The Lord Is My Shepherd

"Briggs offers a fresh study of this beloved and familiar psalm, but even more, he uses it as a key to open the gate into the vast garden of biblical interpretation, which has been much tended from ancient times to the present. He is the best kind of guide; his deep and wide knowledge, engaging style, and genuine faith are both eye-opening and edifying for readers who share his interest, even if they do not share his expertise."

"A whole book on one little psalm? But this is no ordinary psalm, and Richard Briggs is no ordinary interpreter. He writes thoughtfully, he is always interesting, he reads widely, and he manages to share the fruit of his reading without letting it get in the way. He is a fine match for this short, profound, provocative psalm. Anyone who reads this book will learn a lot about Psalm 23 and will be driven to think a lot about interpretation."

"Many of us have loved Psalm 23 for more years than we can remember. This small volume not only surveys the land of biblical scholarship, mining for treasure, but allows the psalm to sing us a song for today. Gently calling us back to a rich vision of biblical preaching, which is sometimes clouded in today's church, the author's exploration of the world behind, within, and in front of the text enriches our understanding and quenches our thirst for the one whose goodness and mercy pursue us all our days. Overfamiliarity can threaten our reception of such texts. I wholeheartedly commend this book to any individual or small group seeking to deepen their appreciation for this psalm. It provides fresh resources for our pilgrimage, whatever the stage of our journey."

"In this fresh exploration of Psalm 23, Briggs deftly demonstrates that for the church the most interesting and promising paths through this famous psalm not only begin with the text but continually return to it."

"There is no such thing as a tired text. Texts do not get tired; readers get tired. Sometimes, although we'd be loath to admit it in public, we get tired of 'the same old text.' What new thing could possibly be said about Psalm 23 after all these years? Surely nothing. But that--as Richard Briggs contends so convincingly--is not the point. We do not need a 'new' thing, a new way to read and understand this psalm. The ancient text is as alive, vibrant, colorful, meaningful, metaphorical, complex, challenging, comforting, and simply beautiful as it has always been. It still speaks meaningfully, and each generation needs to hear its voice afresh for their life and context. Briggs helps us do just that. This thoroughly engaging journey in Psalm 23 takes us through critical readings and reflective exegesis before landing in the realms of how this ancient, well-known, and much-loved poem might speak to the twenty-first-century reader. You'll be glad you took the trip--I certainly am. Read and enjoy."

"The waters of Psalm 23 are still, but very deep. This book will help any reader who wants to experience those depths more fully. Richard Briggs's exploration offers a richness of insight about meanings and experiences of this psalm. The book does not just help the reader encounter Psalm 23 as a single piece of Israelite hymnody; it offers thoughts that are beneficial for reading the Psalter as a whole. The reader is encouraged to listen for the voice of the psalmist and to explore how this voice has spoken across the centuries and how it can speak to us today. Thoughtful and scholarly but also accessible, this book will greatly benefit preachers and teachers and also any Christian who wants to dive deep into this touchstone text."