Psalm 23
Susanna 1-9, 15-29, 34-62
John 8:1-11
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want; he makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters, he restores my soul.”
In John, scribes and Pharisees bring before Jesus an adulterous woman. Rather than condemn her, Jesus defends her as he says to those who brought her, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” And all the men walked away and Jesus bid her to go and not sin again.
“He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
Susanna’s story is one of a woman’s great faith in God. Hearing her cries to him as she is about to be wrongfully put to death, God acts by arousing the spirit of Daniel, who proves her innocence.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.”
The Lord is forgiving, and the Lord is our protector. Through worship and study, may we learn to be more like him.
“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies, thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.”
