Psalm 23:3-10 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 23:3-10 on biblegateway.com
Verse 3he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name's sake.
Verse 4Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff- they comfort me.
Verse 5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Verse 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.
Devotion
A recent trip to the Holy Land I hosted for a group of friends included a hike up Mt Sinai. We ascended the steep mountain on camels, viewing the cliffs on each zig and zag from the high hump of the dromedary. With each look down the side of the mountain and each sound of falling gravel dislodged by the big, floppy feet of our animals, I asked myself, "What have I done? There must be an easier way to get a feel for Moses and the Ten Commandments." As the slope became too steep for camels, we walked up the last five hundred feet to the pinnacle just as sudden darkness engulfed us. After a time of silence each of us began to hear the voice of God in our own way. We heard the promise of God that He was with us and would guide our steps down the mountain; we again reached the desert valley just as dawn was breaking.
We experienced that night what the psalmist also describes. When we are silent enough to hear the voice of God, the voice sounds like thunder, falling waters, a windstorm or even the music of the dance. We say with the psalmist, "In his temple all say, 'GLORY!'" Or in the words of our theme for this week of the Trinity, "How can this be?"
Prayer
On this Wednesday may we prepare our hearts to hear your voice by silencing all other voices and distractions. In the name of the father and the name of the Son and in the name of the Holy Spirit. Amen.