Food for the Wilderness
Daily Devotion
May 5, 2020
Michael Fuchs, FLC Director of Choral Activities
The Lord Is My Shepherd
The imagery of God as our shepherd from Psalm 23 is one of the most powerful and prevalent in Christianity. It has been a fountain of theological and artistic inspiration throughout the generations, and will for generations to come. With regards to choral pieces, the Catalogue of Choral Music Arranged in Biblical Order lists twohundred and ninety-five compositions set to the text of Psalm 23, and even that lengthy list is not all-inclusive.
Two of my favorite choral settings of Psalm 23 are below. The first is by the American composer and vocalist, Bobby McFerrin. In this piece, McFerrin sets the text to a repetitive psalm tone, similar to what one might hear at an Anglican or Episcopal church, but with a decidedly jazzy feel. In addition, McFerrin brilliantly changes the pronouns of the text to the feminine, in honor of and dedication to his mother.
The next composition was written by John Rutter and is a movement of his famous Requiem. This exquisitely sensitive music features an oboe solo and harp, which gives it a pastoral feeling. The words and music combine to capture the comfort and sense of belonging prevalent in David’s words.