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Psalm 2
1Why do the nations rage, And the peoples plot a vain thing?
2The kings of the earth take a stand, And the rulers take counsel together, Against Yahweh, and against his anointed, saying,
3"Let us break their bonds apart, And cast away their cords from us."
4He who sits in the heavens will laugh. The Lord will have them in derision.
5Then he will speak to them in his anger, And terrify them in his wrath:
6"Yet I have set my king on my holy hill of Zion."
7I will tell of the decree. Yahweh said to me, "You are my son. Today I have become your father.
8Ask of me, and I will give the nations for your inheritance, The uttermost parts of the earth for your possession.
9You shall break them with a rod of iron. You shall dash them in pieces like a potter`s vessel."
10Now therefore be wise, you kings. Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
11Serve Yahweh with fear, And rejoice with trembling.
12Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, For his wrath will soon be kindled. Blessed are all those who take refuge in him. Psalm 3 A Psalm by David, when he fled from Absalom, his son.
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In his final years, Billy Graham often spoke of death. He wasn't afraid. "I know where I'm going," he said simply. Psalm 23 had been his companion for decades—preached countless times, claimed personally through trials.
"The disinherited have much to fear—real enemies, real threats. But the LORD is light in the darkest night, salvation when all seems lost, stronghold when nowhere is safe. This confidence sustained slaves, empowered marchers, carries us still. Whom shall I fear?" — Howard Thurman.
"Jesus said, 'I am the light of the world.' The LORD who is David's light IS Christ. He is our salvation—literally, Yeshua. He is our stronghold—the rock on which we build. In Christ, this psalm finds its fulfillment. Whom shall...
"DECLARE it: The LORD is MY light! MY salvation! MY stronghold! SAY IT until you believe it! Fear has NO place when God is YOUR God! Whatever you're facing—WHOM SHALL I FEAR? The enemy is DEFEATED; the Light has WON!
"The LORD is my light—illuminating truth in a world of error. Through the Church's teaching, through the sacraments' grace, this light shines. Salvation comes through Christ in His Body; the stronghold is the communion of saints. Fear nothing when held by the Church." — St.
"'Whom shall I fear?' is a question to answer daily. The Lord IS your light—practice seeing by it. He IS your salvation—practice trusting it. He IS your stronghold—practice running to it. Confidence grows through use; fear shrinks through faith exercised." — E.
"When David says 'I shall not want,' he means that God will supply all things necessary for a happy life. This is the fruit of divine providence: not that we get everything we desire, but that we lack nothing we truly need.
"The LORD is light—uncreated light, divine energy illuminating the soul. In theophany, Moses saw this light; at Tabor, the disciples beheld it. Our salvation is participation in this light; our stronghold is union with God. Fear dissolves in the divine presence." — St.
"The LORD is light—exposing empire's lies, revealing injustice hidden in darkness. Salvation—not from sin alone but from oppressive systems. Stronghold—refuge when powers threaten. Those who work for justice need not fear; the Light goes before them." — Walter Brueggemann. Progressive: liberating light.
"The poor have much to fear—death squads, poverty, powerlessness. But the LORD is their light—exposing injustice. Their salvation—God saves. Their stronghold—refuge for the threatened. 'Whom shall I fear?' asks the campesino. The God of the poor fights for them." — Oscar Romero.
"The LORD is my light—dispelling darkness. My salvation—rescuing from danger. The stronghold of my life—protecting from enemies. Whom shall I fear? What shall I dread? With such a God, fear has no foothold. This is the believer's confident declaration." — Charles Spurgeon.
"MY light, MY salvation, MY stronghold—this is covenant language. The sovereign God binds Himself to His people. Our security rests not in circumstances but in His character. If God is for us, who can be against us? Sovereign protection drives out fear." — R.C.
"The LORD is YOUR light—in YOUR darkness. YOUR salvation—from YOUR danger. YOUR stronghold—against YOUR enemies. This is personal: God for YOU. Whatever YOU fear, whomever YOU face—the LORD is there. YOUR confidence can be complete." — Billy Graham. Baptist: personal light.
"A mighty fortress is our God! Light against the devil's darkness, salvation against sin's accusation, stronghold against all that assaults. The prince of darkness grim—we tremble not for him. God's truth abideth still; His kingdom is forever." — Martin Luther.
"The LORD is your LIGHT—supernatural illumination! Your SALVATION—deliverance from every attack! Your STRONGHOLD—no weapon formed against you shall prosper! Walk in BOLD confidence! Angels surround you; the GLORY covers you! WHOM shall you fear? NO ONE!" — Bill Johnson. Charismatic: supernatural confidence.
"'Is He safe?' 'Safe? Who said anything about safe? But He's good.' The LORD is not safe but salvation. Not tame but our stronghold. Our confidence is not that life will be easy but that God is good. Whom shall I fear?
When migrant families recite Psalm 23 in detention centers, "valley of the shadow of death" isn't metaphor. When refugees fleeing violence whisper "I shall not want," they know real want. The psalm belongs to the vulnerable, claimed by the powerless.
In Orthodox tradition, Psalm 23 is sung during the Paschal (Easter) liturgy. Because "the valley of the shadow of death" leads to "dwell in the house of the LORD forever." Death is a valley to pass THROUGH, not a destination.
Before Aldersgate, John Wesley was a missionary, a priest, a religious rule-keeper—but he knew something was missing. He feared death; he lacked assurance.
Oscar Romero often preached Psalm 23 to the campesinos of El Salvador. "God is YOUR shepherd," he told people who owned nothing. "You shall not want"—not because poverty doesn't matter, but because God provides.
"David wrote this Psalm looking forward to the Messiah-Shepherd. Israel awaits the fulfillment when Messiah reigns and literally shepherds His people. But in this church age, we too have the Good Shepherd caring for us until He comes again to shepherd all nations." — J.
"'Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death'—note: THROUGH, not around. God does not promise to spare us the valley but to walk with us through it. The shadow of death is still shadow; it is not...
"Through every dispensation, the LORD has been light to His people—to Israel, to the church. As darkness increases in these last days, His light shines brighter. Our stronghold is eternal; our salvation is secure. We fear not the coming tribulation;...
"You can know the Shepherd personally. Not just believe He exists, but KNOW Him—His voice, His care, His provision. 'The Lord is MY shepherd'—have you made it personal? Have you given your life to the Good Shepherd who gave His...