(This week, I have the twin hassles of a sinus infection/head cold kind of thing and some server maintenance. So while I had a fresh post started, I didn’t get a chance to finish it. Judging from how I feel when I’m taking cold medicine, I’m not sure it would be worth reading 🙂 So, please enjoy this post from the archives with my thanks for your kind understanding.)
Psalm 23 has been commented on maybe more than any other passage, and there is much comfort to be found in the promises of provision and protection. A shepherd is a person, but let’s consider “shepherd” as a verb.
So where does He shepherd me?
Green pastures – abundant, easy-to-obtain nourishment. He will lead Me through His Word to feast on the riches of His Truth.
Still waters – He understands my frailties, and graciously works through those.
Where He restores my soul – He so desires a relationship with me that He will shepherd me through the tough process of repentance and restoration, so that nothing stands between us.
The valley of the shadow of death – First off, it’s a shadow. While it’s the size and shape of death, it’s only a shadow. He’s with me. He’s still leading.
The presence of my enemies – To prepare the table, He had to get there first, before me. No matter what the enemies have in mind, the Shepherd is one step ahead.
Where He anoints me – Healing, favor, selection, identification, consecration, commissioning … Anointing was used to show all these things.
None of these places is a one time stop-over. We revisit them as often as needed according to the Shepherd’s assessment, timing and purposes.
The ultimate destination is the house of the Lord – He will finish the job, and will safely bring us into His eternal presence and glory.
I was not made to be a free-agent, but to glorify God through obedience. He is Shepherding. The question is, am I “sheeping”?
Wow. I guess I had heard Psalm 23 so often that I really didn’t consider the different aspects of the verse. But now that you’ve examined these aspects, I see that there is so much more. The chapter actually has a lot more comfort than I expected. It was one of those chapters you’re supposed to turn to when you need help, but I guess I never really saw the depth to it until now. Great post!