The LORD is my Shepherd, I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.

He restores my soul, He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me: Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies; Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. NASB

I know what you must be thinking, “We know this psalm!”. And certainly we do. But I want to share just a couple of things I recently learned from a wonderful Hebrew scholar…Ray VanderLaan.

This kept pressing on my mind because of the field of winter wheat behind our house. I have a course marked out to walk my 4 and 5 mile walks so I don’t have to walk on the road or go over to the school. This brilliant green field makes me think of that phrase, “lie down in green pastures”. Except that is not at all what a green pasture in Israel or the Middle East would look like.

Those green pastures are rough and rocky…hilly. The grass that grows there is sparse. Shepherds lead their sheep to a place that hasn’t been grazed recently. There is a patch of grass here and a patch of grass there. But it isn’t the lush green pastures we know or like that beautiful field of winter wheat behind my house. 

Land that will grow crops well in Israel is used to grow food not grass. Sheep do not graze near farmland. When we were in Israel, I have to say that the sheep and shepherds we saw were in what we would consider more barren places…so this is a “green pasture”?

The other thing I wanted to mention is the “table”. I always thought it was amazing that I could eat in safety in the presence of an enemy. Here is what a Middle Eastern person would have come to mind as they read Psalm 23.

If a person accidentally kills or injures someone, the injured person has the right to avenge their relatives death or harm. But, if the offender seeks to resolve the wrong, a meal will be prepared, by the offender. The offended family is invited to come and sit down to have a meal together. If the wounded party’s family member accepts the cup and a piece of food, eats and drinks, the offender knows his offense is forgiven. The offended party will say, “We will never speak of this again.”

Amazing. Just like that. A soul has been restored. Guilt has been taken away.