Commentary on Psalm 23
by Ima Whiner
The
Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
“Shall
not want”? Give me a break. I want lots of things. I’d like to have a nicer
house, a better job, and a pay raise. I want people to do what I say, when I
say. And I wouldn’t mind winning the lottery either.
He makes me lie down
in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.
I
have a problem with the words “makes me.” That sounds a bit legalistic to me.
First you say I can’t want things; now you’re making me do things.
He
restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's
sake.
I
don’t want to be guided down the paths of righteousness. I prefer the more
scenic routes. How about leading me to Hawaii for a change? What about Vegas?
I’m getting a little tired of the paths of righteousness. The next thing you
know, you’ll be leading me down a dark alley.
Even
though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for You
are with me.
What
am I doing walking through the valley of the shadow of death? I thought I was
supposed to be lying down in green pastures. Did you take a wrong turn, or
what? And you call yourself a Shepherd?
Your rod
and Your staff, they comfort me.
To tell you the truth, a rod and staff
are not my idea of comfort. A rod and reel, I’ll take. A back massage would be
even better. Skip the rod and staff.
You prepare
a table before me in the presence of my enemies.
Great.
Out of all the restaurants in the world, you choose the one where my enemies
like to eat. I’m sure I’ll relish every bite of that meal.
You
have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.
I don’t want any oil on my head. I
prefer shampoo. And for goodness sake, can’t you stop pouring before my cup
overflows? What kind of waiter are you anyway? How would you like to have hot
coffee spilled all over your hand?
Surely goodness and
loving-kindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the
house of the Lord forever.
I
don’t want to be confined to a house forever. That sounds like a prison. It
might be nice to step outside once every thousand years or so. I never will
understand why so many people love the Twenty-third Psalm.
(Kent
Crockett, Slaying
Your Giants, Hendrickson Publishers, 2013, pp. 116-117) www.kentcrockett.blogspot.com
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