Psalm 23

[luciasclay]

As I ponder this Psalm, understanding that scripture can be read on more than one level, I see something I never used to. I want to know if perhaps the way I am seeing things is in agreement with Catholic teaching, and where it is similarly explained either in the current day or patristicly.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want;
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside the still waters
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
For his name sake
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I fear no evil;
For thou art with me;
Thy rod and thy staff,
they comfort me.
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
thou anointest my head with oil,
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life;
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

On the one hand I see it in the way it was always explained to me, and primarily dealing with our life on this earth. On the other I can also see it as mainly dealing with life beyond the here and now.

What I mean, in my challenge to explain what I am saying I will not say it completely, is that when I see him making us lay down in green pastures by still waters I see a component of death and of the beginning of the beyond, I see the graveside. When we walk through the valley of the shadow of death I see that as part of the journey we undertake on our way to unity with him. We do not fear evil because He is with us and we are comforted both by his chastisement/punishment ( his rod ) but also his staff. Though it is fearful and can contain torment as part of our purification yet at the same time he guides us and we do not fear the evil.

Ultimately we are eternally in his presence fully and dwell in the house of the Lord.

So from a Catholic perspective have I completely come loose from my pinions and and I seeing things that aren’t really there ? Or am I seeing something that has been understood by others for a long time and I am just starting to grasp ?

And I’m not looking at this as “proof” of anything. I’m just looking for the understanding of this passage within Catholic teaching.

Thanks.

 

[SHW]

I believe that Scripture passages can have more than one meaning. There is first the original intent of the writer.

And there are also more layers/insights of meaning which are for individuals to contemplate in their own personal walk with God. This is a good thing unless these personal insights become heretical in nature.

“and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” This is present tense ( the Church is the house of the Lord on earth) and future tense (heaven’s mansions/rooms becomes our “house of the Lord” after we die) in my own opinion. [John 14:2]](John 14:2 NKJV - In My Father’s house are many - Bible Gateway)

So, I do not think that your “pinion has come loose” nor has your “gear been stripped.”

 

[cheeto1]

That was an interesting idea of yours, to read it with an eye on eternity…
This line ruined it for me though:
“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies”

We won’t have any enemies in heaven or purgatory

 

[SHW]

That was an interesting idea of yours, to read it with an eye on eternity…
This line ruined it for me though:
“Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies”

We won’t have any enemies in heaven or purgatory

Perhaps part of “their” punishment in “hell” is to be forced to “see in their own minds” the wonderful banquet tables of the “saved persons” in “heaven.”

 

[Di2009]

Hello, this is the Psalm I always pray …make me strong !!!

 

[SouthrnCatholic]

Ultimately the psalms are poetry, and goodness knows that poetry can be interpreted many different ways. So I think it is a positive thing that you are looking into Scripture this closely. Also, I doubt its likely that anyone will fault you for looking for symbolism in the Bible-- particularly in its poetry.