Psalm 23
1The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. 3He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. 4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. 6Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. – Psalm 23 NASB
Of all of the good and gracious gifts God has given, we see in Psalm 23 that the ultimate gift is to simply dwell in His presence. Those who find themselves in the flock of the Shepherd are certain of what will follow them in their days. Surely, the psalmist says, we can count on HIs goodness and lovingkindness. As if the assurance of that was not enough, as if the provision and peace and protection and prosperity of the Shepherd were somehow insufficient, we are told that there is more.
Not only will the goodness and lovingkindness of the Lord follow us in our days, but at the end of our days we will find a new reality on display. The perfect presence of the provider and protector will be known to us. The unquenchable source of peace and prosperity will dwell with us on a permanent basis. What better promise for the faithful sheep than the eternal presence of the Good Shepherd? What beautiful truth that we can end the Psalm as we began it: in the presence of the Lord our Shepherd, we are left to realize that it gets no better – there is truly nothing we shall want.
6Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. – Psalm 23:6 NASB
Certain Goodness
There is seemingly one certainty in the world in which we live: there will be sorrow and pain. It is possible to grow despondent simply reading the day’s news, listening to the radio or watching Facebook posts. The world, growing ever more cynical, is awash in darkness. Our Lord stands in stark contrast. Not only is God our safety in the insecure space we inhabit, but the psalmist says that, in the presence of the Good Shepherd, the only things we can surely expect are goodness and lovingkindness. God’s certainty is goodness. That is the hope we need in this world. No political, relational, or material solution even comes close.
When you hear of God’s “goodness” and “lovingkindness”, what comes to mind? What are your definitions if someone asks you?
Abundance in Following
Psalm 23 is a remarkable picture of the Lord’s love for us. He provides peace and safety for his children. He goes before them to prepare a way, protecting them from enemies and themselves. He welcomes wayward children home. It is explained even more by Jesus himself in Luke, chapter 15.
3So Jesus told them this story: 4“If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? 5And when he has found it, he will joyfully carry it home on his shoulders. – Luke 15:3-5 NASB
While it is true that the grace of God is irresistible and it chases down sinners to bring them to redemption, Psalm 23 also shows that the abundance of God follows those who follow God. There is no greater place to be than in the remarkable presence of God.
How is God’s presence in you life today? Is He close? Is He impacting your daily walk? Or is the season more silent with self-discovery with His support?
True Dwelling
In a sense, Psalm 23 recounts a life with the Good Shepherd and ends with the resolution of what will come of that life. Knowing that lovingkindness and goodness follow the psalmist all the days of his life, what comes after the life? Those who belong to the Lord dwell in the house of the Lord forever, a house we neither built nor deserve. Rather, we dwell in His presence because of His fist of Jesus Christ, our redeeming Savior. Where our pride shouts at us to build greatness for ourselves on earth, God’s Word whispers that perfect peace will be found only in His presence.
What are your memories of your house growing up? What is your stance on your house today? How does that compare to the one God has in store for you? What does His promise of this house do for you?
House of the Lord
There are generations of Christians that called the church building the “House of the Lord”. The church was once the site of grand architecture and soaring spaces meant to reflect the divine and evoke reverence in all who entered. While the church has trended away from such spaces, the idea remains. Even the most glorious mountain vista or most elegant, gleaming skyscraper is but a hint of the glory held in the God’s eternal dwelling place. We know His presence in the indwelling Holy Spirit, but we will one day exchange these bodies – rited, dim reflections that they are – for a place at His feet.
Forever
Humanity is not prone to taking the long view on life. We seek the next thrill, the next drive-through gratification, the next highlight in a life that rarely reminds us of our morality. We still think that we are much younger and agile than we actually are. Yet the psalmist does not point to a momentary joy, but a permanent dwelling place in the presence of God. Perhaps the most thrilling word in Psalm 23 is forever. As we endure life following our Savior, resting in His provision, protection, peace and prosperity, the greatest gift is His presence – forever. Such a thought should stir the depths of our souls, bringing forth the hope of eternity set in our hearts.
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. – Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV
Each of us have been let down and disappointed, which leads to the painful question: Do you believe in forever? Or is it just a distant thought that has never proven to be real?
Lasting Beauty
The beauty of the language of Psalm 23 is incredible. And still, somehow, the beauty of the verses are not a match for the beauty of the promises of an active God. Our God, our Good Shepherd, defends and protects us, leads us in peaceful provision, and sacrificially loves us into His eternal presence. To have these promises for tomorrow revealed in Scripture is an inconceivable gift. It is ours to commit to our hearts for the profit of our days and the glory of our Savior.
Let us read the entire psalm one last time before we close:
1The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. 3He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake. 4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. 6Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. – Psalm 23 NASB
Closing Prayer
Father, it is all too easy for us to get swept up in the doubt and distrust of this culture. We are too easily certain of the darkness and we too easily ignore the certainty of your goodness and lovingkindness. Open our hearts to the promise of your grace and to the hope of an eternity in your perfect presence.
Lord, thank you for finding us in the darkness. Our decisions have revealed our hearts. Over and over, we chose sin and death. And yet you chose us, calling us home with open arms and a celebration feast. Help us follow closely, Father. And don’t forget us when we fall behind, get distracted, or wander from the flock. You chose us, Lord. Let us choose you with the rest of our days.
God our Father, expose the shabby houses we build for ourselves, the idols that steal your glory. Bring a wrecking ball to the places in our heart where we treasure things that rust and wither. May we get a sense of the dwelling you’re preparing for us and live our days bringing that kingdom to earth, living for justice and restoration rather than our own glory.
God we long to know your divinity intimately. We are prone to chasing grandness around us in vain, subconsciously seeking you in places you do not reside. Father, guide our eyes to your residence. Draw us deeper into your Word, find us in communion of prayer, and bring us home to dwell with you forever, where we no longer have to trust reflections and ideas and promises. We long to dwell in your arms, Lord.
Lord, we cannot begin to fathom forever. We confess to being all-too-wrapped-up in the moment, concerned with our own needs in each passing second. Yet we long, Father, for a deeper understanding of the future, a fuller sense of forever. May we seek you and rest in you, living this life as a preview of the glorious eternity you promise in your presence.
Lord, thank you for the gift of your living Word. Thank you for giving us access to your character and your heart. Thank you for the provision of our everyday and provision of your Son on the cross. Thank you for your peace in our anxious world and your peace for our souls found only in the grip of the resurrected Christ. Thank you for the protection you offer us in the midst of danger and protections you promise in the perseverance of the saints, the assurance of our status in you. Thank you for pouring out the depths of your prosperity upon us, showing the depth of your unimaginable grace and mercy through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Thank you for leaving us your presence in the Holy Spirit, the indwelling in your eternal presence, in your house forever. Thank you, Father. thank you, Lord. Thank you, Good Shepherd. May our hearts be radically changed by our immersion in your Word. In the shadows, the valleys, and the presence of our enemies, we will not fear. In your presence, God, we shall not want for anything more.
In Jesus name. Amen.
adapted from Psalm 23 Devotional by Kyle Burkholder