The Divine

A Psalm of .

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; 3 he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, A Week of Daily Devotions I fear no evil; by Pastors Carolyn & Bruce Gillette for you are with me; October 30 – November 6, 2016 your rod and your staff— they comfort me. Before Stewardship Dedication Sunday 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, Limestone Presbyterian Church and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD 3201 Limestone Road Wilmington, Delaware 19808 my whole life long.

The above translation of Psalm 23 is from the New (NRSV) Bible found in sanctuary pews of Limestone Presbyterian Church; this ecumenical version is the best English translation today.

Sunday, October 30: “The Lord is my shepherd…” Monday, October 31: “I shall not want…”

The 23rd Psalm, one of the most beloved passages in the The Hebrew word for “want” (as in Psalm 23:1, “I shall not Bible, has been set to music in countless ways. Henry want”) is found only one other place in the Bible, in Williams Baker (1868) wrote a based on this Psalm. Nehemiah 9:21. God’s people did not “want” in the barren The hymn is #171 in The Presbyterian Hymnal and begins, wilderness after they left slavery in Egypt because God provided for them (Patrick D. Miller, Jr. Interpreting the The King of love my Shepherd is, , Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1986, page 114). Whose goodness faileth never; I nothing lack if I am His The word “want” in the Bible refers to things we would call And He is mine forever. “needs.” Since God is our shepherd, we “want” for nothing. A workshop leader once asked a group of us to make In this week before Stewardship Sunday, we hope you will separate lists of our wants and needs, and we all realized join us in praying the 23rd Psalm and reflecting on its how many things have moved from one list to the other over stewardship themes. The very first part of the Psalm the years. We say we need bigger homes, better cars, reminds us that God cares for us, deeply and personally, as more electronics, more plastic stuff. Anyone who has ever a cares for the sheep (see also :1- had a yard sale, or has gone to one, knows how many items 18). We can always trust God to be our Shepherd. people accumulate that are later easily given away.

People from many traditions and vocations have The Bible doesn’t promise that we will have all our wants paraphrased the Psalm, making it their own: met when it comes to material things. God gives us what we really need— our Good Shepherd, hope, peace, love “The ’s Psalm”, written in 1874 by Captain John Roberts and joy. So we can truly say, “I don’t want for anything.” about maritime pilots who helped ships in difficult waters, begins with the words, “The Lord is my Pilot, I shall not drift.” God also gives us a world where there is enough food, clean “A Mountaineer’s Version,” written by Christopher Johnson water, shelter, health care, education, and love— if we use the year that the summit of Mount Everest was reached, our resources together. God calls us to share. Our begins, “My Guide is the Lord; he will not let me wander.” community garden is a good example of this. Gardeners (Psalm 23 by K.H. Strange, Edinburgh: St. Andrew Press, receive God’s gifts of good soil and seed, sunshine, warmth, 1970, pages 41, 47). exercise, peaceful surroundings— and they in turn grow food for themselves and also for people who come to Limestone’s How would you rewrite the beginning of Psalm 23, to convey Food Closet. God’s love and care for you— in your life, your job, your How can you share your wants to meet someone else’s culture? need so everyone has enough?

Prayer: God, thank you for being our shepherd who Prayer: Loving God, thank you for meeting the needs of loves and cares for us always. Amen. your world. Amen

Tuesday, November 1: “He makes me lie down in green Wednesday, November 2: “He restores my soul.” pastures; he leads me beside still waters…” God restores our souls. But what does this mean? It helps Philip Keller, in his wonderful book, A Shepherd Looks at the to first look at an opposite image. Psalm 23 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1970, p. 35), points out that sheep only lie down if they feel comfortable, Keller, in his book on the 23rd Psalm from a shepherd’s safe and secure. This verse of the Psalm is really a perspective, points to another familiar Psalm that asks, “Why continuation of “I shall not want.” are you cast down, O my soul?” (:5)

