Psalm 23 (New King James Version)
A Psalm of David.
1 The LORD is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
4 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.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
Forever.
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Music:
“The Lord’s My Shepherd” sung by Libera, an all-boy vocal group directed by Robert Prizeman from the parish of St. Philip’s, Norbury, South London.
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The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
Psalm 23:1–from Daily Readings from Luther’s Writings
by Martin Luther, ed. by Barbara OwenIn this passage you hear that you lost sheep cannot find your way to the Shepherd yourself but can only roam around in the wilderness. If Christ, your Shepherd, did not seek you and bring you back, you would simply have to fall prey to the wolf.
But now he comes, seeks, and finds you. He takes you into His flock, that is, into Christendom, through the Word and Sacrament. He gives His life for you, keeps you always on the right path, so that you may not fall into error. You hear nothing at all about your powers, good works, and merits—unless you would say that it is strength, good works, and merit when you run around in the wilderness and are defenseless and lost.
No, Christ alone is active here, merits things, manifests His power; He seeks, carries, and directs you. He earns life for you through His death. He alone is strong and keeps you from perishing, from being snatched out of His hand.
And for all of this you can do nothing at all but only lend your ears, hear, and with thanksgiving receive the inexpressible treasure. Learn to know well the voice of your Shepherd, follow Him and avoid the voice of the stranger.
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The Lord is my shepherd — that’s RELATIONSHIP!
.
I shall not be in want — that’s SUPPLY!
.
He makes me lie down in green pastures — that’s REST!
.
He leads me beside quiet waters — that’s REFRESHMENT!
.
He restores my soul — that’s HEALING!
.
He leads me in paths of righteousness — that’s GUIDANCE!
.
for his name’s sake — that’s PURPOSE!
.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death — that’s TESTING!
.
I will fear no evil — that’s PROTECTION!
.
for you are with me — that’s FAITHFULNESS!
.
your rod and your staff, they comfort me — that’s DISCIPLINE!
.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies — that’s HOPE!
.
You anoint my head with oil — that’s CONSECRATION!
.
My cup overflows — that’s ABUNDANCE!
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life — that’s BLESSING!
.
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord — that’s SECURITY!
.
forever — that’s ETERNITY!
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Psalm 24 (New King James Version)
A Psalm of David.
1 The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein.
2 For He has founded it upon the seas,
And established it upon the waters.
Because God created the natural—invented it out of his love and artistry—it demands our reverence.
–C. S. Lewis
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3 Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD?
Or who may stand in His holy place?
4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to an idol,
Nor sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive blessing from the LORD,
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him,
Who seek Your face. Selah
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Music:
The contemporary worship song “Give us clean hands” builds on the thoughts of verses 3 – 6. Chris Tomlin sings.
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The Eastern Gate, also known as the Golden Gate or the Gate of Mercy, in the eastern wall of the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. In Jewish tradition, this is the gate through which the Messiah will enter Jerusalem.
7 Lift up your heads, O you gates!
And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
8 Who is this King of glory?
The LORD strong and mighty,
The LORD mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O you gates!
Lift up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in.
10 Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of hosts,
He is the King of glory. Selah
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New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Images courtesy of:
Psalm 23 baby. http://rlv.zcache.com/23rd_psalm_kids_bodysuit_tshirt-p235521799760657530stvj_400.jpg
Jesus picking up a lamb. http://www.jp2trainingcenter.com/jesus_lamb_up.jpg
father with daughter. http://secondadventchristian.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/bigstockphoto_father_and_daughter_250481.jpg
fruit salad. http://seasonedfork.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/fruit-salad.jpg
green grass. http://www.seekerstrove.com/i/email-art/psalm23/a_004.jpg
quiet waters. http://www.consideration.org/black/images/James-Glacier-015.jpg
path of righteousness. http://www.turnbacktogod.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/right-path.jpg
one way. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3111/2554384497_464aaae98b.jpg?v=0
ambulance. http://todaysseniorsnetwork.com/Hospital,%20Ambulance,%20Emergency%20Room.jpg
lighthouse in France. http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2374/2094884933_e5f8bcce3f.jpg
skydiving. http://s3.amazonaws.com/hgl/assets/5823/sky-diving2_blog.jpg
right way-wrong way. http://itorganization2017.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/student_discipline_head_photo.jpg
dinner table. http://peggyparks.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/dinnerpartyetiquette1.jpg
Holy Spirit dove. http://cornishevangelist.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/ruach-the-holy-spirit-descends-like-a-dove-upon-yehshua.jpg
overflow. http://www.mindthebeginner.net/wp-content/uploads/overflow.jpg
footprints in the sand. http://www.magic-city-news.com/artman2/uploads/1/14_Blessing.JPG
infinity sign. http://karpus.files.wordpress.com/2006/06/infinity-sign.jpg
golf, sea, sky. http://www.seatoskygolf.ca/images/social_image.jpg
Eastern Gate in Jerusalem. http://yeshuaforyou.com/images/eastern%20gate.jpg
The beautiful illustration of Psalm 23 has given me dancing feet. So very true…so very real for me as I read it and looked at those pictures. God is good!!!!
Thank you for bringing Psalm 23 to life in a fresh and inspiring way for us!
The overflowing cup reminds me of a sermon I heard on John 10.10: “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” The point of the sermon was this: The overflowing cup, or the abundant life, is given to us, so that we may pour out our lives for the sake of others; so that we might be at work in those places in our communities and throughout the world where God’s heart is being broken; As we engage in that work, our cup is filled even as we are pouring ourselves out.