Who wouldn't love a shepherd who leads us beside still waters and guides us in paths of righteousness? Who doesn't want their cups to overflow or to be comforted by God's presence?
But there are a couple of things about this psalm that I don't think most of us realize.
Look again at where God promises to anoint our heads with oil so that our cups are overflowing - in the presence of our enemies.
You see, the promises of God are not some poly-anna, pie in the sky, feel good garbage. God knows that there are days when we are surrounded by our enemies. God knows that there are days when we find ourselves in the valley of the shadow of death. And it is in those days that I need God's protection and promises the most.
Friends, I don't know where you are in your life today, but I know that I go through days when it's dry, and worse yet, when I feel like I am in the middle of the valley of the shadows of death. And should you find yourself in one of these valleys where you are surrounded by your enemies, know this: God is with you. His rod and and staff will comfort you. God will lead you in paths of righteousness.
Thank God that we have a God who is there not only in the best of days, but especially when all else fails and the world is crumbling around us.
Go ahead. Go read Psalm 23 again and remember again how awesome our God is.
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