When the Common Is Uncommon (revisited)
"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."
Psalm 23
I would guess that many if not most memorize this Psalm while doing Scripture memorization programs. It becomes like the passage we know as The Lord's Prayer: common, rote, rattled off w/o much thought. Since having cardiac issues this year, I have spent a considerable amount of my time thinking about Psalm 23 and the common becomes 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 my needs
He makes me to lie down--which I might not think of doing but need to
In green pastures--sweet and full, meeting my needs.
He leads me--or I might not want to go there
Beside still waters--necessary for nourishment as much as green pastures.
He restores my soul--and do I not need that daily?
He lead me--me! personally
In paths of righteousness--again, very specific, and His
For his name's sake--so remarkable that his leading me is for the sake of his name; more to think about: his name.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I 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.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows--He prepares, anoints, 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 shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever--What does it mean to have goodness and mercy following me? Protecting me. And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever?
John 14:1-3: Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for your, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
John 17:24: Father, I desires that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundaiton of the world.
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."
Psalm 23
I would guess that many if not most memorize this Psalm while doing Scripture memorization programs. It becomes like the passage we know as The Lord's Prayer: common, rote, rattled off w/o much thought. Since having cardiac issues this year, I have spent a considerable amount of my time thinking about Psalm 23 and the common becomes 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 my needs
He makes me to lie down--which I might not think of doing but need to
In green pastures--sweet and full, meeting my needs.
He leads me--or I might not want to go there
Beside still waters--necessary for nourishment as much as green pastures.
He restores my soul--and do I not need that daily?
He lead me--me! personally
In paths of righteousness--again, very specific, and His
For his name's sake--so remarkable that his leading me is for the sake of his name; more to think about: his name.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I 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.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows--He prepares, anoints, 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 shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever--What does it mean to have goodness and mercy following me? Protecting me. And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever?
John 14:1-3: Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for your, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
John 17:24: Father, I desires that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundaiton of the world.
posted by Ebeth | 10:26 AM
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