The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want (King James version)
or
The LORD is my shepherd. I lack nothing (common english bible)
or
The LORD is my shepherd; I have everything I need (good news translation)
or
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want (new international version)
or
The LORD is my shepherd; I have everything I need (new living translation)
Psalm 23:1
"A little off-topic, but what's do you have a favourite verse?"
The scene: it's Friday night and I'm at Starbucks with two dear friends. It's about 9 p.m., and for the last couple hours, we've been together, talking about the first six chapters of Isaiah. Mostly. As per usual, the conversation started there but our structure has always been more informal, free to flow in whatever direction the Lord sees fit. It's been working for us. I love meeting with these beautiful souls and talking about Jesus and faith and life and everything in between.
"Matthew 16:24-28," I said, without hesitation. I can recite most of it from memory at this point, but I still picked up my bible and turned to the passage to read it.
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.
Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom.
I love everything about this passage, but it's verse 26 (highlighted) that I love the most. It reminds me of what's important - and, by contrast, what isn't. I have it summed up in a tattoo on my forearm, highly visible and complete with the biblical co-ordinates because I need this reminder more often than I would like to admit.
Lord, forgive us when we get consumed by the things of this world,
that fight for our love, and our passion.
As our eyes are open wide and on you, grand us the privilege of your world view
And may your kingdom be what wakes us up and lays us down.
When they both answered the question with Psalm 23, it was almost a little sheepish. "I know it's kind of cliche," one said, "but I just find it really comforting, you know?"
The six verses that make up Psalm 23 are pretty well-known. It's a psalm of peace during turmoil. It's a common funeral text. I think it would be fair to say many Christians (myself included) can recite it from memory. Chances are, even if you're not a Christian, you've heard it at some point in your life.
It's a really beautiful piece of scripture filled with some really lovely images and I would agree those six verses are comforting during hard times. They bring about a feeling of peace and ease. They're reassuring to the restless heart. Most people feel good when they read Psalm 23.
Most people. I'll be honest: I didn't feel good when I read it. Not at all.
Reading Psalm 23, I felt convicted.
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. (KJV)
The LORD is my shepherd; I have everything I need. (NLT)
Shepherd
noun
a person who tends, or rears, sheep
verb
1. tend (sheep) as a shepherd
2. guide or direct in a particular direction
The duty of shepherds in history was to keep their flock intact, to guide it, to provide for it and to protect it from predators. Simply put, the job of the shepherd was to care for the sheep. The sheep knew that, they recognized the shepherd as a friend. They follow as a result.
John 10 draws on this relationship, speaking of Jesus as the good shepherd who loves and cares for his sheep.
I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
John 10:11
Looking at those two passages side by side - Psalm 23:1 and John 10:11 - the questions become simple.
What is shepherding me? If the shepherd's job is to meet the needs of the sheep, what am I trusting to do that in my life? Is it Jesus, or is it something else?
To be honest? Sometimes, it looks an awful lot like something else. Sometimes, I let my finances shepherd me. Sometimes, I let my relationships with others (romantic/family/friends) shepherd me. Sometimes, it's my career.
Most of the time, these are decisions made without too much thought. They come more natural than the alternative. They are things popular culture and the world today teaches are important. And they are, on some level.
But you can't serve two masters (Matthew 6:24).
You can't follow two shepherds.
So, the follow up question: what's it going to be?
In church, the sermon series has been on 1 Peter, focusing on normal Christian life. Unlike a lot of new testament letters addressed to churches, the purpose of 1 Peter isn't to correct bad theology; he is writing instead to a church in need of encouragement during a time when it wasn't exactly easy to be a Christian (sound familiar).
At the end of the first sermon, the pastor spoke about hope. Like the audience Peter was writing to, we live in a broken, hurting world. There's a lot of suffering, a lot of hardship, a lot of need for a lot of hope.
But when Peter spoke about hope, he wasn't talking about hope as superstition or hope as the power of positive thinking. Because at the end of the day, everything of earth - things, organizations, ideas, people - will let you down.
Knowing that, Peter was talking about hope rooted to the secure foundation of Christ - the one who came to earth, lived, then died on a cross for our sins. The good shepherd, who gave up his life to protect his sheep.
So, what are you banking on, the pastor asked.
"You know life will punch you in the soul. You know there is suffering," he said.
"But I'm all in on Jesus."
You hear the cry of every broken heart
You give the hopeless soul a brand new start
You lead the captive in Your freedom song
This is who you are.
I've seen the world's brand of hope. I've tried it. But at the end of the day it doesn't compare. It can't.
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