No I'm not going to change the Psalm, but hopefully clarify it. I memorized the Psalm as a child, before I stopped memorizing. It was mostly a meaningless something that got me "brownie" points with the adults. As an adult I have folks make fun of the Psalm because it is so often repeated. The Lord gave me deeper understanding a few years ago when I was going though a difficult time.
The Lord is my Shepard... He is my guide.
I shall not want... He will provide for my needs.
He makes me lie down in green pastures... He make me rest and provides good food.
He leads me by quiet waters... Safe place to get a drink and cross the stream.
He restores my soul... He will heal and renew my emotions and mind
He guides me in paths of righteousness He shows me the right way to go that I might
for His names sake... glorify His name.
Even though I walk through the valley of It is a deep scary place but it is only a shadow
of death... and it looks worse than it is.
I fear no evil, for you are with me ... I shouldn't be afraid because the Lord is
still with me.
Your rod and Your staff... The shepherd's tools to guide
they comfort me... I can be comforted by the Lords guidance.
You prepare a table before me ... I get to eat good spititually and naturally.
in the presence of my enemies... Even when in dangerous places.
You annoit my head with oil... Healing, sweet fragrance, massage, spiritual
promotion?
My cup overflows... I have more than enough
Surely goodness and mercy and love.... Desperately needed at any time
will follow me all the days of my life... They come after me even when I don't
deserve it!?!?
And I will dwell in the House of the Lord ... I'll take that promise! A safe pleasant,
loving place to live.
Forever... I will always live there!
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How about we run it through from a sheep's perspective?
The Lord is my shepard and I shall not want because he is there all the time making sure I have all I need and don't fall in a hole I can't get out of, walk into a crevise that I can't back out of or keep eating in the same spot after grass is already gone.
He makes me lie down in green pastures because I don't know when to stop eating. I will even try to eat on slopes and tip over sideways. I will die there on my back unless he picks me back up.
He leads me beside still waters because he knows if I go near running waters I will soak my thick wool coat while trying to drink and I will fall in and drown.
He restores my soul by moving me from pasture to pasture and allowing me only fresh new growth to dine from. He knows the dirt and roots will make me ill and the fresh green will cleanse my body. I don't know any better. if he did not help to restore me, I would be overwhelmed with sickness.
He guides me in paths of righteousness because he knows if I fall, I can't get back up. The path must be even and solid for me to walk because I can fall so easily. He stays close in case I do. If I fall, He picks me back up, dresses my wounds and brings me back to the flock.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I fear no evil because he is with me. When wolves and other preditors are around, he protects me from them. Most of the time, I don't realize they are dangerous until it's too late. I freeze and can't escape. If I get to far from him, this can happen and he knows, so he stays close to me and it makes me feel safe. This makes the wolves kind of nervous too, I think.
Your rod and your staff comfort me. I don't mean to get too far away, but I see a good place to be and I start toward it and forget where you are. You pull me back in and keep me with my family and friends. I never seem to get out of your reach, even when I stray. When you guide me, you never poke me or hit me, you are always firm, but gentle. This reassures me of your love for me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemy. You can feed me and protect me at the same time. You have time to fill all my needs, even in rough, dangerous places you are there to feed me - even when the wolves and coyotes are around. They know I am yours and they can't get past you to me.
You anoint my head with oil. Because I am yours. This is how you know your sheep from other sheep. I don't smell of sin, I smell like your loving fragrance.
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life because you are so attentive to me every hour of every day because you know it only takes a minute for me to get hurt, lost, fall or eaten, so you stay near and guide me with your staff, pick me up in your arms and speak to me lovingly. You never leave me alone and you always forgive me when I get into trouble.
And I will dwell in the House of the Lord Forever. Because I am YOUR sheep. I know your voice and you know my ways. Nothing can separate us.
Replies
How about we run it through from a sheep's perspective?
The Lord is my shepard and I shall not want because he is there all the time making sure I have all I need and don't fall in a hole I can't get out of, walk into a crevise that I can't back out of or keep eating in the same spot after grass is already gone.
He makes me lie down in green pastures because I don't know when to stop eating. I will even try to eat on slopes and tip over sideways. I will die there on my back unless he picks me back up.
He leads me beside still waters because he knows if I go near running waters I will soak my thick wool coat while trying to drink and I will fall in and drown.
He restores my soul by moving me from pasture to pasture and allowing me only fresh new growth to dine from. He knows the dirt and roots will make me ill and the fresh green will cleanse my body. I don't know any better. if he did not help to restore me, I would be overwhelmed with sickness.
He guides me in paths of righteousness because he knows if I fall, I can't get back up. The path must be even and solid for me to walk because I can fall so easily. He stays close in case I do. If I fall, He picks me back up, dresses my wounds and brings me back to the flock.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I fear no evil because he is with me. When wolves and other preditors are around, he protects me from them. Most of the time, I don't realize they are dangerous until it's too late. I freeze and can't escape. If I get to far from him, this can happen and he knows, so he stays close to me and it makes me feel safe. This makes the wolves kind of nervous too, I think.
Your rod and your staff comfort me. I don't mean to get too far away, but I see a good place to be and I start toward it and forget where you are. You pull me back in and keep me with my family and friends. I never seem to get out of your reach, even when I stray. When you guide me, you never poke me or hit me, you are always firm, but gentle. This reassures me of your love for me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemy. You can feed me and protect me at the same time. You have time to fill all my needs, even in rough, dangerous places you are there to feed me - even when the wolves and coyotes are around. They know I am yours and they can't get past you to me.
You anoint my head with oil. Because I am yours. This is how you know your sheep from other sheep. I don't smell of sin, I smell like your loving fragrance.
Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life because you are so attentive to me every hour of every day because you know it only takes a minute for me to get hurt, lost, fall or eaten, so you stay near and guide me with your staff, pick me up in your arms and speak to me lovingly. You never leave me alone and you always forgive me when I get into trouble.
And I will dwell in the House of the Lord Forever. Because I am YOUR sheep. I know your voice and you know my ways. Nothing can separate us.