Psalm 23

I love reading different versions/translations of the Bible. It helps me to understand the content better, sometimes opening my eyes to parts of the verse that I may have missed in other versions. Today, I read the ever popular Psalm 23 in the The Passion Translation. I normally read the New International Version (NIV), which is one that many people are accustomed to reading or hearing in the movies. The NIV reads like this, “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” -Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭1‬-‭6‬

In this Psalm, David is telling us that God has it all under control. He provides all that we need. He leads us. He guides us. He walks with us. He comforts us. He anoints us (which basically means He has set us apart for His work) and His goodness and love will follow us forever. Y’all! Why wouldn’t we want to be under that umbrella? Why wouldn’t we choose that path of letting THE Good Shepherd lead us? When I read this Psalm it just brings me peace. Today when I opened my TPT Bible to this Psalm the first verse met me with “Yahweh, is my best friend and my shepherd.” My best friend. I love spending time with my besties! Yet, I often find myself not spending as much time with my best friend above all best friends, my bestest friend, Jesus. Why? Why don’t I spend time with Him? Well, it’s because I am not slowing down enough to be still with Him, to enjoy the “quiet waters” or as the TPT calls it “the quiet brook of bliss”. Those waters, that brook, it’s where He restores us. When we are running to and fro, even in doing the Lord’s work, and not taking time to rest we tend to dry up. When our cups that we have been pouring from dry up, we become ineffective. Verse 3 of Psalm 23 says, “That’s where He restores and revives my life. He opens before me the right path and leads me along in His footsteps of righteousness SO THAT I CAN BRING HONOR TO HIS NAME.” When we are in a season of drought we cannot effectively bring honor to His name. It may work for a while, but eventually it will take it’s toll on us and we will dry up, fizzle out, burn out….whatever you wanna call it, we will go kaput. We have to slow down and rest in His “luxurious love” (vs. 2 TPT). We have to sit beside the those quiet waters and let Him restore us like only He can. This translation says He is my best friend. Let me ask you this, how to you become best friends with someone? It doesn’t typically happen over night, it usually happens by spending intentional time with them. In that time relationships get deeper and trust is built. It’s the same with Jesus! The more time we spend getting to know Him, the closer we get to Him and the easier it is to hear His voice when we whispers to us. Draw close to Him my friends, He will fill your cup to overflowing and “His goodness and tender love will pursue you all the days of your life.” (Vs.6)