A Shepherd's Psalm
A psalm by David. The Lord is my shepherd. I lack nothing. He causes me to lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me. Your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You set a table for me in the presence of my foes. You drench my head with oil. My cup is overflowing. Surely goodness and mercy will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. (Psalm 23)
Next to John 3:16, this is probably the most well-known part of the bible. It’s in almost every home somewhere. It’s said at every Christian funeral (and rightfully so). It is a simple expression of the faith that we have in Jesus.
And yet, in such simple words, David expresses such profound truth. When David says that the Lord is his shepherd, he goes back to the days before he was king. The days when he worked hard for his father tending the sheep. It takes us back to what David had to do, killing bears and lions to protect the sheep. David expresses how defenseless we are, and how powerful the Lord is.
He also states the Lord’s providence. He gives us every good thing. There is nothing that we want spiritually. He gives us an abundance of his grace and mercy. Our cup overflows with forgiveness. And now, instead of wolves and bears and lions, God’s goodness and his mercy (his undeserved love for us) chase after us. They give us peace and hope and joy. All of these great blessings will be ours forever, as we dwell with the Lord for eternity. Amen.
The song for today is “The Lord's My Shepherd (Psalm 23)” by Stuart Townend