THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
Perhaps as a shepherd, David often mused or thought on the things of the Lord. The word muse means to think, ponder, or consider. Psalm 23, is evidence that David spent time considering and meditating on God ("musing").
How much the Lord might reveal to us about Himself if we would only muse on Him more. Sadly, these days so many seek a–musement; the prefix a- meaning contrary or opposite of.
And so we have the opposite of muse – NOT thinking. Thus, we spend so much of our time these days pursuing non-thinking activities: computer games, movies, sporting events, shows, and the like. How sad for us when we could know the God of the Bible even more intimately, yet we choose to not think upon Him.
Psalm 23 is a commonly known Psalm which many have memorized or display promptly in their homes. Often called the
Shepherd’s Psalm it is quoted often by those who are having hard times in their lives. However, from the very beginning of the Psalm, we see that it is quite personal: The LORD is my shepherd…
The possessive my identifies the rest of the Psalm as something which relates to those whose Shepherd truly is the LORD.
Regarding our condition as sheep before the LORD, we may look at Isaiah 53:6 which tells us, “all we like sheep have gone astray …” and that from the womb we are estranged (alienated from God), we go forth speaking lies (Psalm 58:3). We are all born sinners (Psalm 51:5) and we all sin (Romans 3:23).
So somehow we must come to a place where we have been found and returned to the fold. John chapter 10 tells us that the sheep know the Lord’s voice, and they follow Him. Thus, to claim this Psalm, one must have turned from their way (Isaiah 53:6), which is the way of sin, and looked to the Lord in saving faith as the Lamb of God slain for their sin: Our Perfect Sacrifice.
It must be a personally appropriated faith upon the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross; and His resurrection for our justification. Only then can we claim the Lord as our Shepherd, when we have submitted to His Word in saving faith and follow Him, His voice (John 10:4), which is His Word.
Therefore, to claim this Psalm without a personal relationship with the Lord would be misleading. How many who display this Psalm; who rely on this Psalm actually have the Lord as their Shepherd?
The remainder of the Psalm provides so many precious promises to those in Christ. We know from 2Corinthians 1:20, that in Christ, all the promises of God are yea (positive; in the affirmative; yes).
First, we see that when the LORD is our Shepherd, we shall not want. We read in John 6:35, that whosoever believeth on Christ shall never hunger and never thirst. Colossians 2:10 tells us that we are complete in Him. Thus, when the Lord is our Shepherd, spiritually speaking, we shall never lack, for we can be satisfied in Him, never lacking any good thing. It does not mean that we will have material gain, but rather spiritually speaking, we lack nothing.
We also see in verse two that sometimes He must make us lie down in green pastures. Sometimes, as sheep, we need to be made to sit down. When the Lord fed the five thousand, He made them sit down in the grass. Sheep need to be stopped and made to be still in the pasture by the shepherd, wherever he leads them.
So too, for us, we so often need to be made to lay down where the Lord has brought us. Paul taught in Philippians,that he had learned that whatsoever state he was in therewith to be content. The Israelites followed a cloud and a pillar of fire. Where the Lord stopped, they had to stay. When the Lord moved, they moved.
Hence, we must learn as the sheep of God’s pasture to stop wrestling with our circumstances and be still and know that He is God in the pasture or situation or circumstance that we are currently in; that He has led us to. Far too often we think the grass is greener on the other side, when the Lord has led us to the pasture that is meat for us; the green pasture where if we would simply meditate on Him we would be more than fed.
Notice too that we must be led beside the still waters. Our Great Shepherd by His Spirit leads us when we walk in the Spirit to the peaceful, still waters which relax us. This is only true if we are being led of the Spirit and not the flesh. When we are led by the flesh, there is no peace, no still waters to enjoy.
Notice also that He restores our thirsty souls. He brings refreshment and restoration when we return to Him. But, we must return to Him. If we refuse to let our Shepherd lead us, we miss out on these precious promises. Remember, the key here is that first, the LORD is MY Shepherd, and second, we are being LED by Him. Without that, we cannot enjoy these blessings. The Lord came that we may have life, and life more abundantly (spiritually), not more “increase” of goods and gold. Thus, we are to seek God’s spiritual blessings by being led by Him.
See then that He leads us in the paths of righteousness. It is for our ultimate best that we be led in the paths of righteousness. We cannot have an abundant life apart from Christ (compare with John 15:5); and His is the path of righteousness. We also learn here that it is for HIS name’s sake that He leads us in the paths of righteousness.
