In the past, I heard this Psalm often at funerals or sometimes in movie scenes depicting death or funerals. With its hope for “the valley of the shadow of death” and eternal life, I thought it was a Psalm only for dying. I see now that this Psalm is also very much for living, even on the happiest of days.
Whether happy or sad, mundane or challenging, my last day or not, every day I wake is a day I need to remember that the LORD is my shepherd and provider, that He leads me in righteousness, that He is with me, that goodness and mercy follow me, and that I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. How would my life be different if I lived according to every single word of Psalm 23?
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in 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 shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Psalm 23:1-6
thoughts and songs 