The Community’s Most Talked About Reading from 2019
Open Your Bible
Psalm 23:1-6
BY She Reads Truth
For Day 3 of our 2019 Wrapped plan, we asked our website geniuses to discover our most talked about day within the SRT community. It was from our digital reading plan, Psalms of Rest. Today’s reading is a psalm of David, reminding us of the Lord’s provision and care for His people.
Psalms of Rest Day 1 | The Lord Is My Shepherd
Psalm 23 speaks to my heart—green pastures, quiet waters, right paths. I am an outdoorsy person by nature. I’d much rather get lost in the woods, alone with my thoughts, the trees, and the breeze, than be in any city. So, as I read these familiar verses, I want to go outside, to be witness to the goodness and beauty of the natural world. It also occurs to me that I have something in common with sheep—we can both get lost without hardly trying.
Some years ago, I read about a Merino sheep in New Zealand named Shrek. He had wandered away from his flock and his shepherd and gotten lost. For six years, he lived in nearby caves, eating what he could find and avoiding the shearer’s blade. When Shrek was finally found, his wool weighed sixty pounds, and the raw weight of twenty men’s suits on his back was threatening his life. He had trouble walking, and his breathing was labored. He needed his shepherd. So do we.
Shepherds take care of sheep—plural—but in this psalm, the relationship is between one sheep and his Shepherd. It’s personal, much more intimate. “The LORD is my shepherd” (v.1, emphasis mine). These words are from David, but I can’t help but read them as my own. I think we were meant to, each one of us. The Lord is my Shepherd. He guides me, provides for me, protects me from my enemies.
I don’t need to worry. “I have what I need” (v.1). I don’t need to struggle or strive. “He lets me lie down in green pastures” (v.2). Weariness does not have the final say. “He renews my life.” And I won’t ever get lost. (Not really, anyway.) “He leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake” (v.3). It is only because the Shepherd is so good that I can be still and rest, that I can have true peace.
I could be happy for eternity being a beloved lamb of the Good Shepherd, but Psalm 23 doesn’t leave us as sheep. A shift occurs in verse 5. David begins to address God directly—the song becomes a prayer of thanksgiving. Not only that, but the pastoral imagery is replaced by a banquet scene. You and I have become honored guests of the King.
The table is set, and though my enemies might rage just outside, none of that matters (v.5). I am in the house of my Maker, the One who knows me and loves me better than anyone else. But the best part? I’m not just a guest. I get to stay in His presence forever—”as long as I live” (v.6), though the Hebrew phrase that’s been translated doesn’t limit this time to my natural lifespan. It has all come full circle—”I have what I need,” because I have the One I was created to know and love.
As the content director for She Reads Truth, He Reads Truth, and Kids Read Truth, John Greco has the best job in the world. He wakes up every morning hardly believing he actually gets paid to study Scripture and write about it. He is the author of three books, Gospel Here and Now: Your Life in the Story of God, Manger King: Meditations on Christmas and the Gospel of Hope, and Broken Vows: Divorce and the Goodness of God. John and his wife, Laurin, live south of Nashville, where they daily wrangle their three small boys and dream of someday being the ones who get to take all the naps.
87 thoughts on "The Community’s Most Talked About Reading from 2019"
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I want this year to be a journey toward wholeness and closeness with my Lord. I’m really bad at discipline and follow-through. I covet your prayers as I go on this journey.
Also, I want to be a more active member of this beautiful community!-
I have the same goals as you. Let’s do this together!
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We have the same goal. Let’s do this together!
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We want the same goal this year. Let’s do this together. ❤️
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This. The Lord is moving. He has not abandoned me. Oh my soul, sing praise! … 2019 ended with the darkest of days – we lost our first pregnancy just days before Christmas. Ours hearts broken and dreams shattered. This morning on my quiet walk through our neighborhood, I felt God speak to me Psalm 23. “Rest in me. Trust me. Abide in me, even now as you are walking through the darkest valley”… I had just committed to reading this and meditating over this every day for this season when I opened my SRT app to join in on the daily reading… The Lord is moving and speaking directly to my weary soul this morning. And I am forever grateful.
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Stopped and for you Elizabeth
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Anticipating a new day, new year, new decade. New mercies each morning. Each new day a chance to consider the glory of our God and bask in his Love
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Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for you are with me. Our God never leaves or forsakes us, even tho we might deserve it. He is so good to us. Praying for you and your granddaughter Churchmouse. So thankful for all of you sisters out there seeking our Lord daily. I am so blessed by this community and your thoughts and prayers. May we know He is near this year and lean into His grace, mercy, joy and love and Trust who He is in 2020 whatever it brings He will be there with us Light, Life, Truth, Love our Amazing God.
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Looking forward with renewed hope and reflecting on the past with humble gratitude.
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“He makes me lie down in green pastures.”
I read recently that sheep won’t lie down until they are satisfied. I love the picture David continues to paint that it is in the Lord that all my needs are met. In Him I find satisfaction and fulfillment for the deepest longings of my heart.
I shall not want. I have all that I need. -
Dearest Churchmouse, uplifting my arms in praise for you! Your words, so for God..so for the One who has a plan and a purpose for each of us, plans not to harm us but to prosper us in his way.. He will for sure continue to walk with you through the valleys, because that is His promise..
I am sorry for your troubles, and I will continue to hold you and yours in my prayers..dear friend across the pond..with love wrapped in prayers to know His closeness ..❤
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This psalm, when coupled with other psalms which express fear and distress, reminds me of the reality that though we don’t have reason to fear danger because of the Lord’s care and power to deliver us, we still can feel that fear. Yet, this psalm draws us to that place of rest where our fears are driven out as the perfect love of our Father flows over us. I’m so grateful that I don’t have to rid myself of fear BEFORE going to the Lord. I can come confidently to the throne of grace, admitting I’m afraid and I need mercy and help. And what a gracious Lord we have who has given this very psalm to be a tool he uses to pour that love and changed perspective in us!
Happy New Year to all of you and I pray that this year be one the Lord uses to refine us deeply by his holy fire that is set in amazing never-ending love!
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Love this, happy new year!
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Love this, thanks for sharing! Happy new year!
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