Over at the podcast, we’re getting ready to memorize Psalm 23! Pop on over to Scripture Memory with Alicia Podcast to follow along if you’d like.

As you get ready to memorize any of the Psalms we’ll be working through, I want to suggest a great resource to use alongside your Scripture memory. I used it with both Psalm 19 and Psalm 23, and it made my time in the Word so much more fruitful. I’m sure you’ll find it helpful too.

Did you know Psalm 23 is one of the most quoted passages in the Bible? It often appears in movies during moments of reflection or crisis, and it’s commonly read at funerals. Most of you listening have probably memorized the entire psalm—or are at least familiar with it. I’m a little embarrassed to admit that I haven’t memorized it yet. I’ve heard many sermons on it and studied it during a Bible class, but I’ve never truly meditated on its truths. That’s why I’m so excited to start memorizing this psalm with you!

Psalm 23 is only six verses long. That’s it, y’all—just six!

📖 As we begin learning Psalm 23, let me encourage you to:

• Read it every day for a week.
• Say it out loud daily.
• Find out who wrote it and to whom.
• Identify the main characters.
• Discover when it was written and why.
• Mark every mention of “the Lord,” including synonyms and pronouns.
• Mark every mention of David and note what you learn about him.
• Read John 10 and identify who the Good Shepherd is.
• Make a list of what you learn about the Lord.
• Make a list of what you learn about David.
• Take time to explore the descriptive words used for the Lord. What do they reveal about His nature and His care?

🧠 To stir your curiosity a bit more, here are some questions to ponder:

• What does a shepherd actually do? Are there different kinds of shepherds?
• If the Bible speaks of a good shepherd, then by contrast, what does a bad shepherd look like? Which one am I following?
• What are sheep like? Why do they need a shepherd?
• Is the Lord truly my shepherd? If not, who have I been following?
• If the Lord is my shepherd, what does that mean for both of us—practically and spiritually?
• And did you notice? The phrase is in the present tense: “The Lord is my shepherd.” So… how does that shape the way I live today?

📚 As I’ve been preparing to dive deeper into Psalm 23, I’ve also been studying outside resources to enrich our understanding. I’ve been using the New Bible Dictionary, tuning into podcasts on Psalm 23, and reading A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 by W. Phillip Keller.  Let me encourage you to check out the sermons and also these amazing resources to further your studies on Psalm 23! 

I think that’s plenty to ponder as you prepare to memorize Psalm 23. May your time in the Word be full of insight and rest.