Psalm 23 (NRSV)
Read Psalm 23 on biblegateway.com
Verse 1The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
Verse 2He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;
Verse 3he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name's sake.
Verse 4Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff- they comfort me.
Verse 5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Verse 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long.
Devotion
He began, "I don't want the 23rd Psalm at my funeral. It is now a cliché and I don’t want anything cliché." These were the instructions of a man I recently buried. While Psalm 23 may not be a cliché for you, there is some truth to what he said. A cliché refers to something that in its original use had power to communicate a strong message but which, over time and excess use, has lost the power it originally had. It is still true, but the depth of the truth is often lost or diminished by familiarity of use.
So is there still power in these verses? Absolutely! However, we may need to listen deeply to hear them anew. Sometimes reading different translations helps spark the imagination, or even just reading the words slowly and intentionally can prove to be inspiring. Additionally, looking at art inspired by the psalm can bring deeper insight. May you be blessed by whatever you do to hear again this beloved psalm.
Prayer
Lord, be our comfort and our guide through this life and into the next. May we take comfort in your Word and rest in your peace. Amen.