Psalm 23

During a birthday party for a young man, one of the guests was a well known actor.  If I was to mention his name most of you would know whom I am talking about.  This actor was a close friend of the family, even prior to the young mans birth.   As the ceremony formally began, the father of the birthday boy asked his close friend, the actor, to read the 23rd Psalm.  This actor's testimony was that he was "saved" at a young age, however if you knew who I was talking about you would know that he was not living his conviction!?  (Oh, did that hit home for many)

Anyway, as the actor started to read;  The Lord is my Shepard, I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.  Now as he was reading he began to recall this Psalm which he had memorized as a youth.  He continued to read on with passion;  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  Being a great orator, he used his skill to dramatize the scripture and with a triumphal ending finished the Psalm with;  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!  The crowd of family and friends clapped with exuberance.

The actor humbly bowed and looked to the families older pastor, now retired and well into his eighties the actor asked the pastor jokingly, if he remembered the 23rd Psalm and if he would recite it.  The old pastor painstakingly stood to his feet.  The old pastor closed his eyes and raised his hands as high as he could and began quoting;  The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.  The old pastor spoke slowly and the gatherers could feel his sincerity and actual experience of what he was saying.  His voice broke as he recalled the next two verses;  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.  With the last two verses the old pastor bowed his upper body, his head shook from side to side, his hands clasped together and with tears in his eyes spoke;  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.  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...

The old pastor finished, wiped his eyes with his handkerchief and then sat down.  No one clapped nor spoke, however many were crying.  Slowly the festivities continued.  The father of the young man slowly approached his friend the actor and asked him what he thought the difference was in both of there renditions of Psalm 23.  The actor said;  I knew the Psalm from memory as I read it, he knew the One the Psalm was talking about.

Do you know Him or have you only read or heard about Him?

Blessings
ernie