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The LORD is my shepherd; Psalms 23:1-6

A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.

Yea, 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.

It is no wonder that this Psalm is listed so often as someone's favorite. It is succinct, tightly written, compact, dense with no wasted words, right to the point. David starts by listing all the ways in which the love of the LORD is evident in his life. He uses language particularly appropriate for a shepherd to use to describe his life and sums it all by a powerful phrase, “For His name's sake”

The second paragraph outlines the many benefits that accrue to him through the Lord's goodness. How many of us understand the power of that statement “You rod and Your staff, they comfort me”? Have I ever thought of, let alone to be willing to say, “My cup runs over” in the middle of a life threatening situation?

What a summation. “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.” Lord, that I would complete my prayers in this same tone of sufficiency. It is definitely a Psalm that provides a pattern for prayers of glorification through thanksgiving.

Reading

Morning Psalm 122, Noon Psalm 119:113-120, Evening Psalm 61

 

John Nunnikhoven

John Nunnikhoven is a member of The Fellowship of Ailbe and has begun working toward what, Lord willing, will become a re-awakening of the Church as a body directed into living the Kingdom in the here and now as it awaits the yet to come.
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