Global Journal of Human-Social Science, A: Arts and Humanities, Volume 22 Issue 11

there are certain evils that do accompany each day. There is an adage in Yoruba that says: ti ibi, ti ire la da le aiye , meaning ‘the world was created with good and evil’. In other words, evil and good are together. This is in accordance with the Bible verse that that says: ‘redeeming the time for the days are evil’ (Eph. 5: 16). Ibi always follow humans from time to time. The recitation of Psalm 23: 6 on a daily basis by an African Christian will prevent evils that are associated with a particular day from following him. Some Nigerians inscribe Psalm 23:6 on their clothes, vehicles, houses, and wrist bands that they wear from time to time. Others recite or read this Psalm into water and drink it or sprinkle it on the vehicle before they embark on a journey. In African Indigenous churches, Psalm 23 is considered a protective Psalm that can be chanted, written on parchment and worn on the waist, arm or neck, or hung on motor vehicles as a talisman and it represents the presence of God Almighty (Adamo, 2018: 8). This is because no evil can stand in the face of good in the presence of God. The Yoruba believe that goodness is an indication of the presence of God around the Christian. In Nigeria, some Prophets or Pastors in African Indigenous Churches have different types of programs that normally held early in the morning every day. They are usually prayer programs between 5- 6:30am every day. In this type of program, the sermon is short sermon but the prayer time is long. Most of the prayer point are drawn from the Psalter. The program is designed to attack all evils that may accompany the day and that is the reason why it is held in the early hour of the day. African Christian believe that after the prayer program, the day is already secure because the evils of the day as been render powerless. One of such prayer program is the one organized by Prophet Samuel Olukosi of the Christ Apostolic Church, Achievers District Church Council, Offa, Kwara State Nigeria. It is a Radio program tagged: “Goodness at Dawn” between 6- 6:20am on Mondays to Friday every week. Christians from all walks of life tune to this program to know what God has in stock for them for the day. In this program prayers are offered on the felt needs of participants. It is like early morning tonic or drug of prevention against evils that are likely to surface during the day. There are testimonies of answers to prayer by the participants (Olukosi, 2022). One of the main emphasis of this program is prevailing Prayer against enemies ota of all sorts that may prevent a person from realizing divine purpose daily. People with differs life threatening problems consult Prophets like Olukosi for special prayers and counselling on their issues of concern. 3. Mercy/Love דֶסֶח Mercy is an event or a situation to be grateful for, usually because it stops something unpleasant (Hornby, 2015: 973). The Hebrew word דֶסֶח means ‘mercy’ (KJV), ‘steadfast love’ (NRSV), ‘constancy love’ (NEB), unfailing love’ (NIV). This conventional term refers to unfailing help to the helpless (VanGemeren, 1997: 1107). Mercy is one of the attributes of God. It is held among the Yoruba in Nigeria that every human needs divine mercy to survive every day. The ‘love’ of God is conventional commitment to bless his people with his promises. Instead of being pursued by enemies who seek his destruction, God’s love will follow the Psalmist. He does not need to be afraid, because God’s loving care follows him throughout life (Baker & Kohlenberger III, 1994: 824). The love or mercy of God is very important to the Africans in view of the situation around. Africa especially Nigeria is going through tough times at the moment. Our roads are death traps and this make citizens to be afraid to travel in the day or night. Nigerian roads have claimed many lives. Kidnappers, bandits and Fulani herdsmen are having a field day in Nigeria. The kidnappers in Nigeria are so bold that they kidnap people in their homes, schools, churches, on the road and request for huge amount of money as ransom before their victims would be released (Awojobi, 2021:9). Sometimes after the payment of ransom the victims are killed. In most cases whenever beautiful girls or ladies are kidnapped they are married off by the kidnappers. Terrorist activities are on the increase. The Fulani herdsmen, Boko Haram and Bandits of all sorts have taken over our forests and roads. Nigerian always pray for journey mercies ( aanu irinajo ) before embarking on either long or short journeys. Kidnapping has become one of the most lucrative business in Nigeria today. Travelers on Nigerian road are in the attitude of praying before leaving their houses, praying when the vehicle is about to take off and praying when they arrive at their destinations. Today, travelling has become nightmares for some Nigerians. It is a situation where divine intervention is urgently needed. Surely, ‘goodness and mercy’ of God must be sought and obtained before embarking on a journey in Nigeria. 4. Dwelling in the house of the Lord forever The Psalmist mentioned that he will dwell in the house of Yahweh forever. The Hebrew word םָלוע forever, everlasting, evermore, perpetual, old, ancient, world, always, eternity and so on is used more than three hundred times to indicate indefinite continuance into the very distant future, the meaning of the word is not confined to the future. There are at least twenty instances where it clearly refers to the past (Awojobi, 2021: 6). This implies that he has chosen Yahweh’s residence as his place of continuous abode for security purposes. This is an indication that that sorrow and sighing will give way to joy, gladness and uninterrupted happiness for the Psalmist (Cf. Isa. 35: 10). This is a reminder of what happened in Mesopotamia, where the worshippers of the gods dedicated statues in the temple of their god to symbolize the individual continuous Volume XXII Issue XI Version I 42 ( ) Global Journal of Human Social Science - Year 2022 © 2022 Global Journals A Hermeneutical Study of Psalm 23: 6 in the Light of Insecurity in Nigeria