My Shepherd
Psalm 23:1a; Genesis 48:15; Genesis 49:24; John 10:27; John 10:11; Hebrews 13:20; 1 Peter 5:4; Isaiah 53:6
Nearly everyone in the western world has heard some portion of Psalm 23. It has comforted many broken hearts, dried many tears, and led many on their faith journey. It is a beautiful example of David’s childlike trust in God. We all long for this type of trust. Others hear these words spoken at memorial services as loved ones enter into their final rest. Whatever the situation, we tend to gravitate to this psalm.
Questions To Consider
Why is this passage in Scripture? Why do we turn to this passage in our times of trouble? What does God want to teach us through David’s song?
I have come to believe, David shows us the lens in which we should see God. The Lord, the Almighty, Infinite, Holy, Sovereign, and Shepherd – God.
At the beginning of this chapter, David says, “The Lord is my shepherd.” Many scholars believe that David wrote this psalm later in his life, potentially as his son Absalom pursued him to kill him, so he (Absalom) could be king. The exact time and location are of this writing are uncertain, but we can be confident that it lies beneath the debris of history. Just because we don’t know the intricate details of its origin story does not mean that these words are not valid. The truth of this passage is still alive, and it penetrates our hearts like the sun penetrates our atmosphere to give us light and life.
Might Be Or Is?
With confidence, David proclaims, “The Lord IS MY Shepherd.” He is conscientious not to say, “The Lord might be my shepherd or is a shepherd. “He is my shepherd.” David, a descendant of Abraham, looks back at the promise given to his ancestors. I’m sure that as he read the scrolls, he came across Genesis 48:15, which states, “The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all of my life to this day…” Then again in Genesis 49:24, that reads, “Yet his bow remained steady, and his strong arms were made agile by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob, by the name of the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel…” The Lord is my Shepherd is not a new idea with him. This idea of the shepherd has been the theme since man’s exile from the Garden of Eden.
The Shepherd Cares For His Sheep
David embraces this metaphor because it is close to his heart. He is not just an ancestor of Abraham, but he is also a shepherd. He knows how to tend to his flock of sheep. David provided for his flock’s needs. He let them find rest in green pastures, applied ointments, and bandages on their wounds, he led them in, and through a safe passage. He remained alert and aware of the danger, did what was good for his flock.
Now It’s Personal
As David calls the Lord, his Shepherd; he speaks from his heart. If Jesus Christ is your Shepherd and Savior, He is yours, and you are His. We are confident of this because God says this is true. John, the disciple and writer of 1 John says, “ I have written these things so you who believe in the name of Jesus Christ will have eternal life.”
Is the Lord your shepherd or a shepherd among other shepherds? The answer to this question has created multiple religions all over the world. Is Jesus Christ your Shepherd?
Can You Hear Me Now?
John 10:27 says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they know me…” A shepherd and sheep’s relationship is personal. Christianity is a personal relationship with God through the person of Jesus Christ. Do you listen to and recognize his voice, or do you follow something or someone else?
True Shepherd
Who is the true shepherd? The Bible tells us, Jesus Christ is the true shepherd, and as the true shepherd. Jesus promised never to leave, forget, fail, nor forsake us. In John 10:11, Jesus tells us, He is the Good Shepherd, and He will lay his life down for his sheep.” Hebrews 13:20 says, “The God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus – the great Shepherd of the sheep – through the blood of the everlasting covenant…” And in 1 Peter 5:4, Jesus is referred to as the chief Shepherd.
Content Little Lamb
David revealed what it is like to be satisfied as one of God’s lambs. Sheep need a shepherd to live. According to the prophet Isaiah, “… all we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his way, and the Lord laid on him the iniquity of us all (Isaiah 53:6). Sheep are solely dependent on man’s existence. We, like sheep, are dependent upon God. We need Jesus as our shepherd. Sheep can only see about fourteen feet in front of them. Awkwardly built, defenseless, and slow; sheep are helpless. They can’t camouflage themselves and don’t have a sharp bite. Sheep often are confused, have no sense of direction, and have been known to walk off the side of cliffs. Are you convinced that sheep need a shepherd yet?
Spiritually Blind Lost In Sin
People are like sheep. We are spiritually blind and lost in our sin. We need our Great Shepherd to find us, save us, and show us the way we should go. You and I are easily confused, worry about all things, and fear the unknown. Like sheep, you and I follow others because we fear the unknown, worry about things outside of our control and get confused about things we don’t understand. We can be led astray and find it easy to follow men and not God.
The Old And The New
In the Old Testament, the sheep died for the shepherd. The sacrificed sheep covered the sins of man. In the New Testament, the shepherd dies for the sheep. On the cross, he died for the covering of every sin from all humanity. Christians are Jesus’ sheep, He knows them, and they know His voice.
Do you hear Jesus’ voice? Does He hear yours? Is Jesus Christ your Shepherd or a shepherd among many shepherds?
