3/22 Reflection – Psalm 23
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.
Over the years, I have heard Psalm 23 a gazillion times – maybe even more. It is one of the most familiar passages of all literature, and people who know virtually nothing about Judaism or Christianity still know this psalm or some version of it. It’s a comforting piece: God is with us, caring for us like a shepherd; and we lack nothing. Good stuff. “But wait,” as advertisers say on late night television infomercials, “there’s more.”
This psalm is indeed about rest, comfort, and renewal – but on God’s terms. Not because God is a dictator, mind you, but simply because God knows better. I may do (at least some of the time) an ample job of caring for myself, but God ultimately does a better one. It involves me stepping aside, and letting God in. I can wander aimlessly, or I can allow my shepherd to lead me where I need to be led, such as in paths of righteousness – that is, in paths of doing God’s will.
When we let God be our shepherd, God leads us in safety and goodness. Even in the roughest of times, in valleys that are so frightening they feel like death, God is with us. God is there not to rescue us from the valley, but to be by our side through it. There is no place where we are truly alone, no place where God is not with us. Even in the worst of places, God is right there.
That’s what it is to dwell in God’s house: to live in the veritable presence of God at all times and in all settings. We do not go to God’s house, now or later, because God’s house is right here. It is a state of existence. When we are living God’s way, we are truly at home with God every minute of every day.
There is a strength and power in this psalm that transcends time. Rather than trivializing things, its familiarity can bring us true comfort, an awareness of God’s presence in our lives, and an invitation to us to live in God’s presence. Always.
Amen.
Friends, remember that… I am the Church. You are the Church. We are the Church together. We may not be holding services in our building this morning, but we are still God’s hands and feet. Take a few minutes and call and check on your neighbor, your friends, and you family members. I also ask you to continue to join me in prayer for the outpouring of God’s saving and sanctifying power in our day. Pray for the world and for God’s guidance for community leaders at every level. Pray for each other, remember especially Guy and the Mosebrook family in this time of the loss of Agnes.
I would also encourage you, if you are able, to continue to send in your tithes and offerings. Even though we are not meeting together in person, there are still missions to support and bills to pay.
I pray God will bless you and keep you in His grace and mercy. It is also my hope and prayer that we will be praising and worshiping together again soon.
Grace and Peace,
Rev. Christy Mitchell