City of Light
23rd Psalm (pt.2)
The city has no need for the sun or moon to shine, for the very glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,
The nations will walk in its light. The kings of the earth bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.
for you are with me.
Its gates will in no way be shut by day (for there will be no night there),
Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
and they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it so that they may enter.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
There will in no way enter into it anything profane, or one who causes an abomination or a lie,
You anoint my head with oil. My cup runs over.
but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Surely goodness and loving kindness shall follow me all the days of my life,
He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street.
and I will dwell in Yahweh’s house forever.
- April 13, 2023
- | Jim Tallman
City of Light + Psalms (pt.2)
- April 13, 2023
- | Jim Tallman
City of Light + Psalms (pt.2)
Shadow of Death
The design wrap-around at Psalm 23:4 seems clear: the valley of the shadow of death is the opposite of the city of light. As I mentioned, I believe the shadow of death lies directly beneath the city.
“For you are with me” matches the promise of “walking” in the light of the city. I didn’t mention this before, but I believe the “fire” we read about in the 10 Commandments is a symbol of testing or tribulation. You have to connect a couple of dots, but the idea is something like, “you are with me” as I walk “through the fire.”
Inner Gate
Next comes the gates that are never shut. It aligns to the promise of, “your rod and staff, they comfort me.”
Again, the connection is less obvious, but to me, the place of “comfort” is the place of “eternity” where “death will be no more” and God will, “wipe away every tear from our eyes.”
Main Entrance
You, “prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies,” with the promise that I may enter the city. I used to think this passage was about earthly enemies, but I believe it’s far more spiritual.
The suggestion is something like, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of Satan, my enemy, who wishes to keep me out of the city.”
Outer Place
The place “profane” matches the promise of “anointing,” a symbol of God’s forgiveness. By the way, this part of the 23rd Psalm is the word-wrap match to the earlier promise of “restoring my soul.” Restoring and anointing are the same idea as washing us from our sins in this place of iniquity.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me, all the days of my life,” since my name is written in your book of life. Once again, the connection is less obvious. I believe it means something like “surely goodness and mercy shall follow me into the city.”
House of the Lord
The passage which began at Psalm 23:4 returns to the source, “and I will dwell in the 
house of the Lord, forever.” That’s where Jesus stands, in the middle of the street, which symbolizes the middle of eternity.
The connections of the 23rd Psalm to the City of Light are less obvious, but the words seem to flow quite naturally. To me, you can feel the way these two passages work together, even more than you can see it.
That leads us to the next example, a famous prophesy in Isaiah where the connections seem unmistakable. Click on the right arrow, or the Isaiah link below, to take a look.
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