The importance of a personal relationship with God, not just a superficial understanding of Scripture.

From the heart of Dr. Robert L. Taylor, Th.D., Bible Teacher & Expositor. The story about two men quoting Psalm 23 with different reactions is a simple story that illustrates the power of personal connection and experience versus mere knowledge. One man, a seasoned actor, delivers the psalm with expertise, but the audience is unmoved. A young man, in contrast, shares the psalm with a deep, personal connection, and the audience is moved to tears, understanding that the young man “knows and appreciates the Shepherd” more than the actor knows the psalm. The first man (the actor) is skilled in reciting Psalm 23, knowing the words and delivery well. However, his performance, though technically sound, fails to resonate deeply with the audience. They remain unmoved, even though the actor is considered a skilled performer. The second man (the young man) humbly asks to recite the psalm, and after he does, the audience is deeply affected. There is no applause, only weeping, as the young man's recitation evokes a powerful emotional response. What’s the key difference? The actor knows the words and the mechanics of Psalm 23, but the young man knows the Shepherd, the Lord, who is the central figure of the psalm. This personal connection is what moves the audience and leads to their profound reaction. The lesson of the story highlights the importance of a personal relationship with God, not just a superficial understanding of Scripture. The young man's heartfelt delivery, born from his personal relationship, is far more impactful than the actor's technical performance. Psalm 23 is extremely popular, considered by many to be the most famous psalm. Many (believers and unbelievers) can recite it verbatim. The psalm's brevity and straightforward language make it easy to memorize and recite, further contributing to its popularity. Where are we in this story? If you’re a believer, God wants to bring you into a bold, new appreciation of His care and concern for you. He wants you to understand and embrace the vast difference between personal connection and experience verses mere knowledge. Out of this relationship there will emerge a growing admiration and affection for the Shepherd of psalm 23. Be encouraged!