A reflection on Psalm 23

Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd
The Lord is my coach
I'm not afraid to fight.
What is constantly with me, my work area
I refresh between rounds with fresh water
And even more great tips

Yes, if I walk in the center ring
To search for an opponent twice my size
Still, it will be with me,
Her hands on my shoulders
And his words guide

With the towel and a sponge, which will address myself
All events in my long life
And when the final bell rings
I pulled out of the ring
Knowing that I have fought the good fight.

This is my translation of Psalm 23. It is a fairly free translation in terms of its relationship to the original Hebrew but what it captures (at least for me) what I believe is the central theme of Psalm 23 – namely, management and protection God of us all our lives.

Yes, the Good Shepherd Sunday again, which encourages us to our annual visit to the Church Psalm 23, where we were not in the sense recently. It is a psalm that I know. Of In fact, I do not remember a time when I did not know this Psalm. We know that words and no doubt that we know of at least one song with him! Psalm 23 is a step that tends to stay with us throughout life. We learn as children, Sunday school, and at the other end of life, is by far the most popular piece of Scripture people ask on his deathbed.

I do not remember to have a funeral that is not used in Psalm 23. I'm funeral – hundreds, but never without that old trusted friend – 23 Psalm.Mind you, not only in the funeral psalm was read. I told a couple who asked to read Psalm 23 the key to their marriage.

It's a real story. The priest, this time it was initially a little tough to have Psalm 23 for the text of his praise of marriage (preferring to work with 1 Corinthians 13, as usual), but apparently the couple insisted, saying: "Look, we are very afraid of the reality of any marriage. Both families of our parents are divorced. Many of our recently married friends who are divorced. We look at the statistics for the rest of society and makes it fill us with confidence. We have to be quiet? "Then of course, the center of your marriage, rather that "love is real, love is kind, etc." "yes, though I walk through the valley of death?"

Psalm 23 is undoubtedly the most popular psalms. In fact, one of the most popular and best known of all Bible plays, so I guess we see each year.

As far as I can work, it is one of the two passages that come every year. If you know the Lectionary "system in which we work here, you know basically work our way through different passages of the Bible in a cycle of three years. This means that every three years, we read our way through the entire Bible. This also means that the passages we read a week is not read again for another three years. There are only two exceptions to this trend that I picked. Former Gospel is read we had a few weeks ago about doubting Thomas. It seems we have that every year after Easter. The other is Psalm 23. It is too much on list every year, the fourth Sunday after Easter, with passages about Jesus the Good Shepherd. I mean that in each case that the reason found in the list each year because each step is so incredibly popular.

This is particularly notable – the popularity of Psalm 23 – when you consider that the former pastor of the Middle East is so far from us that the 21st century urban Australians. I do not know much about the shepherds and sheep, too. We do not have sheep to Binacrombi. We Roos, but you can not really Roos pastor a flock of sheep, as you can. Not because of what I can work anyway.

My research on the Ancient Near East makes me think that pastors if we understood more of the old shepherd in the Middle East, probably appreciate even more the psalm.

A guy named Philip Keller wrote a small book entitled "A shepherd looks at Psalm Twenty on his experience as a pastor in East Africa. The adjacent in its view, was rented to a tenant who had no pastor great care of his sheep: their land overfished feed the earth, sick sheep were thin, with worms and attacked by wildlife. Keller recalled that sheep from the neighbors lined up on the fence and bewildered look in the direction the sheep the grass green and healthy, and he aspired to be freed from violence pastor. Them longed to come across the barrier and owns it.

Barbara Brown Taylor, in his work on the shepherds and the shepherds, gives us the idea that sheep can not be so stupid that made us believe. He even suggested that sheep have a bad reputation are the result of rumors spread by the cattle industry members!

"Cows," said "are driven into the back howling horsemen in the tabs, but this is not the sheep at all. Stand behind of making loud noises and what they will do is run behind you, because they prefer to be shown. You push cows, sheep, but drive you, and will not go anywhere someone else is not the first – namely, his pastor – that he goes before them to show them that all is well. "

"The sheep tend to love their pastors" said. "A pastor can seem to walk through a herd of sleeping without disturbing a single sheep, while a foreigner could not walk a foot in the crease without causing chaos. Sheep develop a relationship with his pastor, which is quite unique. They develop their own language that foreigners are not aware. A good shepherd can distinguish a bleating pain of pleasure, while sheep hears the click of a language, food, or a song two notes indicates that it is time to go home. "

Of course, if you visit Palestine today can still see the house Bedouin shepherds bringing their flocks in the pastures where the different grasses. A visitor noted that often a number from different herds being taken to the same watering hole every night, while the sheep from different herds are mixed. Do not worry if pastors. When it came time to go each one has its own distinctive call or whistle or play the music he had in his pipe, and the sheep, withdrew from the crowd and follow their primary residence. They know that the voice of his master.

