I have some big books in my library--some really big, hefty ones. I have some heavy duty theology books, histories and also coffee table books on archeology, the animal world, and other subjects.
But I really treasure my small, pocket-sized books collected through the years. These gems are ones I would take with me if somebody said, "You can only have five books from your collection." (Hopefully, that won't happen, but worth a thought.)
Some of these came to me through a friend I first met 15 years ago online--a dear friend who has brought so much joy to my life. Sherry sent me my first box of books back then. These were casks of jewels, delivered by UPS. Authors like Andrew Murray, F.B. Meyer, B.B. Warfield, Frances Havergal, Spurgeon and many others. Among the books she has sent me through the years are some of these riches in the photo above. You can still find these online if you are interested in discovering them for yourself. In that the book below is in the public domain, I'll share a few words from the second book in the photo.
The Shepherd Psalm, by F.B. Meyer. This small black book has reduced me to tears more than once. Written in that beautiful use of English of the past, referring to Psalm 23, the theme of the book, he writes:
"...I learned it from my mother's lips. I have repeated it every morning when I awoke for the last twenty years. Yet I do not half understand it; I am only beginning now to spell out its infinite meaning, and death will come on me with the task unfinished. But, by the grace of Jesus, I will hold on by this Psalm as my creed, and will strive to believe it and to live it; for I know that it will lead me to the Cross, it will guide me to glory. "
Three thousand years have passed away since the sweet singer of Israel first sung this Psalm about the Shepherd-care of God. Thirty centuries is a long time! And in that vast abyss, all the material relics of his life, however carefully treasured, have mouldered into dust.
"The harp, from the strings of which his fingers swept celestial melody; the tattered banner, which he was wont to uplift in the name of the LORD; the well-worn book of the Law, which was his meditation day and night; the huge sword, with which he slew the giant; the palace chamber, from which his spirit passed away to join the harpers harping with their harps--all these lie deep amid the debris of the ages.
But this Psalm, though old as the time when Homer sang, or Solon gave his laws, and though trodden by the myriads of men in every succeeding age--is as fresh today as though it were just composed. Precious words! They are the first taught to our children, and perhaps the Holy Child Himself first learned to repeat them in the old Hebrew tongue beside His mother's knee in Nazareth; and they are amongst the last that we whisper in the ear of our beloved ones, standing in the twilight between the darkening day of earth and the breaking day of heaven. The sufferer in the sick chamber; the martyr at the stake; the soldier on his sentry; the traveler amidst many perils; the Covenanter; the Huguenot; the Vaudois--these and a multitude no man can number, have found in these words a lullaby for fear, an inspiration to new life and hope. "The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want."
The author continues his lovely commentary on Psalm 23. If you can get a copy of this book, you will treasure it forever after. Check online for used copies as well as new. Some pre-loved copies are very inexpensive. My copy is pocket-sized, and fits nicely in a handbag. Traveling comfort for spare moments. It beats reading the newsfeed on social media. There isn't hope in the headlines. But there is comfort and strength from this, the Shepherd's Psalm from God's Word.
I will share more from my collection of "little books." in future posts.
Metrical Psalm singing puts the wording in hymn-text form and uses a singable melody. At the Free Presbyterian church, we had a special Psalter used for this purpose. The familiar hymn tunes used for Psalm singing inspired confidence. Singing God's Word in a congregation setting is a powerful and uplifting thing. Here is the metrical Psalm 23 put to music!
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