Psalm 22 — Why Have You Forsaken Me?
Psalm 23 — The Lord is My Shepherd
Psalm 24 — The King of Glory
Psalm 25 — Teach Me Your Paths
Thoughts about serving others
This link includes a list of posts about Serving the Least, the Lost, and the Lonely.
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Let the Word evoke words. May your life encourage lives.
Psalm 22, according to the NIV Study Bible notes, “is quoted more frequently” than any other psalm in the New Testament. Indeed, Jesus quotes from the psalm on the cross. Some of His last words, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (22:1) are from this famous psalm, words those around him would recognize. The psalm of David depicts great struggle, “I am a worm and not a man, scorned by everyone, despised by the people” (22:6) and foretell events that we see in Jesus’ last moments, “they divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment” (22:18). The last verse holds a great promise: “They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!” (22:31). Amen!!
Psalm 23 seems to be the most famous in the Bible, though I don’t know how to gauge that. These six verses with just over 100 words paint a vivid picture of a God that cares deeply about his people. Numerous songs in contemporary worship include portions of this brief psalm. The NIV translates the first verse, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” But I have to admit, the former translations are more familiar to me, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” The words, “I lack nothing” may be more accurate, the the imagery of “I shall not want” is significant in my memory. So many trials and tests in my life, so many times when i came to this psalm to confess the Lord is indeed my shepherd.
“Give us Clean Hands” is a worship song based on Psalm 24, “Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart…such is the generation of those to seek him, who seed you face, God of Jacob” (24:3-4, 6). This reminds me I do not have clean hands nor a pure heart, but only by the abounding Grace of God can I stand in his presence.
I love the assertion toward the end of Psalm 25, “my hope, Lord, is in you” (25:21). Hope is what we have to offer this dying world. Jesus came to give everyone hope, it is the Good News. As our society continues to point people to look to themselves for hope, to seek from within, we boldly say, hope comes from the Lord, not from within me.
Great psalms, the foundation for many famous songs. Thank you Lord for such rich poetry to comfort us in trials. My hope is in you!