“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want…” Sound familiar?

Psalm 23 is likely one of the most recognizable chapters in the Bible. We learn it in Sunday School, see it in funeral programs, and notice it on church décor. Even those who do not attend church have likely heard this psalm a few times during their life.

When verses and chapters become familiar to us, we tend to not pay as close of attention to them. When we see it in our Bibles, it can be tempting to think, “Oh, I know what this says already. Why read it again?”

Here’s why: because the Bible is a “living document.” In 2 Timothy 16-17, Paul writes, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” The word of God always has something new to glean and learn, even if it’s from a familiar passage.