Many if not most Americans, even those who have read little or nothing of the Bible, have probably seen or heard the 23^rd Psalm.  It appears on a host of mass-merchandized products from embroidered pillows and wall hangings to table trivets and coffee mugs.  It’s a staple in television shows when the setting is a church service or funeral and pops up in disaster flicks whenever the script calls for a stereotyped religious character to start spouting churchy stuff.  Part of its allure for the masses (no pun intended), may stem from its brevity (only 6 verses—one short, simple sentence each).

Among the faithful, the 23^rd Psalm is a favorite of millions, for the peace and comfort that it brings.  Penned by David, Israel’s shepherd boy plucked from the pasture by God and made king, it begins, “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”  It ends with hope and confidence: “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 metaphor of the Messiah as a loving shepherd, tenderly caring for, nurturing, leading and protecting His sheep, is both apt and enduring.  The symbols are easy to visualize: a flock on the heels of its Shepherd, lush green grass for contented grazing, still waters to quench thirsty souls, paths of righteousness to keep steps from straying, the rod and the staff to guide and defend…

Yes, but what about the predators, the natural enemies of the sheep (and of the Shepherd, for that matter)?  They exist by feeding on the sheep and tearing the littlest lambs apart with savage ferocity.  They stalk them by day and howl for their blood at night.  They lie in wait for the weakest and most vulnerable.  Shouldn’t the sheep run?  Shouldn’t they forsake the Shepherd and hide?  Make a break for the woods and wait until darkness falls? Aren’t those on the path sitting ducks (or bleating sheep), right out in the open?

Maybe the sheep should try to ambush the wolves—you know, ‘do unto others before they do unto you?’  But how? Try to stampede them, trample them or something, somehow beat them at their own game?  What if the wolves don’t turn and run?  What then?

There’s always diplomacy.  Perhaps the sheep should propose peace talks, try to negotiate.  Maybe the sheep can find out what the predators really want.  If the sheep can identify their needs, maybe they can try to appease the wolves.  It’s a total desperation ploy of course,  But even wolves can’t be all bad. I mean, everybody has compassion, right?  Surely wolves can be reasonable.  Maybe they’re just misunderstood…

Or maybe the sheep (and the wolves) should read Psalm 37.  It’s very different from Psalm 23.  It describes a world bearing absolutely no resemblance to our own, one that, based on recorded history, is completely alien and frankly unimaginable.  Yet God has promised it—a world without predators.

In this Psalm, God tells us three times not to fret about evildoers.  Why?  Because they’re not scary or dangerous?  No. But because their time is limited and will soon be over for good.

“¹ Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity.  ² For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.”  (Emphasis added)

“⁷ Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass.” (Emphasis added)

“⁸ Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.  ⁹ For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth.” (Emphasis added)

Don’t fret over evildoers or envy them because “they shall soon be cut down.”  Don’t fret because the wicked seem to prosper, but let your heart find rest in God, as you wait patiently for Him to act.  Don’t fret to the point that you are tempted to do evil yourself, out of anger and frustration, because ALL evildoers will be cut off.

So, any day now, the predators and the perfidious are going to get their just desserts.  We’ve heard that one before.  Note however, the emergence of a promise (verse 8): “…but those that wait upon the Lord…shall inherit the earth.”  The wolves’ favorite targets (those who depend on and wait upon the Lord) will inherit the earth.  There will be “regime change.”  Power and authority will pass from the hands of the arrogant, greedy and ruthless to those who are penitent, meek and humble before God.

It sounds great, but is it?  In this world at least, it’s a temporary solution at best, not a long-term, full and final fix. We all know what will happen—the same thing that always happens—next month, next year or next generation, the godless and amoral will rise again and seize control by violence, deception, bribery and cruelty.  Or will they?

Another new element emerges in verse 10: “¹⁰ For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be.”

Wait.  What just happened?  Did God just say that the proud predators will be physically removed from the environment in which the meek will be living?  Yes, He did.  Want to hear it again?  Check out verses 35 and 36: “³⁵ I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like a green bay tree.  ³⁶ Yet he passed away, and, lo, he was not: yea, I sought him, but he could not be found.”