Keller says that sheep need four things to feel this safe: He says that sheep are top-heavy, and sometimes when a —freedom from fear sheep falls down, it rolls over onto its back. From that —freedom from “friction with others of their kind” position it cannot easily right itself. It can’t stand up again —freedom from flies and parasites without help. It bleats and cries and tries to turn over, —freedom from hunger waving its legs in the air. After a few hours in this position, it will suffocate. The sheep needs the shepherd to find it and When the shepherd provides these things— safety, peace, restore it— to help it to stand again (Keller, p. 60). health and plenty— the sheep will relax and lie down in green pastures. God is a shepherd who restores our souls. Sometimes our lives are turned upside-down by problems that weigh on us. As we look at our own lives, we can see many ways that Sometimes we find ourselves suffocating from anger or guilt. God our Good Shepherd gives us countless good things like Sometimes our possessions keep us from living the life God these. God also challenges us to share the good gifts that wants for us. we have received. As we have often been reminded this year with our 60th anniversary theme at Limestone Church, We need to be restored to right priorities. We need to be we are “blessed to be a blessing” to others. healed of the things that hurt us. God our Shepherd is with us, loving us, ready to turn us right-side-up and to set us What are the ways that you have felt the gifts of God’s back on the right path. protection, peace, health and abundance in your life? How has God restored your soul? How can God use you to How can you share the Shepherd’s gifts with others, so they help restore the soul of someone else whose life is turned too can “lie down in green pastures”? up-side-down? How does Limestone Church help to restore the souls of church members and others? Prayer: God, help me to share what you have given me with others. Amen. Prayer: God, thank you for restoring my soul. Help me to help another person find healing and restoration today. Amen.

Thursday, November 3: “He leads me in right paths Friday, November 4: “Even though I walk through the for his name’s sake.” darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me.” When I was in seventh grade, my class went to Outdoor School for a week to learn about nature— streams, plants, A shepherd often takes the flock of sheep high into the trees, wild animals and constellations— and how to use a mountains in the summer to find good places for the sheep compass. One day after lunch, we went on a hike in an to graze. We can only imagine the dangers along the way— unfamiliar area to practice our compass-reading skills. The cliffs and crevices in the rocks, wild animals, thieves, sheep counselors gave each group of three students a compass that wander off the path… A good shepherd loves the sheep and the coordinates to get back to camp, and they sent us and provides protection. on our way, from different locations, a few at a time. When Psalm 23 was written, and in Jesus’ day, too, would carry a rod carved out of a stick and a A couple of hours later, our group was . We couldn’t find curved staff like the ones we see in Christmas pageants. the camp. We had miscalculated our direction somehow. These were used for protection, guidance, care and support We were getting hungry and worried. Suddenly our (Keller, p. 93). counselor appeared out of the woods, helped us with the compass, and stayed with us until we got back to camp. He All of us come to a point, at some time in life, when we was a very good shepherd. realize that we need help. We may be in that valley of the shadow of death— facing the illness or loss of a loved one, I learned something about getting lost that day. Sometimes facing our own mortality, facing a situation where we need it happens when you make a huge wrong turn. Sometimes it help. God is with us in those times, offering care and happens when you just veer slightly off in one direction, and compassion. then go that way for a long time. You may not realize you are even off the path, but over time, it adds up. Sometimes Limestone church’s ministry often reaches people in times of we just get a little bit distracted from our purpose, forget the desperate need— providing pastoral care at times of illness things that matter, wander slightly from our sense of calling, and death, the Food Closet in times of hunger, the Deacons’ or let our love of possessions nudge us in the wrong Caring and Sharing Ministry for people who need help, direction. Suddenly, we find ourselves in unfamiliar places, ministries of care in Wilmington, and mission work in longing for safety. Honduras and many other places in our world. When people feel they are in the valley of the shadow of death— and As Christians, we have a Shepherd who leads us in the right when they feel like lost sheep— the church is with them, paths. How can our support of the church (money, time and helping them know the love of the Shepherd. talents) lead others in right paths, too? Prayer: God, thank you for rescuing us in times of Prayer: God, show us the way, and help us to help trouble and danger. May we be your hands and feet to others who are seeking your way as well. Amen. help others. too. Amen.

