Issue 045
Why is Psalm 23 so powerful? What has caused it to
take its place in literary history as well as spiritual
tradition? It is recited at births, weddings and funerals. It
has been set to music countless times and no preacher,
is or should be, without good sermons based on its
crafted lines and profound teaching.
There must be many reasons for its impact, but I want
to suggest one simple foundational element running
right through its structure. In the opening lines the
psalm describes the Lord as “My Shepherd”. This is
beautiful and poetic – and because it is so, we miss a
more immediate truth. David earned his living as a
shepherd. David, the shepherd, is describing the Lord as
his Shepherd. Poetic and beautiful it may be but its
imagery is drawn straight from the writer’s workplace.
David is taking what he knows about his work and using
it as a means of understanding his God. He can use this
principle because he has realised that God reveals
himself through his creation, which includes work.
David has understood that God can be encountered by
dwelling on the work that we do and asking “what does
it show me about my Lord?”. In fact the more he dwelt
on it, the more he realised that he was dwelling in the
house of the Lord, all the time. The skill is to reflect on
what that means.
So what do you do: teach, manage, build, consult,
programme? Why don’t you start to write your own
psalm 23 and see where it takes you? Shepherds are the
best equipped to write psalms about shepherds but you
are the best equipped to write the Lord is my …. In the
meantime because the Lord is also your Shepherd you
will have everything you need this week.
Psalm 23
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Even 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.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
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Work well
Geoff Shattock
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