Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 23, The Message

A David Psalm

23 ^1-3 God, my shepherd!
    I don’t need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
    you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word,
    you let me catch my breath
    and send me in the right direction.

⁴ Even when the way goes through
    Death Valley,
I’m not afraid
    when you walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd’s crook
    makes me feel secure.

⁵ You serve me a six-course dinner
    right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head;
    my cup brims with blessing.

⁶ Your beauty and love chase after me
    every day of my life.
I’m back home in the house of God
    for the rest of my life.

TRUTH:  The Lord is my Shepherd who loves, cares, protects, guides and provides.  We who believe are His sheep.  As His sheep we follow Our Shepherd.  He knows us by name.  He knows when one of us wanders away.  He leaves the ninety-nine to find the one who is lost.  Our Shepherd died and rose again for us, all because of His relentless love for us.  He is everything we need now and forever.  We’re home when we walk with God.  His sheep hear His Voice and follow no matter what is going on around them.  Pandemics, floods, fires, murders, mistreatment, bullying gossip that maims and kills do not faze the sheep who follow The Lord as Shepherd. 

The Lord is my Shepherd.  I have everything I need.

Proverb 13:7-14, The Message

A pretentious, showy life is an empty life;
    a plain and simple life is a full life.

⁸ The rich can be sued for everything they have,
    but the poor are free of such threats.

⁹ The lives of good people are brightly lit streets;
    the lives of the wicked are dark alleys.

¹⁰ Arrogant know-it-alls stir up discord,
    but wise men and women listen to each other’s counsel.

¹¹ Easy come, easy go,
    but steady diligence pays off.

¹² Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick,
    but a sudden good break can turn life around.

¹³ Ignore the Word and suffer;
    honor God’s commands and grow rich.

¹⁴ The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,
    so, no more drinking from death-tainted wells!

WISDOM: “…a plain and simple life is a full life.”  A life following The Shepherd as the only Way, the Truth, leads us to Life forever with Him.  The Lord is my Shepherd.  I will follow Him. 

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  –Jesus (John 14:6

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” –Jesus (John 10:27-28)

Abba Father,

Hallowed is Your Name.  May Your Kingdom come and reign supremely in us and all around us.  May Your will be done in every detail today and always.  Give us this day a glimpse of You at work in all Your glory.  Provide where you guide us.  Lead us not into temptations but deliver us from all evil.  For you have all power, all knowledge, all wisdom.  Nothing is too hard for You.  To you be all glory, honor and praise.  There is NO ONE like YOU!  So, cleanse me.  Restore the joy of your salvation in me.  Transform me to be all you created me to be.  Renew a right Spirit within me.

In Jesus Name, Amen.