Written May 2020

It has recently struck me that, if thought through and considered in more detail, Psalm 23 is much more than just a comforting poem.

Certainly, I should understand my relationship with God as best I can. Understand his role as Creator, as well as his role as Redeemer.  I have, and should, study the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, the Savior, who also clarified my role and relationship with God.  So, one poem in the Old Testament cannot define an entire faith, and yet, surprisingly maybe, Psalm 23 by itself is a pretty complete faith picture.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

A simple sentence with two parts. Yet it sets the tone of an entire faith. The relationship between God and me. He is like the shepherd. I am like the sheep. The shepherd provides guidance and direction, so long as the sheep pays attention. “I shall not want”, meaning I will have provision in this life. It can also mean that I should not look for superficial desires, but only what I need. God created all, so all I have is from God. Taken together, it gives every reason for humility as well as comfort, and a reason to look to God for guidance.

“He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.”

Oh yes, God will give me rest. He will give me comfort. So will my life be easy? I have to read on.

“He leadeth me beside the still waters. “

After peaceful and beautiful rest, now He allows me an easy time, for a time – “still waters”. Life is good. So will it always be easy? I continue reading.

“He restoreth my soul.”

Ah, rest and easy going, then he makes me whole, “restoring my soul”. Quite the complete provision and care. The story does not end here, though.

“He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”

Oh, so this sounds like He has things He wishes for me to do. Tasks to be performed. If I follow well, they will be “paths of righteousness”. I begin to suspect that the still waters are not the only part of the picture for me in my life.

“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.”

Oh, this is quite different from green pastures and still waters – the bigger picture becomes clearer. For one thing, I must “walk through the valley of the shadow of death”. So, there is a valley. Life is not all about a mountaintop experience. We don’t get to stay on the mountaintop, (nor “lie down in green pastures” all the time or have “still waters” all the time). The valley implies trials and temptations, and difficulties. It also means we are mortal, and in that sense, we are always under “the shadow of death”. Our days on earth are limited. Furthermore, there is evil. Make no mistake about that. Evil exists. But I am not to fear it. The Lord is my shepherd. He has things for me to do.

“For thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.”

God is always with me. A rod and staff, though? Those are for disciplining and directing me. The rod can hurt. Life can hurt. Correction and guidance are needed, if I am wise enough to accept them, and close enough to God to learn from Him in my circumstances. These tough times, they are not a “maybe” or an “if”, but a matter of “when”.

“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. Thou anointeth my head with oil, my cup runneth over.”

 Ah, so I will have enemies. They may be addictions, or my own evil desires, or in some cases actual other human beings or their shortcomings. I see that God is not ashamed of me. He claims me. I take it that I must face my enemies, whatever demons that try to claim me or invade my soul. God will be with me and prepare me, though. He gives me more blessings than I deserve.

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.”

So, if I pursue these paths of righteousness, take the guidance of my shepherd, do as God wills – the more that I can be like that, the more that goodness and mercy will follow me around. And yet, even if I were perfect, which I am not, it only says that “goodness and mercy will follow me”. That is not quite a guarantee of goodness and mercy.  It is more like a tendency toward goodness and mercy. Thinking of the most righteous people I know or have known, goodness and mercy did tend to be part of their lives, in the way those around them received goodness and mercy, and the way that a good and merciful spirit pervaded whatever they were involved in. By nature, they often received goodness or mercy themselves- but not always. Bad things happen sometimes, in fact, maybe often. Life is not always fair. Maybe a tendency toward goodness and mercy is the best we can hope for – at least it is much better than any alternative. Is there any guarantee in life then? I read on. 

“And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Now that is a guarantee for eternity.