One of the most beloved passages of the Bible is Psalm 23. Probably everyone reading this will know what Psalm 23 says, but it is worth reading it even though we may know it.
The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Living the Best Life
There is much to love about these verses of scripture, but I want to focus today on the places the Lord leads. In these few verses, we can find a lifetime of God leading His people.
He will lead us to green pastures. God will lead us to the place of provision and plenty. For sheep in the Middle East, a green pasture would be a welcome sight. Not a desert wasteland, not a rocky mountainside, but a pasture comprised of delicious, green, nourishing food. God leads His people to this place of His provision and even allows us to lie down there. This is not the only place He will lead us, but He will enable us to spend much time in green pastures.
He will lead us to still waters. This equals a safe space. Not a dangerous raging torrent of water or a place with a strong current, but still waters. Many translations use the term "quiet waters" to describe this place to which God will lead His people, and the literal translation is "waters of rest." A place of rest. A place of refreshment and restoration. A place where we can safely drink deeply and become renewed. A place where God will "restore our soul."
He will lead us in righteous ways. The path of righteousness is also described as a straight path or the straightway. It is the way that leads to life. It is the way that keeps us from destruction. If "righteousness exalts a nation," then so too will it exalt an individual. Righteousness is pleasing to God and honorable before people. It will keep us in communion with God and at peace in our souls.
He will lead us into the valley of the shadow of death. There are many deep, dark, difficult places in life. We live in a fallen world, and we will have times in which we experience the effects of the curse in significant ways. There are times of anger, confusion, sorrow, and uncertainty, but we do not have to be afraid. Our Shepherd is with us. He leads us through the dark valleys and provides us comfort as we make the journey. The Shepherd is always there for us. We can't avoid these valleys in a fallen world, but we can navigate them so much better when led by our Shepherd.
He will lead us to places of victory. He prepares for us a feast as our enemies observe. He anoints our head as one especially chosen. Our blessings overflow and His goodness and mercy toward us never ends. Our Good Shepherd is always faithful.
Ultimately, He leads us to His eternal dwelling. To be with such a Shepherd forever, in His very own home, is how our story ends. What could be better than following our Good Shepherd?
As Lent commences on Ash Wednesday, we are entering a time of introspection and prayer leading to Easter. Let us reflect on the significance of death preceding resurrection, urging readers to embrace a daily practice of surrendering self in preparation for our spiritual transformation.