Psalm 23

Josh, you have hit on the beauty of this being a Symposia - we can have more than one symposium going at the same time.  I was just thinking on the way to work this morning that I wanted to share something related to our Stillwater namesake, but I was hesitant because it felt off topic.  But your post reminds me that there is no off topic here.

My something is a mini-bible study that I have been preparing for our confirmation students.  This year, they are memorizing the 23rd Psalm, and I came up with a quick and easy way to help them along.  And anyone can join the class! Just remember seven P words, and you too can memorize with the best of them.

1. PERSON.  This is a Psalm about God as a person, and not just any person but one with whom we will never be in need: The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

2. PLACE.  And not just any place, but a place to rest, to be refreshed, with green pastures and still waters: He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.

3. PATH.  We already heard how he leads us by the still waters, but there is more.  We will be on the right path as long as we are following the shepherd.  He leads me in right paths for his name's sake.  (There is a tie to one of our new testament lessons here.  The kids had just read Acts 17:11, about how we can ask for anything in Jesus's name and he will answer.  Same thing with our paths: they will be right if we walk them in his name.)

4. PRESENCE.  And on those paths, even if it sometimes gets dark and scary, God is with us, Emmanuel!  Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil, for you are with me.

5. PRAYER.  Up until now we were talking about God as a third person, but suddenly we are talking to him directly, as our shepherd.  Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.  (There is a tie to the kids' other lessons here, too.  Through their old testament studies they had been learning about the continual U-turns of God's people.  And this is the perfect U-Turn, bringing our attentions back to God.)

6. PREPARE.  In turning, we find the shepherd preparing a table for us, and not just any table.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

7. PROMISE.  Most translations use the word "Surely."  We not only get a hint of heaven here, we get it emphatically, as a promise.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

And that's it.  And I don't even care if the kids remember the exact words anymore, as long as they can talk about the person of God, the place of rest, the path that's right, the presence of Emmanuel, the prayer of U-turns, the table being prepared and the promise of forever.  Amen?