"The LORD Is My Shepherd" Opening Prayer: “Father, thank You for being my Shepherd, the One who leads my life. Stand on the hillsides where I can see You. Don’t let me miss You.

Psalm 23

A psalm of David.

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2  He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3  he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,[a] I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Introduction:Psalm 23 begins with a metaphor: The Lord is my shepherd.“Shepherd” was a rich and complex notion in Israel’s culture. Of course, the ways of sheep and their shepherd were familiar to all. The primary duties of the shepherd’s vocation were provision and protection for the flock. The shepherd pastured the flock, led them in the right way when they had to move, fended off predators—pastoral activities described in the psalm. The sheep were his responsibility, and he was accountable for their welfare and safety. But the notion of being shepherd of persons opens up a background of tradition that is far broader than animal husbandry.

In the ancient Near East the role and title of shepherd were used for leaders as a designation of their relation to the people in their charge. As a title, “shepherd” came to have specific royal connotation. Gods and kings were called the shepherd of their people. Both are described and portrayed with mace (rod) and shepherd’s crook (staff) as siglia of office. In narrative, song, and prophecy the Lord is called the shepherd of Israel, his flock (Gen. 49:24; Pss. 28:9; 74:1; 95:7; 100:3; Jer. 31:10; Micah 7:14). The Lord made David his undershepherd (Ps. 78:70–72), and the kings of Israel were judged as shepherds (Jer. 23:1–4; 49:20; Micah 5:4). The title had special associations with the Lord’s leading and protecting in the wilderness (Pss. 77:20; 78:52–53; 80:1) and in the return from the exile (Isa. 40:11; 49:9–10).

To say “The Lord is my shepherd” invokes all the richness of this theological and political background as well as the pastoral. The metaphor is not restricted to associations with what actual shepherds did; it is informed by what the Lord has done and what kings were supposed to do. “Shepherd” understood against its usage in Israel accounts for the whole. The statement is a confession. It declares commitment and trust. It also has a polemical thrust against human rulers and divine powers. The psalm entrusts the support, guidance, and protection of life only and alone to the one whose name is the Lord.

The body of the psalm completes the sentence, “I do not lack.…” It does not leave those who say it to fill it out with what they want out of their own subjective wills. It has its own agenda of what the Lord does to fulfill one’s needs. The very personal syntax of the opening confession is maintained in the recitation of “what the Lord (he/you) does for me.” The items in the recitation can be read and understood in relation to three areas. First, what the Lord does draws on what is prayed for in the prayers for help. Second, it reflects the song of thanksgiving with its report of salvation and accompanying festivities, except here the account tells what the Lord does, not what the Lord has done in the past. Third, the recitation is at points connected with the language of Israel’s testimony to its salvation in the exodus. Here are illustrations of points of contact with these areas.

a. “I do not lack.…” During forty years in the wilderness, Israel lacked nothing (Deut. 2:7).

b. “He restores my soul/life.” The restoration of life is asked for and thanks is given for it in individual and corporate prayers and psalms (Pss. 30:3; 116:7; 80:3, 7; 44:25; Lam. 1:11, 16–19).

c. “He leads me in the paths of righteousness” (Pss. 5:8; 27:11; 77:20). Exodus 15:13 describes the Lord leading the people like a flock to holy pastures (Craigie, p. 207).

d. “You are with me.” The word of salvation addressed to those in danger and given in answer to prayers is, “Fear not, I am with you” (Gen. 15:1; 26:24; Deut. 20:1; 31:8; Isa. 41:10, 13; 43:5). Those delivered sang, “The Lord is for me; I do not fear” (Ps. 118:6). Indeed, “shepherd” could be read as metaphor for the reality, “I am with you.”

e. “You prepare a table before me.” This is an image dependent on the feast that was part of the rituals of thanksgiving (Pss. 22:22–26; 116:13). God “prepared a table” for Israel in the wilderness (Ps. 78:19).

f. “Goodness [the benefit of blessing] and loving-kindness [hesed, basis of deliverance] shall pursue me.” In the prayers for help, it is the enemies who pursue. “All the days of my life” is a phrase that is counterpart to the life threatened by death in the prayers. On dwelling in the house of the Lord continually as a figure of constant protection, see Psalms 27:4–5; 52:8; 61:4; and 63:2–4.

IN ONE of the Superman movies, Superman saves a man from a burning building. He rescues him from the top floor and is carrying him to safety by flying through the skies. The man looks at Superman and then looks down to the ground. “I’m scared, Superman. Look how far down that is.”

Superman gives him a great answer. “Now if I delivered you from the burning fire, what makes you think I am going to drop you when I’m carrying you to safety?”

If God has delivered you from a burning hell, what makes you think He will drop you before He safely puts you down?”

In conclusion, Sheep are completely dependent on the shepherd for provision, guidance, and protection. As the Lord is the good shepherd, so we are his sheep- not frightened, passive animals, but obedient followers, wise enough to follow one who lead us in the right places and in right ways. When you recognize the good shepherd, follow him!

When we allow God our shepherd to guide us, we have contentment. Our shepherd knows the “green pastures” and “quiet waters” that will restore us. We must remember this the next time we are tempted to go our way rather than the shepherd’s way.

Because life is uncertain, we should follow this shepherd who offers us eternal comfort. God, the perfect shepherd and host, promises to guide and protect us through life to bring us into his house forever.