Christians and non-Christians alike know or know about Psalm 23, probably because all or part of it has been read at funerals. However, for the Christian it should never be thought of as only a psalm of comfort for funerals. It is a psalm of comfort for life. It is a psalm that describes all that the Good Shepherd is to His sheep. He is our Provider, Protector, Companion and Guide.
'The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures (Provider).
He leadeth beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name sake (Provider, Companion and Guide).
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for Thou art with me (Companion);
Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me (Protector and Provider).
Thou preparedest a table before me in the presence of my enemies. Thou anointest my head with oil. My cup runneth over. (Companion, Provider and Protector).
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Provider, Protector, Companion and Guide).'
The Twenty-Third Psalm is a psalm about living as well as dying. How much richer would our lives be if we as Christians would remember and mediate on that fact!
