Thursday, March 23, 2023
“Read Psalm 23”
Here’s a Challenge for Lent that almost anyone can accomplish: Read Psalm 23.
Believe it or not, this Challenge didn’t make it into the Sweet 16. This Challenge missed the cut by just one (17 days remaining in Lent). We fans would think that it would receive an automatic bye into the next round, but alas, it didn’t.
Why? It’s not because we don’t like the 23rd Psalm. In fact, we love it. It’s the most requested Scripture passage at funerals, by far. It brings us comfort when we need it the most. This cherished passage reminds us that we’re not alone in our battles and that life is far from over. We need to know that and we need to be reminded of it.
The Psalm is something that I’ll always love and is endearing to lots of folks, but that still didn’t give it a free pass into the Sweet 16 this year. It still must compete with other things. For instance, one upcoming Challenge that made it into the Sweet 16 is to plant something. Another Challenge that made the cut is to read Psalm 100, while still another is to do something nice for another person. Now, I can understand that last one: Doing something nice for someone ought to be a Final 4 competitor. But, really? Planting something and Psalm 100 has no business beating out the 23rd Psalm!
Every year is different from the one previously, and just because Psalm 23 isn’t in the Sweet 16 this year doesn’t mean that it’s not worth our best effort. So, in honor of this perennial powerhouse, we honor a Scripture passage that has brought comfort to the world for over 2,500 years. Let’s take a few moments today and read the 23rd Psalm. While we’re at it, let’s also give God some quiet moments of thankful gratitude for giving us words of comfort that have helped us through some tough times. It’s a good passage to read. It’s a great Word to know, anytime and all the time.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.” (Psalm 23:6, NKJV)
