Why Psalm 23 Is My Favorite Psalm
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The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. — Psalm 23:1
One of the first psalms I learned as a child was Psalm 23. Many find this psalm to be beloved, and it has certainly been and continues to be a precious one to me. While I learned many other Scripture passages throughout my childhood, this one has stuck, most likely because it has been recited and meditated upon frequently over the years. Whether I needed comfort or calming, reading this psalm was a help many times, and it has been a blessing to know it from an early age. There are several things that play a part in making this such a cherished psalm.
Psalm 23 is highly personal.
Being able to call and refer to the Lord as your Shepherd is a wonderfully intimate and comforting action. It puts everything else into perspective and sets the mood right away. It reminds me that I belong to Jesus, and, whatever I may be experiencing, this statement is one that is foundational to finding comfort and peace.
Psalm 23 paints a vivid picture of the tender loving care of my Lord for me.
Psalm 23 not only states that I will have everything I need from the Lord but it also paints a vivid picture of the tender loving care of my Lord for me: Jesus is my guide, my guard, my provider. For those who are visual learners, seeing in your mind's eye the pastoral picture the psalmist paints is very powerful. We don't wander the wilderness, left to our own devices to find food, rest, and safety for ourselves. We have a faithful Shepherd who is watchful over all of these details in our lives. These are things everyone longs for, and it's important to remind ourselves often that these are realities for Jesus' sheep.
Psalm 23 recognizes that we walk through tough times.
This psalm recognizes that, as idyllic as the first few verses are, we often walk through tough times: times of fear, times of hurt, times of mental, spiritual, and emotional pain and darkness. Yet, in these times we do not have to fear because the presence of our guiding and protecting Lord keeps us safe and gives us confidence.
Psalm 23 looks to our home with our Savior in heaven.
Lastly, this psalm looks to our present and future blessedness. Not only will the Lord provide sustenance and blessing while our enemies are present, but we will also have a home with him in heaven. Perhaps Psalm 23 is so precious because at each stage that you find yourself in it, you also find your Savior, and this is the type of reminder and comfort we need each and every day.
This article is adapted from “Psalm 23: “For Your Are with Me” in Beautiful Christian Life’s September 2021 monthly newsletter and was originally published on July 1, 2022.
