Growing through the Psalms

Oops.. Sorry girls, late for a day. Was having a throbbing headache yesterday, so couldn't type in my reflection and pointers for psalm 22. But here it is... with psalm 23.

Psalm 22

This is a psalm with many of Jesus' last words, filled with prophecies of what will happen to Him and the eventual victory He will have. Really seems like a record of Jesus' life, and sometimes it may relate to us too.

The psalm pointed out the times when we may be rejected by people around us, even our loved ones. And we may be treated badly and felt like worm (vs6), worthless, rejected... "Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, i'm going to eat some worms."

But again in verse 9-11, David reminded us that God loves and cares for us.. not only at birth, but throughout eternality. We may face many trials, like the sufferings mentioned in verse 12-18, having people going against us, feeling weak and oppressed, even naked(vs18) when our sins or secrets are exposed. But verse 24 promises us, God will never despise us, nor will He hide Himself from us. He will hear our cries...

Psalm 23

A very familiar psalm i guess... But let's remember what it is trying to tell us. The Lord is my shepherd. It's really saying that God is our shepherd and we are His sheep. Sheep are obedient and follow the instructions of the shepherd. In John 10, it says the sheep will recognise the voice of the shepherd and the shepherd loves the sheep so much, that He is willing to lay down His life for them.

I guess we have to remember that God, the shepherd knows the best ways for us, to feed us, restore us, comfort us and anoint us. But if we choose not to listen to Him and go our own ways, we may walk into dangers (wolves, cliffs...).

Even through death, God promised He will see us through and bring us back into His Kingdom. Only He can do that.. and verse 5 and 6 assure this again, that God will bless us and we can dwell in His presence forever!

"My shepherd, Help me to hear Your voice today, no matter where i am, no matter what's the condition of my heart. Help me to recognise Your voice, and go in Your ways, so that i will walk in the correct paths, away from danger. Amen."