The LORD is My Shepherd

A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. (Psalm 23:1-6)

When the Psalmist wrote of the LORD being a shepherd, he was starting an analogy that was going to encompass the remainder of the Psalm. As a shepherd cares for his sheep, God cares for His people.

In the Lord, we “shall not want” (Psalm 23:1). We do not lack any legitimate need. As a sheep needs nourishment from green pastures and clean water, God leads us to our true needs. Perhaps the needs are physical, but more importantly, our spiritual needs are fulfilled by the Lord. All we need to be saved and to function as God’s people has been procured and secured by the Lord Jesus Christ Himself.

“He restoreth” our souls (Psalm 23:3). When tired, broken, and in need of help, He brings us back from despair. He does this “for his name’s sake” (Psalm 23:3). Because He redeemed us by the blood of His Son Jesus Christ, He affirms His loyalty to us by the help He provides. He also does this so that we can glorify His name to the rest of the world, and testify of His goodness. This is opportunity to share with others as to how God has worked in our lives.

We will “walk through the valley of the shadow of death” (Psalm 23:4). There is nothing here that says that we will not have miserable times in our lives; there is no promise of an easy Christian life. However, we are assured by the Lord that He will be with us, so that we “will fear no evil” (Psalm 23:4). Whatever the time we may go through, He guides us with His rod and staff.

The world system is our enemy, and we may have specific enemies, but God provides for us in the midst of it all (Psalm 23:5). He provides more than we need. We see this happening with the Philadelphians (Revelation 3:9).

Wherever we may be, God is with us (Psalm 23:6; Matthew 1:23; 28:20). He is with us both in this life, such as the first part of Psalm 23:6 suggests, but we also will be with Him forever, as the second part tells us.

In John 10:1-18, we see Jesus as the “good shepherd.” He knows us by name (John 10:3), and we follow Him when He calls (John 10:3-5). He not only gives us life (John 10:10), but He also gives us His life (John 10:11, 17-18).

These could be the most intimate parts of the Bible, in how God takes care of His people. He says, “I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine” (John 10:14). Herein lies the challenge: do you have that intimate knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ? Does He know us the same way?

He said, “I lay down my life, that I might take it again” (John 10:17). Jesus Christ, the Son of God, both God and man, died for us to give us eternal life. Trust in Him.