Psalm 23

Ok, so I have no idea what to write, but something just told me to open ms word. I have, now what? Let’s see…

Have you ever read Psalm 23? Ok, so you probably have, but I mean really, not to cram it, not just because everyone seems to have read it, have you ever read Psalm 23 just for yourself? Have you ever felt the words while you read it, ever felt like they were speaking directly to your soul? I just did, well not right now, but a few days ago. I was flipping through my Bible looking for the Bible reading out of my devotional and I kinda just stumbled across it.

I still don’t know for sure why I read it, but somehow the words seemed different, seemed somehow truer than they’d always been (if that’s possible!!).

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want…”

That reminds me of a story I’ve heard repeated quite a bit, of a kid who failed to memorize the whole Psalm and when called to recite is simply said, “The Lord is my shepherd, and that is all I need to know.”

The first time I read it, it brought a smile to my face, but now what I’m thinking is, “soo true.” The Lord is my shepherd, my true shepherd. He watches over me, takes care of me, loves me more than a mother would love her child,

“He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.”

and if ever I should lose my way, He will search for me, reach for me and bring me back home,

“He restores my soul, He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”

The problem with us, His flock, is that we’re a willful bunch, always trying to reach for the greenest patch of grass. Even when he warns us that it is in a dangerous place; that we will lose ourselves if we go for it, like the willful children we are, we go on and do it, go on and taste that beautifully succulent grass, oblivious to the wolf watching with hungry eyes…

But,

“Yea, 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 for me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over”

Yea, even though the wolf seeks to devour me, I will fear no evil, for He is always with me, even when I turn my back on Him, He never ever turns His back on me.

My Lord said to me, “I am the door of the sheep…” Nothing can get to me without His say so, nothing can force its way to me without having to first go through Him, and “…if the Lord is for me, who can stand against me?” Who indeed? Even the Satan himself had to petition God to raise a hand against Job!! That is how protected I am, that is how secure I am with my Lord and Saviour.

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me; All the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord; Forever.”

Need I say more?

The preacher in church today mentioned that Psalm 23 is from the fast food section of the Bible, a quick bite and you’re good to go. Maybe that is so, but it certainly is not junk. Go read it for yourself without my mumbo jumbo killing the flow.

Be blessed as you read...