THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

Psalm 23

Psalm 23 is a very personal psalm written by David:  a shepherd boy anointed by God to be the Shepherd King.  Long before the crown was placed on David’s head, the Lord was preparing him to lead the people of Israel by first shepherding the sheep of his pasture: protecting them, tending to them, feeding them, caring for them, and guiding them to green pastures. 

Are you aware that when David, as a youth, stepped out to slay Goliath, that he picked up 5 stones and placed them in his shepherd’s bag?  He did not know it at the time, but David was protecting his future flock of Israel and willingly putting his life in harm’s way. It affirms in Psalm 78 that the Lord chose David, His servant, and took him from the sheepfolds “to shepherd Jacob His people…so he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart, and guided them with his skillful hands.”(v. 70-72) As a man after God’s own heart, David is a living example of the love and protection we find in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who said of Himself, “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." (John 10:11)

Let’s linger over Psalm 23 and explore the riches of each verse:

The Lord is my Shepherd:  If God is Lord of my life, then I am allowing Him to govern and guide my life, wherever and however He deems best.

I shall not want:  If I am trusting in my Shepherd to guide me, than I will not have any wants or needs other than what He provides.  He knows what is best for my life and feeds me out of His hand in His own timing and His own way.

He makes me lie down in green pastures: If my Father is providing for my needs and wants, I will find contentment and will not have to constantly graze or look for “greener pastures”.  I will be able to rest in His blessings and His care, no matter how abundant or how scarce.

He leads me beside quiet waters.  If I have found contentment and trust in His provision, then I will not drown in the rapid waters when life attempts to pull me under.

He restores my soul:  If I am finding peace and rest in Him, then this will give Him time to heal my innermost being and renovate the broken pieces of my life where harm has come to me from others or from myself. 

Our soul is our entire being: mental, physical, and emotional—our inner self.  It is the very core of who we are. The Lord not only wants to restore our spiritual life by giving us new life in His Son, Jesus Christ, but He also wants to restore the very center of our beings.  To restore means “to turn back, return, refresh, repair.” (H7725) During these times in my life I will learn to trust Him more as He teaches me His ways and that He created me for His workmanship. He wants all of our being healthy and whole, complete and satisfied in Him.  “You shall love the Lord your God with ALL your heart, and with ALL your soul, and with ALL your strength, and with ALL your mind” (Luke 10:27, emphasis mine)

He guides me in the paths of righteousness:  If I allow Him to come in and restore my soul, then I will become more like Him and will choose His righteousness over my own.

For His names’ sake.  If I choose His paths of righteousness, this will bring glory and honor to His name.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death:  If my life’s goal is to bring Him glory, than nothing is outside of His purposes for me.  Not the death of a loved one, the death of a dream, the death of my health, the death of a relationship.  He will never leave me nor forsake me, and He will work all things together for good “to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)  I must walk by faith and not by sight during these dark times of life.

I fear no evil, for You are with me:  If I trust that the Lord is with me and for me, and that He will ultimately right every wrong--maybe not in this lifetime on this side of eternity--but forevermore as we each stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. If I trust the Lord with all the circumstances of my life, I will trust Him in His discipline and correction of the path I have chosen to bring me back to Him.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies: If I trust the Lord to right every wrong, then ultimately Jesus will settle the score for me.  I do not have to take retribution or vengeance out on even the worst of grievances.

You have anointed my head with oil:   If I trust the Lord to be a God of Holiness and Justice, He will sooth my wounds done to me by others.

My cup overflows:  If I allow Him to sooth my wounds, the cup of my life will overflow. Gratitude and thankfulness will be the result that pour forth over my lips.

Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life:  If my life is overflowing with His grace and mercy and healing, then His goodness and lovingkindness will be evident in my life.

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. If I trust in Him and abide in His love, I will delight in eternity by daily entering His gates with thanksgiving while here on this earth and knowing that I will dwell with Him forevermore in Eternity.

One thousand years after the reign of King David, an angel of the Lord stood before the shepherds tending their flock outside the city of Bethlehem and announced that “today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11)  How beautiful that from David, past Shepherd King, to Jesus, future Shepherd King, the most famous birth announcement from heaven on high would be delivered with great joy to the shepherds protecting their flock by night.

“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; and the government will be on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.  There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forever more.” (Isaiah 9: 6-7)

How about you?  Have you allowed the Lord to draw you into a very personal relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd?  If not stop and ask Him into your heart today. If, however, you have a personal relationship with Christ, , are you allowing His Holy Spirit to lead and guide you daily through the good times of green pastures and the dark times of valleys and trials?  Allow Jesus to be both Savior and Lord of your life.  If you have known Him for a long time in your journeys, how can you personalize this psalm for your own life?  What does this psalm mean to you? Take some time to either memorize David’s words or rewrite this psalm with your own pen.  Below is my personal paraphrase of David’s most beautiful of all psalms:

Eternal guidance

Leads me to salvation

And rest for my weary soul.

Earthly trials

Teach me to trust Him more

And seek protection

In His discipline and love.

Eternal victory results,

Bringing with it

Abundant grace, goodness,

And lovingkindness

While I walk this earth

And forevermore in eternity,

Experiencing everlasting joy forever and ever

Through His Son, Jesus Christ.

Amen.