The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
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.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
Some passages of Scripture just flow better to my eyes and ears in the Kings English. Perhaps it’s the poetic and otherworldly feel of the wording. Or, perhaps it’s the result of years of repetition and recitation of a particular verse or series of verses in the King James Version of the Bible. Whatever the case, the 23rd Psalm is one such passage.
The 23rd Psalm is not a song of remembrance for the dead, but a song of hope for the living.
The 23rd Psalm is arguably the most well-known Psalm in the Bible and possibly one of the most well-known passages in the whole of the Bible. It is often referred to as “the Funeral Psalm.” If you have ever attended a funeral service, it is likely that you have heard these verses read either during the formal service or at the graveside. I always include this passage when I conduct funerals and, more often than not, the family of the dearly departed requests it.
It’s easy to understand how this became a prominent fixture at funerals. The passage has a very comforting and peaceful message. It draws attention to the faithfulness of God to provide for His people. But, more than anything, one specific line causes us to relate this text to the loss of life: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me.” In my experience, we apply these words to the one who has passed, but the encouragement found in these words is not meant for those who have passed, but those of us who walk in the shadow of their passing. The 23rd Psalm is not a song of remembrance for the dead, but a song of hope for the living.
The wording throughout the psalm is full of activity. It describes God’s providential power and presence and continued action in a life that is being lived. God is described as a shepherd providing for the needs of His sheep, leading them safely and peacefully through the darkness and difficulties of life, and holding them secure in His presence every step of the way. Two phrases jump out at me more than the rest, though: “He restoreth my soul” and “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” Both of these phrases communicate a continuation of life. A soul restored requires a body in which to reside.
Those who have passed from this plane of existence no longer have to endure the shadow-plagued valley of this world. It is we, the living, who must walk through the darkness day after day.
We’ve all experienced the first sensation described by the psalmist. Have you ever been so hungry, thirsty, or desperate with a particular need that you felt overcome by your “want?” How did it feel when you finally took your first bite of that sandwich, a full swig of that water, or opened that long awaited check? It is euphoric! A rush of relief and contentment floods over you and suddenly you feel as if you have new life, as if your very soul has been restored. That is exactly what the psalmist is describing. And, it naturally follows that if God continues to restore our souls as He leads, goodness and mercy are sure to follow for all of our days of living.
It is so easy for us to fixate on the shadows of death that surround us in this world. Unfortunately, fear, division, and destruction have proven to be more compelling content than love, joy, peace, and hope. In our media saturated world with its 24-hour news cycle and the ubiquity of social media bad news spreads with lightning speed and lingers well beyond its usefulness. Those who have passed from this plane of existence no longer have to endure the shadow-plagued valley of this world. It is we, the living, who must walk through the darkness day after day.
We have a loving and gentle Shepherd who will never leave us nor forsake us.
We need to rediscover and remember the hope found in the 23rd Psalm. We have a loving and gentle Shepherd who will never leave us nor forsake us (Deut. 31:6, Heb. 3:5-6). Though we will encounter difficulty and darkness, we have no need to fear. Rather, we must hold firmly to faith, trusting that God will lead us, protect us, provide for us, and that in His presence we will experience goodness and mercy for as long as we live.
