I'd Fly Away

J. Clinton McCann writes, 

“Psalm 23 is the most familiar passage in the entire Old Testament and perhaps in all of Scripture. Never have I officiated at a funeral that the family failed to request that I read Psalm 23. It is remarkable in a culture in which most people rarely see sheep and have never seen a shepherd that Psalm 23 functions so pervasively and powerfully. In a real sense Psalm 23 speaks for itself; as Brueggemann put it, ‘It is almost pretentious to comment on this Psalm.’ On the other hand, the very fact of its familiarity invites the attempt to hear Psalm in a fresh way.” P. 127-128, A Theological Introduction to the Book of Psalms.

In Psalm 22 we see the Good Shepherd, in Psalm 23 we see the Great Shepherd, and in Psalm 24 we see the Chief Shepherd. As the Good Shepherd Christ died for His flock. As the Great Shepherd Christ tends His flock. And as the Chief Shepherd Christ reigns over His flock. 

That McCann says he has not officiated one funeral where the family did not ask him to read Psalm 23 is not surprising to me since his book was first published in 1993. In the twenty years since, I must admit that I approximately half, perhaps more, of the services I have officiated the families have not asked for Psalm 23 to be read. By this, I do not doubt McCann’s experience at all. My contention is, in fact, to substantiate another point that he makes, that Psalm 23 stands in stark contrast with our culture of consumerism, affluence, and greed. Most people in developed nations and cities around the world do not know real want or lack of daily necessities. Psalm 23 speaks to those in need with a message that McCann, is right to point out, to the modernists of our day sounds naive. But the wise in our age know that Modernism is only a facade to cover the timeless needs of mankind. To mistake the outfitting material needs at the expense of the deeper needs of the soul is the definition of shallow and the essence of materialism. 

As it turns out, Psalm 23 is not naive but is the truth serum, the answer to the fakery, fraud, and foolishness of our silly laden societies. We can do without our computers, and our toys, if forced to, but we cannot, as the decline of our culture has proven, ignore our need for God. 

For the believer, let us not be fooled with the crowds, the Lord is what we need more than anything! He is our Shepherd. This was David’s affirmation, let it be ours as well.