David Bahn – Reflections

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.

I must admit it: I used to have a poor attitude toward Psalm 23. I didn’t actually hate it. I knew it was a favorite of many. Books have been written about this psalm alone. But I didn’t really think that much of this particular psalm. The other psalms? I loved them. They are so deep and profound. They convey emotional and spiritual highs and lows and give words to such a breadth of these emotions and spirituality! I could often find words to my personal situation – joy or struggle – in the words of the psalms. But Psalm 23 for me was a lightweight.

How wrong I was. Thanks be to God, and through a great teacher I was brought to a deeper understanding about this Psalm. Beyond the insights that come from understanding the ins and outs of shepherding, and more than appreciating the green pastures and still waters, having now seen the areas where David would have shepherded his sheep: a simple insight caught my heart.

I should have seen it myself, but another pointed it out to me: David begins this psalm speaking about God and ends speaking to God. He begins speaking conceptually – albeit with affirmation and appreciation – and ends speaking personally. “He leads me beside still waters,” becomes “Your rod and your staff comfort me.” “He” becomes “You”.

In the end, there is a confidence: “I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” But in the middle – in the valley of the shadow of death – David speaks with God, “you are with me,” he says. I don’t dismiss the blessings of green pastures and still waters; they are great blessings from God! I don’t deny the importance of speaking about God as a testimony to his goodness and our faith. But I confess and repent of my lack of appreciation for this psalm (“hate” is actually a bit too strong).

I am thankful for every part of this psalm. I won’t write a book about it, but I will let it speak to me today. Especially since God has led me to green pastures and still waters as our family celebrates the baptism of our grandson Peter, here in California. There will certainly also be valleys and shadows in our family’s future – in fact we’ve already been through them. Thanks be to God for his rod and staff in those times! Now in the green pastures of life, I rejoice that the Lord is my shepherd!