Good Shepherd

John 10:11
‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

 The Lord’s My Shepherd LBW 451

 1    The Lord’s my shepherd; I’ll not want. he makes me down to lie
     in pastures green; he leadeth me the quiet waters by.
      He leadeth me, he leadeth me the quiet waters by.

2    My soul he doth restore again, and me to walk doth make
      within the paths of righteousness, e’en for his own name’s sake;
      within the paths of righteousness, e’en for his own name’s sake.

3    Yea, though I walk in death’s dark vale, yet will I fear no ill;
      for thou art with me, and thy rod and staff me comfort still;
      for thou art with me, and thy rod and staff me comfort still.

4    My table thou hast furnished in presence of my foes;
      my head thou dost with oil anoint, and my cup overflows.
      My head thou dost with oil anoint, and my cup overflows.

5    Goodness and mercy all my life shall surely follow me,
      and in God’s house forevermore my dwelling-place shall be.
      And in God’s house forevermore my dwelling-place shall be.

Text: Psalter, Edinburgh, 1650

      Recently, I wrote about the Anglican Hymnal version of Psalm 23, today it is the older, Scottish Psalter version, I want to explore. 

      This version originated from the desire to write Hymns whose lyrics were faithful to the original Psalms.  As you can see, this version is a pretty good paraphrase of Psalm 23, taking few liberties with the text. In one ways it operates like a creed, an exposition on the faith, what, as Christians, we profess to believe;

      In pastures green he leadeth me, the quiet waters by…

      Within the paths of righteousness, e’en for his own name's sake…

      For thou art with me, and thy rod and staff me comfort still…

      And in God’s house, Forevermore, my dwelling place shall be.

      Each assertion is repeated to make sure the listener knows what the psalmist is proclaiming to be true.  Yet in another way this resembles a prayer in that it asserts what is, while at the same time yearning, hoping, for what might be.

      Whichever, a creed or a prayer, it is one of our most beloved renditions, a hymn we have sung for over 400 years that still calms the spirit and warms the heart.

 Prayer:  Good Shepherd, we thank you for shepherding us; lambs of your own flock, sinners of your own redeeming.  Keep us steadfast in our faith, feed us in safe pastures, guide us to still waters, and when we wander, find us, and in your strong, steady arms, bear us home.  Amen.