A Fresh Breeze From the Overfamiliar

Yesterday was a grand day for our clan, a truly blessed day. A new little lamb arrived, a sweet pink bundle of blessing in human form. Added to that, her arrival was on an auntie's birthday. Is that not a double gift?

As I was counting my blessings, all this made me wonder what Psalms in Common Prayer were within the bounds for the day. One of those is Psalm 23. How appropriate is that?

But, as precious a Psalm as it is, it seems too common, if such a blasphemous word can be applied to the Word. The treasured phrases have become so commonplace in their usage. Its language is inserted in unholy movie scenarios, it is quoted without much feeling in too many instances, even in the church setting.

Here then is what I found. This is the metric version of this beloved Psalm of David from the 1856 edition of the Book of Common Prayer.

The Lord, Himself, the mighty Lord,

Vouchsafes to be my guide;

The shepherd, by whose constant care

My wants are all supplied.

In tender grass He makes me feed,

And gently there repose;

Then leads me to cool shades, and where

Refreshing water flows.

He does my wandering soul reclaim,

And, to His endless praise,

Instruct with humble zeal to walk

In His most righteous ways.

I pass the gloomy vale of death,

From fear and danger free;

For there His aiding rod and staff

Defend and comfort me.

Since God doth thus His wondrous love

Through all my life extend,

That life to Him I will devote,

And in His presence spend.

Yes.

That will do nicely. Quite well indeed, actually. Excellently so.

Amen.