JOURNAL ~ PsalmsUzorak

GREEN MEADOWS, DARK VALLEY, AND A FULL-COURSE GOURMET BANQUET - Day 1

Do you enjoy traveling? Whether the answer is yes or no, you know that to get to your destination safely, it is important to make the right kind of travel arrangements.  For example,  it is important to make your travel arrangements with a competent travel agent or a trustworthy tour company. Making such arrangements will at least help minimize getting odd flights, or ending up with unconfirmed bookings, lost baggage, and so on.

Our Christian life is also a journey, and in this journey it is also very important for us to travel with someone who is competent and to travel with someone who can, and will, take us safely to our destination. Travel also involves a destination that is worth the trouble. If it is not worth the trouble, then why bother going on that journey in the first place?

This is what Psalm 23 is all about. Although, unfortunately, it has been associated with death and funerals, it is a Psalm about living.  It's a Psalm that puts our daily activities such as eating, drinking, and seeking security, in a radically God-centered perspective.

The way this radically God-centered text speaks about our journey with God is by using two metaphors. God who is our good shepherd and our generous host. I am convinced that getting a hold of these two metaphors and being able to hold on to them in all circumstances of life is essential to being a follower of Jesus Christ.

What do they mean? That's what we're going to see in the next four days. But for now, I want you to read the Psalm aloud. Whatever your first language - or heart language - is, go ahead and read it in that language. It is a beautiful translation of the Hebrew.