SongsfortheFinalHourofShabbat: TheThirdShabbatMealPsalm23,MizmorLeDavid

SONGS FOR THE FINAL HOUR OF SHABBAT: THE THIRD SHABBAT MEAL

PSALM 23, MIZMOR LEDAVID

,דִוָדְל רוֹמְזִמ ׃רָסְחֶא אֹל יִעֹר הוהי

,יִנֵציִבְּרַי אֶשֶׁדּ תוֹאְנִבּ ׃יִנֵלֲהַנְי תוֹחֻנְמ יֵמ־לַע קֶדֶצ־יֵלְגְּעַמְב יִנֵחְנַי ,בֵבוֹשְׁי יִשְׁפַנ ׃וֹמְשׁ ןַעַמְל

תֶוָמְלַצ איֵגְבּ ךֵלֵא־יִכּ םַגּ ,יִדָמִּע הָתּאַ־יִכּ ,עָר אָריִא־אֹל ׃יִנֻמֲחַנְי הָמֵּה ךֶתְּנַעְשִׁמוּ ךְטְבִשׁ

,יָרְרֹצ דֶגֶנ ןָחְלֻשׁ יַנָפְל ךֹרֲעַתּ ׃הָיָוְר יִסוֹכּ ,יִשׁאֹר ןֶמֶּשַׁב ָתְּנַּשִׁדּ ,יָיַּח יֵמְי־לָכּ יִנוּפְדְּרִי דֶסֶחָו בוֹט ךאַ ׃םיִמָי ךֶרֹאְל הוהי־תיֵבְבּ יִתְּבַשְׁו A psalm by David. God is my Shepherd, [tending to me so that] I lack nothing.

God settles me in green meadows, Leading me gently by restful streams. God [regularly] refreshes my soul, Guiding me on paths of justice so that I [can] proclaim God’s name [and nature].

Even when I must walk through a valley overshadowed by death, I will fear no harm, for You are with me! Your rod [in the form of educative suffering] and Your support [both] give me comfort.

You set out a feast before me in the presence of my [inner and outer] adversaries. You anoint my [anxious] head with [soothing] oil, and amply quench my thirst. May goodness and kindness follow me all the days of my life, And may I [merit to] be at home with Adonai for evermore.

THINK

Before he became king, David was a shepherd. Becoming who he needed to be to lead the Jewish people was not as simple as caring for a herd. He went through trials and battles, he was pursued by adversaries, he had significant family troubles. Through it all, God was by his side, just as God is by our side as we become who we are meant to be. This psalm is David’s tribute to God as his Shepherd, his acknowledgment that God was with him all along.

REFLECT

Whom do you shepherd? Who shepherds you? What does that look like in dark moments?

CONNECT

Toward the end of Shabbat, as we prepare to reengage with the world, we speak King David’s powerful line, “I will fear no harm, for You are with me!” May this line and the nourishment of Shabbat bring us the courage to focus on that which is most meaningful and important, even if not easy. PERSONAL PRAYER

From the darkness of night, I awaken to light. From the depths of pain, I rise up stronger. From the support of loved ones, I overcome trials. When I am afraid, I find Your care. When I seek knowledge, You grant me wisdom. When I am lost, You shepherd me home. Thank You, God, for Your steadfast Presence is with me.

— Lynn Turner Sousley,

Overland Park, Kansas