Psalm 23

 Psalm 23

 

Psalm 23 is probably the only Psalm that non-Christians will be able to identify, if asked ‘Can you name any of the Psalms’ and the reason for that is that they will have probably heard it whilst attending a funeral, in fact even Christians will identify this if they were asked the same question.

It is true the, certainly within England, this Psalm is used at funeral services as it offers comfort in time of grief, peace in times of uncertainty and strength in the face of fear.  The question we need to ask is ‘why?’.  Why is this passage so enduring and powerful and what does it speaks to us today.

As a Christian minister and non-religious celebrant, I have conducted numerous funeral services at which this Psalm is requested.  In most case, especially for non-Christians, it is still requested more out of tradition than anything else.  For Christian services, it allows us to be reminded of the fact that death is not the final stay in our journey, its just another doorway we go through in eternal life with the Lord Jesus.

Let me try and put some history to this Psalm.

Psalm 23 is attributed to King David, who was originally a Shepherd boy turned King of Israel, and it is this early life of being a shepherd that shaped his understanding of God.  I’m not a farmer or modern-day shepherd, but I do believe that the skills for doing this job remain the same as they were in King David’s time.  Shepherds are protectors, guides and providers and so to call God a shepherd reflects someone who leads with both strength and tenderness.

I’m not a biblical scholar, and I’m sure that some of my more learned colleagues will shed light on this if they felt they needed to, but I do not know when King David wrote this.  Was it during a time of quiet reflection as a youth out in the fields tending his sheep or was it during the chaos of his later life when he was being pursued by enemies or at time when he was undertaking his kingly duties?

No matter the time period he wrote it, it found itself included in the Hebrew Bible – the Book of Psalms, a collection of songs and prayers and reflections that have been used in private devotionals, prayers and indeed in public worship with the words being chanted in temple rituals, sung on pilgrimages and whispered in the desperate prayers of a nations people throughout Israel's long and turbulent history.

But what does it mean?

Let’s take a look at each line and break it down.

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want".

This is a complete declaration of trust that God will provide and that he is not some distant God.  He is personal, involved and attentive to every need that we have.

2.      “He makes me lie down in green pastures.  He leads me beside still waters”.

In this complex world we live in full of noise and busyness, this line tells us that God brings peace, rest and renewal.  This is like telling your soul to breathe deeply and exhale slowly at the same time as allowing your body to take a rest.

3.      “He restores my soul.  He leads me in paths or righteousness for his name’s sake”.

This is telling of God’s power to restore your soul but also in allowing him to take charge of the direction of your life.  We have to remember that God will not only lead to us where it is safe, but also to where it is right.

4.      “Even though I walk through the valley of the Shadow of Death, I will fear no evil”.

This is the one line that people associate more with during a funeral service.  As Christians we believe that death has lost its sting, and it is not something that should be feared.  Though our earthly bodies have finished their cycle, our souls live on forever with the Lord.  It means more than this though, because this is a metaphor, for those dark periods in our life, when we face loss, certainly, but also when we are faced with danger (not just physical danger but those situations that put us under some sort of threat, for example, the threat of losing your house or your job) or some other uncertainties.  This line here is a demonstration of God as a source of courage.

5.      “Your rod and your staff, they comfort me”.

This is a powerful statement that tells us that God does not remove us from every challenge but that he is there with us and gives us the tools to get us through.

6.      “You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies”

For me there are two things that this line tells us.  The first that God provides for us and secondly that even in the face of opposition we can celebrate with honour the victories that we win.

7.      “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life”

This gives us a resounding tell that God will be with us for the entirety of our lives, that his love is not just for a fleeting moment but forever.

8.      “…and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever”

The psalm ends with a fantastic statement.  What a homecoming it will be when we are seated at the right hand of God, to be with him in eternal communion.

 

Why it matters today.

For modern Christians this psalm is not just about poetic comfort, it is a declaration of faith.  As I have mentioned we live in a world that is full of anxieties and isolation in a world that screams ‘I want more’ at us every day, this psalm is an invitation to believers to adopt a radically new posture which is one of rest, trust and the dependence on our faithful shepherd, Jesus Christ.

SO, yes, whilst this psalm is often read at funeral services, it is not just about death, in fact it is the opposite, it is about life and how to live that life with God at its very core.  It’s a psalm for those who work every hour of everyday and live pay cheque to pay cheque, for those busy parents who are trying to enjoy their roles in nurturing young life, whilst having to also work and earn and its for those students who are overwhelmed with the complexities and fervour of their studies; its for grieving families, anxious professionals and any else who feels they are walking through the darkest of valleys.

Finally, I want to make a point, a serious point.  Psalm 23 does not promise a life from hardship, but it does promise us a shepherd who will never leave us.  These words are the words of an ancient king but yet they continue to speak to us today because at their very core is the truth that every heart longs to hear and to know: WE ARE NOT ALONE.

Whether you are standing in greens pastures or laying next to a calm water or are indeed walking through those darkest of valleys, let these words remind you of the one who was, who is and who is yet to come; that he walks beside you, goes before you to finally bring you home.

 

Amen.