Reading: Psalm 23
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for you are with me.
Psalm 23:4
Humans are created to live in relationships. Relationship to other people is basic, but Biblically
it is third in a sequence. Our relational world is a threesome: outside, inside, God-side. We see
it here in Psalm 23.
The Psalmist is in serious difficulty "on the outside." "The valley of the shadow of death"
confronts him. Whatever all that might be, it includes the enemies mentioned next. Personal
relations with these folks are not good.
But of "the inside" what do we hear? "I fear no evil." His self-perception is OK. He copes with
the bad news on the outside by means of a fearless heart on the inside. And what's the source for
that? His God-side relationship: "for you are with me; your rod and your staff -- they comfort
me."
None of us have permanent "green pastures." We have thorns on all three of these turfs snarling
our lives like the bramble that encircles Siegfried's work. On the cross Christ addresses the deep
one first, our root relationship with God. As those thorn-tangles break, he re-roots us in the
living God.
With that new root in place, new shoots grow, new perceptions of who we are and of our worth
in the world. And from those shoots come new fruits, life-bestowing transactions with those on
the outside. By the time Jesus breaks out full-blown at Easter, there is health and healing for the
whole trio.
Prayer: Heal us, Lord, in our relationships -- root, shoots, and fruits. Break open the thorns that
strangle our own growth -- in trusting you, in being pleased with who we are, and in keeping
faith with those you've given to surround our lives. Amen.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for you are with me.
Psalm 23:4
Humans are created to live in relationships. Relationship to other people is basic, but Biblically
it is third in a sequence. Our relational world is a threesome: outside, inside, God-side. We see
it here in Psalm 23.
The Psalmist is in serious difficulty "on the outside." "The valley of the shadow of death"
confronts him. Whatever all that might be, it includes the enemies mentioned next. Personal
relations with these folks are not good.
But of "the inside" what do we hear? "I fear no evil." His self-perception is OK. He copes with
the bad news on the outside by means of a fearless heart on the inside. And what's the source for
that? His God-side relationship: "for you are with me; your rod and your staff -- they comfort
me."
None of us have permanent "green pastures." We have thorns on all three of these turfs snarling
our lives like the bramble that encircles Siegfried's work. On the cross Christ addresses the deep
one first, our root relationship with God. As those thorn-tangles break, he re-roots us in the
living God.
With that new root in place, new shoots grow, new perceptions of who we are and of our worth
in the world. And from those shoots come new fruits, life-bestowing transactions with those on
the outside. By the time Jesus breaks out full-blown at Easter, there is health and healing for the
whole trio.
Prayer: Heal us, Lord, in our relationships -- root, shoots, and fruits. Break open the thorns that
strangle our own growth -- in trusting you, in being pleased with who we are, and in keeping
faith with those you've given to surround our lives. Amen.
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