The Lord is My Shepherd

For May 6, 2012

How many times have you heard the 23^rd Psalm?  Like  the love chapter, 1 Corinthians 13, that is heard at most wedding ceremonies other oft repeated verses of scripture (even the Lord’s Prayer) can become so familiar that they may lose their profound meaning.  Today we will take a closer look at the 23^rd Psalm – The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want – reflect on that.

This post is intended to help the reader personalize the words and thoughts in the scriptures.  It works well if shared between two or more people as a topic of discussion but there is much to be gained by considering the questions yourself.  Commentaries for these scriptures can be found on Textweek through this link http://www.textweek.com/writings/psalm23.htm.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

² He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

³ He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

⁴ Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

⁵ Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

·       How often have you heard this scripture?  When was listening to it or reading it especially meaningful for you?  What gave significance to you, was it particular words or the overall tone of the psalm?

·       Do you relate to the imagery of God as a shepherd?  What attributes of God as shepherd do you carry with you as you pray, meditate or seek comfort?  I must admit that shepherd is not the first word I would use to describe God to someone but there is the caring for each one that is easily attributed to shepherds.

·       We shall not want – not want what?  Not want for health, for income, for decent housing; what do you feel that your faith life brings to you that cannot be taken from you?  Are there aspects of others faith lives that you would like to incorporate into yours?  In what ways would you like for your faith life to be bolstered?  Who might you talk to (pray?) about it?

·       The psalmist gives us three words (maketh, leadeth, restoreth)  which describe God’s presence in our lives.  How is each word used, what blessing come with each?  Do these images resonate with you; have you experienced them in your life?

·       Rewrite verses 2 & 3 inserting examples from your life of God’s presence with you.  Either use the three words the psalmist gives us or substitute others that have more meaning for you.  I particularly relate to leadeth which speaks to the insight, guidance and wisdom that flows from the presence of God’s spirit in times of uncertainty and confusion if we only ask.  How have maketh and restoreth been present in your faith journey?  

·       How is God’s presence described in the walk through the valley?  Is the shadow removed, will we come out unscathed?  What might be the evil’s we are protected from?  What does an assurance of God’s presence bring?  How important is comfort as we walk through the valley?

·       Think of a crisis in your life, what did your faith bring to you as you dealt with it?  Sometimes we walk out of the other side of the valley without any damage, other times not the case.  Does our degree and intensity of faith impact the likelihood of either a good or bad outcome or should we be counting on something else?

·       What does God provide in the presence of our enemies?  Whom and what do you consider enemies?  What meaning does preparing the table have for you?  Can there be enemies that attack our faith life, its vitality, its depth, its meaning?  What does God set the table with that might fend off these negative influences?  What builds up your faith and brings a spring to your step as you travel along your faith journey?

·       Where in life can we find a guarantee of goodness and mercy, can we expect fairness and equity all of the time from anyone or anything?  How does that promise impact the fact that our everyday experience at times excludes these very things?  These words speak to me of
God’s grace, His acceptance of us despite all of the human shortcomings we all carry with us?

·       When will we dwell in the house of the Lord?  Does it start next week, next month, some undefined time in the future?  What meaning does it bring to your faith life to understand that we dwell in it now and are guaranteed to live there forever?  What should we expect for ourselves and from ourselves as we dwell in that place?  How can we bring more of the presence of God’s house into the collision of our faith with the realities of everyday life? 

·       The 23^rd Psalm has so much to say to us as we travel through life, things that we need to carry with us for comfort, guidance, strength, and encouragement.  What are two things that you carry away from these words today that can be applied to your todays and tomorrows?

Closing Litany (Psalm 22:22-24)

Here's the story I'll tell my friends when they come to worship,
and punctuate it with Hallelujahs:
Shout Hallelujah, you God-worshipers;
give glory, you sons of Jacob;
adore him, you daughters of Israel.
He has never let you down,
never looked the other way
when you were being kicked around.
He has never wandered off to do his own thing;
he has been right there, listening.

Amen

Next Week’s Lectionary Scriptures:  Acts 10:44-48, Psalm 98, 1 John 5:1-6, John 15:9-17