Psalm 23, Easter 4B
4/26/2015
The Reverend Roger Hungerford
Let us pray. Lord we ask that you fill our minds and open our hearts so we may hear, understand
and live your lesson for us this morning. Amen.
Without a doubt the 23rd Psalm is the best known psalm and arguably one of the most widely known
and quoted pieces of scripture. We all know why. It evokes a sense of peace and calm, but we
seldom examine the psalm to explore the how and why this scripture is so comforting.
Let's start with some background.
If we accept the presumption that King David was the author of this piece of work, then this poem
was created over three thousand years ago. It was created after King David had endured adversity
and then had been enthroned. He was speaking from experience. Thus the 23rd Psalm was at the
same time a statement of David's faith and praise for God. Faith that God was leading and guiding
his life and praise for the work God had already done.
But David had another purpose for this psalm. He wrote it so that it could be said by ancient Jews
during times of adversity and plenty and when traveling to keep them focused on God. Scholars
speculate that it was sung as part of worship and by Jewish pilgrims walking to Jerusalem to go to
the Temple so it gave worshipers and pilgrims spiritual energy.
Not only was it supposed to be relevant to current events for ancient Jews, it was also a way to
remind them of the hope of the coming Messiah whom we know is Jesus Christ our Lord. So we
have a transcendent connection to this psalm. As much as it was for the ancient Jews this psalm is
for us.
Now let's examine the passages.
"The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not be in want" The image of a shepherd was used by David
because it would have been familiar to the ancient Jews, and it is significant because in those days
sheep needed tending otherwise they would meander. There were no fenced areas and no sheep
herding dogs, only shepherds controlled their flock. Wondering sheep were vulnerable to attack and
if they went in the wrong direction they would get lost and possibly injured or could starve. The
shepherd was the organizer and leader and provider and protector of the sheep. All of these things
gave the sheep a sense of peace and well-being.
The sheep would have recognized their shepherd's voice. That is all they needed. They didn't have to
see him, only hear him and they would have followed him. The shepherd and sheep of course are
symbolic for our Lord and us. If we follow the voice or teachings of our Lord we too will be
organized, provided for and protected and most importantly we will go in the right direction.
"He makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters." The green pastures and
still waters referred to in this psalm are the Garden of Eden, they are paradise and that is where
Christ is leading us. This is a statement of faith that God's ultimate plan is to guide us to a place of
peace and comfort.
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Psalm 23, Easter 4B
4/26/2015
The Reverend Roger Hungerford
Now the psalm turns from the future to the present with the words "he revives my soul and guides
me along right pathways for his name's sake." From this line we know that God gives us the energy
and strength to live our lives by blessing us with the Holy Spirit that works in and through us. Then
Jesus, as our guide, leads us not through uncharted lands, but on pathways that are already created
by him for us. The guide posts and markers for that pathway are found in the New Testament
especially in the gospels. The pathway is composed of the morals and ethics set forth by Jesus most
notably loving God, loving our neighbor as ourselves and loving as Jesus loves us, unconditionally.
Then the psalm takes a turn and reads "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I
shall fear no evil; for your rod and staff, they comfort me." The pathway we follow that leads us to
the green pastures and still water is through our fallen world and is travelled over the course of our
lives. This line from the psalm lets us know that the journey is going to be an adventure and that
means we will experience our own adversity. But it also reassures us because we know that Jesus is
walking with us every step of the way. The Jewish word used to describe the valley in the psalm
indicates that it would have been very dark, so the pathway can’t be seen. The rod and staff referred
to are the tools used by Christ to gently nudge us and guide us when we can't see the path. We all
know that in trying times, when we are sick, or injured, or rejected, or shunned life can feel dark and
we can feel alone, but Jesus is there with us.
"You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me, you have anointed my head
with oil, and my cup is running over." This banquet imagery that follows the darkness, lets us know
that in this life there will be more than just dark times that befall us. There will be those around us
who will actively want to persecute us, and in the midst of the persecution Jesus hosts a banquet.
Hosting a banquet for someone in antiquity meant more than just providing them a good meal, it
also meant you protected them. This passage lets us know that God in Christ will protect us when
we are slandered or picked on because of our faith.
And there is more. The anointing line means we are recognized by our host as honored guests, we
are royalty. We get to enjoy the over abundant loving generosity of God. By saying this line we
know we will get the best seat, the best food and our libation will never end at God's banquet.
The next phrase shows how with God everything is reversed. It reads "surely your goodness and
mercy will follow me all the days of my life." Not only are we anointed, have a feast and are
protected from our enemies, but instead of trouble pursuing us nipping at our heels, goodness and
mercy follow us. Even if we, like sheep meander off, God does not forget us instead he lovingly and
mercifully follows after us.
And the psalm ends with the promise that our pilgrimage concludes when Jesus comes for us and
takes us to the special place prepared by him just for us where we "will dwell in the house of the
Lord for ever." Amen.
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Psalm 23, Easter 4B
4/26/2015
The Reverend Roger Hungerford
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