This has been a strange week. In our area, it was Spring Break, so my wife (who is a teacher) and my kids got to relax and do a few things "de-educational". That was good. However, it has also been a sad week. Often, bad things happen when we least expect it. That certainly has been the case this week. Many that I know are hurting right now because of friends and family that are no longer with us.
As David was growing up, he spent a lot of time outdoors. He was a shepherd. I can picture him sitting on a hillside at night. He would be comforted by the cool breeze. He would listen to the tumbling stream as it bounced across rocks making its way down the valley. And he would probably stare up at the stars and think about the promise that God had made to Abraham. No doubt, these things influenced David as he wrote the psalms.
Years later, when David was stressed out with the pressures of being king, my guess is that he thought about those simpler times. He probably took comfort in the things in which he wrote. Luckily, we have many of those psalms recorded for us. We can read them when we need comfort.
I've thought about some of those psalms a lot this week.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. Yea, 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. - Psalm 23