The Lord Is My Shepherd
(Psalms 23)
A Psalm of David
Probably the best-known of the one hundred fifty psalms is the twenty-third.
It is probably best-known as it appears in the King James Version.
The Lord’s my Shepherd, I’ll not want.
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green; He leadeth me
The quiet waters by.
My soul He doth restore again;
And me to walk doth make
Within the paths of righteousness,
Even for His own Name’s sake.
Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale,
Yet will I fear no ill;
For Thou art with me; and Thy rod
And staff my comfort still.
My table Thou hast furnishèd
In presence of my foes;
My head Thou dost with oil anoint,
And my cup overflows.
Goodness and mercy all my life
Shall surely follow me;
And in God’s house forevermore
My dwelling place shall be.
Nothing wounds the human heart more deeply than the loss of a loved one.
Does God care?
"The Lord is my shepherd." Even as we walk in the shadow of death, God is at our side.
Beyond death is an unknown life, where God, in goodness and kindness, welcomes us to dwell in his house for years to come. We think death ends; let us believe it is also a beginning. It brings its terrible loss; let us hope for the promised gain.
"I am the Good Shepherd," Jesus says. "I go to prepare a place for you."
Prayer The Lord’s my Shepherd
Lord, we are Your people, the sheep of Your flock.
Heal the sheep who are wounded,
touch the sheep who are in pain,
clean the sheep who are soiled,
warm the lambs who are cold.
Help us to know the Father's love
through Jesus the Shepherd and through His Holy Spirit.
Help us to lift up that love, and show it all over this land.
Help us to build love on justice and justice on love.
Help us to believe mightily, hope joyfully, love divinely.
Renew us that we may renew the face of the earth.
Amen.