How Does Psalm 23 Apply to Me?

Well, of course you could take Psalm 23 in a Christian light, and apply it to your life that way.

But you don't have to be a Christian to reap the benefits from this psalm.

Maybe if we just looked at this psalm like Brooke looked at the world, then it would be easier to understand.

Psalm 23 is literally directions on how to live a great life.

(23:1) "I don't need a thing." --- We have everything and more. We need to take what we have and be happy with it. Moping about what you don't have, or what you want is not going to make you happy. We need to brighten up and look at the positive side of things

(23:4) "Even when the way goes through Death Valley..." --- Of course it isn't always going to be easy to be happy and cheerful, and of course bad things are going to happen, but if that's all you focus on, then what's the point? Pay attention to the good things, and let the bad things slip through your fingers.

(23:4) "Your trusy shepard's crook makes me feel secure." --- There's no need to be afraid. Don't fear what is unavoidable, but go through it with a smile.

(23:6)"Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life." --- I guess this is a Christian point of view, but still, if you view life, knowing that even when you die, you're going to have eternity to look forward to, it's a lot more uplifting.

(1 Timothy 4:12)

"Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set and example for the believers in speech, life, love, and purity."

David understood this verse and applied it to his life. Don't let anyone tell you you're too young to do something. David was barely 12 when he was anointed king and fought Goliath.

In modern society, Psalm 23 can be taken as a positive out-look on life. We don't have to look at it in a Christian point of view, but we can still apply it's good attitude to our lives.

Brooke Bronkowski

Since I Have My Life Before Me

I’ll live my life to the fullest. I’ll be happy. I’ll brighten up. I will be more joyful than I have ever been. I will be kind to others. I will loosen up. I will tell others about Christ. I will go on adventures and change the world. I will be bold and not change who I really am. I will have no troubles but instead help others with their troubles.

You see, I’ll be one of those people who live to be history makers at a young age. Oh, I’ll have moments, good and bad, but I’ll wipe away the bad and only remember the good. In fact that’s all I remember, just good moments, nothing in between, just living my life to the fullest. I’ll be one of those people who go somewhere with a mission, an awesome plan, a world-changing plan, and nothing will hold me back. I’ll set an example for others, I will pray for direction.
I have my life before me. I will give others the joy I have and God will give me more joy. I will do everything God tells me to do. I will follow the footsteps of God. I will do my best!!!

Brooke spent every penny she earned on Bibles that she kept in her garage to give to her friends. Pastors who heard about her donated Bibles to her so that she could continue to spread her passion to more people.

In Brooke's freshman year on the way to the movies, she was in a car accident and died. Though her life on earth was over, her love carried on. Over 1500 people attended her funeral, mostly people from her highschool that she didn't even know.

David Lies, Commits Adultry & Murders

One day while David sat in his palace, he noticed a beautiful woman, Bathsheba, bathing on her rooftop. When David consulted one of his servants, he found that she was married to Uriah, but this didn't keep him from loving her, and eventually getting her pregnant.





To keep anyone from knowing about Bathsheba and his baby, he called Uriah home from the battle, hoping he would lay with her, and assume it was his own child. But Uriah refused to leave the battle and go home to his wife. (2 Samuel 11:10-11)

"When David was told, "Uriah did not go home," he asked him, "Haven't you just come from a distance? Why didnt you go home?" Uriah said to David, "The ark and Israel and Judah are staying in tents, and my master Joab and my lord's men are camped in the open fields. How could I go to my house to eat and drink and lie with my wife? As surley as you live, I will not do such a thing!"




(2 Samuel 11:14-15)

"In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. In it he wrote, "Put Uriah in the front line where the fighting is fiercest. Then withdraw from him so he will be struck down and die."

Sure enough, Uriah died in the frontlines, and David married Bathsheba.




When the LORD sends Nathan, a prophet, to David, he tells him a story that resembles David's sinful life. David feels so bad that he admits to all the wrongs he had done and writes Psalm 51. The LORD punishes David by killing his first son, but soon Bathsheba give birth to Solomon, who the LORD loves and blesses.

