I appreciate your comments, Danny. God is Jehovah Shalom, the God of Peace, and Jehovah Rapha, the God Who Heals, most definitely. But He never promises an abundant life. What He does promise is to provide everything we need (Matthew 6:25-34). This is what green pastures and still waters are. Yes, a place to rest and refresh in His peace and security but also a reminder of His daily faithfulness and abiding love.

I agree, sometimes we don't need to look too deeply into certain Scriptures. When we read it plainly, we get the full meaning. But other times there needs to be context, which happens frequently since we were not there to witness any events or personally understand the culture. By looking at Psalm 23 through an Israeli shepherd's eyes, we can more fully grasp what David was trying to say and more fully appreciate how good God is.

Blessings to you, Danny. I pray you continually seek the Lord's peace and goodness.