My radar goes up when I’m watching a movie and the bad guy quotes Psalm 23 as some last-ditch effort. The same applies to listening to a shady priest in a mob story quote the Lord’s Prayer when he knows he’s about to face the consequences of the seedy life he’s lived.
People who appear to have nothing to do with God seem to somehow know there is help available even when they’ve dug their own pit. Some friend or relative in their past may have quoted verses from Scripture, like a faithful grandmother who could not keep the truth to herself. And miraculously, their words are remembered.
So even though Psalm 23 is still quoted in secular media and of course in churches, what does it really mean? While scrolling on Instagram (@lagosmums) one night, I found this older lady named Torchy, who gave her explanation of what each verse in that classic Psalm means to her. Her personal responses are in bold caps below.
“The Lord is my shepherd
THAT’S A RELATIONSHIP
I shall not want
THAT’S SUPPLY
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures
THAT’S REST
He leadeth me beside the still waters
THAT’S REFRESHMENT
He restoreth my soul
THAT’S HEALING
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
THAT’S GUIDANCE
For his name’s sake
THAT’S PURPOSE
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
THAT’S TESTING
I will fear no evil
THAT’S PROTECTION
For thou art with me
THAT’S FAITHFULNESS
Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me
THAT’S DISCIPLINE
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies
THAT’S HOPE
Thou anointest my head with oil
THAT’S CONSECRATION
My cup runneth over
THAT’S ABUNDANCE
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life
THAT’S A BLESSING
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
THAT’S SECURITY
Forever.” (KJV)
THAT’S ETERNITY
After hearing and reading that simple explanation I can’t be sheepish anymore about claiming those promises. They are mine and yours to claim, and to believe. How could we ever be sheepish about following the Good Shepherd when He is robed with compassion.
Ann Voskamp elaborates on that word compassion, from her experience with a farmer on a field in Israel:
“Seven ways, you hear me? You listening? The bent farmer leans in to show us. “Seven ways a shepherd uses his staff to show his sheep compassion.” He sticks the rod into the ground. Sun slides down its length and it seems to light like a candle. He leans it away from his body, making this V, and he waves for the sheep to come through between his bulk and the leaning rod. He shows us how he lays the rod out to guard the sheep, and then how it can become an extension of his arm. “No matter what–always compassion, always love, see?” He nods, holding the rod out like a beckoning, like he’s trying to invite us to see. The rod of God only moves to comfort and the ways of God are only compassion.” (pages 224-225, The Broken Way)
So why are people sheepish and stay away from the Shepherd of Compassion, even if they have been told “you can come back to God no matter what you have done”. We all have our reasons.
Some cannot get over past hurt experienced in a church. Some feel like they have sinned too much to come back, much less turn around. Some claim that they don’t need God because they tried religion, and it didn’t work. And others report they didn’t see anything different in Christians. Then there are the folks who hit rock bottom, broken and alone–which is actually one of the most beautiful places to land.
Voskamp provides more hope, “There is a Shepherd who let Himself be broken so the sheep don’t ever have to be broken. He let his blood run so you can stop running.” (pg. 228) Run to your Shepherd. Don’t be Sheepish.
watercolor paintings by Nelson Haynes and pic of shy man is courtesy of pexels.com