A Study of the 23rd Psalm
I went to a Rubies Connection Women’s Ministry meeting at my church, The Bridge Church.
The meeting was a study of the 23rd Psalm. It was very interesting.
Psalm 23
A psalm of David
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.
This Psalm is read at funerals and quoted a lot, but I had never studied it before. I was curious as to what this study would be about.
What I learned about the 23rd Psalm
What I learned from this study was Psalm 23 is a pattern of thinking.
“The 23rd Psalm is a pattern of thinking and when a mind becomes saturated with it, a new way of thinking and a new life are the result.” ~Charles Allen
Here are a few more quotes from the study:
“A man is what he thinks about all day long.” ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
“A man’s life is what his thoughts make it.” ~Marchu Aurelius
“Change you thoughts and you change your world.” ~Norman Vincent Peale
We were given a prescription for a new way of thinking.
Read the 23rd Psalms five times a day for seven days
- when you first wake up,
- after breakfast
- after lunch,
- after dinner,
- just before going to bed
Each time read them carefully, meditatively and prayerfully.
We went through each verse in which we were given the characteristics of sheep and the relationship of the Shepherd to the sheep based on the verse. This is all related back to Christ as our Shepherd and us as his sheep. The Shepherd protects his sheep and the sheep have complete trust in the Shepherd. I’m still trying to totally digest everything. It was an eye opening study and I realized just how much Shepherd’s love and care for their sheep. Likewise Christ loves and cares for us.
At the end we were challenged to commit to getting to know our Shepherd.
Scriptures from the Psalm 23 study:
“Your Father knows what things you have need of, before you ask him. ~Matthew 6:8
“My God shall supply all your need.” ~Philippians 4:19
“Be still and know that I am God.” ~Psalm 46:10
“Then you will find rest for your souls” Jeremiah 6:16
“Come to me all you who labor and are heavy ladened and I will give you rest.” ~Matthew 11:28
“Blesses are e they who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled (satisfied).” ~Mark 5:16
“When my soul; fainted within me I remembered the Lord and my prayer went up to you. ~Jonah 2:7
“When the Lord restored…our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongue with singing.” ~Psalm 126:1,2
“In all thy ways acknowledge him and he will direct you paths.” ~Proverbs 3:6
“There is a way that seems to be right to a man but in the end it leads to death.” ~Proverbs 16:25
“I have told you these things so that you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble but take heart! I have overcome the world.” ~John 16:33
“He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all we ask or think.” ~ Ephesians 3:20
“He calls his own sheep by name.” ~John 10:3
“The Lord has done great things for us as we are filled with joy!” ~Psalm 126:3
“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it!” ~Psalm 118:24
“I am the resurrection and the life; he that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live; and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” ~John 11:25, 26
Deirdre Powell (Dee)
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