The 23rd Psalm
By Brian David
The 23rd Psalm is one of the best-known and most-loved literary works in the world, and it may well be the best poem ever written. It is also a fine example of the power of figurative language: We read deep things into the vision of ourselves as sheep, led to green pastures and good water by a kind shepherd. It’s empowering to feel the confidence to go fearlessly into the valley of the shadow of death, and to feel the love and caring of a table prepared by the Lord and a cup so full it overflows.
What people don’t know, however, is that this language actually has precise internal meanings, and that when we see them there is an even deeper beauty in the poem. That’s because what it actually describes is the path to heaven, and the fierce desire the Lord has to lead us there.
The first step is to let the Lord be our shepherd – to accept His teaching and His leadership. The green pastures and the still waters represent the things He will teach us for the journey. Then He begins working inside is, setting our spiritual lives in order, so that we desire to do what’s good and to love one another. That’s represented by restoring our souls and leading us in the paths of righteousness.
But we will still face challenges. We still live external lives, out in the world, and we are subject to desires that arise in those externals, in our bodily lives. That’s the valley of the shadow of death. But the rod and staff represent truth from the Lord on both external and internal levels, ideas that can defend us against those desires.
And if we keep following, the Lord will prepare a table for us – a place inside us that he can fill with love (the anointing oil) and wisdom (the overflowing cup). Thus transformed, we can enter heaven, with love for others (“goodness”) and love from the Lord (“mercy”) and can love and be loved to eternity.
One of many beautiful things about this is the fact that it is the Lord who really does all the work. In the whole text, the only action taken by the sheep is walking through the valley of the shadow of death. Other than that, they follow the Lord, trust the Lord, accept the blessings of the Lord. And that is really true! In external states (in the valley) we might seem to be doing the work ourselves, but internally, spiritually, we simply need to give ourselves to the Lord and let Him bless us.
The underlying idea here is that the Lord created us so that He could love us, in loving us wants us to be happy, knows that our greatest happiness will come from being conjoined to Him in heaven, and Himself wants nothing more than to be conjoined to us. So everything He does, in every moment of every day for every person on the face of the planet, is centered on the goal of getting that person to heaven. He wants each and every one of us in heaven more than we are capable of imagining. We just need to cooperate.
(References: Apocalypse Explained 375 [34], 727 [2]; The Inner Meaning of the Prophets and Psalms 273)
Luke 21
1
And he looked up, and saw the rich men casting their gifts into the treasury.
2
And he saw also a certain poor widow casting in thither two mites.
3
And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all:
4
For all these have of their abundance cast in unto the offerings of God: but she of her penury hath cast in all the living that she had.
5
And as some spake of the temple, how it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said,
6
As for these things which ye behold, the days will come, in the which there shall not be left one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.
7
And they asked him, saying, Master, but when shall these things be? and what sign will there be when these things shall come to pass?
8
And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
9
But when ye shall hear of wars and commotions, be not terrified: for these things must first come to pass; but the end is not by and by.
10
Then said he unto them, Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom:
11
And great earthquakes shall be in divers places, and famines, and pestilences; and fearful sights and great signs shall there be from heaven.
12
But before all these, they shall lay their hands on you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues, and into prisons, being brought before kings and rulers for my name's sake.
13
And it shall turn to you for a testimony.
14
Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:
15
For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist.
16
And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
17
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake.
18
But there shall not an hair of your head perish.
19
In your patience possess ye your souls.
20
And when ye shall see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then know that the desolation thereof is nigh.
21
Then let them which are in Judaea flee to the mountains; and let them which are in the midst of it depart out; and let not them that are in the countries enter thereinto.
22
For these be the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled.
23
But woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck, in those days! for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
24
And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
25
And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26
Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
27
And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.
28
And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
29
And he spake to them a parable; Behold the fig tree, and all the trees;
30
When they now shoot forth, ye see and know of your own selves that summer is now nigh at hand.
31
So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.
32
Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass away, till all be fulfilled.
33
Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.
34
And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.
35
For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth.
36
Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.
37
And in the day time he was teaching in the temple; and at night he went out, and abode in the mount that is called the mount of Olives.
38
And all the people came early in the morning to him in the temple, for to hear him.
