Psalm 23
What a beautiful and beloved song of trust! Is it any wonder it is the favorite of so many? This Psalm is regularly recited at funeral services and memorials for the people of God. Maybe the most important question to ask is: What is this psalm doing here in the middle of Eastertide? It has obvious connections with the Gospel Lection (Jesus as the Good Shepherd in John 10) and even the Epistle Reading (1 John 3 and laying down your life). It will be easy to preach these texts together, with text informing text – and that does not always happen with the Lectionary.
But consider the Acts reading for this Fourth Sunday in Easter. It is Peter’s defense before the authorities after he and John have been arrested for proclaiming Jesus in the temple area known as Solomon’s Portico. I find an interesting context here – one of the first signs of struggle and persecution for this new community of Christ-followers. It is important for the church to remember that faithfulness to Jesus is no guarantee of an easy road. So right here, in the middle of Resurrection season, the church is reminded that following Jesus is risky business. This world is no friend to grace, and proclaiming Christ crucified and risen is a vocation that will likely meet resistance and pushback.
I usually remember Psalm 23 as a resource for times of loss – but today we are invited to see this Psalm as a word for God’s people in times of conflict, struggle, and hostility. This “Song of Trust” is a gift to the church to sustain us on our journey in such a context! While we faithfully follow Jesus into dangerous places to proclaim the good news to an unwelcoming world, the church does her work attended by a God who dares to walk with us – even through the valley of the shadow of death.
Before we attend to some of the theological riches and imagery of the text, let’s focus on the linguistics. Here is my own translation from the Hebrew Text:
The LORD is my shepherd, I will not lack (anything).
In pastures of grass, he causes me to lie down; beside quieted waters, he leads me.
He renews/restores (Hebrew = šuv) my life. He leads me in ruts (Hebrew = ma‘gal) of righteousness for the sake of his name.
Even when I walk into/through the valley of the shadow of death, I am not afraid of evil, because you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You arrange/prepare before me a table in front of my foes. You revive/fatten my head with oil, my cup overflows.
Surely good (Hebrew = tov) and covenant love and loyalty (Hebrew = Hesed) will pursue me all the days of my life. And I will return (Hebrew – šuv) to the house of the LORD for length of days.
In Hebrew poetry, the most striking and notable element is parallelism – and its beauty shines through in this poem. To have this God (the divine name, YHWH) as shepherd is equivalent to a life where nothing is lacking. As a good shepherd, the LORD guides the flock to nourishment (pastures of grass and quieted waters). His ministry renews life, by leading me (this is a very personal song of trust) in ruts of righteousness. Notice that the ordinary word for path (derek), which is a favorite word of the Psalter, is not used here. The ma‘gal is the well-worn rut, carved into the earth by the constant movement of a pilgrim people who travel this path faithfully, day in and day out.
The heart of the Psalm, its longest verse and theological center, is verse 4. This is the verse that speaks to the church in Acts 4, the church of the early martyrs, the church that faces hardship and persecution in every generation. Even when I walk into (or through) the valley of the shadow of death, I will not be afraid of evil. Notice that it does not say I am not afraid… but that I am not afraid of evil – the opposite of good (tov) – and a word of such massive linguistic range it can refer to an enemy’s attack, a violent storm that threatens human life, or even an act of God that we didn’t particularly care for (I’m thinking of Jonah’s response to God’s mercy toward Nineveh here). Danger is real, and being a risk-taker for God and God’s mission may bring one into a dangerous place, as it did Peter and John in Acts 4. But we need not fear evil, for God is with us!
Suddenly, in verse five, another function of the shepherd is offered as an image to give hope and encouragement – the shepherd as host. In ancient Bedouin cultures, one of the primary obligations of a shepherd was to offer hospitality to passing guests. In the shepherd’s tent, one could presume safety (even from enemies) and sustenance for the night – an opportunity to be renewed for the journey. This imagery of a prepared feast and a head saturated with oil is a reminder that there is fullness of joy in the presence of the LORD (see Psalm 16:11). God’s presence sustains us in this challenging walk of faith.
Now we come to my favorite verse, and I am always a bit confounded over the English translations – they are just too weak. First of all, we have two rich words – good or goodness (Hebrew tov = fitting and appropriate, just as God designed – think Genesis 1 here) and faithfulness or steadfast love – not “mercy” – (Hebrew Hesed – a covenantal term that speaks of God’s solidarity with us and God’s covenant love and loyalty toward us – God will keep God’s promises). God’s goodness and steadfast love don’t just follow us – they pursue us, hounding us and refusing to get off our trail, even if we turn away or stumble. God’s tovand Hesed are relentless – they never give up chasing after us.
And then there is that final phrase – I will return to the house of the LORD for length of days.The Hebrew verb here is not “dwell,” but “return” (Hebrew šuv), yet most English versions follow the LXX on this one. However, I love the repetition of this word which also occurs in verse 3 – He restores (a causative form of the verb) – literally, he causes my life to return or be restored. As we return to God’s house (presence) life is restored.
So how might we preach a song of trust to a struggling church as she lives out God’s mission in a hostile world? Our context is far removed from the hostility that faced Peter and John in Acts 4. But the struggle is real. These past months of Covid shutdown have forced God’s people to think and rethink mission and witness in a world of isolation. While so many have bemoaned the cancelling of services, I have been particularly encouraged by the words of Andy Stanley during these days who reframed the conversation around loving our neighbors and embracing God’s mission in these days (see his CNN interview from July 15, 2020 – you can find it at the link below). [1]
Perhaps the place to start is with the Acts lection – here is the church of the resurrected Jesus, seeking to be faithful in her day, yet finding pushback and resistance. This can be both dangerous and disheartening for the people of God. This is the trouble in the text. Now move to the trouble the church is facing in our world today. These are difficult and even dangerous times – especially as we begin to regather as the people of God. We have been isolated and become more divided in these tumultuous times. Where do we turn when we are walking these dark and unfamiliar roads of pandemic, political and social turmoil, racial tension, gun violence, and disastrous economic situations?
Answer: The church regularly turns to song, and there is no better song to sing than Psalm 23. This song of trust reminds us of the faithfulness of our shepherd – he guides us, leading us to rich pastureland and “still” waters that refresh and nourish. He protects us from danger – his rod and staff may keep us in line, but they also ward off any predators or enemies who threaten us. He provides everything we need for a flourishing life, even the hospitality of a tent (house) where we are always welcome and where our souls (lives) are revived, renewed, and restored.
But most of all, our song reminds us that God is always with us – this is the promise that sustains the church in the hardest of times. The sheep can always rely on the Shepherd to be present – it is part of the Shepherd’s “job description” if you will. It is why we are not afraid, even in the most difficult of valleys. God is with us. God is always with us. God will never leave us or forsake us.
And so, just as the people of God have done for centuries, the church sings her way through the struggle, singing all the way home. Yes we are aware of the dangers and disappointments along the way. But still we sing! For we are assured of God’s presence, and energized by God’s promise – that his goodness and steadfast love will chase after us all our days – and we will return to God’s house, finding our souls restored. May it be so, even in the midst of distressing days… for God is with us! Hallelujah… Amen.