A Philosophy of Life

On this Sabbath day before departing to my own house of worship, I took my new revised version of the Bible and reread the 91st Psalm.

It sums up what the faithful has taken to his heart for his life's guide.

Psalm 91 - Assurance of God's Protection

You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,
will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress;
my God, in whom I trust."
For He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence;
He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you will find refuge;
His faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You will not fear the terror of the night, or the arrow that flies by day, or the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or the destruction that wastes at noonday.
A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
You will only look with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
Because you have made the Lord your refuge, the Most High your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent
For He will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.
On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone
You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot.
Those who love me, I will deliver; I will protect those who know my name.
When they call to me, I will answer them; I will be with them in trouble, I will rescue them and honor them.
With long life I will satisfy them, and show them my salvation.

In order to understand the symbolic wording of this Psalm, you need to think beyond the temporal things of this life.  It is not a way of looking at life that comes instantly, rather over a life span of faithful living, of trusting in God's presence.  I like the words "I will protect those who know my name".  That is a deep idea.

This Psalm was read at the memorial service of William Craig Matthis, for it had great meaning for him in his lifelong reliance on God's presence in his life.