Psalm 23 (NRSV)
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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
Can you trust that this Shepherd is the one whose care will make all the difference in your life? The challenges of life are not miraculously erased. Hungry predators and unsafe terrain remain. Whether you are diminished by your daily grind or a clinical diagnosis; whether you are discounted because of age or race or IQ or gender or orientation or class; whether you are overwhelmed by the cultural and economic powers that are so endemic; "your rod and your staff—they comfort me."
We learn from Jesus that God is about redemption. New life from every death. This Shepherd helps us find the still waters, so our souls might be restored. This Shepherd will not leave us, even in the darkest of valleys. New life will come again. Goodness and mercy will be yours.
Prayer
Redeeming shepherd, comfort us. Surround us with your care, so we might live with confidence in your abundance. Amen.