When one listens to people who believe in the Bible or who are Christians or who expound what they believe is Christian faith; one is moved by their deep seated ignorance and superficiality that lead to untenable assumptions concerning the working of Creation and of God. No where is this best demonstrated than when people recite the above Psalm 23. When they finish the recitation, they have the inner belief that they are protected by God. But let us examine the conditions that are necessary for assured fulfillment.
It begins with the affirmation “The Lord is my Shepherd.”
For the Lord to be one’s Shepherd, one must know and obey Him. To know and obey means to know and live by His commandments. These Commandments were earlier given through the hands of Moses. The Commandments spell the Will of God.
Even when one is not living completely in the Ten Commandments, there must be demonstrated, a strong volition to obedience. This excludes lukewarmness on the part of the striving one or beseeching one.
It is when this condition is fulfilled that the Lord can give according to the purity and strength of the volition, thus “I shall not want” follows and is justified.
The expectations anticipated in verses two through to verse five, are subject to the condition stated above for their fulfillments.
It is when one is working along the path defined by His Will or His Laws or the 10 Commandments that the assertion follows in the last verse:-
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” It is a reward for a prior labour; a culmination not a beginning!
For the earthman it is only when he has perfected himself that he can dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. The House of the Lord that lasts for ever is Paradise.
Without going into any puerile debates, it should be clear to any logical thinking that this is so. Nothing is given by the Lord that does not issue from His Will.
Only the Darkness gives outside the Law or the Will of God. This must be easy for the reader to comprehend. But gifts from the Darkness have unpalatable consequences on the recepients. They give short excitements froth with disasters. It can be stated briefly, when the Darkness gives you salt; it will follow you with rain!!
Psalm 23, like all others, is meant for individuals who are striving to fulfill the Will of God in Subsequent or Post Creation.
In other words, they can be adopted by the human spirits developing in the World of Matter especially Earthmen, only if they fulfill the earlier specifications.
The Psalms, including the one under reference, were given to King David who had to fight difficult battles against the agents of Lucifer who Lucifer was using to destroy or make impossible the foundation on Earth for the birth of Jesus Christ, the coming Saviour of Mankind, then yet expected! The reader should not be surprised at the actions of Lucifer. Being divine, he knows of every happenings in Creation. He is the only real enemy of God!
In order to ensure that the foundation was built and held, God entered into the Divine Covenant with David; referred to, as the Eternal Covenant.
A Divine Covenant cannot be made with a developing human spirit of Post or Subsequent Creation because, developing from spirit germ he does not have the constituent strength to consumate such a high calling. This is logical because it is to help the spirit germs complete their developments that the covenant was made in the first instance..
David was therefore a high Spirit from the Pure Spiritual Paradise. Because of this his high point of origin in Creation; he was already familiar with the Truth and with the Love of God that is Jesus. He always lived in the Will of God.
With him, it was natural and true when he said ” The Lord is my Shepherd and I shall not want.” This is the condition that prevailed for him in his home in Paradise. So he could say it with definite conviction on Earth.
Verses two through five were all true for him. He had to fight all his enemies beginning with the notorious Goliath, a monstrous evil epitomizing the forces of Lucifer.
Verse 2″ is an affirmation of what happens as a result of the assured competence of the Lord..
Verse 3; is a declaration of the knowledge that the Lord proves Himself through His Chosen One. (He leadeth me through the path of righteousness for His Name’s sake.)
Every stanza or verse in this hardly equalled piece of poetry represent lived experiences for David in the many wars and battles he fought.
Hence in verses 4&5; he says “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death; I will fear no evil: for Thou are with me; thy rod and staff they comfort me.)
In other words, I know am under your protection and guidance therefore victory is assured for me.
Verse 5, means the Lord provides for me under all circumstances because He provides for all His Chosen and anointed Ones. Here David makes a distinction between a chosen servant of God who comes guiltless on a mission and the Earthmen for whom the sacrifice is made or for whose benefit the Mission was ordered by God.
”Thou prepareth a table before me in the presence of my enemies”. In this, the spiritual nature of the blessings is emphasized. And also that the blessings go to the individual they are intended for and in all circumstances and situations. For David, his blessings manifested copiously in the victories over his enemies.
For others who fulfill the conditions for granting blessings, the table will be spread before them even when others do not wish them well.
Now compare the foregoing with the presumption of the earthman who wants to appropriate to himself what he does not deserve! The earthman in his proclivity for spiritual comfort wallows in the idea that God must provide for him whether or not he deserves. All the good things of life and protection from evil must be granted him even when he is busy doing evil to his neighbour!.
This may sound ludicrous but it is true. One can even see reckless vehicle drivers on the road who boldly display: Psalm 23: The Lord is my Shepherd on the back of their vehicles!
To such people Psalm 23 is their talisman. Sadly, it does not work that way!!
Since David was from the Pure Spiritual Paradise, he could say ” Surely goodness and Mercies shall follow me all the days of my life (on Earth) and I will dwell in the house of the Lord (Paradise) for ever.”
Inspite of his high grace, he committed many murders on account of the wars he had to fight to keep the Called Race of Israel together. Most times, he fought for self defence.
However, it was precisely because of his bloody hands that he was not permitted to build the Temple of God in Jerusalem. This privilege was passed to his son Solomon.
The Wisdom of God is unsearchable and I bow before this great incomprehensibility.
In this essay I will not write on Solomon because the main subject today is Psalm 23 and how it is to be understood and used.
The above elucidation should warn against the misuse of what is sacred. The Word of God is sacred. It is not to be toyed with and It does not work as men would fancy.
I thank God Almighty for this illumination He allowed me to share with the reader. I pray for strength for him that reads and wish that he builds his own knowledge for upwards spiritual development. Amen.
Glory be to God, the Eternal Father. Amen
Senator Victor Kassim Isa Oyofo
14/04/18