When believers walk in any other path (sin, self, the world) we shame the name of the Lord. The Lord seeks worshipers to worship Him in spirit and in truth (John 4:23-24). This brings Him great glory; when His name is glorified. Did He not say in Matthew that we ought to let our light so shine before men that they may see our good works and glorify the Father (Matthew 5:16)? Thus, to be led of Him in the path of righteousness brings Him glory. So, what do you seek dear brethren? Your way or God’s glory?
The path of God’s glory is the path of righteousness.
Take note also that in this world we will have tribulation but we are to be of good cheer, the Lord has overcome the world (John 16:33). O death where is thy sting, o grave thy victory (1Corinthians 15:55-57). The Lord has purchased His people. He has redeemed them from the enemies of sin, death, and hell. Thus they are only shadows for the believer; no real threat. Though in this world they seem so pressing, even unto death (compare with 2Corinthians 4:8-12), we can fear NO evil, because the Lord has said that He will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). This is another precious promise every believer can claim in Christ; those whom He shepherds.
See then also, that as the shepherd uses a rod (club) and a staff to shepherd the sheep, so too does the LORD use His Word to guide us with His staff and protect us with His rod. The shepherd guides his sheep with the staff, much like a candy cane – hooked at the end; and at times hooks the sheep and gently (Isaiah 40:11) returns them to the main flock, or to His side. He also uses the rod to ward off or even injure or kill beasts that would prey on the sheep, such as wolves, lions, or bears.
And so too, with the Word of God, the Spirit gently guides us into all truth (John 16:13), and remembers His Word unto us (John 14:26) that we might return to our Shepherd (John 15:26). This is done gently and without malice.
Therefore, a minister, or pastor who beats the sheep with the staff of the Word of God in order to get them to do what he thinks they should be doing has not learned what it means to shepherd the flock. The under-shepherds, the elders, the bishops, are to present the Word of God to the sheep, and let the Lord lead them with His staff.
Now, there are times when the sheep are stubborn and repeatedly stray. It is then the shepherd has been known to break the leg of the sheep. As a result, the lamb stays close to the shepherd, and even has to be carried. Hopefully, the lesson is learned. It is the same for the believers.
When we consistently stray from the Lord despite gentle taps from the Spirit using the Word, we invite the Lord’s chastisement (compare with Hebrews 12). If you have experienced such hardships in your life, you can say that as a believer, some of the closest walks you have had with the Lord have been those times of severe chastening or trials.
Take note too that the rod protects the sheep from the predators. We are told in the New Testament to beware of wolves (Matthew 7:15; Acts 20:9) – false prophets (teachers) and to beware of the devil who is like a roaring lion seeking who he may devour (1Peter 5:8). These are enemies of the sheep who seek to destroy us. The Lord protects us with His rod, His Word. How did the Lord respond to the temptations of the devil in the wilderness? He used the Word of God.
How can we know the false teachers? By seeing if they teach according to the Word of God (compare with Revelation 2:2; Acts 17:11; Isaiah 8:20). Therefore, it behooves us to stay close to the Lord’s rod. Thus we are comforted by the Word of God: guided and led by it; and protected by it.
The LORD also prepares a feast, a banquet before our enemies. We can enjoy the Lord here on earth, in our earthly vessels, because Jesus Christ has made it possible! We can live abundantly before our enemies for they cannot harm us; they cannot touch us in Christ. Our heads anointed with oil and our cups ever-full and even running over in Christ.
The Lord has said in Ephesians 1:3 that we have been blessed “with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.”
Thus, our cup truly does runneth over. Finally, notice two more blessings from the LORD shepherding us: that goodness and mercy shall follow us, all the days of our lives. Romans 8:32 tells us, “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” We who are unworthy of favor (Romans 5:8; compare with 2Samuel 9, the story of David and Mephibosheth). The LORD gave us His only begotten Son, how much more shall goodness and mercy follow those who have trusted Him?
Not only that, but also the end of it all is to dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Revelation chapter 22 paints a beautiful picture and hope for the believer of this. All of these blessings follow those who can say, the LORD is MY shepherd. “All the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen …”
If you have not come to the Lord as a lost sheep; a wayward sheep; a sheep that has gone astray from God; turn to Him; look to the Lord and be saved; and He shall be your Shepherd of Psalm 23.
