'Let's roll.' Todd Beamer's last words with Lisa Jefferson, a customer service supervisor at GTE Airfone's Chicago call center, just before he and other passengers on Flight 93 became the first heroes in the war against islamic terrorists on September 11th. Just before he uttered 'lets roll', some news reports said that he recited the so-called Lord's Prayer. Some news reports said he recited Psalm 23. Some news reports said he recited both.
Psalm 23 is probably the most well known psalm. If I were a betting man, I would bet that if one were to survey church-going folks and ask what their favorite psalm is, Psalm 23 would top the list. If I were a betting man, I would bet that more people have it memorized than any other passage in the Bible (the so-called Lord's prayer being a close second). If I were a betting man, I would bet that Psalm 23 has been put to music more than any other Psalm. I learned, the hard way, a long, long, long time ago, not to bet. Good thing it was only a 25 cent bet!
Did you know that Psalm 23 is the middle psalm of a trilogy? A trilogy of Messianic Psalms -- Psalm 22 is the suffering dying messiah, Psalm 23 is the risen messiah, and Psalm 24 is the returning messiah.
Psalm 22 is past, Psalm 23 is current, and Psalm 24 is future.
Psalm 22 we have the Crucifixion. It has been said that there are 30 specific references to the Crucifixion in the psalm and was written centuries before crucifixion was invented by the Romans. Some have even suggested that Jesus quoted the entire psalm while hanging on the cross beginning with My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? ending with that he hath done [it] that may be translated: He hath finished it or, it is finished.
Psalm 23 we have a picture of the 'good shepherd' who leads and provides for His flock. This is the relationship between Jesus and believers now. He provides, as we let Him, and He leads, as we let Him. We are no more than stupid sheep trying to pave our own way as we travel through the valley of the shadow of death.
In Psalm 24 we have the returning Savior; the King of Glory triumphantly entering the gates. Who is this King of glory? Jehovah strong and mighty, Jehovah mighty in battle.
In Psalm 22 we are in the court of the tabernacle between the door and the altar of burnt offering, where the innocent is dying for the guilty and His precious blood being shed.
In Psalm 23 we are in the Holy Place, where a table is being prepared before me in the presence of mine enemies. Table...presence...get it? In the tabernacle there was the table of shewbread, also known as the bread of presence. Prepare a table in the presence of...maybe it is just me(?). The table in the tabernacle was set before the Lord, continually. The table in this psalm is set in the presence of ...enemies...interesting.
In psalm 24, we are ushered into the very presence of God in the Holy of Holies. ...who shall stand in his holy place? and what makes Him worthy of the position? He that hath blameless hands and a pure heart; who lifteth not up his soul unto vanity, nor sweareth deceitfully. Only certain Old Testament priest were permitted to approach God and those priests could not be defiled. They had to be perfect in their outward appearance and clean. They had to wash their hands at the laver before they entered the holy place that they die not. How does one get defiled? ...but the things which go forth out of the mouth come out of the heart, and those defile man. Matt. 15:18. Jesus was undefiled. His hands needed no cleansing because he was blameless and had a pure heart. And did He ever lift His soul unto vanity, or swear deceitfully?
Notice, He is to stand in the holy place. We sometimes make a big deal about Jesus sitting, ...having offered one sacrifice for sins, sat down ... at [the] right hand of God... Heb. 10:12. But Stephen got a glimpse into heaven, into the Holy of Holies, and saw Jesus standing ...But being full of [the] Holy Spirit, having fixed his eyes on heaven, he saw [the] glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, Acts 7:55
He died (past). He is preparing something (right now). He is returning (future).
Do you believe He died for you (past)? Do you believe He is preparing something for you (right now)? Do you believe He is coming again for you, or with you (future)?
Reminds me of what He said on the eve before His death: In my Father's house there are many abodes; were it not so, I had told you: for I go to prepare you a place; and if I go and shall prepare you a place, I am coming again and shall receive you to myself, that where I am ye also may be. John 14:2-3
He prefaced this by saying: Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe on God, believe also on me.
Do you believe on Him? If you do, your heart shouldn't be too troubled. If your heart is troubled, let him lead, let him provide. Well, we really don't have a problem with His provisions (at least I don't), it is the letting Him lead that takes faith. Stop being a stupid sheep.
And remember, He is coming again...
Lift up your heads, ye gates, and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? Jehovah strong and mighty, Jehovah mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, ye gates; yea, lift up, ye everlasting doors, and the King of glory shall come in. Who is he, this King of glory? Jehovah of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah. Ps. 24:7-10
http://theforgottenfifty.blogspot.com/
