September 3, 2009

Dear Friend of Israel,

It is easy to feel overwhelmed looking at the problems that exist in the world today. War and the threat of war are still a daily reality for far too many people. Even in developed and relatively prosperous countries, segments of the population live in crippling poverty. Due to the global financial crisis, people who previously had lived with some level of security have found themselves unemployed and facing bankruptcy.

Of course, these problems are not unique to our age; they are the same that previous generations have faced. And for millennia, people have turned to the same source for wisdom and guidance in their time of need—the Bible.

One of the books they turn to most frequently is the book of Psalms. The Psalms offer hope, comfort and encouragement in times of distress. Today I want to look at two that offer us great assurances of God's presence and guidance.

The first, Psalm 23, is perhaps the most beloved and well-known in the entire Psalter. These profound verses, written by King David, speak of God's provision, restoration, guidance, and protection for those who follow him. They are words that all can identify with—who among us has not at one time been weary, hungry, thirsty, or fearful? In his early life, David had been a shepherd, and here he includes the powerful image of the Lord with his rod and staff acting as a shepherd who protects us from danger and never lets us stray.

In verse 5, the image changes to that of a banquet, with God Himself as host. David speaks of the banquet being prepared in the presence of enemies—the last place someone would want to be under normal circumstances! Yet, David is not afraid, because God has promised to be with him. There is also a reference to the custom in biblical times of anointing a dinner guest with oil as a sign of welcome. Thus, David looked forward to sharing in God's banquet.

Psalm 46 uses another powerful image, that of a fortress, to describe God. He will protect His people, declares the psalmist, no matter how great the danger. And the vivid picture of natural catastrophe that follows in the next verses makes the point that, even if Israel's enemies come against her with full force, God will help her stand; Israel is secure in the Lord.

There is indeed much wisdom to be gleaned from the Psalms, and from all the books of the Bible. To help you learn and grow in your faith from the Bible's rich insights, I have written a new book, Biblical Teachings from the Rabbi, which will be released later this month. The studies contained in this book will help you learn more about the people and events that have shaped the history of Israel, discover life-changing biblical principles you can put to work in your own life, and trace the origins of the Christian faith back to the rich soil of Israel. I believe you'll find it to be a valuable resource as you seek to learn from God's holy word. You can pre-order a copy today of Biblical Teachings from the Rabbi, at a special discounted pre-publication price, by visiting our online store at www.ifcj.org/RabbiBooks.

My friends, in times both good and bad, let us continually remind ourselves that "The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress" (Psalm 46:7)—that God is in control of our lives. And let us continue to thank the Lord in our prayers for His comforting and guiding presence, and for His gift of the Holy Scriptures.

With prayers for shalom, peace,