And so the story continues.....

Saul's Jealousy

Saul sees that GOD loves David and has found favor with him, and not with Saul. This makes him angry and he tries to convince his son Jonathon to kill David. But Jonathon loves David and tells him to run away.

For 12 years, David is on the run and is forced to hide in caves in the mountainside with the lowest of people. Usually these people had Leprosy, or some other disease that exiled them from their cities.

But this was not the end of David. One day while David was in battle, Jonathon and Saul were killed on Mt. Gilboa while fighting with the Philistines. Though David was sad, he imediatly had to take up his new position as king.

David was a promising king that won every battle put before him, and ruled a rich land with good people. But David had problems of his own.

David & Goliath

At the time, Israel was at war with the Philistines. The Israelites were on the hill of Socoh and the Philistines were on the hill of Azekah with only a valley in between them.

One day, Goliath, a 9 foot tall Philistine coated in 125 pounds of armor, stood at the top of Azekah and shouted to Israel: (1 Samuel 17:8-11)

“Why do you come out and line up for battle? Am I not a philistine and are you not the servants of Saul? Choose a man and have him come down to me. If he is able to fight and kill me, we will become your subjects; but if I overcome him and kill him, you will become our subjects and serve us.” Then the Philistine said “This day I defy the ranks of Israel! Give me a man and let us fight each other.” On hearing the Philistine’s words,Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.

(1 Samuel 17:6)

“For forty days the Philistine came forward every morning and took his stand.”

One day, Jesse told David to take food to his older sons who were in King Saul's army. On the way, David here's one of the men saying that Saul is willing to give wealth, his daughter in marriage, and no taxes for whoever killed Goliath.

When David reached his brothers, he tells them he's willing to fight Goliath, but they imediatly get mad at him because he is too young, and too brave; they are jelouse.

(1 Samuel 17:31-37)

What David said was overheard and reported to Saul, who then sent for him. David told Saul, "No one should be discouraged because of this. I will go and fight this Philistine." Saul responded to David, "You can't fight this Philistine. You're just a boy, but he's been a warrior since he was your age." David replied to Saul, "I am a shepherd for my father's sheep. Whenever a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it, and rescued the sheep from its mouth. If it attacked me, I took hold of its mane, struck it, and killed it. I have killed lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them because he has challenged the army of the living God." David added, "The LORD, who saved me from the lion and the bear, will save me from this Philistine." "Go," Saul told David, "and may the LORD be with you."

Because David was too small for armor, he took with him a staff and 5 smooth stones (which he could hurl over 100 mph) and went to meet Goliath. When Golaith stepped forward, David did not tremble as he insulted him, but shouted back (1 Samuel 45-47)

"You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but Icome against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the GOD of the armies of Israel, who you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beast of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a GOD in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD's , and he will give all of you into our hands."

Then David kills him and cuts off his head with Goliath's own sword.

Saul gives David the highest ranking in his army, and loves him. David befriends Johnathan, Saul's son and lives happily in the kingdom, but only for so long.

Saul Finds David

Because Saul had rejected the LORD, evil spirits were sent down upon his body that tormented him. Saul searched his land for someone who could play music well, hoping that would ease the spirits.

Saul found David who played the harp, and kept him as his personal musician to keep the evil spirits away and give him peace.

David is Anointed as King

1 Samuel 15:23- "Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, he has rejected you as king."

In the book of Samuel, King Saul rejects GOD and tries to rule Israel himself. GOD gets angry with him, and tells Samuel to anoint a new king for when Saul dies.

Samuel goes into a field and finds the shepard, David, the son of Jesse, descended from Ruth. At the time, David was barley 12 years old when Samuel told him of his position as king when Saul died. David merely continued to tend his sheep, as if nothing had changed.

The Message Version

Psalm 23
God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows; you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I’m not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd’s crook makes me feel secure. You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing. Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I’m back home in the house of God for the rest of my life.