Saturday, November 5: “You prepare a table before me Sunday, November 6: “Surely goodness and mercy in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in oil; my cup overflows.” the house of the Lord my whole life long.”

God spreads a table before us, just as a shepherd leads the There was a preacher who had three beautiful Labrador sheep to the banquet table of a grassy field. God’s table is Retrievers. He took them everywhere. When people asked overflowing with an abundance of good, healthy things. him their names, he would say, ‘Shirley, Goodness, and Mercy. They follow me all the days of my life-- just like it To understand this, we need the right perspective. Some says in the 23rd Psalm.” people see the glass as “half-empty,” some see it “half-full,” and as Christians we are invited to see how God’s blessings Many people are more used to the Revised Standard overflow in our lives. Version ending to the Psalm-- “And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” The New Revised Standard Version Of course, we have troubles— “enemies” that may be in the ends with: “…And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my form of people, health problems, or some kind of need. But whole life long.” God anoints our heads in those situations. God claims us as beloved ones. Even in trouble, we don’t need to be afraid. While we certainly count on God’s love being “forever,” the When we approach life knowing that God is generous, it NRSV’s “my whole life long” reminds us that God’s kingdom makes all the difference, for we can be generous with others. is not just some future time and place, in heaven after we die. God wants us to enjoy God’s goodness now. God Someone once said that when we make decisions of faith wants us to share creation’s bounty now. God wants us to (including decisions about what to pledge to the church), we be faithful in our worship, study, service and giving now. should do it with a long perspective. It’s not about what we Stewardship—living faithfully in God’s house…God’s reign— feel like doing today, or tomorrow. When we look back ten is for here and now. (Clint McCann, “The Psalms,” The years from now, will we be happy with our generosity in Discipleship Study Bible, Louisville, KY: Westminster/ John 2017? When we are facing death, will we know that we did Knox Press, 2008 p. 755, footnote on Psalm 23:5-6). our best throughout our lives? After we die, when we are facing our Creator, will we know that we were faithful in May God bless us all as we seek to be good stewards of the sharing God’s abundance with others, as best we could? Shepherd’s love, today and every day.

Prayer: God, you have blessed us with abundance, Prayer: God, we thank you for being our Good even in difficult times. Help us to be faithful in offering a Shepherd. Through our gifts and our service, may we table of abundance to others— by what we give and how lead others to your fold, so they may know the fullness we live. Amen. of life in you. Amen.

The Lord's My Shepherd, I'll Not Want Psalm 23, a paraphrase by Japanese poet Toki Miyashina The Lord's my shepherd, I'll not want: he makes me down to lie The Lord is my Pacesetter, I shall not rush. in pastures green: he leadeth me the quiet waters by. He makes me stop and rest for quiet intervals.

My soul he doth restore again, He provides me with images of stillness which and me to walk doth make restore my serenity. within the paths of righteousness, even for his own name's sake. He leads me in ways of efficiency, through calmness of mind, Yea, though I walk through death's dark vale, and His guidance is peace. yet will I fear none ill; for thou art with me, and thy rod Even though I have a great many things to and staff me comfort still. accomplish this day, I will not fret, for His presence is here. My table thou hast furnishèd in presence of my foes; His timelessness, His all-importance, my head thou dost with oil anoint, will keep me in balance. and my cup overflows. He prepares refreshment and renewal in the midst Goodness and mercy all my life of my activity by anointing my head with the oil of shall surely follow me; tranquility. and in God's house for evermore my dwelling-place shall be. My cup of joyous energy overflows.

Surely harmony and effectiveness shall be the fruits of my hours, for I shall walk in the place of my Lord, Scottish (1650), The Presbyterian Hymnal # 170 and dwell in His house forever.