Song Story: I’m Alive! (Psalm 23)

Song Story: I’m Alive! (Psalm 23)

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.     

He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake.

+Psalm 23:1-3

Another promise fulfilled.  God put this familiar passage of Scripture on my heart and mind while working through another painful period in my life.  Hope rushed off the pages into my weary soul as I was reminded of God’s protective and loving care over me.  In this psalm, David, a shepherd himself, assumes the role of a sheep.  He looks to his Good Shepherd for comfort in distress.  In the context of a sin-soaked, conflict-ridden world, the first King of Israel went back to his roots.  God first called him when he himself was a lowly shepherd boy, unnoticed by his family.  He became the first true king of Israel (1 Sam. 16:1).  Now, facing danger from without he sought solace from within.  Often times the king was on the run from people trying to kill him, even his own son at one point!  From these instances he poured out his heart to God in prayer and penned many of the psalms.  This is one such psalm, a beautiful metaphor of the Christian life.

He Restores My Soul

I grew up in church hearing this passage, often times at funerals.  Once I became a Christian later on I began to realize that this is not simply a somber psalm, it is a joyful one!  David is rejoicing in the fact that his God, the Good Shepherd, has provided all that he needs to endure the trials he is facing.  Not only that, he trusted that God would anoint his head and make his cup overflow, signs of abundant divine blessing, in the presence of his enemies (v. 5)!  Finally, the goodness and mercy of God would be his close companions as he rests in God’s presence (v. 6).  The reality of our lives is that we will walk through dark valleys of pain and unexpected battles with satan and evil forces.  In the midst of these times, God is with us.  As our loving Father, he both protects us from danger and guides us in His truth.  This was true for me as I lost something precious to me.  I prayed this psalm back to God and thanked Jesus, my Good Shepherd, for strengthening me in my dark valley.  He truly restored my soul and caused me to see that in Christ I shall not want.  His grace meets my deepest needs and breathes new life into my weary soul!

I’m Alive! (Psalm 23)

Verse 

In the darkest valley Your light shines, light shines

You will lead and guide me to peace and refuge

I’m on my knees

You will raise me to my feet

Bridge

O Lord, You shelter me from the raging storm

O Lord, You rescue me from approaching harm

O Lord, You guide me out of the looming dark

Chorus

I’m alive!  I’m alive!  You breathe on me so I can live

I’m alive!  I’m alive!  Restore my soul and make me new

I’m alive!  I’m alive in Jesus Christ

*Written by Steve Sering and Olivier Clinton, 2015.