Lent 4

Psalm 23

1The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
2He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;
3he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.
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.
5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
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.

Our theme for the Lenten season is “holy insecurity”—that is, learning to live with life’s uncertainties by relying on God’s provision rather than our desperate efforts to secure ourselves (which are usually disastrous). Psalm 23 is a perfect statement of holy insecurity, of the way God provides whatever security we find in life. Notice it is God who “makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters.” Notice also that the threats and insecurities are not taken away: the valley of the shadow of death remains—but God is with us, so we are not afraid. And our enemies are still there—only instead of blasting them, God sets a table, perhaps inviting enemies to become friends at the table. As we continue to travel through Lent, and through our lives, Psalm 23 should serve as our traveling song, reminding us of our holy insecurity. (RAF)