A Tale of Two … Psalms? (22 and 23)

It was the Best of Times, and it was the Worst of Times.

That famous opening from Charles Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities could also describe the back-to-back Psalms 22 and 23."

It was the Best of Times, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want, Ps 23:1”, and …

it was the Worst of Times, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Ps 22:1”, and later David wallows a bit, saying… “I am a Worm. Psalm 22:6”

So far, we can conclude that Charles Dickens and David both had the best-and-worst-of-times scenarios to reflect on. But I would also add my name to this list of guys with that best-and-worst kinda feeling.

Yes, I’m typing right now; I’m knee-deep in a Psalm 22 frame of mind. Both in feeling forsaken and a worm-like self-esteem.

But Psalm 22 rallies from verse 19 But you, Lord, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me…. verse 22 All the ends of the Earth will remember and turn to the Lord,
and all the families of the nations

So I do not plan on staying stuck in Psalm 22:1-18. This is a dark and painful state of mind, even Jeff ‘The Worm’ realizes this. I am not yet exactly rallied to the truths of verses 19-31, but this is where I must go before I can move on to the tremendous

Psalm 23, where the Lord is my Shepherd and I realize I want for nothing.

Today, my prayer is for others who somehow ended up in a Psalm 22 funk. "God, please speak truth into our despair. Change us so our joy is in You alone, and our physical and spiritual circumstances are seen through Your eyes and Your love." In all things, to God be the Glory.

Blessings

Jeff (the worm) Larson