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Live in the 23rd Psalm

Many many years ago I remember sitting in my grandparents living room with my grandpa. It was always very warm in that little space which often induced sleepiness. He was a quiet man who struggled to hear, which made robust dialogue challenging. Trying to make conversation, I asked him what his favourite Bible verse was and he responded by saying it was Psalm 23. I remember being kind of disappointed. I don't really know why, I'm not sure what I was expecting. But I suppose I diminished this portion of scripture due to its overuse and popularity. Which I see now as immaturity on my part.

Because he was right. This text is an important one and it's fame is warranted.

Many scripture's are important to study and meditate on during this cultural moment. But like my grandpa, I'm finding a special bond with the 23rd Psalm now more than ever. I'm sure you know it well. But perhaps you could use its stability and comfort as well.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
    He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
    He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name's sake.

Even 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 overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

This song of trust was written for such a time as this. An age fraught with so much fear. Just the first stanza reveals a level of comfort I'm not sure I can wrap my head around. Do you know the implications of what it means to say, I shall not want? Can we even fathom a posture so secure? These days, that seems impossible. Yet, it's not.

What about the comfort of knowing the Lord desires our rest. Our laying down in green pastures and beside still waters is a priority for Him. Because that is what trust in the Lord's will actually looks like. This is the only place in which He can restore our soul. When we're anxiously trying to make our own will and way happen, there is no room for God to instill His peace into our inner-being. That only comes when we surrender control and lay down.

We'll no doubt walk through dark times (much like these). And there will always be much to fear. Like there is today - illness, division, civil-unrest, war and an unclear future. Yet, as this hymn sings - He is with us.

Our Heavenly Father is at the helm. And most importantly He is by our side.

He's also reared and ready to protect us from evil. Fully equipped for the task, He will lovingly guide His children. How often do we walk in opposition to this truth? We fret and panic and seek hope in movements and human institutions. All while the Lord of the universe stands right next us and calls us to cling to Him alone.

Our deeply hospitable and accommodating father not only wants our rest and comfort but He desires to sustain us while opposition watches. This is a picture of even our enemies seeing the goodness of God to His people. Our restoration is important to Him. An anointing of oil and an overflowing cup is a portrait of the loving rehabilitation He longs to give His people.

No beleaguered saint can stay in their troubled state at the table of the Lord.

And the promise of goodness and mercy for all days and into eternity is the hope we hold onto every step we take into the unknown. Because the house of the Lord is an eternal resting place where all these promises find their fullest form. Relief, security, comfort, sustenance and grace. This place is what we long for now. And our Great Shepherd is offering it to us both in the present and in the future. So what is there to fear?

These promises are sure. And it is for this reason we can actually live in these green pastures. Any other source of temporary comfort is a silly and futile substitute for the glory of God's care. We can sit at this table now. But only if we allow Him to take us to it.

He wants your soul to be at peace. So is it?

This Psalm may be the most compelling apologetic we can model in front of people who don't know God. Especially in these confusing times. Some of the best kind of arguments we can make to prove the existence of the Lord, are the ones lived out peacefully in front of others. Because of this Psalm and many other Holy texts we have good reason to be a non-anxious presence before the eyes of our children and neighbours. And with this level of trust in the care of the Lord we can pass on this security to the many among us who are crippled with fear.

My late grandpa lived through a lot of difficult history. He knew hunger and hard work. He saw oppression and tragedy. And He lived as one with much comfort and hope in the promises of God. He blessed the Lord for the tender hand of Christ. Because there was too much at stake to live any other way. The still waters of restoration are ours if we want it.

Make us more like my grandpa,
And find me in that meadow with the Good Shepherd.

Categories: Psalms , Sample