The Lord is close to every thing and every creature in the universe He created. Yet here is the paradox: although He is beside us, we...
The Lord is close to every thing and every creature in the universe He created. Yet here is the paradox: although He is beside us, we can be very far from Him. We ourselves create this one-sided distance by refusing to give up habitual sins that have become a way of life.
And yet He does not reject us, but Himself invites us to ascend His mountain, that is, He calls us to Himself. The purity and truth that come from Him can raise us to that mountain. It is so simple and understandable, yet so difficult for us, who constantly defile ourselves and thereby make the ascent impossible.
But precisely because human resources alone are insufficient, those who seek the Lord must let Him into the house of their heart. The psalm’s call to lift up the tops of the gates, which literally refers to the place into which the ark of the covenant is physically carried, is also addressed to us, who are called to open the doors to the One who surpasses every dwelling yet can Himself enter any house.
For us, “lifting up the gates” means making an upward effort toward the Lord and consenting to His presence in our homes, a presence that changes deeply rooted habits and our way of life.
23 David extolls the goodness of God as his shepherd, and expresses his confidence in him, Psa 23:1-6.
A psalm of David.
23:2 Lie down - To repose myself at noon, as the manner was in those hot countries. Green - Where there is both delight and plenty of provisions.
23:3 Restoreth - Heb. He bringeth it back; from its errors and wandering. For - Not for any worth in me, but for the glory of his justice, and faithfulness, and goodness.
23:4 Thy rod and thy staff - Two words denoting the same thing, and both designing God's pastoral care over him.
23:5 A table - Thou furnishest me with plenty of provisions and comforts. Oil - With aromatic ointments, which were then used at great feasts; thy comforts delight my soul. Runneth over - Thou hast given me a plentiful portions, signified by the cup, given to the guests by the master of the feast.