Psalm 23: A Theology of Grace

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psa 23:1 

 

It is fittingly called a psalm for all seasons. It speaks for the heart. It may be sung as adoration, it may rend itself as a confession or a thanksgiving hymn, or it may minister as a supplication or petition. In joy the psalm will do, and in sorrow the psalm will still do. 

 

What can a believer lack with a God who is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent?

 

O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. 

Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. 

Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. 

For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. 

Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. 

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. 

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 

If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. 

If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; 

Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me. 

If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me. 

Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee. Psa 139:1-12  

 

Yea, he speaks every day. We hear him because we know him. Jesus has revealed him, and the Holy Spirit has assured us. Even trees declare him.  They sing a song which only his children can comprehend.

 

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. 

There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. Psa 19:1-3

The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 

And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Rom 8:16-17  

Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. Jer 33:3  

 

Yea, my soul craves for God. He is my bread, and my living water.

And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. Joh 6:35  

This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. Joh 6:50  

This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. Joh 6:58  

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 

And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? Joh 11:25-26  

But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. Joh 4:14  

I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. Joh 10:9  

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. Joh 10:11  

 

Feeling thirsty? Please drink with me! Friend, let’s drink!

 

Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 

Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Isa 55:1-2  

God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is. Psa 63:1

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? Psa 42:1-2 

 

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. Psa 23:2 

 

Noise distracts. It vexes. Like stones falling in a stream, and disrupting its peace and calm, so the heart loathes clamour. Noise tears at the windows of the heart. At its height noise is a racket or madness. And the world is a noisy place. Sin has left its mark to this day.

 

Woe is me, that I sojourn in Mesech, that I dwell in the tents of Kedar! 

My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace. 

I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war. Psa 120:5-7  

 

“Be still, and know that I am God.”

There are things you will never hear in the din. There are things you can only hear at midnight.

He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Psa 23:3  

 

God is still calling. God is still leading. God is still restoring.

 

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye. Psa 32:8  

And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. Psa 50:15

The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. 

All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. Psa 25:9-10 

 

Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. Pro 4:1  

Receive my instruction, and not silver; and knowledge rather than choice gold. Pro 8:10  

For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it. Pro 8:11  

They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them. Isa 49:10  

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Mat 11:29-30  

 

There's a reason why we crave flowers. There’s a reason why we dream. Unknowingly it’s the soul climbing towards the divine. By his mercy, he lifts the veil, and the eyes see.

 

The voice said, Cry. And he said, What shall I cry? All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: 

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: because the spirit of the LORD bloweth upon it: surely the people is grass. 

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever. Isa 40:6-8  

 

As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. 

He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. 

Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples: for I am sick of love. Son 2:3-5  

 

So we dream, by God, we dream!

Think of sunny beaches, blue waters, the moon and the stars, and the kiss which happens at dusk, and the sight which greets us at dawn? Yea, that is only a foreshadow. God is present to the heart which sees.

Nevertheless we lose some, but yet we still gain others.

It's the reason for the grave and withered flowers. It's the reason for the old age, stiff backs, and creaky joints. It's the reason for tears. It’s the reason for laughter.

“But all things work together for good.” Where one door closes, another opens…

 

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 

But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 1Co 2:9-10  

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 

In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. Joh 14:1-3 

 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psa 23:4

 

Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt? Jer 2:6  

To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace. Luk 1:79  

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound!

 

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Psa 23:5

 

Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! 

Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. Psa 31:19-20  

The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. 

The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage. Psa 16:5-6  

I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. Psa 116:13  

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 

Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. Eph 3:20-21  

 

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. Psa 23:6

Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness. Psa 30:11  

To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever. Psa 30:12  

But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children. Psa 103:17  

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Psa 16:11  

And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. Rev 21:3  

And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. Rev 21:4