Psalm 23

Desert Psalm

The Lord is my shepherd

I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green (grassy) pastures.

Non-edible plant

Edible “green”pastures

He leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.

Dangerous waters, wadi floods

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Straight paths

Even though I walk through the darkest valley (of the shadow of death)

I will fear no evil, for you are with me.

Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

• Rod – protection, guidance, and inspection (Ezekiel 20:37)• Staff – guidance, communication

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows

Overflowing cup -you finish it to indicate you want more -in order to get more you need to empty your glass

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life. And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Lessons of the Desert

• You can’t see more than the next step ahead of you, you look up you stumble

• In God’s arms – no other way to survive• God is my shade at my right hand – broom

tree, Psalm 121:5• God will be just enough to get you to go one

more stretch• God tests us in the desert – Deut. 8:2-5– Experience in practice what is in my heart