- Hardcover: 192 pages
- Publisher: Knopf; 1 edition (Aug 26 2003)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1400040566
- ISBN-13: 978-1400040568
- Product Dimensions: 13.3 x 2.1 x 18.5 cm
- Shipping Weight: 249 g
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #253,741 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Many people regard the 23rd Psalm as one of the most familiar and comforting passages in the Bible. Rabbi Kushner, bestselling author of the spiritual classic When Bad Things Happen to Good People, looks to the psalm as a microcosmic statement about God-its 57 Hebrew words, he says, present "an entire theology" about life and loss. The psalm begins in a place of perfect peace-the psalmist lacks for nothing, and is tended perfectly by God the shepherd-but that peace is shattered by "the shadow of death." Going phrase by phrase through the psalm, Kushner tackles serious questions: what does it mean to lack for nothing? Where is God when we suffer? Some of his interpretations are quite fresh and interesting; for example, "the straight paths" in which God leads the psalmist are anything but straight, he claims, noting that the Hebrew is more accurately rendered "roundabout ways that end up in the right direction." Ultimately, that phrase's message is about trusting God when the way does not seem straightforward. The psalm is not Pollyannaish, but realistic: as Kushner points out, the psalmist has enemies, has known failure and has probably lost a loved one. He draws heavily on rabbinic Judaism, but also references popular culture (including Woody Allen films), Freud, Michelangelo and other diverse sources. Kushner writes well and engagingly, and his tone will make readers feel personally welcomed into the rabbi's study for a comforting one-on-one chat.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Rabbi Kushner hasn't become any less literate since When Bad Things Happen to Good People (1981) became so popular and beloved that its title was inducted into the American language, like Gone with the Wind and The Making of the President. Nor, as his explication of the most famous biblical psalm demonstrates, has he lost any of the pastoral talent that allows him to speak with cogency and comfort to Christians as well as Jews. He leads us through the famous song of consolation clause by clause, clearing up misconceptions; contrasting ancient, Renaissance, and modern understandings of terms (e.g., anoint); adducing contemporary happenings (e.g., the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing) and common feelings to show how the psalm's assertions and promises apply to our lives today; and gently, clearly disclosing systems of ethical behavior and religious faith that inform the great devotional poem. Perhaps the greatest overarching message of the psalm that Kushner wishes to inculcate is that it tells us that, though God does not prevent evil and suffering, He is always with each person who is wronged, each person who is suffering, and He will provide the resources of spirit to transcend fear and experience the ongoing holiness of life. Ray Olson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Inside This Book
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First Sentence
Can fifteen beautiful lines from a single page of the Bible change your life? Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt
Can fifteen beautiful lines from a single page of the Bible change your life? Read the first page
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Concordance
Browse Sample PagesConcordance
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt
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Most helpful customer reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
The cup runneth over...,
By FrKurt Messick "FrKurt Messick" (Bloomington, IN USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER) (HALL OF FAME)
This review is from: The Lord Is My Shepherd: Healing Wisdom of the Twenty-third Psalm (Hardcover)
Harold Kushner is probably best known for his popular book, 'When Bad Things Happen to Good People'. Kushner, a rabbi by profession, showed in that book that he could transcend the barriers that differences in religion can create, and reach a broad audience with general spiritual appeal. This text, 'The Lord is My Shepherd', of course comes from the 23rd psalm, a staple of liturgy, personal prayer and solace to Christians and Jews of all persuasions. As chaplain at a retirement centre, I find this psalm is very powerful almost universally among the residents; for those in the special care/Alzheimer unit, when often nothing else reaches in, this psalm is still there, on the lips of people who have forgotten the greater part of their lives - the words of this psalm still spring forth from their lips.It is this kind of depth and healing power that Kushner writes of in this wonderful little book. Looking at the psalm line by line, he explores the depths and breadths of the meanings that come forth. In fifteen short lines that most people in the English-speaking world have committed to heart (Kushner remarks that there is likely no other chapter of the Bible that holds that distinction), there is power. People are resistant to language changes - the King James Version is still the preferred one here, partly because the language hasn't changed that much, and partly because the power of the cadence of the words, crafted so powerfully in the early modern English translation. This psalm responds to a deep need in the human soul. It contains theology and spirituality, to be sure, but it in reality consists of images - calm waters, green grass, a caring and strong shepherd, the very definition of 'pastoral'. The world might be dangerous - yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death - but still, God is with us, and we need have no fears. God rejoices with us, God struggles with us, and ultimately, God welcomes us home - I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. The theology here is very practical, one that gives pastors a ready tool, and one that gives everyone a resource for their own connection and reassurance from God. Even though we no longer live in a society were shepherds hold such vital roles, we can relate automatically to the image. Although we rarely like as people or as individuals to be equated to 'being sheep', we nonetheless respond favourably to the comforting spirit of this psalm. As significant as what is in the psalm, it is also notable for what is missing. There is no fire and brimstone here, save perhaps in the evil the shepherd guards against. There is no judgment, no apocalypse, no tribulation - there is power, and there is guidance and protection, but God here is a God of compassion and love, full stop. As Kushner states in his introduction, this is a book that was forty years in the making. Kushner brings all of his experience as a rabbi to bear in the development of the text, integrating theological, historical and philosophical information with personal reflection and ministerial experience. It is easy to see in this volume why Kushner was honoured as clergyman of the year and author of one of the most influential books in many persons' lives. Surely goodness and mercy is here. Take and read.
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Must Have,
By
This review is from: The Lord Is My Shepherd (Paperback)
Most of us know bits and pieces of The 23rd Psalm . At some point we all suffer painful loss and its words come up.It is part of our culture. This simple and wise book makes this wisdom of the ages accessible. The writer's analysis of its layered meanings and his explanation of its ancient provenance makes a reader feel close to generations of fellow sufferers. I was given this book to read after a suddent death in my family. I found it immensely comforting. Although it speaks of God it is not specifically "religious" meaning that it can be claimed by any organized religion.If you have ever thought (or said) "Where was God? How could God let this happen?" then this is the book for you.
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Lord Is My Shepherd : Healing Wisdom of the Twenty-third,
By
This review is from: The Lord Is My Shepherd: Healing Wisdom of the Twenty-third Psalm (Hardcover)
Any book by Kushner, now Rabbi Laureate of Temple Israel in Natick, MA, is bound to command attention: the number of writers on moral or religious subjects who have contributed a phrase to popular discourse is very small indeed, and the title of Kushner's When Bad Things Happen to Good People has certainly entered our language. Kushner's new book, a full meditation on the most popular of psalms, will please his readers and not surprise them. It is, much as Kushner's earlier books, a nonsectarian, approachable meditation on religious themes, here (as prompted by the psalm) the fear of death and the hope of contentment. Kushner's work is as effective as ever. Highly recommended.
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