Such imagery is, I believe, in the heart our love Psalm 23. We know his voice. We followed him. It protects us. His rod and staff comfort us. He leads us. He leads us beside still waters to cool. Yes, even when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death – whatever form this valley of the shadow for us – but we know that with us, guides us, protects us, pushing ahead of us. Surely goodness and mercy will follow every day our lives, with a good shepherd to lead and guide.

I like Psalm 23 – Psalm of the Good Shepherd – but I must confess that the preaching fear of Good Shepherd Sunday each year. This is partly because it forces me to find a new sermon every year on exactly the same text and theme. It is always difficult to do. You can get away with using The sermon that used the last time on the text when working with something that three years ago, but when he did a year ago, is not so easy.

I realized that this year there is another reason to fear preaching on Psalm 23. Because I do not get the raw material standard fire sermons and pulpit usually impressive made to.

I read the 23rd Psalm over and over again, and there is nothing to use as a base to berate someone about their sins!

I looked for some angle in the text which I can make some sensible social comments, but there is not.

I find it difficult to find a means by which Psalm 23 could be used to encourage all to redouble our acts of faith and a radical life of discipleship. I really could not find.

My problem is that Psalm 23, then it is a reflection about our lives as followers of Christ, however, does not tell us to do anything, except maybe to relax!

You drive me waters.
When I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, you me.Your rod and staff comfort me.

The Lord is my shepherd. The Lord is my trainer. The Lord is my mother, my father, my loving partner, my friend. Find an image that works for you by all means, but be assured that the basic message – God is with us, guide and protect us, while in the latter day the earth.

About the Author

Rev. David B. Smith
(the ‘Fighting Father’)
Parish priest, community worker,
martial arts master, pro boxer, author, father of three
www.fatherdave.org
Get a free preview copy of Dave’s book,Sex, the Ring & the Eucharist when you sign up
for his free newsletterat www.fatherdave.org

This Is Love – Worship and Communion Song with Jesus Drawing

Classics: Action Bible Songs $1.92 No Description AvailableNo Track Information AvailableMedia Type: CDArtist: CEDARMONT KIDSTitle: ACTION BIBLE SONGSStreet Release Date: 08/18/1998…

Songs 4 Life: Strengthen Your Faith $1.46 …

Bill and Gloria Gaither: Precious Memories $12.96 “I’m His and He’s Mine,” “Just a Little While,” “Going Home,” “Amazing Grace,” and 16 more uplifting songs are the highlights of Bill and Gloria Gaither’s inspirational video. The Gaithers are joined around the piano by a company of famous singers including Larnelle Harris, Michael English, and many, many more!…

Action Bible Songs: 17 Classic Christian Songs for Kids [VHS] $7.49 …

God’s Kids Worship Modern DVDs Fall Quarter (September/October/November) $55.00 Fall Quarter Modern Worship 3 DVDs (September/October/November) ° 14 well-known modern worship song videos, scripture songs & modernized hymns ° all kids singing, all the time ° big easy-to-read lyrics for small TVs or big screens ° fast and easy navigation with no FBI warnings or company logos ° 4 worship orders and 2 countdown clocks and a teaching time graphic ° Grammy & Dove award nomina…

Solar Myths and Christian Festivals: The Pagan Origins of Christian Beliefs $1.00 To the ordinary public, the connection between Paganism and Christianity still seems rather remote. Indeed the common notion is that Christianity was really a miraculous interposition into and dislocation of the old order of the world; and that the pagan gods (as in Milton’s Hymn on the Nativity) fled away in dismay before the sign of the Cross, and at the sound of the name of Jesus. Doubtless thi…

The Story of the Resurrection Eggs in Rhyme and Song: Miss Patty Cake Opens Up the Wonder of the Easter Story (Parenting) $0.95 Miss PattyCake is one of the Christian market’s best-loved children’s video personalities and more than half a million Christian educators, parents and daycare workers have used the Resurrection Eggs from FamilyLife. Together in this wonderful new picture book, they help children not just see, but believe, the greatest story ever lived. Inside each of the 12 colorful eggs is a different obje…

Stories Behind the Traditions and Songs of Easter $2.69 Stories Behind the Traditions and Songs of Easter reveals the real inspiration behind the customs, symbols, and special music of Easter. Through his gift as a storyteller, award-winning author Ace Collins brings new meaning and depth to the celebration of Easter….