Psalm 23
I recently listened to a lecture by Louie Giglio on the WEB. Pastor Giglio is the Minister at the church where Chris Tomlin serves.
Sometimes, we need to hear an opposing side of things for the truth to really set in. Read on.
Two Shepherds…
One Good…
One an Impostor and a Thief…
These readings are more effective to first read Ps 23 vertically down the left column then read the 23rd lie, reading down the right column.
| Psalm 23 | The 23rd Lie |
| The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. | The thief is my shepherd, I am always in want. |
| He makes me lie down in green pastures, | he makes me sleep in barren wastelands, |
| He leads me beside quiet waters, | he hurries me wearily along only to drink from a nasty stagnant ditch, |
| He refreshes my soul. | he destroys my soul. |
| He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. | He leads me into a corn maze of deception because “Deceiver” is His name. |
| Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; |
And when I walk through the tough times of life, he abandons me. |
| your rod and your staff, they comfort me. |
Fear and evil are my only companions. |
| You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. |
In the end, my pantry is bare, and my enemies cheer. |
| You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. |
My head is covered in shame. |
| Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, | Mercilessly his condemnation hounds me, every single day of my life. |
| and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. |
And I am a prisoner in his mirrored house of horrors without end. |
To me, that brings new meaning to Ps 23.
One restores…
One destroys…
Which will it be? Whom do you serve? You know the answer.
So, let’s look at the Psalm again.
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want.
This is a Psalm for people who are experiencing major loss.
For people who have been stunned by life.
Because the Lord is my Shepherd, therefore there is nothing I lack.
I lack nothing,
I am a sheep.
Alone, I wander off.
Alone, I lack wisdom and strength.
Alone, I have gone astray.
But the Shepherd keeps us together.
He feeds us.
He keeps us safe.
I feel safe in the presence of the Shepherd.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
I, the sheep, lie in the green pasture because I’ve eaten my fill.
I am content and at rest.
I have peace and comfort right in the middle of the storms of life that surround me.
Because I rest in Him.
In Him, I find the soft and comforting “green pastures.”
He leads me beside quiet waters.
Like a sheep, I follow.
I drink from the quiet pool.
It is a safe place.
My thirst is satisfied.
He restores my soul.
He created my soul.
Inwardly I am being renewed day by day.
My food is God’s word.
This word brings me rest, peace and renewal.
He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name sake.
Because I am a sheep, I need a guide, otherwise I tend to wander.
The path is well worn and I know it well, yet I still stray.
Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light to my path.
He doesn’t point the way, He leads the way.
He knows the way because He has been there.
He’s been tempted, he’s got an arrest warrant on his record, he’s been tried, he’s been bullied, he’s been victimized, he’s been betrayed, he’s been crucified, he’s been, he’s been, he’s been. Trust me, He knows the way.
He will do it for the sake of his name.
He must do it. His name, his character, his reputation are on the line.
He will make the rough places smooth.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. For you are with me.
He will never leave me.
Never forsake me.
He has summoned me by name.
I am his.
I belong to Him.
Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
The shepherd has a rod and a staff.
The rod is for the outside enemy.
It’s to smack Satan and his evil colleagues.
The staff is to keep me from wandering off.
Both the rod and the staff are a comfort to me.
You prepare a table before me, in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
God feeds, provides, leads and protects.
I do have an enemy.
But he now sees me dining at the King’s table.
Surely, goodness and love will follow me, all the days of my life…
God is pursuing me.
Chasing me.
Searching for me.
God is my creator.
He knows me.
He knows everything about me.
He knit me together.
He understands me.
And yet, He still loves me. Feeds me. Leads me. Protects me.
… And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
That’s right!
I will!
Me!
With the Lord in heaven forever!
This is the most exiting thing that has ever happened to me!
That’s Psalm 23!!!
Worship Ideas You Can Use 