Psalm 23

Psalm 23 has always been one of my favorite Psalms.

I was lying in bed the other night, meditating on how each line reflects a characteristic of our amazing God and came up with the following.

Psalm 23

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

The Lord leads and guides my life through highs and lows, valleys and mountains; I will never want for any of my needs.

2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,

He gives me rest and sustenance; he quiets my anxieties and troubles with peaceful calm.

3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

He replaces the strength, pieces of my heart and steadfastness the world takes from me: he is the God of restoration and redemption.
He always leads me to the right path even though it might not be one I understand, it’s all in the name of Jesus and his perfect plan for my life.

4 Even though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death, [a]
I will fear no evil,

I don’t have to fear anything of this world or punishment as I am made perfect in the Father’s love through Jesus; in His forgiveness of my sins, in the new robes of righteousness He’s given me to walk with Him.

for you are with me;

He always walks beside me and sometimes carries me through the hard times…even to “the ends of the earth.”

your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

His discipline and wisdom guide me back into the fold when I am tempted to wander. They are as familiar to me as the strong hand of a father, establishing rules for the safety of His children.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.

He puts me at a place of honor at His table and those who hate me look on, choosing not to participate in the glorious feast.

You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

His Holy Spirit annoints my life, coating it with rich fragrance: inside, outside and fills me up so that His light and love overflows unbridled into the lives of others

6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,

When I follow the Lord I know that not everything will go perfectly for me and in fact might be harder than if I didn’t know Him, but I know that the Lord seeks after me to bless me, His child, for as long as I live

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

Because I am His, I will receive His amazing gift of eternal life, only because of His ultimate sacrifice on the cross to wash away my sins.