Thoughts on Christian Living Book #2 by Dr. W. A. Dillard - HTML preview

SPENDING TIME IN A MOST LOVED 23RD PSALM

Verse one: “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” “LORD” is “Jehovah” or “Yahweh” the ever present, eternal, progressively self-revealing God of the patriarchs. “Shepherd” is “Roi” and some languages translate “Shepherd” as “Pastor.” “Want” is “Echsar,” with a negative means: shall never be destitute of what is actually needed in life. Verse two: “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still

waters.” “Lie down” is “Yarbits-ni” “Causing me to recline,” a position often preferred in ingesting a meal. “Green Pastures” is “Deshe binoth” literally meaning “Lots of good food.” “Leadeth” is “Yenaleni” “To guide, or conduct me.” “Still” is “Menucoth” “Rest, peace, quietness, consolation.” Verse three: “He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.” “Restoreth” is “yeshovav”

“to turn back to the starting point, to renew.” “My soul” is “Nephshi” “My life.” “For his name’s sake” is “Lemaan shemo” “For the reputation of his name.” Verse four: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” “Valley” is “Bege’” “A ravine or valley.” Verse five: “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” “Enemies” is “Tsorrai” the root word that give us “Czar, Caesar, Kaiser, etc. Its base meaning is “To cramp or limit, captivate.”

Verse six: “Dwell” is “Shabat” which means to settle down. It is the root word that gives us “Sabbath.” “Forever” is “L’orekh yamim” “Stretched-out days,” or the vanishing point where day never ends.

AN EXPANDED, AMPLIFIED TRANSLATION

Verse one: “The eternal God Who progressively reveals Himself is my Shepherd/Pastor; I shall not want (be destitute of the needs of life). Verse two: He causes me to lie down (recline) in green pastures (fields of good food): He leads, guides/conducts me by the side of still, restful, quiet, consoling, and undisturbed waters. Verse three: He restoreth (renews as turning back to the starting place each day) my soul (life) for His own reputation associated with His name.

Verse four: Yes, though I walk through the valley, (ravine, low, dark, and dreaded place) I will fear no evil for thou art with me, thy rod and thy staff comfort (protect and keep) me.

Verse five: Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies (who would captivate, cramp, and limit my purpose as one of Yours) (as a testament to your compassionate blessings); thou anointest my head with oil, (even the blessed, enabling Holy Spirit) my cup runneth over

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