Today we take another look at Psalm 23.  Psalm 23 is almost always remembered and thought of for it’s imagery of God as our Good Shepherd but it also portrays God as our Great Host.  Let’s take a look at that together today.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

    He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

    he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,
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 your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

God preparers a table for us anoints us with oil and we are invited to dwell in His house forever.  Our cup overflows as we bask in God’s love and our enemies are powerless to stop us as they witness God pouring His love out upon us.  Hosting people in your home is a way of honoring them and making them feel special.  The imagery of this Psalm is exactly that.  God is welcoming us and making us feel special.  Dwelling in God’s house would have been a particularly powerful image as only Levites were permitted into the place where God’s presence dwelt.  May we today and everyday be reminded that God is both our Good Shepherd and our Great Host.

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave