There is little presentation without re-presentation.

In popular, mainstream media we do not typically find the psalm вЂњas isвЂќ or largely unchanged. But what is the nature of the reference? How is the psalm being used? Even among the media, from radio to television, to movies that hit the big screen, psalm 23 seems to pervade. From rap to reggae to metal to classic rock-psalm 23 certainly gets around.

Or perhaps something a bit more contemporary, Tupac Shakur, Dennis Brown, Megadeth, Pink Floyd, and yes, even ChicagoвЂ™s own, Kanye West. Some of you might recall songs by Duke Ellington from his album Black, Brown and Beige. Psalm 23 is equally popular among the popular-in songs you might actually hear on the radio or movies that arenвЂ™t released directly to DVD. Psalm 23 is not just popular among the pious pew-sitters, to be found only in dusty old hymnals, or in the lyrics of the next generation of Christian song-writers. The psalm has been set to music, to canvas, and to memory-ready to be recited upon request during prayer services, at hospital bedsides, funerals, and memorials. To say that the 23 rd Psalm is вЂњbelovedвЂќ or вЂњwell-knownвЂќ is a bit of an understatement. Psalm 23.В A psalm of David.В A psalm of promise.В A psalm of praise! It was called вЂњLiving in a GangsterвЂ™s Paradise.вЂќ So,В IвЂ™m just going to leave it right here with some additional newsВ linksВ and imagesВ fromВ Hong Kong: Hong Kong: Tear gas and clashes at democracy protest (click here). I wonвЂ™t be preaching on the psalm this time, however, considering it made me recall a sermon that I wroteВ while I was in seminary. This morning I woke up to a text from my ma that read: вЂњCheck out the protests in Hong Kong.вЂќ After reading the news, I sat down to read the lectionary for Sunday Oct 12 (because thatвЂ™s the next time I preach), and saw that it includes Psalm 23.

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