A Psalm of Hope: Thoughts on Psalm 23

Hello all.

Trying something new today.

Last week's KD Bible Study lesson was on Psalm 23. A pretty familiar Psalm. 
I'm sure you know it.

But, for just a few minutes, I'd like you to forget what you know about Psalm 23, and reread it again with me. On here. With fresh eyes. 
I think you'll be glad you did.

But before we read the actual Psalm,
I want to ask a question.
How much do you know about sheep?

Other than the fact that they live on a farm?
Well, let me fill you in.

Sheep are known as some of the most incredibly stupid animals to exist.

They depend on their farmer, their shepherd for everything. They're helpless creatures. 

They're prone to wandering. They cannot do anything alone.

They can’t find their sheepfold.. even when it is right in front of them.

So now that you know a little more about sheep.. let's dive in to Psalm 23.

Psalm 23:1-6

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 

He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Made a connection yet with the sheep?

I love this metaphor that David uses in this Psalm. Oh, how much like sheep we are.

We wander. We can’t see where we need to go, even when it is right in front of us.

We must depend on the shepherd for it all.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

It's pretty accurate to describe society as a want/need oriented culture. 

We have to have that type of shirt. We need to buy this type of water bottle to match everyone else. 

Needs. Wants. We must be always be satisfied with what the world tells us to be satisfied with.

But He who is all-knowing.. all-powerful.. completely, utterly sovereign.. He is enough.

He is sufficient.

This doesn’t mean that we once we trust in the Lord to provide for us that all our wants and desires will be granted. There will still be tough times. We still will lack for those things we want.

But we know that He is enough. 

We know that we will never want for His presence, His comfort.

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

I don't know about you, but I live in the middle of a busy city. 

More than that, I live a pretty busy life. Between school, KD, volunteer things, friends, church, this blog and the many other things I'm involved in.. there aren't a lot of green pastures or still waters around. 

I'm willing to bet you probably don't have a lot of green pastures or still waters around either.

But there is good news for those of us who aren't surrounded by stillness.

He brings it. 

He gives us His word to read and feel restored by.

He gives us the chance, the opportunity to stop in the midst of the chaos and breathe in how good He is. 

We must simply choose to rest. To accept the offer.

As Charles Spurgeon said in his commentary of Psalm 23:

"When by faith we are enabled to find rest in the promises, we are like the sheep that lie down in the midst of the pasture; we find at the same moment both provender and peace, rest and refreshment, serenity and satisfaction."

He restores my soul. He leads me in the path of righteousness for His name's sake.

A tough one. He does not lead us in righteousness for our sakes. Not for us to look good.

Not for us to receive this glory.

I don't get a thousand or so views on this blog because God wants me to feel good about myself.

He leads us into righteousness for HIS sake. For HIS glory.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and staff they comfort me. 

Notice that David does not say "I have no evil", or "no evil will come". 

There is no promise that there won't be evil. There will be.

But he FEARS no evil. He knows the Lord will be with Him. 

He takes comfort in the rod and the staff, the protection, the assistance.

He realizes the sovereignty of God. He isn't concerned, because he KNOWS that the Lord is with him. 

What a sweet hope-filled statement for Christians.

We need not fear evil, for we know that He is with us.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you annoit my head with oil; my cup overflows.

In my research for this Bible study, I learned that way back in the times this Psalm was written, for a traveler to be invited into someone's home was the absolute greatest security they could find on the road.

For someone to invite the traveler to come in and sit at their table was basically the homeowner announcing,

"This is my friend. They are welcome here. No one is to harm them. It doesn't matter if you previously knew them and hate them. You will not hurt them. They are a welcome guest."

On top of that, to be anointed with oil was an incredibly esteemed honor. It did not happen to the average dinner guest. And for the cup to be overflowing? 

There were no leftovers offered to this guest. His cup was overflowing with the best of the best. 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. 

All the days. The black days and the bright days. The sad days and the days full of joy.

The Lord provides the goodness and mercy. You just accept it. 

Forever, friends.

We are forever welcome at the table of the Lord.

Once we accept His offering of love, His gift of sending His son for us, His outpouring of love for us, we are welcome to sit and eat.

To partake of the goodness and the mercy. 

To sit in front of our enemies, knowing that He is with us.

Knowing that our cup overflows with the best to offer.
Realizing that we will never overstay our welcome. That we can stay at the table forever.

Understanding that we are the sheep. We need the comfort provided to us by our shepherd.

We need Him to guide us, to lead us. 

And knowing that it is well. That He will be always be there. 

That He is sovereign. That He remains in control.

That even when it's Monday and we feel like we are floundering around in the dark and unknown, He is right there walking beside us, holding our hand and not letting go.

What a declaration of hope this Psalm is.

Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, oh my soul.