Such idealism presents us
With a serious challenge
To the way we ourselves
Are motivated in life.

Such idealism presents us
With a serious challenge
To the way we ourselves
View our possessions.

Such idealism presents us
With a serious challenge
To the way we ourselves
Treat those in real need.

Such idealism presents us
With a serious challenge
To the way we ourselves
Show Christ in our lives.

It is very hard, in our highly industrialised society, to visualise the imagery let alone the significance of these words. Thus it is quite astonishing that this ancient psalm is the most popular, and the most widely known. I suspect that this may be explained by the harsh reality that the psalm also displays. For many people "the valley of the shadow of death" is a real fear and indeed experience.
Thus by the combination of powerful poetry in the written word and moving music for the metrical version, we are enabled to give effective expression to some of the deepest feelings that are often suppressed in modern society.
There are also deep and vague feelings among those who would like to believe in a benevolent god that they may "dwell in the house of the lord for ever".

The idea of servant and master
Is alien to our egalitarian world.
And yet, the concepts of obedience
With discipline are very necessary.

The idea of unjust suffering
Is alien to our 'rights' society.
And yet, the concept of self
Sacrifice is highly admired.

The realisation of the servant
Was made by our Lord's action
During the 'Last Supper' by
Washing the disciple's feet.

The ultimate act of unjust suffering
Was made by our Lord as he
Was crucified for all our sin
Thus setting the example for us.

The church of the twenty-first century faces a major challenge when presenting the Gospel stories to an industrial society. This arises from the rapid rate of change in the twentieth century.
At the beginning of that century there was a significant proportion of our population at work on the land. Even for those engaged in manufacturing there was a high proportion of manual input. Thus the rural images of the gospels and the life-style therein were quite readily identifiable. Now the enormous expansion of mechanisation and computerised control has completely altered the structure of society.
It is not that the imagery of the Gospels is invalid; rather it is their remoteness and lack of familiarity that makes them difficult to transmit. Thus, it seems to me that, we have to gloss over much of the rural imagery and concentrate on the messages contained in Christ's teaching his death and resurrection.
This passage is particularly apposite in that in the final verse Christ speaks to one of the dominating features of twenty-first century 'western' civilisation - quality of life.
By 'picking up' on this aspect we have a highly potent message - Gospel to tell.