T42D: Psalm 23
When I was a lad, I can remember looking up into the sky and verse 6 of Psalm 23 came into my mind. I was not a Christian at the time but had learnt the psalm in Sunday School and this has been one of my favourite Bible verses ever since. ‘Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.’ Of course, Psalm 23 is a well-known psalm and is often read at funerals.
King David who wrote Psalm 23 has a very basic set of wants that the shepherd provides for his sheep. That list includes food, drink, peacefulness, rescue when lost, freedom from the fear of evil and death, a sense of being surrounded by the grace of the Lord, and a permanent dwelling place in the house of God.
An ever-rising mountain of material possessions is not on the list. There is no hint of any need for power or control. An externally generated set of compulsive desires and the need to be constantly entertained are also absent. The sheep knows that only with the shepherd’s help can they secure the above limited list of basic wants.
I came across these thoughts.
A Sunday school teacher decided to have her young class memorise one of the most quoted passages in the Bible: Psalm 23. She gave the youngsters a month to learn the chapter. Little Rick was excited about the task, but he just couldn’t remember the Psalm. After much practice, he could barely get past the first line. On the day that the kids were scheduled to recite Psalm 23 in front of the congregation, Ricky was very nervous. When it was his turn, he stepped up to the microphone and said proudly, “The Lord is my Shepherd, and that’s all I need to know”.
So, here are some lessons we can learn from each line of the psalm.
The Lord is my Shepherd … That’s relationship!
I shall not want … That’s supply!
He makes me to lie down in green pastures … That’s rest!
He leads me besides the still waters … That’s refreshment!
He restores my soul … That’s healing!
He leads me in the paths of righteousness … That’s guidance!
For His name sake … That’s purpose!
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death … That’s testing!
I will fear no evil … That’s protection!
For You are with me … That’s faithfulness!
Your rod and staff they comfort me … That’s discipline!
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies … That’s hope!
You anoint my head with oil … That’s consecration!
My cup runs over … That’s abundance!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life … That’s blessing!
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord … That’s security!
Forever! … That’s eternity!
…
Rodders
