Are you old enough to remember the Florida Orange Growers TV commercial from the 70’s? It featured folks of various ages and stages of life pausing in their day to drink a big glass of cold, refreshing orange juice and then declare:
Orange juice – It’s not just for breakfast anymore!
That commercial came to mind as I studied Psalm 23. Inspired by the Floridians, let’s coin our own phrase:
Psalm 23 – It’s not just for funerals anymore! (And it really never was!)
While it my be the most-quoted passage for funerals, this poetic Psalm provides truth for every age and stage of life. Called the Shepherd Psalm, David drew all the way back from his childhood to teach us about God – and about ourselves. In declaring God to be my shepherd, David suggests a personal relationship (emphasis on the pronoun my.) He also adopts a posture of humility – in declaring God the shepherd, David self identifies as a sheep.
Here’s a summary of the verse—by-verse truths found as we unpacked this rich Psalm:
| Verse: | Because God is my shepherd: |
| 1 | I have everything. |
| 2 | I have rest and peace |
| 3a | I have restoration and healing |
| 3b | I have guidance and direction |
| 4a | I have courage |
| 4b | I have comfort |
| 5a | I have provision in danger |
| 5b | I have more than I need |
| 6a | I have His presence |
| 6b | I have eternal life |
Each verse carries shades and depths of meaning that can easily be overlooked – even after years of memorizing and reciting. Take some time to read this powerful passage today and embrace each truth as your own.
Here’s the complete teaching on this Psalm:
I hope you will listen in and then leave a comment below letting us know which phrase stirs your heart this week!
May God bless you, my friend, as you walk with Him — our very good and very great shepherd!
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