The Psalmist and the Anti-Psalmist - Psalm 23 (part 1)

Notice the difference between the Psalmist and the Anti-Psalmist.

In the next series of blogs, we will explore these differences ...

Which most speaks of who you are: The Psalmist? The Anti-Psalmist (A-P)?

I was once the Anti-psalmist.

Every line in the anti-psalm described how I felt about life and myself. The anti-psalm described who I was before faith, before hope, and before coming to know Jesus Christ.

Today, I am the psalmist.

Everything I need is found in my relationship with Jesus Christ ... my shepherd. In his love I have all I need ...

Psalm 23 - A psalm of David

¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

A-P: I’m on my own. No one looks out for me or protects me. I experience a continual sense of need. Nothing's quite right.

² He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

A-P: I’m always restless. I’m easily frustrated and often disappointed.

It’s a jungle –I feel overwhelmed. It’s a desert – I’m thisty.

³ he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

A-P: My soul feels broken, twisted, and stuck. I can’t fix myself.

I stumble down some dark paths.

Still, I insist: I want to do what I want, when I want, how I want

But life's confusing. Why don't things ever really work out?

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.

A-P: I’m haunted by emptiness and futility – shadows of death.

I fear the big hurt and final loss.

Death is waiting for me at the end of every road,

But I’d rather not think about that.

I spend my life protecting myself. Bad things can happen.

I find no lasting comfort.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

A-P: I’m alone … facing everything that could hurt me.

Are my friends really friends? Other people use me for their own ends.

I can’t really trust anyone. No one has my back. I can’t even trust myself.

No one is really for me – except me.

And I’m so much… all about ME, sometimes it’s sickening.

I belong to no one – except myself.

My cup is never quite full enough. I’m left empty.

⁶ Surely goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

A-P: Disappointment follows me all the days of my life.

Will I just be obliterated into nothingness?

Will I be alone forever, homeless, free-falling into void?

Sartre said “Hell is other people.”

I have to add, “Hell is also myself.”

It’s a living death,

And then I die.

We all are like sheep

We wander ... searching, seeking, longing for the flock we belong to and for the shepherd who can protect, provide, but more importantly love us for who we are.

Jesus Christ is that shepherd. He is the Good Shepherd ... who will carry you through the pain and strife of this life and guide you safely back to His home in heaven...

I was once a lost sheep, yet Jesus came to my rescue ... I was far from His flock, where I belonged, yet He still sought after me and found me in my helpless, hurting, hopeless frailty.

He can meet you wherever you are ... and if you are still reading this and don't know him ... He is gently trying to lead you back to Him ...back to the flock in which you belong.

There is no greater place to be ... than in the loving arms of Your Shepherd. For In Him, you'll not only find everything you need ... but you'll also find yourself...

"Anti-Psalm 23" written by Dr. David Powlison, professor at Westminster Theological Seminary and counselor at Christian Counseling Education Foundation since 1980. Also see commentary from David Powlison on Psalm 23 ... http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justintaylor/2009/07/25/antipsalm-23-vs-psalm-23/