Article December 12, 2011 Issue

Where the psalms turn us when we turn to them

By Channing Walker

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

–91 Psalm

I have no quarrel with sheep. On typical days I give them no thought at all. I suspect they return the indifference. So, why is it that when the Psalmist speaks of sheep he gets my attention every time? It could have something to do with authenticity. For the Psalmist, shepherds and sheep were a genuine part of genuine life. In a 21st century world where the artificial seems to show up at every turn—artificial lighting, artificial smiles, artificial flowers, artificial rocks, and so on—the authentic stands apart as a precious rarity.