Yet another late post. Better late than never, right? Last Wednesday we tried to discuss the 23rd Psalm. I say tried because even though this is not a shy group when it comes to talking or expressing opinions, last week's session was decidedly quiet.

1The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
2He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3He restores my soul.
He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

This comforting psalm is so closely associated with funerals that I find it difficult to think of it in any other context. I did a quick search and found lots of commentary, but the one that intrigued me suggested we see this as a comfort for this life, not the passage into the next, and that it addresses the past, present and future. For instance, loosely paraphrasing:

Past - Because the Lord is my shepherd I shall not want for anything. I shall not want for food because like a sheep he makes me lie down in green pastures. I shall not want for drink because he leads me beside still waters. (Someone told me that sheep will not drink from running water, but I haven't been able to verify that.) God restores my soul, He sees that I have everything I need. By keeping me on the right paths he protects me from danger.

Present - Even though I am in the deepest trouble, walking through the Valley of Death, God is with me to comfort me and protect me, just as He has always done.

Future - I will come out of this trial and God will provide for me, setting a table before me in the presence of my enemies, anointing me with oil to show that I am His. Because I belong to God, His goodness and mercy will follow me until I go to live with Him in the next life, forever. This is the true joy in life, to love and be loved by God.

Pretty basic wants, especially when we are bombarded with messages telling us what we want, what we should want, what we lack. Critical thinking when doing anything these days is essential to identifying what we truly need, and what is media-induced want. Food, water, comfort, safety. Is that all there is?

The other part of this that I find uncomfortable is the submission, as sheep. Everything I have read says that sheep are dumb as a box of rocks and will follow whatever the first one does. So the image of a shepherd caring for His flock implies that the sheep are incapable of caring for themselves, they require a shepherd in order to survive and thrive. In this driven, individualistic society it is difficult to accept or embrace the idea that we cannot do it all for ourselves. That we have to humble and submit and allow God to do things for us.

I can see the different point of view on this psalm now, but I still don't think I can separate it from funerals, from death. How do we break that association in order to use old, familiar things in new, life-giving ways?