Finding comfort in Psalm 23

"One of our Sheep"
What can I say?  New Jersey has everything.
Canon Rebel t1i

© Karen Kyle Ericson, all rights reserved.

We just heard from our President about the bombing of the Malaysian airline over Ukraine.   He is also backing both Israel's and Ukraine's need to protect their land.  We are all hoping and praying respect will come to these nations. Even Obama said, "They should be able to enjoy their land in safety."  The USA and Europe feels the pain.  So much heartache.  When I am afraid, confused or hurt I remember King David's song in Psalm 23.

Psalm 23

The Shepherd's Psalm
A Psalm of David.

1 The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
God will provide my needs. I just need to believe and wait.

2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name's sake.
He is an ever-present Lord concerned about what we need, able to comfort and provide just the right blessings.  Even when I'm all out of sorts, He restores my peace and joy.

4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
His rod and staff hurt sometimes.  I know when I've made a mistake.  Sometimes it's a strange realization of how I said the wrong thing. My heart sinks and even if I had an eraser those words linger...  I'd much rather be punished by my loving God than anyone else.  His forgiveness is final and absolute.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.
I've always loved this part.  God not only promises He will anoint me, and fill my cup till it overflows, He says He will do it in front of my enemies : )  We are all winners with the Lord on our side.
(Psalm 23 NKJV)

Dear Heavenly Father,
I lift up those who have lost loved ones in the Malaysian airline bombing.  Please comfort those who mourn and encourage those who want to give up.  I pray for peace in Ukraine and in Israel.  Please send the angels to tend to their needs.  Please let the right win and the wrong fail.  I also lift up Jordan to You for their safety in the middle-east.

Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
10 Set the world right;
Do what's best––
  as above, so below.
11 Keep us alive with three square meals.
12 Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
13 Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You're in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You're ablaze in beauty!
  Yes. Yes. Yes .
(Matthew 6:9-13 Message)

In Jesus Name, Amen.


Some History-
I did some research into the history of Israel.  In my lifetime, I remember Arafat calling his people, "Palestinians," for the first time. I was born in 1960.  Romans called Israelites Palestinians as an insult when they came in to conquer their land.  Israel first became a nation in it's location in 860 B.C.  So when someone wants to take their land claiming it's theirs that would be wrong.  This is all documented in our Bibles and archaeology.  Jerusalem, the home of the Jewish temple was built by Solomon, King David's son.  It wasn't built by representatives from different religions.  40 years after Jesus' crucifixion, Rome destroyed the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem and stole the artifacts.  Many of the Jews left Israel in despair.  There was no place to make sacrifices to God.  Some wound up in Europe.  

My husband and I recently watched footage from World War I and II.  An estimated 100 million people died, some in death camps.  That includes doctors, scientists, artists, musicians, relatives, from all religions: Christians, Jews, Muslims.  Only God knows what people we lost through all of this.  The Jews were restored back to Israel after WWII.  They did amazing things in their desert.  It became a thriving successful nation with technology and an airport.  Some of the surrounding nations were envious.  The rest is unfolding today.

100 million people lost.  This just can not happen again.  I don't know much about the Arab nations.  I have a lot of respect for them.  

Here's a song by Matt Redman, "You never let go"