Want to hear it once more?  “¹⁸ The Lord knoweth the days of the upright: and their inheritance shall be for ever.  ²⁰ But the wicked shall perish, and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs: they shall consume; into smoke shall they consume away.”

And yet again: “²² For such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth; and they that be cursed of him shall be cut off.”  Those who are under God’s curse will not get in.  They will be cut off.  Authorized personnel only.  Amen?

Nope.  Not so fast.  What about the offspring?  Wolves have pups.  Sure, they start out cute and cuddly…until one fine day they’re snuggling at your throat when they suddenly feel hungry.  Often the children are twice as bad as the parents.  Got to do something about that.

I’ve got news for you, friend. The God of the universe, Creator of earth and sheep and wolves, is way ahead of you.  See the two promises of God in this single verse (v. 28): 1) “²⁸ For the Lord loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever:” and 2) “but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off.”  Did you catch the reference in part two?  No progeny.  Zero descendants.  No little monsters to follow in evil footsteps and oppress God’s own. None.  Ever.  Again.   Hallelujah!

For now, “¹² The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.”  But fret not.  “¹³ The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.”

“³⁸ But the transgressors shall be destroyed together: the end of the wicked shall be cut off.  ³⁹ But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord: he is their strength in the time of trouble.  ⁴⁰ And the Lord shall help them, and deliver them: he shall deliver them from the wicked, and save them, because they trust in him.”

And just as the promise to one day rid the earth of the wicked is given over and over again in this one single solitary Psalm, the promise that the meek will inherit the earth, just as Jesus said they would (Matthew 5:5), is repeated four more times:

“¹¹ But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.”

“²⁷ Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell for evermore.”

“²⁹ The righteous [not the “good” or the pious, but those who’ve come to Christ to be cleansed of their sins by His blood] shall inherit the land, and dwell therein for ever.”

³⁴ Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.”

What about you?  Are you following Jesus or scoffing right now at God’s warning of impending judgment?  Are you sneering at the eternal separation God promises between the just and the unjust? Are you snickering at His word that His children will soon receive a kingdom of righteousness, blessedness and peace, while those who make themselves God’s enemies will never set foot in it?  Psalm 14 begins with the words, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God…”  Are you a fool?

The second verse says, “² The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.”  What were you doing when God saw you?  Were you seeking Him or going in a different direction? In verse 4, God asks, “⁴ Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge? who eat up my people as they eat bread, and call not upon the Lord.”  Have you been calling on Him? Don’t bother answering—He knows.  He sent His only begotten Son into the world to suffer and die for your sins, to purchase a pardon for you with His own precious blood. Have you reached out and taken it or are you ignoring His outstretched hand?

Fret not.  If you are reading this or hearing it read, it’s not too late, not yet.  Come to Christ.  Come now.  Don’t cheat yourself out of God’s gift of eternal life.  Don’t forfeit your share in His kingdom.  It’s on its way now and nothing can stop it.  Don’t stay too long at the party for a dying world.  Best to leave before it ends, and live.  I wrote this so that you would get home alright. I pray that you will. Start now.

HOW TO BE SAVED:

• Admit to God that you are a sinner (that you have not kept His moral law to perfection; in your thoughts, words and actions you have done what His law forbids and have failed to do what His love demands).  This is seeing yourself from God’s point of view and agreeing that He is right about you. Be as specific as you can.
• Believe in your heart that Jesus died for your sins and that God raised Him from the dead.
• Sincerely repent (turn away) from your sins, asking God to forgive you and to use His power to help you resist temptation, no matter how strong the pull of sin may be, at first.
• Acknowledge Jesus as the Lord of your life.  Invite Him to move into your heart and take up residence there, so that He can change you from the inside out.

SOME KEY TRUTHS:

• “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”  (Romans 3:23)
• “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.”  (Romans 3:10)
• “For the wages of sin is death: but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  (Romans 6:23)
• “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  (John 3:16)
• “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  (Romans 5:8)
• “For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures.”  (I Corinthians 15:3,4)
• “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” (John 1:12)
• “Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him…”  (Revelation 3:20)
• “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”  (Romans 10:13)
• “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”  (Romans 10:9)