Psalm 23 –
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
This is a passage in scripture you all are familiar with because you’ve probably heard it at nearly every funeral you’ve attended, and rightly so because it is indeed beautiful and comforting. But this Psalm is not a song of death, it is a song of life. This week, think hard about how you can contribute to the sermon by sharing your insights. How do you think this is a Psalm of life? What experiences do you have with this Psalm that are life-giving? What images are the most powerful for you and why? What do you know of feel about this Psalm that you think others should hear? Please reflect to these questions and share whatever you’d like via comments. If you’d like to be of assistance as the sermon comes together, try to share your thoughts by Thursday, when I generally begin writing. If you have any trouble with the comments, just email me and I'll post them for you - ejohnson@communityreformedchurch.org
Thanks, Pastor Eric.
Community Reformed Church - Newton, Iowa
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Psalm of Life
Posted by
Pastor Eric
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
When I read or think about this passage, it is not really in relationship to funerals or death, but to everyday life. This passasge is a comfort that God is with me every step of the way, when walking in his beautiful creation, or when having tough times as we often do in this life. He restores, He guides, He comforts. If we try and do it alone, we carry all the burdens that he promises to carry for us. Life can be easier if we listen and follow the good Shepherd.
This psalm could have been written from the perspective of a sheep. It defines all of the things the shepherd does to provide for all things that a sheep needs to have a comfortable life. A good shepherd provided safe places, excellent pasture, adequate water and also anointed them with an oil which was to prevent an infestation of bugs in their wool. Phillip Keeler , a shepherd himself wrote a book on the Psalm and asked these questions as to his relationship with the Lord. Do I really belong to him? Do I really recognize His right to me? Do I resspoond to His authority and acknowledge His ownership. Do I find freedom and complete fulfillment in this arrangement? Do I sense a purpose and deep contentment because I am under His direction? Do i know rest and reposse, besides a definite sense of exciting adventure in belonging to Him?
If so, then with genuine gratitude and exaltation Ican exclaim prooudlly,"The Lord is my Shepherd.
The way I think of Psalm 23 is word by word, verse by verse.
The Lord is MY (meaning me-or you if you will repent & ask--available to everyone) SHEPERD (caretaker of my physical and spritual needs, guide, leader) I (meaning you or I) shall not be in want (he supplies everything that I NEED for survival). He makes me lie down in green pastures (not thistles, brambles, rocks, sand--but in a nice open safe lovely place with plenty of nourishment).
He leads (not pushes or shoves) ME (that close relationship always there) beside quiet waters: (not roaring, muddy debris laden-but clear, safe & quiet, good for nourishment and refreshment). He restores my soul (the refreshment we most need is readily availalbe-not for a price-just for asking!!)
He guides (not pushy, just gently guides) me in paths of righeousness (if I only follow his rules I will be safe from many potentially dangeous situations. His rules and guides are quite clear ...10 commandments, gospels, etc.) for his name's sake. (Not only does he expect us to not deny him before men but he longs for us to look enough different to the outside world that they may desire & long for what we have in Christ).
Even though I walk (not run, stumble & fall, or drag through mud and slime) through the valley (once again an EASY walk) of the shadow (ever notice how a shadow does not hurt, is not scary because there is light on all sides) of death, I (you or me) will fear no evil. (He his there to protect us, the light is on, and the walk is easy,)for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me. (once again clear directions so that we KNOW this is the RIGHT way to go).
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies (to me table means food for survival-in the presence of enemies means in difficult situations). You anoint my head with oil (the healing properties of the day--it doesn't say there won't be pain..else no need for oil...only that he will be there for us); my cup overflows.
Malachi 3 mentions that if we do not rob God but give back what is due him he will "open the floodgates of heaven and pour out his blessings on us so much that our cups will overflow".
Surely goodness and love (his love is always present & because he loves us so much we cannot help but see all the goodness that comes with the love) will follow me (no real effort on our part for someone to follow us) ALL the days of my life, (no guarantee on the number of days, just on the quality of days) and I will dwell in the house of the Lord FOREVER. (Wow, how much better can it get?!! The House of the Lord FOREVER!!!!)
These are some of the thoughts I have when I heard the 23rd Psalm read outloud. Comfort and happiness.
Post a Comment