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PSALM 23 Reading Guide June 9-15
PSALM 23 1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 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.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
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DAY 1 Read through Psalm 23 once writing down what you find interesting, what you find helpful, and what you don’t fully understand. Read through the notes on Psalm 23 in the ESV Study Bible*. Write at least one paragraph highlighting what you learned from the study notes. This is probably the most-loved and best-known Psalm. It’s a Psalm for every season of life. Everyone experiences situations that seem like “the valley of the shadow of death.” Everyone also experiences times that feel like laying down in “green pastures” and being led beside “still waters.” Don’t allow familiarity with Psalm 23 to mask the depth and strength of this Psalm. Allow your emotions and imagination to engage with the simple word pictures and metaphors. Reread Psalm 22, personalizing the Psalm as your own prayer. Write out that prayer.
DAY 2 Read Psalm 23 again. There are two basic metaphors in this Psalm: God as a shepherd that cares for his sheep (verses 1-4) and God as a gracious host that prepares a lavish feast for his guests (verses 5-6). Both are meant to convey an intimate relationship between God and his people. Pick one of those metaphors and read the corresponding verses slowly. Write a paragraph or draw a picture that communicates the relationship described and the provision provided in those verses. Both of those metaphors describe the intimate relationship that Jesus has with his followers. Henry W. Baker presents Jesus as the good shepherd and gracious host of Psalm 23 in his hymn “The King of Love My Shepherd Is:” The King of Love my Shepherd is, Whose goodness faileth never; I nothing lack if I am his And he is mine for ever. Where streams of living water flow My ransomed soul he leadeth, And, where the verdant pastures grow, With food celestial feedeth. Perverse and foolish oft I strayed, But yet in love he sought me, And on his shoulder gently laid, And home, rejoicing, brought me. In death's dark vale I fear no ill
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With thee, dear Lord, beside me; Thy rod and staff my comfort still, Thy cross before to guide me. Thou spread'st a table in my sight; Thine unction grace bestoweth; And O what transport of delight From thy pure chalice floweth. And so through all the length of days Thy goodness faileth never; Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise Within thy house for ever.
Based on the metaphor you picked, either read the account of Jesus’ description of himself as the good shepherd in John 10:1-18 or as the gracious host in Revelation 3:15-22 (the one who invites his guilty, wretched servant, who opens the door, to sit at his table). Both descriptions communicate the grace of God himself to his children. Based on what you’ve read and written or drawn, write out a prayer of thanksgiving and praise to Jesus the good shepherd and gracious host.
DAY 3 Read Psalm 23 again. In verse 4, David writes about walking through the valley of the shadow of death, or the valley of deep darkness. Think of something in your life right now that feels like you are walking through the valley of the shadow of death. Write about that situation. Read verses 1-4 again. Notice the change in the way David addresses God between verses 3 and 4. In verse 3 David refers to God with the pronouns “he” and “his.” In verse 4 David refers to God with the pronouns “you” and “your.” In verse 4, David is no longer talking about God; he’s having a conversation with him. As the danger gets greater and the situation gets grimmer, God does not run; he moves closer to us. As Paul Miller explains, we are often the ones who miss God’s real presence with us in the midst of deep darkness. “Both the child and the cynic walk through the valley of the shadow of death. The cynic focuses on the darkness; the child focuses on the Shepherd.”1 Read verses 3-4 again. Using what David writes there, write out a prayer to Jesus, asking him to meet you in the midst of your deep darkness and expressing confidence in his promise to meet you there. Include in your prayer some specific things you know about who Jesus is, what he’s done, or what he can do that bring you comfort. End your prayer quoting verses 3-4.
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Paul Miller, A Praying Life. Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 2009, p. 87.
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DAY 4 Read Psalm 23 again. Think of someone in your life that would be encouraged by Psalm 23. Based on their situation and what you’ve already written about this Psalm, write out a prayer for them. Try to follow the pattern of the Psalm and use some or all of the words or phrases in the Psalm. Read that prayer aloud. Send the person you prayed for a copy of the prayer you’ve written.
DAY 5 Read through Psalm 23 twice. Write out at least two paragraphs reflecting on what you’ve learned about God, yourself, and others from Psalm 23. Write out at least one thing you hope to apply to your life from Psalm 23. Spend at least 15 minutes sharing what you wrote with a trusted friend or family member. If they read Psalm 23 this week, ask them to do the same. End your time in prayer, thanking God for what he taught you this week.
* Purchasing an ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Bibles, 2008.) will aid you in your understanding of the Psalms. The first day’s reading each week assumes you will have access to the notes in the ESV Study Bible. The ESV Study Bible is the most comprehensive study Bible ever published. It will help you understand not just the Psalms, but also the rest of the Bible in a deeper way. You can either buy the Bible (amazon.com, search: ESV Study Bible) or purchase online access to the notes at www.esvbible.org. “Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.” © 2013 Elliot Grudem.
