What if instead of this:
1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Psalm 23:1-3 (KJV)
David had said this instead:
1 No one can help me; I’ll never have enough, never be enough.
2 I work and grow tired and am oh, so weary, but still I can’t stop. I can’t slow down.
3 My soul is in chaos. I’m lost with no map, no clue where I am, no purpose to move forward.
Unpsalm 23:1-3 (LiesVersion)
When you are tired or confused or afraid, what words do you say to yourself?
We’re filling our minds this summer with godly words as we memorize these classics. Please share in the comments which words of Psalm 23:1-3 mean the most to you. Also join our daily conversation on Facebook.
Please share in the comments which words of Psalm 23:1-3 mean the most to you
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures he leadeth me beside the still waters he restoreth my soul he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his names sake.
When ever I’m afraid, falling into the trap of depression,hurting. When I run to our LORD the words above is exactly what he does like NOTHING on this earth can ever do, No matter how rich the chocolate, New York best seller self help book could say.
Hiding the word in my heart
Peace & Blessings unto you all
Novella
It is tempting for us to run to the other things you mentioned–food, others’ advice–instead of going right to the source. But only when we go to Him can we truly be restored. Thanks for sharing this truth, Novella. May you be blessed, too, today.
I love your lies version! (well, not love really, you know what I mean, right? ;-) If I don’t keep the Truth close and am not dwelling in it, I think those very thoughts! Beautiful post!
Unfortunately, writing that lies version came a little too easily. So yes, I do know what you mean. So thankful we have the Truth to counteract every single lie, if we’ll just let Him!
Nicely done, Lisa. It is human nature to start a negative spiral when we are Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired. The power of memorizing passages like this is that it gives the Spirit more opportunity to remind us to hang onto whatsoever things are lovely, true, of good report….
In reading the first three verses, we can remember the later one which mentions the “valley of the shadow of death” and realize that David was not writing sappy poetry from an over-pampered life. These thoughts were sturdy comfort in harsh times. I love the Bible for its realism.
Excellent thoughts, Jim. Those four triggers definitely hit home personally. And Psalm 23 is probably my most-used passage to spare me a sleepless night from that negative spiral of despair.
Love this:
“David was not writing sappy poetry from an over-pampered life.”
Yes, that does make for “sturdy comfort.” Real indeed, which is just what we need.
I learned these verses as a child, taking another opportunity to read these verses now I need to believe in the words. The words that that say 1. I don’t have to want 2. I will receive rest from God 3. God will lead me :)
I love how the meaning expands so much when we return to verses we learned when we were younger. I still can’t quite grasp all that the Lord is offering in Psalm 23: the three truths you listed are so massive. Thanks for sharing this, Elle.
This is a special reversal of a Psalm most know so very well, drawing me back to the ways in which I allow satan to yank at my heart to pull me away from my Shepherd. I am blessed though to see this “anti-version” for I, hopefully, see a little more clearly.
As I began memorizing, really re-memorizing, these first three verses, I reflected on them: They give me a sense, a strong sense, of dependency upon the One Whom I owe my very life. I depend upon my LORD to shepherd me as a sheep so needs, to provide my all, to give me rest and restoration, and for guidance down His paths, not mine, for His life for me, that of righteousness. I am so grateful to have the LORD as my Shepherd.
“a strong sense of dependency upon the One Whom I owe my very life”
I know He is so pleased when we rely on Him in this way, Linda. I appreciate you sharing your heart. May we all see our Shepherd in this way.
I shall not want…I read this version once “He gives me everything I need”…at the time, in the middle of chaos, I thought “I need this?” Yes!!! I did need it! The situation was necessary to humble me and help me depend on God’s strength and wisdom!
I also like that He leads me :) No worries of reading the “map” wrong!
I hadn’t thought of it in that way, Melissa: “I need this?” But yes, He even gives us situations that *we* don’t think we need at all. I appreciate you giving me a new way to reflect on this verse.
All these comments just take my breath away! HOW BEAUTIFUL! Thankyou! I needed every one of them! I have been so blessed!
I know. Isn’t it neat, Helen, how the sheep benefit by being in community with each other? I’m thankful we have a wonderful Shepherd who can pull that off! :-)