Psalm 23 is arguably the most well-known passage in the Bible. How do I even begin to say anything about it that hasn’t already been said? So I’m not sure I’m really going to. In fact, I think it will more or less speak for itself to you during this time.
Here are some highlights that I’m thinking about in relation to Psalm 23.
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want…” But what does that mean during this pandemic? I want to be together with you all at church. I want a lot of things right now, and yet how do I trust the shepherd is leading me, and us, even now so that I do not want.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you are with me…” To me it feels like we are facing the valley of the shadow of death. We are fearful. We are worried. Things that we took for normal seem terribly distant and viewed through a fog. We wonder how we will make it through. And yet, we move through the valley. We don’t dwell in the valley, we walk through it and God is with us, and so we do not fear. We’re never meant to stay in the valley of the shadow of death, but we also have to walk through it with our Good Shepherd.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…” Again there is movement in our lives and in our faith journey. For goodness and mercy to be following us we have to be going somewhere in our relationship with God. Yes, there are times that we linger, times that we lie down in green pastures, times that we dwell in certain stages. But ultimately life with God is a relationship where we are constantly journeying with God, and in fact being pursued, chased down by God’s lovingkindness.
Read again the words of Psalm 23 to close this devotional:
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
4 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.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
Until we meet again, grace and peace. Amen