Biblical Scholar: Born and Bred

November 28, 2006

In first grade I memorized many things. So many things, in fact, I can’t even remember them all - clearly it worked well. What I do remember memorizing is the Lord’s Prayer and Psalm 23. Both are prayers/psalms that just roll off the tongue and I don’t ever remembering reading them - as I found out today in class, belatedly.

We had to write one page on Psalm 23. Simple. Except it’s not really my favorite - never has been - too used, too lovely, who knows, no good reason. So, for one page, I focused on the one part that I do like, the second phrase of the first line - ‘I shall not want.’ Herein lies the problem. I have always thought ‘I shall not want’ refers to the Shepherd, not actually not wanting anything.

As a side note, I’d like to point out that when you do not provide an object, it does not unreasonable to assume the object being referred to is the one in the previous clause. Just saying . . .

So, I wrote a whole paper on how I appreciated the fact that sometimes we don’t want the rest and care offered to us. Apparently there is a comma and apparently the comma is traditionally taken to separate the clauses so that the object of the first clause is not the object of the second clause. Apparently I shall not want actually means I shall not want - like not want anything. Sigh.

I think I’m ready to be done with this semester.

Posted in religion, school, spirituality by Sarah