March 28th, 2026
Saturday, March 28
The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need. He brings me to open spaces of green grass to rest; he leads me to quiet and refreshing waters; he restores my life in all ways. He leads me down paths that are good, because he is good. Even though I walk through the valley of darkness and chaos, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. I am comforted by your shepherd’s staff, I know you will fight for me. You prepare a great feast for me, even when trouble is around. You bless me with your anointing, my life overflows with your generosity and goodness. I am certain that your goodness and mercy will follow me all of the days of my life, and I will find my home in the Lord’s house, even after my days on this earth are done.
~Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need. He brings me to open spaces of green grass to rest; he leads me to quiet and refreshing waters; he restores my life in all ways. He leads me down paths that are good, because he is good. Even though I walk through the valley of darkness and chaos, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. I am comforted by your shepherd’s staff, I know you will fight for me. You prepare a great feast for me, even when trouble is around. You bless me with your anointing, my life overflows with your generosity and goodness. I am certain that your goodness and mercy will follow me all of the days of my life, and I will find my home in the Lord’s house, even after my days on this earth are done.
~Psalm 23
_____________________________________
Read Psalm 23 carefully. I’m using a different translation just for a change of pace. Notice who is doing ALL of the action and who is receiving all of the doing.
He brings me to open spaces of green grass
He leads me to quiet and refreshing waters
He restores my life in all ways
He leads me down paths that are good
You (the Lord) prepare a great feast even when trouble is around
You (the Lord) bless me with your anointing
Everything about the psalmist’s life is a response to God’s doing. There is nothing about psalmist’s life that is apart from God’s doing.
I have everything I need BECAUSE the Lord is my shepherd
I will fear no evil BECAUSE you are with me; I am comforted by your shepherd’s staff
My life overflows with the Lord’s generosity and goodness BECAUSE you prepare a table for me and anoint my head with oil
Goodness and mercy will follow me all of my days; I will find my home in the Lord’s house forever BECAUSE the Lord has taken me in.
Psalm 23 is not about special people who have worked their way into a special closeness with the Lord. This psalm describes all people. As soon as we think we’ve somehow made our way into this special closeness with the Lord through spiritual disciplines, Bible reading, service hours at church, extra small group participation or extra worship time, we’re fooling ourselves (great song by Styx, by the way). When we have this spiritual pursuit mindset, we’re in danger of building our existence on the basis of our “god-stuff” rather than on what the Lord has given.
The important thing about this psalm is recognition. Are not all of our lives full of God’s abundance? Are not all of us dependent on the Lord for life, restoration of our souls, protection from evil? All of this is most certainly true.
The flipside of this is that we absolutely can live as if this is not true. We can go about our days thinking and living as if what I have is because of me. Many of us do. Even the most committed Christians. We’ve just merged the story of God’s grace with our culture of merit and earning. Usually a bad idea.
Notice what starts it all in Psalm 23: The Lord is my shepherd, I have everything I need. This means we don’t contribute to our existence as if somehow it’s up to us to provide for ourselves. This is not laziness; this is proper, indeed Biblical, perspective. Grace means that life begins and revolves around God’s giving. But it’s only when we recognize it that we are changed and life is what it is meant to be.
__________________________________
For reflection:
Prayer: Shepherd God, you are the one who keeps our lives. You are our great caretaker. Help us to find peace and rest in your care for us today. Amen.
He brings me to open spaces of green grass
He leads me to quiet and refreshing waters
He restores my life in all ways
He leads me down paths that are good
You (the Lord) prepare a great feast even when trouble is around
You (the Lord) bless me with your anointing
Everything about the psalmist’s life is a response to God’s doing. There is nothing about psalmist’s life that is apart from God’s doing.
I have everything I need BECAUSE the Lord is my shepherd
I will fear no evil BECAUSE you are with me; I am comforted by your shepherd’s staff
My life overflows with the Lord’s generosity and goodness BECAUSE you prepare a table for me and anoint my head with oil
Goodness and mercy will follow me all of my days; I will find my home in the Lord’s house forever BECAUSE the Lord has taken me in.
Psalm 23 is not about special people who have worked their way into a special closeness with the Lord. This psalm describes all people. As soon as we think we’ve somehow made our way into this special closeness with the Lord through spiritual disciplines, Bible reading, service hours at church, extra small group participation or extra worship time, we’re fooling ourselves (great song by Styx, by the way). When we have this spiritual pursuit mindset, we’re in danger of building our existence on the basis of our “god-stuff” rather than on what the Lord has given.
The important thing about this psalm is recognition. Are not all of our lives full of God’s abundance? Are not all of us dependent on the Lord for life, restoration of our souls, protection from evil? All of this is most certainly true.
The flipside of this is that we absolutely can live as if this is not true. We can go about our days thinking and living as if what I have is because of me. Many of us do. Even the most committed Christians. We’ve just merged the story of God’s grace with our culture of merit and earning. Usually a bad idea.
Notice what starts it all in Psalm 23: The Lord is my shepherd, I have everything I need. This means we don’t contribute to our existence as if somehow it’s up to us to provide for ourselves. This is not laziness; this is proper, indeed Biblical, perspective. Grace means that life begins and revolves around God’s giving. But it’s only when we recognize it that we are changed and life is what it is meant to be.
__________________________________
For reflection:
- How are the words of Psalm 23 true for you? Which phrases are particularly real in your life right now?
- For those with kids: Read through Psalm 23 and talk about how the different phrases might apply to their lives and what it might mean for them.
Prayer: Shepherd God, you are the one who keeps our lives. You are our great caretaker. Help us to find peace and rest in your care for us today. Amen.
No Comments