Psalm 23

In this soul searching psalm the first and final word is Lord. The first two verses refer to the OUTDOORS, the remaining four verses refer to the INDOORS of life.

We have the sevenfold action of the Shepherd Lord; namely:
He maketh , He leadeth, He restoreth, He guideth, He protects , He anoints, He prepares.

Clearly the journey or pilgrimage of life may be thwart with peril and fear, but by faith and belief we can overcome the dangers, for verse four's assurance 'Thou art with me', rings a glorious message of HOPE. the end period is a stable and secure destiny, dwelling 'in the house of the Lord'.

Faith and belief are two words that cannot be divorced, and both words arrive at a point where the Distinction between them disappears. Faith and belief are like shadows - inseparable. The Psalmist speaks of the 'shadow of death' (v.4) which means that where there is a shadow there MUST be light - and that light is Jesus. (John 8:12).
 
Faith (which has LOVE as its source) casteth out fear, this is the undoubting assurance of this psalm. In this short pictorial story where are you found?  Two mountain goats are walking on a narrow ledge high on the mountain. Soon they come face to face - One is called Faith, the other is called Fear. They know they cannot pass each other , the ledge is too narrow. They know they cannot turn around and go back from whence they came, the ledge is too narrow. So what is the solution ? The solution is - one of them must lie down for the other to step over. In your life which one is stepping over - is it Faith or is it fear ?