I’ve attended many funerals in my lifetime. It’s almost standard procedure at the end of the service to read Psalm 23.

It’s an encouraging prayer that will give a little peace to those left behind.

PSALM 23

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters.

He restores my soul;

He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.

Yea, 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 runs over.  

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; 

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” 

Many years ago, a high school student gave me the following, which refers to the addiction of television. I thought it was a clever way of describing what the TV can do to rob you of the good life.

THE 23RD CHANNEL

The TV is my shepherd, I shall not want.

It makes me to lie down on the sofa.

It leads me away from the scriptures.

It destroys my soul.

It leads me in the paths of sex and violence for the sponsor’s sake.

Yea, though I walk in the shadow of my Christian responsibilities;

There will be no interruptions: for the TV is with me,

Its cable and its remote control, they comfort me,

It prepares a commercial before me in the presence of my worldliness,

It anoints my head with Humanism,

My coveting runneth over.

Surely laziness and ignorance shall follow me all the days of my life;

And I shall dwell in the house watching TV forever. 

Psalm 23 and the 23rd Channel both send powerful messages.

If you have any questions or comments, please write Harold Keller at Get High on Life, P.O. Drawer U, Reserve, LA 70084, call 985-652-8477 or email hkeller@comcast.net.