Psalm 23:1-8

For Reading and Meditation:     Isaiah 3:1-11

Now we pause to ask ourselves how this fifth Beatitude, when practised, engenders within us good mental and spiritual health. Psychologists have shown that those who lack the qualities of mercy and compassion are more likely to develop physical problems. Harsh, judgmental attitudes may bring a sense of satisfaction to...

THEN David was one of the Lord's sheep. All His sheep know Him, love Him, and follow Him. They possess His disposition; He was meek, and lowly in heart. Are you a sheep of Christ? Are you looking to, following of, and rejoicing in, your Shepherd? If so, it is His province to lead you, feed you, protect you, and heal you. Your person, life, health, comforts, and safety, are committed to His care. He is the good Shepherd, He laid down His life for His sheep; He searches and seeks out His sheep...

THIS was David's conclusion, from the belief that the Lord was his Shepherd. If we are the sheep of Christ, He will supply us. He has all things in His possession, the silver and the gold are His, and the cattle upon a thousand hills. His private mark is upon all. All spiritual blessings are in His possession also; and He has a kind, tender, and liberal heart. He will give. He has engaged to supply, conduct, protect, and present His flock upon Mount Zion. He has promised to be to us, do for...

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life." Psalms 23:6

A devout poet sings:

LORD, when Thou Puttest in my time a day, as Thou dost now, Unknown in other years, grant, I entreat, Such grace illumine it, that whate'er its phase It add to holiness, and lengthen praise!

This day comes but once in four years.... Up till now goodness and mercy, like two guards, have followed us...

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy Rod and Thy Staff they comfort me." Psalms 23:4

Sweet are these words in describing a deathbed assurance. How many have repeated them in their last hours with intense delight!

But the verse is equally applicable to agonies of spirit in the midst of life. Some of us, like Paul, die daily through a tendency to gloom of...

Behold, how independent of outward circumstances the Holy Ghost can make the Christian! What a bright light may shine within us when it is all dark without! How firm, how happy, how calm, how peaceful we may be, when the world shakes to and fro, and the pillars of the earth are removed! Even death itself, with all its terrible influences, has no power to suspend the music of a Christian's heart, but rather makes that music become more sweet, more clear, more heavenly, till the last kind act...

When Love divine was about to follow Christ back to heaven, he said, " Not so; I am no more in the world, but these are in the world." So this Love has ever since tarried with the people of God.

The Christian knows that goodness and mercy shall go with him all the days of his life, as two attendant angels. He knows that they have followed him hitherto. But it is some times difficult for him to perceive that they are with him. When Jeremiah was in that deep, dark dungeon, where there...

In the wasteland, a howling wilderness; He encircled [Jacob], He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye. As an eagle stirs up its nest, hovers over its young, spreading out its wings, taking them up, carrying them on its wings, so the Lord alone led him. § Even to your old age, I am He, and even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His...

O Lord, You are my God. I will exalt You, I will praise Your name, for You have done wonderful things; Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. § Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup.He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. 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. § You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me...

Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all… things shall be added to you. § He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? § All things are yours: whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things present or things to come—all are yours. And you are Christ’s, and Christ is God’s. § As having nothing, and yet possessing all things.The Lord is my shepherd; I shall...