September 29, 2022
The Lord is my shepherd…I don’t know how many of you grew up learning memory verses at school or at church, but I learned quite a few in my early school years. When I was a child, the King James Version of the Bible was THE version to use and every verse I learned was memorized using this version. I’m embarrassed to say that I often learned my memory verses, but I really didn’t understand what I was memorizing. I was well past elementary school when I finally realized the meaning of the 23rd Psalm. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. What? Why wouldn’t I want the Lord to be my shepherd? I’m confused. Apparently, I wasn’t confused enough though to ask about the meaning though, so years went by before I read, The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing…ohhhhh! Now I understand! The New International Version made it so clear!
Today, I’m grateful for multiple versions of the Bible that I can compare in an instant on my Bible app. I don’t have to be knowledgeable in Biblical languages when I can read four or five translations to get a better understanding of the original text. As a child, I also didn’t have a clear understanding why I needed to learn memory verses or what to do with those verses I learned. Our Bible curriculum now uses different vocabulary for “memory verses” and I love this change. Memory verses are referred to as Treasure Verses. Oh! These verses are treasures for my benefit. Words for me to keep in my memory and recall when I need to hear God’s promises.
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Psalms 23 NIV