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Description: The Lord Is My Shepherd: Healing Wisdom of the Twenty-third Psalm (2003)
Harold S. Kushner (author of When Bad Things Happen To Good People)
Read by the author
Unabridged
Honored as one of fifty people who have made the world a better place, Rabbi Harold Kushner offers this meditation on the beloved Twenty-third Psalm. Unpacking the psalm line by line, Kushner proves its capacity to offer us guidance and consolation in this most uncertain world. For example, in the image of God leading us by still waters, Kushner reminds us that His presence can help us to master our emotions and build confidence. He also recalls the insights of others: for example, G.K. Chesteron's reading of "my cup runneth over," which acknowledges that just as children delight when Santa puts toys in their stockings, we should be grateful when God puts into our stockings two healthy legs. A gift of wit and grace.
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Many people regard the 23rd Psalm as one of the most familiar and comforting passages in the Bible. Rabbi Kushner, bestselling author of the spiritual classic When Bad Things Happen to Good People, looks to the psalm as a microcosmic statement about God-its 57 Hebrew words, he says, present "an entire theology" about life and loss. The psalm begins in a place of perfect peace-the psalmist lacks for nothing, and is tended perfectly by God the shepherd-but that peace is shattered by "the shadow of death." Going phrase by phrase through the psalm, Kushner tackles serious questions: what does it mean to lack for nothing? Where is God when we suffer? Some of his interpretations are quite fresh and interesting; for example, "the straight paths" in which God leads the psalmist are anything but straight, he claims, noting that the Hebrew is more accurately rendered "roundabout ways that end up in the right direction." Ultimately, that phrase's message is about trusting God when the way does not seem straightforward. The psalm is not Pollyannaish, but realistic: as Kushner points out, the psalmist has enemies, has known failure and has probably lost a loved one. He draws heavily on rabbinic Judaism, but also references popular culture (including Woody Allen films), Freud, Michelangelo and other diverse sources. Kushner writes well and engagingly, and his tone will make readers feel personally welcomed into the rabbi's study for a comforting one-on-one chat.
From AudioFile
Why are the 57 words of the Twenty-third Psalm so popular? Rabbi Kushner thinks that in an increasingly dangerous and confusing world, they offer a comforting message of protection and hope for the eternal future. But the psalm also has requirements: Embedded in its message are expectations to do more than accept comfort. These words expect us to act responsibly and with courage and creativity when life paints us into a corner, and invite us to look for ways to serve God and others on good days and bad. The author's comprehension of personal loss is palpable, and his empathy piercing and comforting. Kushner's nuanced and highly effective audio presentation will lift up people in every type of difficult circumstance. T.W.
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