Returning to Psalm 23--When the Common Is Uncommon
"The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul.
He guides 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 have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever" (NASB).
Psalm 23
I would guess that many, if not most, memorize this psalm while doing Scripture memorization programs. It becomes somewhat like the passage we know as the Lord's Prayer: common, rote, rattled off without much thought.
When we were on a trip some time ago, I spent a considerable amount of my quiet time thinking about Psalm 23, and the common became uncommon to me.
"The LORD" not just any lord but the One and Only Lord
"Is" not might be or just hoped for
"My shepherd" guide, provider, and discipliner
"I shall not want" because He provides for all of my needs.
"He makes me to lie down" which I might not think of doing
"In green pastures" sweet and full, meeting my needs.
"He leads me" otherwise I would not know where to go
"Beside quiet waters" necessary for nourishment as much as green pastures
"He restores my soul" and do I not need this daily?
"He guides me" me, personally!
"In paths of righteousness" again, very specific
"For His name's sake" so remarkable that His leading me is for His name's sake; more to think about: His name.
"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" how can it be the valley of the shadow of death and not the valley of death? Christ's death has made it so for those who are His own. His rod and His staff discipline and guide me.
"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows" He prepares a feast, anoints my head, and causes my cup to overflow; I do not need to fear my enemies because He is with me.
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." What does it mean to have goodness and mercy following me? Protecting me. And, "I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever"?
John 14:1-3: "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come and take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also" (NASB).
John 17:24: "Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world" (NASB).
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul.
He guides 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 have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever" (NASB).
Psalm 23
I would guess that many, if not most, memorize this psalm while doing Scripture memorization programs. It becomes somewhat like the passage we know as the Lord's Prayer: common, rote, rattled off without much thought.
When we were on a trip some time ago, I spent a considerable amount of my quiet time thinking about Psalm 23, and the common became uncommon to me.
"The LORD" not just any lord but the One and Only Lord
"Is" not might be or just hoped for
"My shepherd" guide, provider, and discipliner
"I shall not want" because He provides for all of my needs.
"He makes me to lie down" which I might not think of doing
"In green pastures" sweet and full, meeting my needs.
"He leads me" otherwise I would not know where to go
"Beside quiet waters" necessary for nourishment as much as green pastures
"He restores my soul" and do I not need this daily?
"He guides me" me, personally!
"In paths of righteousness" again, very specific
"For His name's sake" so remarkable that His leading me is for His name's sake; more to think about: His name.
"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" how can it be the valley of the shadow of death and not the valley of death? Christ's death has made it so for those who are His own. His rod and His staff discipline and guide me.
"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows" He prepares a feast, anoints my head, and causes my cup to overflow; I do not need to fear my enemies because He is with me.
"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." What does it mean to have goodness and mercy following me? Protecting me. And, "I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever"?
John 14:1-3: "Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come and take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also" (NASB).
John 17:24: "Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world" (NASB).
posted by Ebeth | 8:49 AM
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