© 22 Colin Melbourne
Cart Before The Horse?
Q: Psalm 23 ends with the phrase, Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, but wouldn’t it make more sense if David wrote, Surely goodness and mercy shall lead me all the days of my life? Otherwise it reads as if David was leading God, instead of following Him.
A: Remember the rule of thumb;
“Whenever the accuracy of the KJV is challenged, the error is in the challenger: Never in the written word.”
The Holy Ghost inspired David to sing,
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
That’s the correct translation of the Hebrew of Psalm 23:6, your personal translation may suit your sensibilities, but is nonetheless wrong.
We live by God’s written words not our own. Mtt 4:4 KJV;
… It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
We go wrong by trusting human senses and reasoning instead of Almighty God’s Spirit and Word.
Hear and Believe
To have a proper understanding of what God has said, simply believe what He wrote, pay attention to His Holy Spirit, and you’ll get the Absolute Truth.
As you obey the Absolute Truth, then you receive divine confirmation of that Truth.
…let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
Rom. 3:4 KJV
But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
James 1:22 KJV
Obedience Not Self-Deception
Changing God’s word to suit our preferences and understanding is what Satan and his children do: God’s children embrace and fulfil what Father has said, because they love Him who first loved them.
So here, simply change your understanding of what God has written.
Freedom and Confidence
The Holy Ghost was not implying that David had God following on his heels like a puppy or kitten, but rather meaning he had liberty to go where he was led by God, and had assurance that Father accompanied him throughout his earthly journey.
Should he be in jeopardy or err, Almightiness will be close at hand to save, correct, and restore.
That is the sense of Psalm 23.
The New Covenant is Even Better
Praise God, every word is perfectly accurate, as countless Christians have discovered from personal experience down the centuries since it was inspired.
Recall David was not born of God, he lived under the Old Covenant “type” of animal blood.
Therefore, how much more blessed are New Covenant believers in the precious Blood of The LORD Jesus Christ, Halleluia!
David was comforted by The LORD’s rod and staff, Psalm 23:4 KJV;
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
Christ in You
Nobody under the Old Covenant could have God living in them.
That option only came at Pentecost, under the New Covenant sealed in God’s Blood.
Born again believers are made more than conquerors by the Living Presence of God the Holy Ghost in our hearts.
Not merely represented in outward “types” and symbols, but Christ IN us, leading and empowering by His Spirit to continue His works, and confirm His word until He appears to take us home.
The Revelation That Transforms
When God reveals Christ in you, you’re the first to know, and everything changes.
Then Christ in you changes your world.
© 22 Colin Melbourne
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What’s Wrong With All Modern Bibles?