A friend sent me these words recently and asked me what I might say about them.
As I read the verse (Psalm 23, 1-6 of the King James Bible), I thought of a Holy Man that lived centuries ago who must have experienced the difficulties of life along the way and searched for an inner peace for his troubled soul.
In the book of Samuel, a story is weaved concerning a young Shepherd boy by the name of David. It is a most popular tale.
David tends the sheep of the pasture and is known to play a harp. As a young lad he is devoted to Yahweh, the God of all creation.
As a young boy, the story is told of David killing Goliath, a giant Philistine, whose country is at war with Israel. David used a sling and stone to slay the giant.
Saul, the Israel King is most proud of David at first but then comes to dislike him when he believes David is after his throne. Saul chases David through the wilderness in an effort to kill him.
David is on the run and fears for his life.
Saul is killed in battle, and then David becomes king of all of Israel and makes Jerusalem the capital of a united Israel.
But it seems in biblical lore that David is a man not only of strength but of ‘weakness’ too; I’m thinking like all of us.
Leonard Cohen, in 1984, wrote a song ‘Hallelujah’ which depicts a famous love story of biblical proportion when King David became infatuated with Bathsheba.
Cohen’s lyrics are quite descriptive:
“You saw her bathing on the roof/Her beauty and the moonlight overthrew you”
King David commits adultery with Bathsheba, and plans a great strategy to have her husband Uriah killed in battle. This King of Israel has now brought shame to his kingdom.
Cohen continues his lyrics:
“She tied you to a kitchen chair/ She broke your throne; and she cut your hair. And from your lips she drew the Hallelujah.”
David’s son Absalom later tries to overthrow him and become king, but dies by three javelins to his body in battle.
As you may suspect from the above story David’s life was one of strength and conquest, but then plunged into weakness and misery.
When the Prophet Nathan exposed King David’s adultery with his mistress Bathsheba and murder of Uriah, David repented and confessed that “I have sinned against the Lord.”
“God forgave him and spared his life.” He repented and was forgiven.
Throughout his life, David was a human who had greatness bestowed upon him and who sacrificed his heroics and achievements, to the darkness of sin and his brokenness.
David would continue to reign.
He captured some of his learnings in some 73 of the 150 Psalms in the Bible, and perhaps one of the best remembered is Psalm 23, verses 1-6 which is often quoted at funerals.
King David remembered his trials and strength, as many laid to rest are remembered in similar words:
Psalm 23, verses 1-6 (NIV) declares:
The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.” It continues, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil… Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever”.
In this journey of life there are many trials, incidents and examples of suffering. David experienced many of these trials along his journey of life. He made mistakes like all humans have the occasion to do.
It is difficult sometimes to remember those ‘green pastures’ along the way when tragedy strikes, loved ones suffer and die, or you can’t make sense of life as it surrounds you with misery.
One’s faith can often lead one ‘beside quiet waters’ and ‘refreshes one’s soul’
It is difficult to fully comprehend when David actually wrote these words and this Psalm; was it when Saul was hunting him to kill him; was it before or after his exotic interlude with Bathsheba, or somewhere in between?
David’s words penned in Psalm 23 are refreshing; they can help eliminate the sorrow and distress of man’s misery when he searches for answers to his pain and seeks a spiritual relief.
“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (Psalm 23:4).
King David died at the age of 70 having reign for 40 years and is buried in Jerusalem.
