SOME THOUGHTS FROM PSALM 23
Almost from our childhood, many of us have heard and read Psalm 23, it is so well known, and is so full of truth.
The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
Yea, 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 runs over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
I have spelt it out here so you can refer back to it as I make some comments, I had originally planned only to highlight one verse, then I was reminded of verse one in different translations.
MESSAGE God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing.
AMP THE LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack.
NLT The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.
PASSION The Lord is my best friend and my shepherd.
I always have more than enough.
The Apostle Paul echo’s these words in Phil. 4:19 NKJV And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Let us NEVER FORGET this glorious truth. He promises to meet all our4 needs amen.
Look at verse 3 AMP He refreshes and restores my life (my self); I love the MESSAGE True to your word, you let me catch my breath.
OUR GOD IS A GOD OF RESTORATION HALLELUJAH
David mentions two things that assist us on our journey in verse 4 AMP .For Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.
PASSION Your authority is my strength and my peace. The comfort of your love takes away my fear, I’ll never be lonely, for you are near.
The rod speaks of authority, and also of discipline, which he administers at times because He loves us so much. We never need to be in the dark, as He ever wants to leads us.
Look at verse 5, not the leftovers for God’s people but MESSAGE says You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. What a feast he gives us through His Holy Spirit’s presence and His Word.
Now we come to verse 6, this has really blessed me today. NLT Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life.
MESSAGE Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life.
There is something a little passive about the word “follow” Hebrew scholars tell me, as expressed in these two translations, CHASE AFTER & PURSUE ME. I thank God every day for His goodness, and mercy, for where would I be without them, and now to be told they actually pursue and chase me, just overwhelms me with His love and blessing.
WHAT A MIGHTY GOD WE LOVE AND SERVE.
