Lent as Following the Shepherd | Psalm 23 | N.T. Wright Online

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LENT AS FOLLOWING THE SHEPHERD | PSALM 23
One of the most well-known biblical poems, Psalm 23, is, at its heart, essentially Lenten - the story of going through a dark valley. But the lead-up to this journey, in which the poet envisions themself as a sheep, reminds us that the way to do the Christian life, as the way to do Lent, is to stick close to the good shepherd, who protects and provides.
PEOPLE OF PROMISE
People of Promise is a new weekly devotional series reflecting on the rhythms of traditional seasons in the Church year.
People of Promise: Reflecting the Rhythms of Lent presents passages from Scripture to illuminate the themes of Lent and provide encouragement for your spiritual walk. Prof. Wright invites viewers to follow Jesus in the way of the cross, sustained by the scriptures, as we look towards the purposes of God.
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[@julietjoseph7511]

Thank you. Very clear n well explained

[@NTWrightOnline]

You're welcome! We're glad it was helpful.

[@sherrywebber4013]

I have heard this Psalm my whole life as my great great aunts being raised Baptist I loved this ! But for me, I came to understand it as my husband was home with hospice. He never stopped calling on the Lord even til his last breath & Jesus was with me & sustained me as well. He IS our Shepard our whole life. We will never be plucked from His hand. ❤️🙏

[@NTWrightOnline]

You and your husband's faithfulness and love for Jesus is a beautiful testimony, Sherry. Thanks for sharing.

[@sherrywebber4013]

@N.T. Wright Online you're so welcome. I know I referr to him often but he was such a witness to me since I had met him in 1996.

[@hersello]

I really appreciate the take on the "dark valley". I will now look at that verse relevant to our World, right now. Everything is so gloomy but consolation ... "God is with me ......" Thank you very much.

[@ijsegovi]

Saludos desde Chile

[@erinniedergall2068]

Beautiful...the Lord IS our Good Good Shepherd. His promises are always faithful! HE is our Hope!

[@juancarlosaliba4866]

I loved this Psalm but having a fresher perspective of this classical Psalm of David gave me hope that God is indeed our Shepherd! Only His cross is our light and salvation!

[@paullatif4092]

Refreshingly fresh and anointing !! Thank you !! 🙏🙏🙏

[@Backrenz]

Always new depths to be discovered in this Psalm. Thank you so much for taking us through it this Lent.

[@mikeanderson7955]

Another blessing from the mind of Professor Wright! A few weeks ago he said lent was to trigger repentance that was to reconnect us with the Lord. Now, in this Psalm, he reminds us that we need to stay connected! Thank you - and thanks to all the production folks behind the cameras who put all this together and send it out so the rest of us can be blest!

[@jlheidbreder]

When you teach I listen intently. Thank you, Pastor

[@robbieendris3948]

Excellent teaching!

[@teresamorris1790]

The 23rd Psalm has traveled with me through the ups and downs of life. N.T Wright has made it even more meaningful for me. Thank you!

[@ivanronald]

I love this Psalm, I'm just reminded that the Lord prepares a table in the presence of challenging times, in the presence of our enemies

[@user-rd8iq2rs2h]

I am sitting in my living room and listening to my favourite psalm, one that I whisper to myself all the time, and suddenly the verse on "Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies" makes sense. Thank you NT

[@carolynknight2057]

As a child this was the first scripture I memorised. The first line has been a strength and stay in my life for 70 years. If the Lord is in my life I don't need anything else because I have the source of all life...unconditional love

[@berememberedfortheloveyoug244]

Glory to God. Thank you Mr Wright. A added perspective on one of the most personal and lived experienced Psalm.

[@elmienthom9825]

Thank you, prof. Wright, for filling Psalm 23 with (new) Lenten meaning for me today.

[@jdmoore1230]

I love this idea of “being with God as long as I live”. That my God is a shepherd who never goes away. I think it was Walton who wrote in The Lost World of Genesis One about the foundational presence of God in the world as expressed in the creation narrative. My God is near. As you talk of the shepherd and the sheep, I couldn’t help but think of how the shepherd is always there, even if/when the sheep wander off, lose sight of him, and begin to imagine he is gone. But he is there, here, and quick to draw near when trouble presents itself. Thank you for this encouraging reminder!

[@jagrimson6632]

I love how teaching of the Word done right brings peace not unrest.

[@olavoribeiro7598]

Thank you for this meditation, so profound and inspiring!

[@kristinekalapos1066]

SO IMPORTANT for us to hear that in reading and believing this psalm we are doing what so many people - likely now in heaven and done with sufferings - did to get through the hard times by trusting in God.

[@NTWrightOnline]

Indeed--and, surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses!

[@davidparsons1905]

God is Love!

[@louiselee3593]

Yes, He is my shepherd who has restored me to enter into His kingdom with joy and peace. Thanks for the precious message.🙏💝

[@robyncolemanlifecoach]

Psalm 23 is one of my favourite psalms. “For you are with me” is a verse I always lean on. Thank you for the fresh perspective of this Psalm being aligned to the Lenten journey. The imagery really is aligned. Bless you for creating this channel, it is most appreciated 🙏🏻

[@NTWrightOnline]

We're so glad you're here!

[@endalekinfe3391]

Am so blessed!!!

