TLC

Surely, you have noticed how much care a pet takes. We also notice how much pets are loved by their human companions. People take care of animals because of the responsibility required in keeping a creature so dependent in many ways, and because of love.  At St. Francis Church we love the blessing of the animal's service because of the connection to our patron saint, Francis of Assisi, and we love it for the sweetness of people’s love for their animals on display.

When all the kids finally left the nest, my parents got a cute little dog and named her Mercy. She was a pretty timid little thing and very sweet. I don’t know the story but after a few years Mercy got a little roomie, another little dog which they named Goodness, and they called her Goody. She was more funny-looking than cute, and a lot more pep. One of my parents was intentionally thinking that with this second dog, they could now fulfill the final verse of The Twenty-third Psalm: “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” And they pretty much did. Mercy and Goody scampered about after my folks all the rest of the many doggie-years.

The Sunday coming up has Psalm 23, “The Lord is my shepherd…” and it is very fitting, given the Fourth Sunday of Easter carries the theme of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. There are many writings of antiquity where the leader, secular or religious, is compared to a shepherd, but this psalm has had real sticking power through all the generations and is perhaps one of the most known pastoral pieces in the Bible. I enjoyed reading insights on this psalm from a translation and commentary by Hebrew scholar Robert Alter, and I include some of them below.

Consider: this is thought to be a psalm of David, who was a shepherd for his family’s herds. He knew literal shepherding, which makes it remarkable he would wax so romantically and lyrically about the role. Remember, however, this is a song, not a husbandry handbook, and it is about the love of the faithful one toward God. The singer uses the first verses to establish the shepherding motif, declaring Yahweh to be his shepherd, providing all that he needs. Verdant, abundant grass pastures, plenty of room at the water’s edge, and security enough for the shepherd to get the sheep safely to lie down.

When the singer says the shepherd revives his soul, it is truly the word “life” or “life-breath”. He is attesting he is revived, given his life back. The shepherd restores life; brings him back. David felt that I am thinking, just as we surely feel the one who was raised from death, Jesus, has restored our very lives at times. The singer, David, then attests to the guidance he gets; he is shown the right pathways for the sake of The Shepherd’s Name. This application is a switch to very human terms, it is the “paths of justice” meaning built into the language of the verse.

It is not an over-dramatized language, given David’s scrapes with danger when he describes walking through the vale of death’s shadow. He says strongly and sharply that, nonetheless, he fears no harm. Our translations say “I shall fear no evil”, but the verse is speaking about the bodily threat. The Shepherd, equipped with rod and staff is present, bringing security and comfort.

The next verses almost sound like pampering that takes place at a spa. A table is spread, and instead of troublemakers disrupting, David was treated to oil on the head and a full cup of wine. The verb for anointing is more about luxuriant adorning, rather than a sacramental anointing. This is beautiful, special treatment and care, given by God. The final verse is about goodness and mercy or kindness coming along with the human king, David, for the many days of his life. Of those days, David imagines spending many of them in the Lord’s house, communing deeply with God.

We take our place among the long string of generations who have taken this psalm into our hearts. As you read it over again, realize we look to God, and receive the tender, loving care of a divine shepherd, the life-restorer, who will secure our lives for eternity.

1     The Lord is my shepherd; *
I shall not be in want.

2     He makes me lie down in green pastures *
and leads me beside still waters

3     He revives my soul *
and guides me along right pathways for his Name's sake.

4     Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil; *
for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

5     You spread a table before me in the presence of those who trouble me; *
you have anointed my head with oil, and my cup is running over.

6     Surely your goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, *
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.