The Lord

The Lord, My Shepherd

Psalm 23

There is probably no other statement in Scripture that speaks the heart of Christian faith better than Psalm 23. It is often referred to as the Shepherd’s Psalm because it is written from the viewpoint of a sheep as it sees the Good Shepherd in action.

Scripture often refers to God’s people as sheep. And even though there are many today who would lay claim to God as their shepherd-leader, there is only one who does what this Psalm says. And that Shepherd is Jesus Christ. Every person who trusts in Him can truly say of Jesus, The Lord, My Shepherd!

1The LORD is my shepherd, has great significance. Sheep need a lot of understanding. They need a lot of care and solid leadership. The shepherd who doesn’t know what kind of food the sheep need, or where to find good pastures, leaves the sheep in want.

But, The Lord, My Shepherd knows just what the sheep need, and how to lead them to it. Thus the sheep responds, I shall not be in want. 2He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters.

Sheep learn to trust the shepherd that provides for them. To eat and drink of the Lord’s provisions, is to eat and drink the very body and blood of the Good Shepherd. This is done when his word is received and believed.

Many people do receive and believe it, while many others have little, if any, real knowledge of it. But those who have tasted of His goodness, and have had every impurity of sin forgiven, can truly say: 3he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Apart from the righteousness of the Good Shepherd there is no righteousness that is able to stand before God in divine judgement. Yet, scripture declares, “It remains once for a man to die, and then comes the judgement.” But the Good Shepherd even takes upon himself the sentence of death for the sheep. And being that He is no longer dead, but alive, the sheep have the certainty of new life in Him.

The apostle of God has recorded these words regarding this life: “Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he (Christ) died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” You see, He died that all might live. That means God has made peace with us sinners by giving His One-and-Only Son as the ransom price for sin.

Is it any wonder, then, that this Psalm brings such comfort and assurance to the sheep. Is it any wonder that they are enabled to say: 4Even 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. Indeed! The cross of Jesus Christ and the empty tomb do comfort the fearful heart. They give certain assurance that God intends good for us, and not evil. They demonstrate and reveal God’s desire to save all.

How wonderful it is, then, for the sheep to be able to say, The Lord, My Shepherd! 5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Important because it reveals a heart that trusts God to fulfill His plans in the most personal way, FOR ME.

Such a heart is certain of what happens after death. It is certain of life in a place where God Himself has prepared a banquet of divine measure for the sheep. Thus the sheep give heart-believed expression to the Shepherd’s activity in their life, before and after death. 6Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

I never knew Delilah, except from the many fine things I have heard about her as one who was much involved with the ladies group at St. Paul’s. But, even though I never had the honor to meet her, there is something that I’m sure Delilah would want us all to know. She would want us all to know The Lord as My Shepherd. Amen.