[@AngelRoseAngel1980]

Amen

[@wt3435]

Amen. He is our Good Shepherd.

[@thomascurran4323]

This favorite psalm of mine reminds me that our God is a personal God who created me, saves me and counsels me towards full communion with Him. 🙏❤🙏

[@darkknightsds]

Hi Tom, This is beautiful. Thank you for being you.

[@lorifast5496]

I had never thought of the table being set in the Psalm as the communion table, but I like that a lot. Even in the midst of a chaotic and difficult world, we stop and gather and partake of the Eucharist to remind ourselves of our God who is feeding us in the midst of all of it.

[@NTWrightOnline]

Yes! It is encouraging to reflect on the presence of the community of saints gathered around the table-- esp in the midst of adversity.

[@judytheobald8704]

Psalm 23 is always relevant in my life … so appreciate hearing this now, thank you.

[@AnthonySeptic]

He restoreth my soul ❤

[@bettyh7586]

I’m told sheep have to have their heads anointed with oil to prevent pests get into the nose and eyes of sheep and they might die. An excellent book on sheep is “A Shepherd Looks at the 23 Psalm”. It answered a lot of my questions.

[@KatyLuGreene]

I am reading this book right now and have been so surprised and encouraged

[@sudhiralexander6076]

Sir thank you for a very beautiful and motivational message on Lent days, reminds me as Holy Scriptures say '" My Grace is sufficient for you "" ..... Peace of YESHUA be upon us

[@NTWrightOnline]

Amen!

[@judihulslander298]

I am being well fed by this series! Philip Keller wrote "A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23", a short little book, that considers each verse. As I remember, the table refers to preparing the pasture area for the sheep, clearing out the poisonous weeds that the sheep would just chomp down. I've found that image very comforting.... I am enjoying this series. Thank you so much!

[@NTWrightOnline]

We're glad to hear you're enjoying the series. Thanks for sharing!

[@PeterAlmenar]

Thank you for a fresh reading of this and an insightful reflection on it. The tie-in to Lent touches my heart. Yes! Hope Dr. Wright is doing well. It looks like his hands are still affected. Prayers!

[@NTWrightOnline]

It seems that the arthritic pain has been more manageable lately-- prayers are very much appreciated!

[@Sunwolfe]

Scripture under the influence of the Ruakh HaKodesh constantly amazes me… “living and active….” I imagine I have heard this Psalm hundreds of times, recited it just as many, and listened to multiple sermons based on it, today it strikes home-yet again-both as a testament to Adonai’s care but also as proof-positive of how all too soon humans forget. Oh, to learn how to “renew my mind“ to a greater awareness of God‘s presence. It’s so easy in tough times to turn to Him in desperation and cry: “Where are You!?“ But I would rather a faith so fully awake that my initial reaction is to sigh with deepest relief and instead say: “I am so glad You are here!”

[@NTWrightOnline]

Beautiful reflections. What a wonderful image your words evoke--to think of feeling lost in the wilderness and then to have our eyes and hearts awakened afresh to the presence of our great shepherd.

[@annschwarz3727]

Thank you for this meditation. My family had a small flock of sheep all of whom knew my dad's voice and would come when he called. It was a picture of trust. How much more is our good shepherd trustworthy.

[@NTWrightOnline]

Love this!

[@lindseyperry1436]

🙏

[@janetgeist8505]

Our family is going through our own dark valley with the loss of our beloved daughter this last fall (2022). This Psalm has been a great comfort to us all. Thank you for sharing this Lenten message.

[@NTWrightOnline]

Thank you for sharing with us, Janet. May the Great Shepherd be very close today and be with you and your family.

[@2kwanda]

❤

[@PatJensen-xq2bt]

I never thought about the idea of "in the presence of my enemies" mirroring was going on with at the last supper - how real this makes that verse in the Psalm to me and what a comfort too. Thank-you so much for your faithfulness, God has blessed me through your work.

[@joyhamilton-jones7184]

Thank you for unpacking this passage and enlightening our Lenten path. Thank you for being a blessing to many

[@glyndavies8061]

I remember someone pointing out that as soon as David enters the valley of the shadow of death he switches from the 3rd person to the 2nd person. He stops talking about God and starts talking to God. When you enter the valley of the shadow of death it becomes personal.

[@NTWrightOnline]

Good words.

[@2013ladybird]

Please, allow in your videos automatic Czech subtitles, too. Or allow us to make them. The videos are so great, people around me who do not speak English would enjoy them, too. ❤

[@kijungkim3097]

Wright. I am really enjoying to listen to your powerful words every time. I just started to look at Psa23 with youth in my church near Birmingham. Your representing will be good sources with it. I will try to listen and listen again and again. Just kindly wondering if there is any ways to get the scripture that you say?? Because it would be good to practice teaching and preaching for me as a foreigner. 😊

[@NTWrightOnline]

It's wonderful to hear of your work with youth. As for the scripture reading, the translation is from the NRSV. If you haven't already turned on the captions (CC), that is one quick way to read the text as the video plays.

[@hassanmusa4552]

Dear Prof. Wright. In the midst of political and religious tensions in Nigeria your exposition of Psalm 23 is a great reminder and the assurance of the presence and love of God who is our gracious Shepherd. Thank you indeed for this blessing.

[@NTWrightOnline]

May God be a very near comfort and bring assurance during these very difficult times.