The LORD is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
he leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to his name.
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.
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.
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.
Psalm 23, NLT

These well-known words penned by David continue to offer hope, comfort and much more in the midst of the unknowns 2020 has given us. David, a shepherd, recognized that God, the LORD was his shepherd and his model for caring for the sheep, for their thriving.

 

Mary  texted, “I hope your family is thriving in their new place.”*

Immediately this question surfaced …

What does thriving look like according to Psalm 23?

Thriving recognizes who God is.

The LORD (Psalm 23:1) — Yahweh, the one who is, who was, and who is to come. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” Revelation 1:8. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Hebrews 13:8.

One of the characteristics of God is that he does not change. His faithfulness to me as a new believer is the same as his faithfulness to me in our current chapter, the empty-nest, grandparent, pandemic chapter. What does God’s faithfulness look like to you today?

“… therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.”
Jeremiah 31:3

My shepherd (Psalm 23:1) — my necessary one, my care-giver, my protector, my leader, the lover of my soul, my wisdom, my omni-present, omniscient, omnipotent one, and more. My shepherd, the one I need today. Nothing is missing. How might God fulfill your needs today?

“For the LORD God is a sun and a shield;”
Psalm 84:11

Thriving is allowing God to see my need and work in my life.

He makes me lie down in green pastures (Psalm 23:2) — total surrender, total rest, total trust — often the very thing I need.

He leads me beside still waters peaceful streams (Psalm 23:2) —  After lying down, the message of still water is next. In still water, reflections allow me to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation twice. Sometimes in still water I see my reflection. “So all of us who have had the veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the the Lord.” II Corinthians 3:18 NLT

“Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD.” (so I can reflect you)
Psalm 4:6 … As I pray this verse, I often add the words in parentheses.

The green pastures and the still waters restore my soul, renew my strength readying me for the next right path (Psalm 23:3) — I take a deep breath and move forward in trust.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD.”
Jeremiah 29:11

At the moment, what am I in need of … green pastures, still waters, or the next step?

For his name’s sake (Psalm 23:3) — The paths that God readys me for bring honor to his name.  Yes, my heart’s desire, that God allows me to picture him to my world. Isaiah 60: 21 in my Sue paraphrase communicates that I am the work of his hands so that He might be glorified.

Thriving does not negate the hard.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, (Psalm 23:4) — Earlier this week, I attended the Face Book launch party for Shelly Miller’s new book Searching for Certainty. I read the galley copy on-line. Also yesterday, Amazon delivered the real book to my doorstep. I (re)started it already, anxious to underline the wisdom I hear from Shelly. Shelly is living with a serious cancer prognosis. Her words last night were a balm to my soul, “My hope is not in my healing, my hope is in Jesus.” I will fear no evil! YES, I highly recommend this book that she wrote before the pandemic, before her cancer diagnosis.

David started this Psalm referring to God in the third person. He lets, he leads, he renews, he guides. But with the words of the valley of the shadow of death, David changes to the more familiar second person. You are close, your rod, your staff, you prepare, you honor, your goodness. Like David, I need that personal relationship, that close friendship always and especially in the hards of life.

Thriving recognizes the blessings of God’s love toward us.

For you are with me, you are close beside me, (Psalm 23:4) — Am I aware?

“The Lord is at hand (near), have no anxiety …”
Philippians 4:5, 6

Your rod and you staff, they protect and comfort me, (Psalm 23:4) — These essential tools of a shepherd’s trade guide away from danger. Exodus 3 and 4 record part of Moses’ story. He was also a shepherd (Exodus 3:1). He referred to his staff as the staff of God (Exodus 4:20).

“Those who spare the rod of discipline hate their children.
Those who love their children care enough to discipline them.”
Proverbs 13:24

“Now let your unfailing love comfort me, just as you promised me, your servant.”
Psalm 119:76

How do I see God’s rod and staff actively demonstrating his love to me?

You prepare a feast for me, (Psalm 23:5) — David focuses on the rich green tablelands God provides for his sheep instead of the surrounding dangers. Song of Solomon 2:4 became real for me last February at my sister’s memorial service. Crazy, I’m saying good-by to my sister and enjoying God’s feast at the same time. Death was not the enemy.

“He brought me to the banqueting house,
and his banner over me was love.”
Song of Solomon 2:4

Because he loves me, I wonder what feast God has planned for me today?

You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. (Psalm 23:5) — David recognizes the bountiful anointing as the blessing of living out God’s purpose for his life. Ephesians 1:3 and 4 speak this truth to me.

“Long before he laid down the earth’s foundations, he had us in mind,
had settled on us as the focus of his love …
In love he predestined us for adoption
according to the purpose of his will.”
Ephesians 1:3 (the Message rendering), and 4 (ESV)

Am I living out God purpose in my life?

Thriving means I’m caught up in God’s love.

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me (Psalm 23:6) — God’s love is indeed pursuing me. Am I turning around to see and experience it?

“We know how much God loves us,
and we have put our trust in his love.”
I John 4:16

Thriving guarantees my home, my forever dwelling place.

God’s heart is for me, for us to thrive.

“And I will live in the house of the LORD forever.”
Psalm 23:6

 

Scripture references are from ESV, NIV, and NLT translations unless otherwise noted.

*”your family”, referring to our son’s family, not ours.

Copyright, Sue Tell, October 2020.