THE GOOD SHEPHERD
A Meditation on the 23rd Psalm
EMMET FOX
The Twenty-third Psalm is a spiritual treatment in the form of a poem.
You should read this meditation through several times, dwelling on each statement and endeavoring to realize the significance of what you are reading.
The Lord is My Shepherd. The Lord means God, in particular my own knowledge of truth, as that knowledge is the Presence of God in me, my indwelling Christ. This is my shepherd. The shepherd takes care of his sheep, and the Lord will take care of me because I am now seeking Him through this meditation. I have only to realize sufficiently this Truth, that the Lord is my shepherd, and every negative thing in my life will vanish away.
I Shall Not Want. I really believe this, and I fully accept it, so that I am not going to be afraid of anything. I firmly believe that I shall not want for any good thing.
He Maketh Me To Lie Down In Green Pastures. Green pastures symbolize an abundance of all good things that I need, and perfect all-round harmony in my life. They are to be mine permanently and forever, and not merely as a temporary demonstration; that is why I may be said to lie down in them.
He Leadeth Me Beside The Still Waters. Water in the Bible symbolizes the soul. To lead me beside the still waters means that the power of God in prayer set my soul at rest, giving me perfect peace. I know that when once my souls is at peace my demonstration must come, and that my only task is to bring about this peace. By this meditation I am practicing the Presence of God. That is, I am praying for peace, and know that this prayer will be answered.
He Restoreth My Soul. This is my promise of complete salvation. My prayer is now being answered. The peace of God is filling my soul. All my difficulties have arisen from my soul having separated herself in belief from her Living Source. I have thought myself to be separated from God, and therefore, for practical purposes, I was separated, and this has meant for me a load of responsibility, selfishness, fear, and limitation; in other words, the “Fall of Man.” This text, however, definitely promises the restoration of my soul to her original divine understanding, and is a guarantee of freedom. I affirm that this is now true. I claim full from all my difficulties. I claim perfect health, happiness, and prosperity. I am free.
He Leadeth Me in the Path of Righteous, for His Name’s Sake. Righteous means right thinking, and I know that to think rightly about any condition means healing and safety. All evil is wrong thought, all good is right or true thought. Christ my Good Shepherd, is now guiding me in the path of Right Thought; so all will be well. In the Bible “the name” of anything is the nature of character of that thing. The nature of God is all powerful, omnipresent good, boundless love. I know that this Boundless Love is now taking care of me, and arranging my affairs.
Yea, Though I Walk Through the Valley of the Shadow of Death, I Will Fear No Evil, for Thou Art with Me. I am never again going to be afraid of anything, because Thou, my good Shepherd, art with me. I know that Thou who art all Love, and hast all Power, protectest me, and that we are One forever and forever. I know that I never can find myself anywhere but Thou wilt be there too.. I know that because Thou are Life, there is no death, and I note that the Bible speaks not of death, but the shadow of death, which is our false belief. There is no death, but the seeming loss of Thy Presence.
Thy Rod and Thy Staff, They Comfort Me. I know that thy law changeth not, because Thou Art Divine Principle, and I know that my word shall go forth in this meditation, and that it shall not return unto me void, because I am Thy child and the heir of Thy Kingdom.
Thou Preparest a Table Before Me in the Presence of Mine Enemies. My enemies are my own thoughts: my doubts, my fears, my thoughts of criticism of others, and self-condemnation—the only enemies I can have. “A man’s enemies shall be those of his own household.” But these now no longer have any power to hurt me because I Am speaking the Word of Truth, and my Good Shepherd will bring me a glorious demonstration in the teeth of every difficult.
Thou Anointest My Head with Oil. In the Bible, oil and ointment are symbols of gladness, praise, and thanksgiving. This line assures me that I am to be rescued from all my difficulties. Anointing with oil is also a symbol of consecration, and by meditating in this way on the Truth, I am reconsecrated as the perfect child of God. I bless Him for the glory of His Name. I thank Him in particular for a perfect and generous demonstration over my present difficulties.
My Cup Runneth Over. This is an additional assurance of the thoroughness and fullness of my demonstration; not simply that God will rescue me from my difficulties, but that I am going to receive a clear, full, and all-satisfying solution to my problem, and of the unseen causes underlying it, so that it will disappear forever out of my life. When my Good Shepherd replenishes my cup, it is not merely filled; it runs over.
Surely Goodness and Mercy Shall Follow Me All the Days of My Life. Because I know that every good prayer should finish with thanksgiving and a declaration of faith, I now give Thee thanks, Infinite Divine Love, for the accomplished fact, and I praise Thy glorious, unbounded perfection, for the flawless harmony, and peace, and triumph that shall surely be mine. I affirm this triumph. I claim it, I appropriate it. It is mine.
I Will Dwell in the House of the Lord Forever. Thank God that I now know indeed that the Lord is my Shepherd, and that I never shall want any good thing. I know it and realize it. My soul is rooted and grounded in Truth. Thy Presence is with me and it gives me rest. Now no fear nor doubt can by any means creep in. Eternal in the Heavens, and in that house I dwell with Thee forever and ever.
It is Finished, All is Well.
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