My Shepherd: A Reflection on Psalm 23
I visited the Holy Land a few years ago. Looking out of the tour bus window, I saw the shepherds, lonely figures walking the paths along the sides of the hills on either side of the road, with their small flock of sheep and goats following along behind them. It was a beautiful and intimate picture of the shepherd's selfless leadership and the flock's dependent trust. It was simple, primitive, and raw: a shepherd and his sheep.
Psalm 23 was written by David, a young shepherd. The youngest of eight sons, he had the lowliest job in the family and spent his days and nights out in the hills, finding food and water for the family flock. In the quiet hours of walking under the hot sun and the bright stars, David had a revelation of who God is—his shepherd.
Often, our lives (and our faith) are complex. We are busy and tired, trying to keep up with a long list of tasks and obligations. It is a challenge to strip it back to its foundation, a simple relationship of trust between my shepherd and me.
The Lord is My Shepherd
I have a shepherd, and so do you. We are not alone, wandering through life. Someone who loves us is leading and guiding us each day.
I lack Nothing
Our shepherd provides everything we need.
Pause for a moment and think about that statement. I lack nothing. Let the truth of that statement fill your heart with peace and gratitude. Our shepherd provides everything we need.
Philippians 4:19 reminds us, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” When we find ourselves in times of need, let’s not rely on worldly solutions, getting deeper into debt or being overwhelmed with discontent. Let’s cry out to God, our provider and trust Him to provide our needs.
He makes me lie down in green pastures
Our shepherd takes us to wholesome, nourishing places. Places of beauty and safety.
He leads me beside quiet waters
Our shepherd quenches our thirst.
Jesus said, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” (John 7:37b–38)
He restores my soul
My shepherd knows I need rest. I don’t need to endlessly strive and work for His approval. He fills me up when I am empty and tired. In a world that is relentlessly busy, Jesus offers us rest for our souls.
Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
He guides me along the right paths
It’s okay when I don’t know which way to go; I only need to follow my shepherd. He will guide me. We don’t always see the big picture. We don’t always know the final destination. But we can trust God as we follow Him closely day by day.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5—6)
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil.
Yes, there are scary times in life and dark valleys to walk through, but I don’t need to let fear overwhelm me. God never promised us an easy life, but He did promise us peace in the midst of our troubles.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
For you are with me
We are not alone in the valley. Our shepherd is with us.
Jesus promised us, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20b)
Your rod and your staff, they comfort me
The rod is the shepherd’s weapon to protect the sheep from predators. The shepherd uses the staff to pull wayward sheep back into the flock. Our shepherd will protect us from the evil we are too weak (or stupid) to avoid.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies
Even when we are surrounded and when life is hard, our shepherd will sustain and protect us.
You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows
Oil symbolises joy and blessing. My overflowing cup symbolises abundance. My life is covered with God’s abundant blessings.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life
There is nowhere I can go to escape God’s goodness and love. It follows me through my entire life.
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38–39)
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever
We can look forward to eternal peace in the presence of our Saviour.
Every single line of this beautiful Psalm reminds me of God’s goodness and provision, protection, and abundant blessing. My cup is overflowing!
THE CHALLENGE
Meditating on this Psalm has forced me to ask the question, how good am I at following my shepherd? If the shepherd leads me beside quiet waters, and my soul is dry and thirsty, I have obviously lost sight of my shepherd and gone off on my own way. The Good sSepherd leads me to the water.
I need to look up to my shepherd when I am filled with fear because He has promised to always be with me.
When my life goes off course, I need to look up to my shepherd because He promised to guide me on the right path.
I can trust my shepherd. All I need to do is follow closely. In Him, I have everything I need.
Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me” (John 10:14). Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice, laying down His life for the sake of us, His sheep. He knows us by name; He loves us more than we can imagine, and we can trust Him with our lives.
But it’s hard to be a good sheep. We like to be in control of our own lives, make our own choices, and go our own way. We like to think that we know best, but we are mistaken. When we go our own way, we tend to follow a path to destruction. Like children in a lolly store, we choose things that feel good at the moment but leave us feeling sick and unsatisfied in the long term. Without our shepherd, we find our lives overwhelmed by worry and anger, captured by comparison, striving for more and more, and never being satisfied.
But we can let it go and come back to the simple relationship between a loving shepherd and his sheep.
I have a shepherd. You do too.
