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Lessons in Hope: Tehillim Chapter 23

Grades: Middle School/High School

Introduction

The Book of Tehillim is a book from Tanakh that is attributed to King David. It has been a primary text for prayer and inspiration for more than 2,000 years. Its perakim cover the full range of human emotions from joy and gratitude to fear and despair. There are certain chapters and verses that have become particularly connected with the concept of Hope.
 

Throughout hard times, Jewish people turn to Tehillim for comfort and as a source of strength. Since October 7, the book of Tehillim has been completed countless times by Jews around the world, praying for the wounded, for the safe return of the hostages, for the success of the IDF, and more.

Tehillim 23 is one of the most famous psalms and one of the most often turned to in times of distress.

 

The goals of this lesson are:

A) to understand the deeper meaning of the text, including the metaphors used

B) to help build psychosocial tools students can use to bolster their own hope

C) to provide artistic outlets for students to express their hope

Note to teachers: The italicized questions are “talking points” to be used individually or in groups. (Feel free to select the prompts that you feel will resonate with your particular group of students). Students can keep journals or jot down thoughts and then share them in groups. It could be useful to combine responses into a chart or a Google Doc and share. It could also be useful to put responses on some kind of a physical sheet that is either distributed to students or hung up in a classroom.

A. Understanding the text of Tehillim 23

  1. Before he was a king, David was a shepherd. Shepherds have a special place in Judaism; many of our greatest leaders, from Abraham to Moses to David, were shepherds. What is it about being a shepherd that makes people good leaders? What is it about being a shepherd that makes people compassionate? Why is David “reminding” God that God is his and our shepherd?
  2. Pasuk 1. David refers to God as “my shepherd.” What does that metaphor convey? How is that image comforting to David and to us? How does the possessive “my” support the metaphor even more?
  3. Pasuk 2. How are the images of “green fields” and “quiet waters” images of peacefulness? How can visualizing these images help calm us when we’re in distress?
  4. Pasuk 3. How can faith and hope “restore” one’s soul? What are possible “paths of justice” that we can walk in?
  5. Pasuk 4. David references “the valley of the shadow of death.” Why might it be important to acknowledge the danger, the fear, the grief together with the hope? How are the shepherd’s crook and the walking stick (“your rod and your staff”) metaphors for support and comfort?
  6. Pasuk 5. What are the metaphors in this verse that convey victory? How are these metaphors both physical and spiritual?
  7. Pasuk 6. How are the words “will pursue me” ironic and how does the irony strengthen the message of hope? Why are “goodness” and “kindness” the things that are pursuing David now? What does it mean to “dwell” somewhere? What is or where is the House of God?
  8. The whole psalm is written in the future tense. How does this support its message of hope?
  9. Why do you think that this psalm has become so well-known—in both Judaism and Christianity? 

B. Building psychosocial tools to support hope

  1. David uses images familiar to him to help make “hope” more concrete and to visualize what it looks like. Do the images David uses—shepherd, sheep, green fields, quiet water, shepherd’s crook, walking stick, laid table, and fragrant lotions—speak to you and give you hope and comfort? Identify some images that bring you comfort and give you hope. Can you create an “image bank” that you can draw from
  2. Hope is both a general and a very personal thing. With a partner or in a small group, find out what others need/want to give them hope. How can you support hope in others?
  3. For David, fear/anxiety/grief are described as a “valley of the shadow of death.” Have you ever felt like you were in a dark place, a valley? How do you nurture hope and faith when you—or someone you know—are in that space? What are things that have given you support and hope—your “shepherd’s crook and walking stick?”
  4. What are your hopes for the future? Write them down or record them somehow. Review them and figure out what you need to do to work towards them.
  5. David’s hope is inextricably linked to his faith in God. How can you nurture your own faith and hope in God? Does using a set prayer/psalm like Tehillim 23 help you? And if not, what is your “go-to?”
  6. Tehillim 23 has been adopted by a “collective”. How does the notion of a collectively adopted text like this one give hope to you? How does being part of a collective, a praying and hopeful community, give you hope?

C. Creative Connections

Art: Using watercolors or colored pencils (to create a specifically soft effect): Have students create a visual representation of either a scene from this perek or an abstract representation of the emotions evoked.

Writing: A. Have students write about images/ideas that give them hope and comfort. B. Have students write their own psalm of hope. C. Have students write a “hope manual”—a practical guide to instilling hope.

Audio: A. Have students create a guided imagery/meditation audio. B. Have students choose melodies to this psalm that they have connected with. C. Students can sing together/play instruments to their favorite melodies. D. Students can create playlists of different melodies with these verses. 

Here are a few suggestions for recordings

  1. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2LKyhmYRECc – Ehud Banai, the “classic” version
  2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUv8Qy4pKNs – Gad Elbaz
  3. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=La5dG-dLcWk – a father and young son (Yoni and Lavi Genut); very soothing melody and images
  4. https://youtu.be/NqWFOy6NpXQ?si=jDOnUWZAZlM9efbH – Nigun Yerushalmi group