Antipsalm 23

I found this in an article by David Powlison at CCEF Its quite the statement about sin and self-absorption in the human heart and the resulting alienation and fear.

Antipsalm 23

I’m on my own.
No one looks out for me or protects me.
I experience a continual sense of need. Nothing’s quite right.
I’m always restless. I’m easily frustrated and often disappointed.
It’s a jungle — I feel overwhelmed. It’s a desert — I’m thirsty.
My soul feels broken, twisted, and stuck. I can’t fix myself.
I stumble down some dark paths.
Still, I insist: I want to do what I want, when I want, how I want.
But life’s confusing. Why don’t things ever really work out?
I’m haunted by emptiness and futility — shadows of death.
I fear the big hurt and final loss.
Death is waiting for me at the end of every road,
but I’d rather not think about that.
I spend my life protecting myself. Bad things can happen.
I find no lasting comfort.
I’m alone … facing everything that could hurt me.
Are my friends really friends?
Other people use me for their own ends.
I can’t really trust anyone. No one has my back.
No one is really for me — except me.
And I’m so much all about ME, sometimes it’s sickening.
I belong to no one except myself.
My cup is never quite full enough. I’m left empty.
Disappointment follows me all the days of my life.
Will I just be obliterated into nothingness?
Will I be alone forever, homeless, free-falling into void?
Sartre said, “Hell is other people.”
I have to add, “Hell is also myself.”
It’s a living death, and then I die.

It sounds to me like something out of the mouth of a Dostoyevsky character. A summation of Man's condition and his end outside of redemption.
I am convicted though by how many of its statements sound like attitudes of my own heart. How about you?
Now read the real PS 23 for a glorious contrast of being shepherded by our Gracious Christ Jesus.

I also encourage you to read Powlison's couple of blog entires in this series as they give such Gospel hope and truth to challenge and answer our dark hearts of sin. They are long but worth it.