The 23rd Psalm
City of Light
Yahweh is my shepherd:
The city has no need for the sun or moon to shine, for the very glory of God illuminated it, and its lamp is the Lamb.
I shall lack nothing.
The nations will walk in its light. The kings of the earth bring the glory and honor of the nations into it.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
Its gates will in no way be shut by day (for there will be no night there),
He leads me beside still waters.
and they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it so that they may enter.
He restores my soul.
There will in no way enter into it anything profane, or one who causes an abomination or a lie,
He guides me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,
He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street.
Psalms + City of Light
- April 13, 2023
- | Jim Tallman
Psalms + City of Light
- April 13, 2023
- | Jim Tallman
Shepherd and Light
Like the 10 Commandments, the famous 23rd Psalm has two parts. It begins with the promise, “The Lord is my Shepherd,” which connects to the “Lamb,” the lamp of the city in Revelation 21.
Next, the 23rd Psalm promises “I shall not want,” or “I shall lack nothing.”
The connection here is not as obvious, but suggests something like, “I will not fall short.” Because of Christ, I am allowed into the city.
Inner Gate
I believe the place of green pastures of the 23rd Psalm is the Garden of Eden. The gates that are never shut lead back to this place of eternity.
Main Entrance
He “leads” me beside still waters, or waters of rest, matches the entrance to the city. It suggests Christ leads us into the city.
Other biblical passages mention us being able to “enter” his rest, or the opposite, to be not allowed to “enter his rest.” The Psalm connection here is less obvious, but it seems to flow.
Outer Gate
Nothing profane shall enter the city. This connects to the promise of Christ restoring our soul in the 23rd Psalm.
Names Written
The 23rd Psalm’s name reference that follows is pretty clear. Only those written in Jesus’ book of life can enter the city, where he guides us in the paths of righteousness, for his name’s sake.
Shadow of Death: Beneath the Light
The 23rd Psalm passage then leads to an interesting opposite: the valley of the shadow of death. This place of darkness is an opposite to the river of life that shines like crystal.
In fact, I believe the valley of the shadow of death lies directly below the City of Light and River of Life. This place of darkness is also where the 23rd Psalm wraps around, and its design begins again.
For the second half of the Psalm, click the right arrow or the “pt.2” link.
To explore these passages directly, click this button:
