Voice: Doreen
Today is Wednesday, 12th of November. Be still and wait upon the Lord and He shall renew your strength.
Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.
Glory to the Father, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
as It was in the beginning, is
now, and shall be forever. Amen.
The Lord Is My Shepherd
Psalm 23 is the most well-known and well-loved song of the Psalter. The image of a gentle lamb being led—or even carried—by a Shepherd immediately comes to mind as we read or sing its opening verses.
Yet, though this psalm is often associated with peace and serenity, it is actually more rugged and darker than it first appears.
1. The Wilderness
When we picture Psalm 23, many of us imagine lush green meadows. But this is not the landscape of ancient Israel. Instead, think of a desert or wilderness—arid, barren, and harsh.
In such terrain, sheep must be guided carefully to scattered green patches and watering holes.
So, when the psalm says,
“He makes me lie down in green pastures…
He leads me beside still waters,”
it is describing gracious provision in a dry and difficult land.
This is a picture of how the Lord restores us when we are thirsty, wounded, or wearied by life.
2. The Dark Valley
Now imagine a valley—forebodingly dark, with danger lurking around every corner.
There may be a stream running through it, but its high walls create sharp turns and blind angles. It is wet, cold, and dim. You simply cannot see what lies ahead.
This is life.
Some of you listening may be walking through such a valley right now.
Yet the psalm promises:
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…
You are with me.”
The Shepherd is not far off. He is our Companion who guides (the staff) and our Protector who defends (the rod) as we walk step by step through the darkness.
3. The Table Before Enemies
The third image is also striking.
Picture a person surrounded by ferocious enemies—and yet, in their very presence, the Shepherd sets a feast before him.
In the midst of fear and threat, he is served a delicious meal prepared by the Master Himself.
What does a meal represent?
Even in the most stressful seasons, we must pause to eat. Someone once said:
“One of the nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating.”
This is a picture of rest and peace in the midst of turbulence and danger.
4. The Hope of Home
The psalm closes with a promise:
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me…
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Hospitality, mercy, protection—not just now, but forever.
Pause for a moment.
Reflect on these promises.
Will you be able to say today, that “the Lord is your Shepherd and you will not want?”
And who might need you to pray that the Shepherd will comfort, guide, and provide for them in their valley?
Take a moment to pray for someone else who needs to experience His gentle care.
We pray the Collect for the day:
Almighty Father,
whose will is to restore all things in your beloved Son, the King of all:
govern the hearts and minds of those in authority,
and bring the families of the nations,
divided and torn apart by the ravages of sin,
to be subject to his just and gentle rule;
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever. Amen
In closing, be blessed by this version of Psalm 23
Link to today’s Morning Office
About This Daily Devotion
This weekday devotion is drawn from the Morning Office and is part of a project initiated by Revd Canon Terry Wong, with contributions from clergy and members across various parishes. Each entry includes selected readings from the appointed Psalm and another Scripture passage, accompanied by a reflection and prayer. An audio option is also available, often ending with a hymn or song. We encourage you to both read and listen.
Our aim is to help Anglicans engage more deeply with our rich liturgical tradition, while meeting the devotional needs of today’s believers. This project began on Ash Wednesday 2025 and is offered on weekdays only.
For feedback, please write to us at terrywg@gmail.com
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