Everyone loves this psalm because it appeals to our happy thoughts. But how is this psalm possible? Many paint these beautiful pictures of peace and recite it to themselves for comfort. Others will look at the lovely meaning of a shepherd cares for his sheep. But have we ever really thought of what it means in the context of David’s life?
Think about it for a minute. Read some of these phrases and just think about them.
“He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside still waters”
- David was hunted by Saul whom he served honorably
- The entirety of his reign was one of bloodshed and war
“Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life”
Really? David spent almost the entirety of his life fighting enemies. Especially painful were the enemies of his own family.
- His parents had rejected him so much they didn’t even present before the prophet for selection as king
- His own son Absalom hunted him down and drove him out of the city
David’s life was nothing we would think of as “peaceful” and “still waters” and “goodness and love.”. That was NOT his life. So he could write this psalm? How can this be a true reflection of the reality he lived? What does it really mean that God blesses us with these things?
Perhaps I’ve been wondering this more lately on a personal level. What do the promises of God really look like? The last decade of my life has been soooo uncomfortable, exhausting, and just hard. To be frank, I’m so tired of struggling. And it’s getting worse. Especially as the world is on fire, inflation is like a rocket ship straight up, and relationships are not the same.
So again, what do the promises of God look like? Because honestly unless you are born super positive and see the sweet cherries on top of everything, life doesn’t always seem like “goodness and love” and “still waters” and green pastures.”. Of course, yes, there are times of these. But some seasons of the soul are just very long and very hard. Not all experience life the same.
I think of a woman who ever the course of 5 years lost 7 members of her family in wild circumstances—her husband, her children and other family. Those were hard years for her.
I think of those who live in war zones with constant uncertainty, hunger, fear and more never knowing when the pressure is going to lift. Those are hard years for such people.
I think of the elderly person who has no family support. They live alone but have no more energy to work or to make it. Every single day is a struggle to get even the basics. Those are hard seasons for people.
So what does this psalm mean?
Of course we look into it and see that David wasn’t promising a life of ease.
- You can’t have “restoring of the soul” unless you have struggled and need that restoration
- The “Valley of the Shadow of Death” is very real for many
- The “rod” was used to protect from wild animals that sought to kill and destroy a person
- ”Enemies” are a part of life, especially if you are a king
What Davis is saying here no matter what circumstances we are in throughout our lives, God is with us.
- He restores us when we’ve been beat down
- He guides us in righteousness
- We do not need to fear evil, whether we live of whether we die
- He gives us honor even in the midst of our enemies when we live in righteousness
- His goodness and love towards us never stop
It doesn’t mean we will
– Stay cozy in green pastures and still waters
– That we will never walk through the valley of the shadow of death
– That we won’t have to fight against evil
– That those who want to destroy us won’t come against us
– That we won’t have enemies that will hate us
Rather it means that the LORD truly is our great shepherd. He will help us to navigate the complexities and the wounds and the battles of life. Those things don’t go away. And it’s not that we won’t be hurt by them. But He is with us. He is good. He loves us. And he is with us.
Now if we only hold to that and believe.
