His Story: A journey through the greatest story of all time
The Bible isn’t just an old book—it’s God’s story, and it’s still alive today. His Story takes you chapter by chapter through Scripture, combining simple readings of God’s Word with prayer for every listener and occasional reflections on what the passage means for our lives right now.
Whether you’re brand new to the Bible or have been reading it for years, this podcast is a space to slow down, hear God’s Word spoken, and be reminded that His story is also our story.
His Story: A journey through the greatest story of all time
When the valley comes, the Shepherd draws near
What if the deepest peace doesn’t wait for calm, but meets you right in the middle of the fight? We open Psalm 23 and trace its simple, fierce logic: a Shepherd who leads and restores, a valley where fear loses its grip, and a feast set in full view of enemies. As we move line by line, we unpack the surprising shift from talking about God to talking to God, and why intimacy often blooms where the light feels thin and the shadows loom large.
Together we sit with the rod and staff—protection and direction in one faithful hand—and explore how abundance looks when it overflows in unlikely places. The image of oil and a brimming cup isn’t spiritual decoration; it’s a defiant promise that nourishment and honor can arrive while the battle still rages. We also dig into the Hebrew sense behind “follow,” discovering that goodness and mercy are not lagging behind us but actively pursuing us, reshaping how we read both setbacks and surprises across our days.
You’ll hear a short reading of Psalm 23, a practical guide to memorizing it piece by piece, and reflections designed to travel with you into workrooms, hospital halls, and quiet kitchens. By the end, expect a sturdier hope, a clearer picture of God’s presence, and a fresh desire to rest, walk, feast, and dwell under the Shepherd’s care. If this spoke to you, share it with a friend, subscribe for the next episode where we turn to the prodigal son, and leave a quick review to help others find their footing in these timeless words.
The Bible isn’t just an old book—it’s God’s story, and it’s still alive today. His Story takes you chapter by chapter through Scripture, combining simple readings of God’s Word with prayer for every listener and occasional reflections on what the passage means for our lives right now.
Whether you’re brand new to the Bible or have been reading it for years, this podcast is a space to slow down, hear God’s Word spoken, and be reminded that His story is also our story.
Welcome back to His Story, a journey through the greatest story of all time. Today we walk with David through Psalm 23, a song for the valleys and for the mountaintops. The Lord is my shepherd. The Psalms' gifts, provision, guidance, restoration, protection, honor, and home are all noteworthy. The shepherd image carries friendship and guardianship. John Piper calls this a wartime psalm. Its comfort is forged in conflict, and it points to the shift from he to you in the valley, marking intimacy under pressure. Let's get started. Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you so much for the psalms that David and so many others wrote that were authentic to who they are and what they were feeling, and what they thought about you. May we take comfort in them. May we get peace from them. May we get inspiration from them. May we see your love and your protection and your guidance through their struggles and what they wrote. We thank you so much for your word and that you have provided for all of our needs, both spiritual and physical. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil. My cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. This is almost like a deep breath for the soul. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. It's not David bragging about what he has. It's David resting in who God is. Because if the Lord is your shepherd, then lack doesn't give the final word. I love how it shifts in the middle. At first, David says, He leads, he restores. But when he's in the valley, he switches to you are with me. It's in the darkest places that God feels closest. That's when his presence stops being theory and becomes reality. And then there's that picture of a feast right in front of enemies. That's bold. It's like God saying, I'll nourish you even while the battle rages. The overflowing cup, the oil of blessing. It's abundance in the least likely place. Finally, David ends with confidence. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me. The Hebrew actually carries the sense of being pursued. God's mercy isn't dragging behind, it's chasing us down. That's why David can say, I'll dwell in the house of the Lord forever. He knows he's already home in God's care. When I was a kid, this was one of the few psalms that my mom encouraged us to memorize. It's short. It's a story. It's meaningful. It's applicable today just as much as it was when David wrote it several millennia ago. And I encourage you to do the same. Take some time to either re-listen to this or grab your Bible and read it several times. Memorize one verse, then memorize two verses, and then another. And before you know it, you will have Psalm 23 hidden in your heart. God, thank you so much for this passage today. Thank you that in six short verses, we can see your blessing, your protection, your abundance that you pour out on us. Even when we are in our deepest and darkest moments. God, we love you and we thank you so much for the blessings that you provide us. Whether it be in good circumstances or challenging circumstances, your love stays the same, and we thank you for that. Thank you for your word that we can read it, that we can understand it, that your Holy Spirit can teach us just as we read it by ourselves. And thank you, God, for always providing for all of our needs. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Next time we will hear Jesus' story of the prodigal son in Luke 15 and watch grace run. Until next time, remember, Jesus wrote the greatest story ever told, and that includes loving you and me completely. See you next time.
