Psalm 23

This is a very "nice" psalm. I have seen pictures of white fluffy sheep in green meadows under sunny blue skies.

Psalm 23 (New International Version)

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

I was sharing about this at brotherhood at work, and the following things struck me about it:

God would not restore my soul if all was OK. We don't need restoring if we have not been through tough times.
It says I walk through the valley of the shadow of death. Again this is about tough times,grief and death included. It doesn't say "I once walked" but is present tense ie this is a common and ongoing experience for us.
His rod and staff comfort me. Someone once said this was Jesus guidance but also His discipline. He defends us, and he also corrects us.
The table Jesus prepares speaks of covenant. It was at table that God made vows to men. It is at table in the bread and wine that Jesus asks us to remember Him. We remember Jesus in His suffering and sacrifice, and it is in the presence of our enemies, in the middle of the tough times, that He calls us to find Him in his broken body and spilled blood.
He does anoint our head with oil, the symbol of the Holy Spirit. Overflowing. Abundant. Not lacking. The power of God living in us in every situation.
I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. We attempt to demonstrate Jesus kingdom here on earth now. We will know the fullness of it eternally.

So... all in all I think it is really a battle psalm.
Christians are not exempt from the trials of life. Because of Jesus we do not go through them alone.

funerals

Funerals... not generally a favourite thing to go to... but I have been blessed to attend the funerals of two good friends.

Blessed to be able to thank God for his work in my friends' lives
Blessed to remember all they did for God.
Blessed to see all the different people who gather at these times to remember friends we love.
Blessed to know a closeness of God: His grace and His mercy and His faithfulness to us.
Blessed by all the friendships I still have.
Blessed by the covenant bond which means we do share each others pain and can also support each other.

Today I was humbled to see a leader who has a reputation for being a bit stern stood by the graveside with tears running down his face. It showed God at work in this brother that he really did love and was not afraid to let his grief show.

I used to say that I did not want anyone at my funeral who would not have sat with me in a meeting. I don't feel like that anymore. Jane and Danny both had many more people who loved them than they would ever have imagined. If we had talked about it while they were still alive, they would not have believed how many people would come to their funerals. If my life serves as a testimony to God, then as many people as want to can come.