Proper 20
Preaching
Aids To The Psalms
Exploring The Message
The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh --
my adversaries and foes --
they shall stumble and fall.
Though an army encamp against me,
yet I will be confident.
One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after:
to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in his temple.
For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will set me high on a rock.
Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
Alternate Image
The Singer is thrown into a dark room. He is frightened as he
sits in the darkness not knowing what to expect, what the room
holds. He suspects the worst. Groping along the wall he finds a
light switch and flicks it. A light from across the room
illumines the room and its contents. It is not a comforting
sight. The light shows all types of dangers. Broken glass lies
about. Boards with rusty nails are strewn around. There are
weapons with razor edges exposed, and bombs on the verge
of exploding. There are holes in the floor exhibiting broken
beams below; the whole floor appears to be unstable. Emanating
from below are ominous sounds which threaten and unsettle. It is
a very frightening room.
The Singer then looks directly at the light. There is a path
leading straight to the light. That path appears strong and
secure, free of all obstacles, a path of salvation. The Singer
begins to walk confidently toward the light.
Reflection
In every life, as in the life of the Psalmist, there are
frightening obstacles and dangers that make us fearful of our
safety. These are the dark sides of life. When we concentrate on
these forebodings, fear grows in us and we become more and more
apprehensive. We may feel that we are powerless, insignificant
pawns in the wars of evil forces. Our insights, the light of our
reason and critical facilities may show us the dangers all too
well and we become negative.
At those times it is wise to consider the source of light.
David saw that the Lord was his light and his salvation. God
illuminated the greater realities of life. God provided a clear
lighted path through life's evils. When we look toward that light
our footsteps become sure and unafraid. We are confident that we
can stay on the path, narrow or wide, because God lights the way.
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?
When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh --
my adversaries and foes --
they shall stumble and fall.
Though an army encamp against me,
yet I will be confident.
One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after:
to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
to behold the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in his temple.
For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will set me high on a rock.
Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.
Alternate Image
The Singer is thrown into a dark room. He is frightened as he
sits in the darkness not knowing what to expect, what the room
holds. He suspects the worst. Groping along the wall he finds a
light switch and flicks it. A light from across the room
illumines the room and its contents. It is not a comforting
sight. The light shows all types of dangers. Broken glass lies
about. Boards with rusty nails are strewn around. There are
weapons with razor edges exposed, and bombs on the verge
of exploding. There are holes in the floor exhibiting broken
beams below; the whole floor appears to be unstable. Emanating
from below are ominous sounds which threaten and unsettle. It is
a very frightening room.
The Singer then looks directly at the light. There is a path
leading straight to the light. That path appears strong and
secure, free of all obstacles, a path of salvation. The Singer
begins to walk confidently toward the light.
Reflection
In every life, as in the life of the Psalmist, there are
frightening obstacles and dangers that make us fearful of our
safety. These are the dark sides of life. When we concentrate on
these forebodings, fear grows in us and we become more and more
apprehensive. We may feel that we are powerless, insignificant
pawns in the wars of evil forces. Our insights, the light of our
reason and critical facilities may show us the dangers all too
well and we become negative.
At those times it is wise to consider the source of light.
David saw that the Lord was his light and his salvation. God
illuminated the greater realities of life. God provided a clear
lighted path through life's evils. When we look toward that light
our footsteps become sure and unafraid. We are confident that we
can stay on the path, narrow or wide, because God lights the way.
