April 8th - Reading 6: Pslams 21-23

“All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord…” (Psalm 22:27a)

Today’s Psalm reading includes the familiar 23rd Psalm: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” What comfort is found in these words: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me” (Psalm 23:1).

Today’s Psalm reading also includes very specific details about Jesus’ death, written nearly 1,000 years before they actually took place: “All those who see Me ridicule Me; they hurl insults; they shake the head, saying, ‘He trusted in the Lord; let Him rescue Him.’ A band of evil men has encircled Me, they pierced My hands and My feet; they divide My garments among them and for my clothing they cast lots” (Psalm 22:7-8; 16; 18).

After His resurrection, Jesus explained to His disciples why He had to die: “This is what I told you while I was still with you: everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms” (Luke 24:44). How amazing that God Himself, in the person of Jesus Christ, validated the Old Testament in this way, including the Book of Psalms.

Toward the end of Psalm 22, there is prophecy that may be in the process of reaching fulfillment: “All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord” (Psalm 22:27). Is it possible that part of the Lord’s purpose in calling us to prayer at this time is to usher in the completion of this final prophecy?

May we be strengthened and emboldened as we read Psalms 21-23 to Him today and intercede for each other and our world. Let’s pray that now would be the completion of the prophecy that all the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, including prodigals from every nation, tribe and tongue, “for dominion belongs to the Lord and He rules over the nations” (Psalm 22:28).