust. His trust shalt be thy shield and thy buckler. Thou shalt not be afraid of the terror by night nor for the arrow that flieth by day. Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor for the destruction that wasteth at noon day. A thousand shall fall at thy side, and a thousand at thy right hand, but it shall not come night thee.”
There are 16 verses in Psalm 91. Read them all. God’s promises are true. If we read His holy word and hold fast to His promises, what have we to fear? He is an ever-present help in time of need.
Although I know in my many years on this earth, I have failed the Lord many times, He has never failed me.
There is a beautiful song called, “My Hope is in Thee, Lord.” If your hope isn’t in God, who or what is it in?
I look at it like this. If I die, by whatever means, I will wake up in Heaven. Paul said, whether I go or whether I stay. Paul said, if I go, I will be with Christ. I think it is a win-win situation. The only reason I would want to stay on earth at this point is if I could win others (and my family) to Christ. God bless.
Pearl Harper has written the Spiritually Speaking column in the LaFollette Press for decades.
