Saint Louis, Missouri, United States - 2014 The Lutheran Hour Ministry Daily Lenten Devotion "WHETHER LIVING OR DEAD" Holy Saturday, 19 April 2014 - Read Psalm 23

Saint Louis, Missouri, United States - 2014 The Lutheran Hour Ministry Daily Lenten Devotion "WHETHER LIVING OR DEAD" Holy Saturday, 19 April 2014  - Read Psalm 23: A Psalm by David.
1 Yahweh is my shepherd:
    I shall lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
    He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul.
    He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Even 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.
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 loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life,
    and I will dwell in Yahweh’s house forever. TEXT: All the prosperous of the earth eat and worship; before Him shall bow all who go down to the dust, even the one who could not keep himself alive (Psalm 22:29).
This passage from Psalm 22 speaks of all who worship and bow before Jesus our victorious King and Lord. All believers prosper under His rich blessings, which include partaking of His body and blood in Communion, as well as worshipping, praising and glorifying Him who has done such great things for us.
This day after Jesus' suffering and death on the cross, we remember how His body rested in a borrowed tomb. Christ's victory gives hope to us when we are going down into the dust, soon to sleep in death for a short while just as He did, awaiting the resurrection of our bodies. "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4).
But this is not just a day for the living or the dying. Even those who were unable to keep themselves alive, those believers who died and whose bodies now lie in the grave, their spirits also bow before Him and worship in His presence. They too wait the day of the resurrection of their bodies, but they dwell in the presence of God our Father and the Lamb, Jesus Christ. "They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their Shepherd, and He will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes" (Revelation 7:16-17).
THE PRAYER: Lord Jesus Christ, we praise and worship You as we look forward to seeing You face to face, bowing before You with all the saints already worshipping before Your throne. Amen.
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Lutheran Hour Ministries
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