Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Psalm 23

Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. (When I was younger I thought this meant that you did not want the LORD. Now as I am older, I shall not want means there is nothing else that you want, besides the LORD.)
Psalm 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
Psalm 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Psalm 23:4 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.
Psalm 23:5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.


You know I was thinking about this scripture the other night. I remember two or three weeks before my grandmother passed away. She said, "I'm going to quote the 23rd Psalm and you tell me if I am right." I said, "Hold on Mamaw let me get my Bible" and she said, "You don't know it." I got my Bible and she quoted it, word for word. She told me and my mom that sometimes when she would be laying in bed right before she would go to sleep, she would say the 23rd Psalm and the Lord's Prayer. I have also heard my Papaw Wilford while praying say, "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me!"


Looking back I can see why I would choose the 23rd Psalm to remember. That scripture got my grandparents through many hard times, it is just fitting for me to learn it. So it will help me through hard times also. I learned John 3:16 when I was younger, when I decided to memorize scriptures I started with the 23rd Psalm and I have memorized others also.


Also one quick story. I thank God for my Christian heritage, but I think him for my Bible heritage. When I was younger I remember waking up early in the morning and looking out from under the covers and seeing my Mamaw reading her Bible. And I do believe seeing her do this has instilled in me that my Bible should not be ignored and that I need it's words to see me through life's journey. Mamaw, I thank you!