What Does Psalms 23 Mean, For People Who Don't Read The Bible Scriptures
Songs of hope help everyone when they feel afraid.
getty There's something about death that make everyone suddenly religious. Even an atheist will ask God for help (if he does, in fact exist) when death comes knocking at the door.
There's one thing constant about life that every human being grapples with: fear of death, and during ancient times, one man named David, decided to write his fears into songs.
David was called 'a man after God's own heart' even though he had lied, committed murder, and stole a woman from a married man who worked for him.
David is remembered for using songs as prayer to lift his depressed heart when it was filled with grief or suffering a loss, and even when he faced death.
It's scientifically proven that music, including putting Bible verses to melody, helps people overcome depression, but did you know it can also remove negative emotions when you are afraid?
There is one book entirely dedicated to the expression of fear, and it's called "The Book of Psalms" The most popular Psalm of all time is Psalms 23.
People have made their own song versions of this scripture. It's read at funerals or to give comfort to those who are dying or facing loss.
If you have never used a Bible, "Psalms" is the name of the actual book found in a group of books of the Old Testament Bible.
The number "23" is the chapter where this series of verses are found in the "Book of Psalms."
Who wrote the Psalms, you might wonder? A shephard boy named David did before he became King and the lineage to Christ, according to scripture.
Today, his words are used to retrace thoughts and turn negative fears into positive hope.
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For those unfamiliar with the Christian faith or religion in general, this passage seems confusing and jumbled. The wording is unclear and it may be hard to relate an ancient Psalms to your own life.
Whether you believe in God or not, there are passages within the Bible that historically have given comfort to others and can help you heal your soul and calm your body when needed.
When you repeat positive affirmations, the mind starts to believe what you are saying and forces your negative thoughts to disappear.
David understood fear, loneliness and the dread of death. As a young boy, he was charged with shepherding in the wilderness. He had to fight off large animals that wanted to eat his sheep.
He cared for his helpless animals and made sure they were warm, fed, and safe when they wandered too far from the pasture.
He loved to relate his work as a shepherd to a relationship with God, because he knew God was his shepherd during times of change.
David gave God credit for keeping him safe. In his Psalms, and throughout his life in other books David's life story is told about, God was his protector, keeping him nourished and calm in times of need.
David used sheep as a metaphor for God's people: vulnerable to danger and clumsy at times, but God the shepherd always leads people back to safety.
This Psalms can be very beneficial when it comes to refocusing your mind on the positive, but it can be difficult to truly understand what the Psalms means.
Here is a line-by-line breakdown of Psalms 23, what the song means, and how it can relate to your life, even if you don't read the bible.
1. "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures." (WEB)
In the first line, David is saying God is his protector. Many of us have a protector in our lives that we go to in times of trouble or uncertainty.
Whether that be your God or another father figure.
"I shall not want" refers us being thankful for all that we have, regardless of faith, power, money, or success. We don't need to want more than we have, as long as we are happy and healthy.
"He maketh me lie down in green pastures" refers to God wanting us to relax and be calm within our space. If you are not religious, think of this line as a reminder to find your green pasture – whether that be your home, friend's house, or a local coffee shop.
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2. "He leadeth me besides clear waters. He restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in paths of righteousness for his namesake." (WEB)
The clear water in this line stands for peace, tranquility, calmness, and love. We should walk near a path that has those qualities, not stray away from them.
"He restoreth my soul" refers to God not wanting us to think about bad memories and to focus on the future ahead.
Regardless of your faith, you should always make your way towards a life that fulfills your soul and makes every minute precious.
The last line refers to your protector (whoever he or she may be) making sure you never stray too far from the righteous, or uplifting, path.
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3. "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.
Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me." (WEB)
This line reminds us that on your way towards the peaceful path of life, you will run into people who are evil and may not have your best interest at heart.
Life isn't perfect and you will most likely encounter things that scare you, but you must keep pushing.
Know that the people who love you are always by your side. "Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me" refers to the rod and staff shepherds carried to flock their sheep.
However, you can think of a rod and staff as being a metaphor for things that comfort you and bring you joy. Let them be your guiding symbols towards retracting your negative thoughts.
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4. "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.
Thou anointest my head with oil. My cup runneth over." (WEB)
Like the previous line states, you will encounter people who may not like you or believe in you.
This verse reminds you that you may sit with people at the same table who seem like your enemies, but you have to be the bigger person.
Your life will continue to blossom regardless of a negative presence.
"Thou anointest my head with oil. My cup runneth over" refers back to biblical times when pouring oil over a person's head was a sign of dignity.
Think of the oil as being the strength you need to push past the mean people in life. Try to find and overflowing amount of honor and respect for those around you.
This way, nobody can phase you as you go through your healing processes.
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5. "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.
And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord, forever." (WEB)
The last line of Psalms 23 wraps everything up in a neat little bow about the long-term benefits of having a relationship with a power greater than yourself.
The goodness and mercy that you put out into the world will follow you through the rest of your life. Being good and kind to people, even your enemies, will go a long way.
As long as you try to correct your mistakes, you will live in the house of the Lord, or the house of love.
Psalms 23 reminds you to let go of all that pent up negative energy and to just simply live a better life.
This psalm resonates with so many people, religious or not, because it can be related to anyone's situation or any circumstance.
When you find yourself in an unfamiliar place, try to remember all that you have and those who love you.
This prayer has been around for over four thousand years and has made its way through decades of triumphs and failures. It is okay if you don't believe in a higher power or if you question your faith at times.
Passages like this are here to make you think and reflect on your past to pave the way for a better future.