Psalm 23

Sisters and brothers in Christ,

For tonight’s word of encouragement, the Bible passage is Psalm 23:

¹ The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
²     He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
³     He restores my soul.
He leads 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 mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

This familiar psalm speaks to us very differently when we’re no longer quite sure that we’re lying down in green pastures and are just a little anxious that we might be entering the valley of the shadow of death. Certainly, it has come alive for me in fresh ways this last week or so.

In the first paragraph (verses 1-3)), the psalmist takes comfort in the ways in which God blesses him (and us) almost as a matter of course. The divine shepherd provides for the physical and spiritual well-being of his sheep. Although we are by nature prone to wander, our loving God leads us in paths of righteousness. This remains true despite COVID-19. We may now be confined to our homes, but we have homes. We have food. We have water. We have the love of God and the love of our brothers and sisters in Christ. There is still much for which to be thankful.

In the second paragraph (verse 4), the psalmist faces a change. He finds himself entering—or afraid that he might be about to enter—“the valley of the shadow of death.” It’s still only the shadow, not death itself, but it’s enough to make him fearful. He lessens that fear by reminding himself that the God who is with him in the valley is the very same God who led him “beside still waters” and into “green pastures.” The only difference is that this same God is now armed with an iron rod to beat off attackers and a long staff to tap his sheep on the nose and so direct them away from harm and into “paths of righteousness.” God is not taking less care of his sheep in the valley; he’s taking even greater care.

Finally, in the third paragraph, the psalmist looks beyond “the valley of the shadow of death” toward what will follow. He realizes that, however he may leave the valley, he will still be with the God who loves him. If the psalmist lives, “goodness and mercy” shall surely follow him all the days of his life. When he dies—for, like all of us, he will die sooner or later—even death will not separate him from the God who loves him. The psalmist—and you, and I—will “dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

It’s easy enough to enjoy reading this psalm for the blessings of the first paragraph and the “all the days of my life” promises of the third paragraph, but a little harder to rejoice in the shadowy middle passage. We’d rather hear that we don’t have to pass through that valley at all, or at least not yet. This week the psalm as a whole has gently reminded me that the God who died for you and me on the cross is with us no less in the valley of the shadow of death than in the green pastures, and that, whatever may lie ahead for us, we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God in Christ.

Your brother in Christ,

Max