“The Lord Is My Shepherd”

Psalms twenty-three is one of the most popular passages in the Bible. Preachers have used it to comfort those who are going through trials and tribulations and have even used the Psalm when eulogizing the dead. Each night this week we want to wind down with some thoughts from this great Psalm. Let us begin where the Psalmist does and consider the Lord being our Shepherd.

Sheep are weak in a lot of ways, and it is implied in this Psalm that we are like sheep. Sheep don’t have great eyesight. They are easily scared; and therefore, are often nervous. They really cannot defend themselves against their natural enemies. Their only real defense, when they are in danger, is to run, and they are not very fast. If sheep get lost, they do not have the ability to find their way home; so, unless someone goes looking for them, they will certainly die. The point of it is this—without a shepherd, sheep cannot survive.

As Christians, we are all like sheep (Isaiah 53:6). Just like sheep, we are easily led astray. This is why Paul had to warn the brethren at Ephesus not to be tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14). Going astray is a constant danger that we face. The good news is that we have a Shepherd who watches over us. He knows how to keep us from going astray (Jude1:24). All we have to do is listen to His instructions. He teaches us, by the inspired words of the New Testament writers, exactly how to live so that we are not devoured by the wolves around us (Titus 2:11-12). And even when we allow the flesh to get the best of us and we, like the prodigal son, go off into the far country of sin, our Shepherd tells us how to get back home. We must walk the path of repentance and prayer to get back to the Father’s house and rejoin the rest of the flock (Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:9). Are you not glad that we have a Shepherd to watch over us in this dangerous world, protect us against the forces of evil, and lead us to green pastures?

The real comfort of this Psalm is how personal it is. It was personal to David. He did not speak of just any shepherd when he spoke of the Lord. He spoke of “my” Shepherd. Indeed, Jesus is my personal Shepherd, and if you are a Christian, He is your personal Shepherd too. He knows us intimately. We know this because He told us (John 10:14). Paul also told us this (2 Timothy 2:19). Not only does our personal Shepherd know us, He loves us. In fact, He loves us so much that He died for us (John 10:11, 15). And there is something else…Jesus is our Shepherd right now. Remember, David said, “The Lord Is My Shepherd.” We can say the same thing. It is not that we used to have a Shepherd, but now we are on our own. It is not that one day in the future we will have the great privilege of having a Shepherd to watch over us and provide for our needs. No, the Lord IS our Shepherd, and all that a shepherd does, we have in Jesus right now. We don’t have to worry about wanting. The Lord will supply. We don’t have to worry about where we are heading. The Lord will guide us. We don’t have to worry about our enemies. The Lord will protect us. The Lord will do what shepherds do. We merely need to listen to his voice and obey.

As you wind down for the night, think on these things.