He Is My Shepherd

This was a psalm of David. David is someone whom most of us can associate with. As we look at his life, He knew what it was like to be a lowly servant - as he served as a shepherd of actual sheep. He knew what it was like to be on the top of the social ladder - being the king and shepherd of thousands of human sheep the Israelites. He knew what sin was all about, having committed murder and adultery. He was a brilliant fighter, and an excellent musician. Maybe that’s why most of us know the story of David so well. Because we can all associate with him in some way or another.

He was a man who had a vast array of experiences. It seems to me, that this story by itself should be enough to peak our interest, knowing that this is the Word of God. So, in His mercy he tells us that this psalm was inspired through David. When we see that David wrote this psalm through inspiration of the Holy Spirit - our sinful ears are more apt to perk up immediately. When he said the Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside the still waters, 3 he restores my soul. It seems to be a peaceful picture!

David, the shepherd of sheep - said that the LORD was his shepherd. Notice the word Lord is spelled in capital letters. And when we see the Lord in all caps it means and stands for the ever- constant, never ending, unbroken, ceaseless God. The one who had consistently been there for the Israelites. The one that mercifully saved them from their slavery of the Egyptians. He is the one who led them through the desert - and brought them into the Promised-Land. Jesus identified Himself to be that Shepherd, and David knew that this LORD was his shepherd. And we should also know him as our shepherd.

And this is amazing, because other scriptures refer to God as our Rock and our Fortress. And what this statement means is that we can find shelter behind rocks and he provides a fortress for us from the enemies.

But when David says the Lord is His shepherd, what he is saying is that, our Lord is a living and personal God. One who carries us in his arms. He searches for us when we are lost. He takes a personal interest in us, and in the things that we do.

Somebody might ask, well how does this shepherd provide for us? Notice that He lets us lie down in green pastures, and then leads us beside quite waters. Now for the natural sheep, nothing can be better than when its shepherd feeds them in a pleasant green pasture, and near fresh water. Notice what the shepherd allows us to do. Not only does he allow us to graze on the green pastures, but he also allows us to lie down in them.

What are these green pastures symbolic of? It can be nothing else than the Word of God! As 1st Peter 2:2-3 says, as newborn babies, desires pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow thereby, 3. If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious, good, kind and compassionate. Hearing the Word of God is like eating a great dinner. The first time it gets between your teeth, your mouth wants more. You can’t wait to chew on it, swallow it, and get some more. After you have eaten that meal, you want more and more. And that’s the way the Word of God is. Once you have tasted it, the more you will desire it. Now I understand psalms 34 and 8 better when it says, oh taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed it is the man that trusted in him.

So, back in the 23rd Psalm in verse 3 says that he restored my soul. When I have been through, when we have had our souls have been troubled, we don’t have to worry because he is able to restore us.

He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. To do what’s right, say what is right, and to act right. 4. Yea though, or 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.

From the first part of this psalm, you might get the impression that Christianity is the easiest religion in the world just laying around in tall grass and drinking cool water. But any experienced Saint knows this is not the case. David makes that plain, because he shows where the shepherd leads his sheep. As they continue the path of righteousness, they could soon find out that this wonderfully refreshing stream could soon leads them through the valley of the shadow of death.