For over two months, I have been walking through the beloved words of Psalm 23 in posts entitled, “Finding Shalom in an Ancient Poem.” I have loved your comments, which have often concluded with the Hebrew word Shalom. Shalom is used as a “hello” or “good-bye” and conveys a meaning of peace, completeness or what I like to call “whole-soul wellness.” Thanks for joining me for the final post of this powerful psalm.

Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.”

John 10:11 (NLT)

The words of Psalm 23 are particularly impactful during times of crisis. The crisis may be as major as during the last stages of life or as minimal as dealing with troubling thoughts during a sleepless night. I recommend memorizing this psalm. Because I did so as a young child in the old King James Version, I find a lot of comfort in those archaic words. Many other versions are excellent. I often hear the New Living Translation read, and I like it a lot.

Psalm 23 (NLT)

A psalm of David.

1 The Lord is my shepherd;
    I have all that I need.
2 He lets me rest in green meadows;
    he leads me beside peaceful streams.
3     He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
    bringing honor to his name.
4 Even when I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
    for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
    protect and comfort me.
5 You prepare a feast for me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
    My cup overflows with blessings.
6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
    all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
    forever.

A friend recently shared that as her father (Paul) transitioned from this earthly life to his “forever home,” he would “whisper David’s words with rhythm and every breath.” I loved the visual of Paul, one of the Lord’s precious sheep, cradled in the loving arms of his Good Shepherd as he took his final earthly breaths.

While Ron and I were on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne in May, I stopped by to visit a flock of sheep every day. On our last full day there, I made the familiar detour and was disappointed to find the field empty. The shepherd had moved “my” sheep to a new pasture.

Isn’t that so like our good shepherd? Just when it seems like life is comfortable and we’re sure we’ve figured out the correct process, something upends our carefully constructed plans and perceptions. Suddenly, we’re moved to a new pasture!

According to Dr. Robert C. McQuilkin who wrote a book in 1938 simply entitled The Lord is My Shepherd, “The twenty-third Psalm is the greatest poem ever penned in any language. It reigns supreme in circles of highest culture and in the humble homes of the lowly. It sounds all the chords of human experience.” (Quote from The Lord is My Shepherd – Resting in the Peace and Power of Psalm 23, Intro)

I couldn’t agree more. Let’s conclude today with an abbreviated summary of this “greatest poem ever:”

Verses 1-2: Sometimes the good shepherd allows me to rest and replenish

Verse 3: Other times, the good shepherd knows I need my physical or spiritual strength built up for the next trip. Sometimes the good shepherd asks me to simply trust he is leading me in the right direction, giving assurance his name will be honored.

Verse 4: No doubt about it, I will encounter difficult and dark days when it feels like all I can do is follow my good shepherd because I don’t know what else to do. Despite the darkness, I experience his closeness, protection and comfort, perhaps not even realizing it was there until I am able to look back and in retrospect, see more clearly.

Verse 5: When I’m confronted with “enemies,” whether they are literal or internal nemeses such as fear, regret, shame, comparison, unfairness, etc., etc. the good shepherd still nourishes, honors, and blesses me in surprising and sustaining ways.

Verse 6: Finally, the guidance, and enduring love of the good shepherd will continue throughout my earthly life. And then, it will follow me into that mysterious forever home, which I admit is beyond my comprehension.

Discovering Shalom in an Ancient Poem Final Week

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