Meditating on the 23rd Psalm

I love meditating on the 23rd Psalm. It's one of my favorite passages in the entire Bible. It has a lot of beautiful and vivid imagery about God's love, presence, peace, protection, and provision. In my quiet times, I often will just take a line from this Psalm and silently savor it, just letting the words seep deep into my soul.

Meditating on the 23rd Psalm

About David, Writer of the 23rd Psalm

David was many things: a poet, a musician, a songwriter, a singer, a shepherd, a soldier, a worshipper, and a king. I love him as a character in so many memorable stories in the books of 1st and 2nd Samuel and 1st and 2nd Kings. Sometimes he is the hero; sometimes he wins; sometimes he loses; and sometimes he is even the villain. But throughout it all, there remains a genuineness and humility that sets him apart. For all his very human failures and flaws, David always remains open to receiving God's instruction and even correction. 

David's sincere and earnest love of God comes through in the beautiful poetry of the Psalms. David doesn't put on airs or sugarcoat his difficult feelings and experiences. He doesn't try to weasel out of responsibility for his choices, including the terrible ones. He is raw and real in his prayers. He lets it all out and freely acknowledges that he struggles to do what is right, and when he makes mistakes and even when he sins egregiously, he confesses his wrongs frankly and without making excuses.

When Jesus told the parable of the two debtors, he indicated that those who are forgiven much love God the most. They know they need him. They know they can't make it on their own and that apart from God, they really don't have much to offer or boast about. David was such a person. He received a lot of mercy and forgiveness from God, and he never forgot that. He stayed humble and teachable, even when he was at the height of his fame and success.

The 23rd Psalm is so memorable, in part, because it conveys David's deep and abiding love for God and his complete faith and confidence in God's goodness and mercy.

Below is the text of the 23rd Psalm; read through it slowly:

The 23rd Psalm (KJV)

The Lord is my shepherd;

I shall not want.

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures;

He leadeth me beside 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 my enemies;

Thou anointest my head with oil;

My cup runneth over.

Surely, goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life,

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Meditating on the 23rd Psalm 

As you read through this beautiful Psalm, what words or phrases stood out to you the most?  God is your shepherd: he will protect you, guide you, provide for you, and bless you, even in the midst of adversity and in the presence of enemies!  Which of these images of God or his actions in your life, which of these metaphors, or which of these promises strikes you as the most encouraging or comforting?

Once a word or phrase comes to the forefront of your mind, set a timer for as many minutes as you are comfortable sitting silently. If you've never meditated, you can start with 5 minutes and see how that goes. 

If you already meditate regularly, you can assume the posture that feels most natural. You want your posture to be conducive to being both relaxed and alert: many people find it helpful to sit in a chair with their back straight and their feet flat on the ground, but if you prefer to sit cross-legged or even in the lotus position (if you're that flexible) then go with that. 

Gently close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, and then softly and slowly repeat the word or phrase to yourself, gradually softening your voice until it is barely audible, and then keep softening your voice even more, until you are simply thinking the word or phrase without saying it. In your mind, continue repeating the word or phrase slowly and softly. 

If you get distracted, don't worry about it; when you notice your attention has wandered, simply bring it back to the word or phrase you chose from the 23rd Psalm. Continue meditating on the 23rd Psalm in this way until the timer goes off.