Psalm 20 - The Way Ahead

We woke up yesterday morning to about 1½” of snow. It was the first snow we’ve had in a few weeks but because of the warm-ish temps we have had the last few weeks, very little of it stuck to the roads or sidewalks. The concrete and asphalt weren’t cold enough for the snow to accumulate. So everywhere I looked there was a covering of snow but all the paths, roads, and sidewalks were still visible.

Because of the realities of nature and weather the last few weeks, the paths to walk remained clear and visible (at least for now).

Psalm 20 feels like a message of pointing out to another the path that is ahead. The first five verses all sound like blessings of a sort... “May the Lord” “May he” and “May we” are some of them. All are speaking to what the writer hopes to see of God’s work in the life of the hearer. These blessings feel like a message of the path that is ahead.

Sometimes we need someone else to help us see the path ahead. It is really easy to lose sight of paths that we have maybe journeyed before or paths that we thought were a certain place. And in those times we need people who have journeyed those paths before to show us the way or to be there to encourage us to find new paths if the old ones no longer are the way to go.

But the other part about this Psalm is that it not only points a way forward but it also celebrates what happens along the way. The first half of the Psalm is the blessings and the pointing and the 2nd half is celebrations of what will be.

I am so grateful for people I have personally known who have helped to point the way for me as well as those I have known from the wisdom they’ve shared through writings, messages, and the examples of their lives. And I love the way that so many cultures recognize and hold to the idea that our ancestors continue to surround us, point the way, and cheer us on...especially when the way seems cold, grey, slushy, and hard-going.

Grace, Peace, Love, and Joy,
Ed

PS - Bonus Scout photo!