Psalm 23 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 23 on biblegateway.com
Verse 1The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
Verse 2He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;
Verse 3he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name's sake.
Verse 4Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff- they comfort me.
Verse 5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Verse 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.
Devotion
“Chaplain, I’m afraid of dying.” That phrase was something I heard often in early 2003. I serve as a chaplain in the Navy Reserve. That year, I was mobilized to Kuwait in preparation for the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In the lead-up to the war, we were all confronted with the possibility of a quick death, whether it be by chemical or biological agents or more conventional methods.
Sailors would come to me with their fears and we would process things together. They did not know, however, how much I was struggling with the same fears they had. I was frustrated with myself. But the timing of this forced me to confront the demons of death and rely upon the comforting works of scripture and a renewed trust in the Lord. Psalm 23 was a powerful witness. May the word of God bring you strength and hope in your own struggles.
Prayer
Lord, help us to confront our fears, even the fear of death. Let your word bring us comfort and strength, and let us trust in the power and wonder of Christ’s resurrection. Amen.