A Song to the Good Shepherd

The Lord is my shepherd;

I am His beloved sheep.

He knows the best for His flock;

I know my heart He keeps.

 

I lack nothing.

He gives me all I ever need;

I never receive anything late.

By His time He gives me my portion.

 

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

I rest in His comfort.

I do not doubt, for I am assured

His havens for me are secure.

 

He leads me beside quiet waters,

His peace extends all around Him:

Even the waters are calm before Him,

And I drink of His sweet love.

 

He refreshes my soul.

He restores the spirits of His own.

I rejoice in the life He gives;

In Him I know the wild peace of joy.

 

He guides me along the right paths

They open ever before me.

Even though I am blind,

He leads me when I follow Him.

 

For His name’s sake.

The paths bear His name;

When I follow along in His Way,

I tread them for His glory.

 

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,

Even unto all despair and loneliness,

Even when my blindness causes me to stumble,

Even unto the realm of death itself –

 

I will fear no evil;

It cannot come close to me.

No cursed dragon holds my heart.

I am not afraid of the darkness surrounding me.

 

For You are with me,

Your power, peace, and love run through me.

Your Name is like fire in my heart, spreading through my blood;

You are always beside me.

 

Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

You are my shield when I place my faith in You;

Your silver Word puts my soul at rest.

You defend and care for my fragile heart.

 

You prepare a table before me

A banquet, overflowing with food –

A sacrifice You bought for me,

An amazing feast You provided.

 

In the presence of my enemies;

For the Lord provides in the face of danger.

For His thoughts are greater than mine.

So even my adversaries see Him at work in me.

 

You anoint my head with oil;

You saw my inner being before I was born.

I was nothing, nobody compares to You,

Yet somehow You chose me for Yourself.

 

My cup overflows.

I cannot even begin to taste Your love –

You pour it over me so continuously,

So fully though I do not deserve it.

 

Surely Your goodness and love will follow me,

Even when I go far astray.

You come after me into the thicket;

You leave the ninety-nine to find me.

 

All the days of my life,

So small in number,

Yet you care for me.

You have never failed all my days.

 

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord

I will rejoice in my true Home,

The one to which He led me;

And there He gives me true rest.

 

Forever.

Everlasting.

All eternity.

Ever, and ever again.

First lines quoted from Psalm 23, NIV

 

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A note to the reader:

Slow down!  You may already know this Psalm by heart, but the purpose of expanding upon these lines is to better reflect on them.  Read slowly, and read to praise and glorify your Father.

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