the most important lesson in psalm 23

The Most Important Lesson in Psalm 23

While many of us know Psalm 23 by heart, we often overlook the deep treasures hidden in this passage. Perhaps the most important lesson in these familiar verses is hiding in plain sight. 

I discovered it when the Holy Spirit whispered, “Look at the verbs”. Then another suggestion, “Look at who is performing the action of the verbs”. 

What a revelation! When I considered the balance of these actions and responsibilities, they nearly all belonged to the Shepherd, not the sheep. That certainly didn’t represent how my life was playing out. I had been assigning all of the verbs to myself, feeling responsible for everything. 

The shepherd by nature provides, leads, restores, guides, comforts, prepares, and anoints.

And the sheep? They want for nothing. They lie down and rest. They trust. They receive a bounty from the Shepherd’s table. They are anointed and dwell with the Shepherd forever. 

We can’t get around this truth: we are meant to receive and abide far more than we are meant to do and achieve. 

Take a look at the verbs in Psalm 23 and the verbs in your own life. What can you learn from the balance of responsibilities in these beloved verses? 

There are more insights from Psalm 23 in my devotional book “Come Hear the Song of the Shepherd”. Click here to see my book on Amazon