Psalm Responses

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

We’re the sheep and the Lord is our shepherd. He knows what we want and desires to provide everything we need. In Him alone we will lack nothing. No matter how far away we’ve been from Him, He will always seek us. In fact, He is willing to abandon the ninety-nine sheep to go after that one lost sheep. Day by day his love draws us closer to Him and invites us to come before Him. So let us turn back to our shepherd today to enjoy his protection and nourishment!

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

As students, we may not be risking our lives in battle like David, the author of this psalm, but we are still walking through our own “valley of the shadow of death”. Every time we write a test, apply for a position, or just live our everyday Christian lives, we are constantly in a battle against the world. The imagery here of walking “through the valley of the shadow of death” makes it seem like there is darkness all around, and we don’t know where to go. But, if we remember that God is there for us, and we rely on Him, He will support us. We then can use His rod and His staff to guide us. Rods and staffs are like walking sticks, and they will help us when we stumble along the way. And whose support could be better than our omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient God?

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

The Lord knows what is good for us. Even though the green pastures or still waters may not always be what we expect or what we want, we know that Jesus is always near. Jesus reassures us here by saying that “he leads me in paths of righteousness”. Though the path may not always be clear, if we follow Jesus, the destination we are heading towards is righteousness.