Reflect
Psalm 23:1-6
“The Lord is my shepherd.” ~Psalm 23:1
Psalm 22 foretells the cross of Christ and Psalm 24 speaks of a time when Messiah rules the earth in justice and righteousness. This strategic placement of Psalm 23, universally, the most beloved of all the psalms, is fitting since it’s between Christ’s cross and Christ’s second coming, between our salvation and heaven, that we find ourselves facing life in all its rawness: The ups and downs, the victories and defeats, the joys and sorrows, the life and death that make up the human condition.
Even though the pastoral setting and shepherd-sheep analogy are foreign to our modern culture, there is just something about this Shepherd’s Psalm that resonates in our core. That’s because we are pretty much like sheep—dense, directionless and defenseless—and we cannot do life without the Good Shepherd. You need a shepherd…so do I.
I am not sure where this came from, but I suspect you will be blessed by it as I was.
The Lord is my Shepherd—That’s Relationship!
I shall not want—That’s Supply!
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures—That’s Rest!
He leadeth me beside the still waters—That’s Refreshment!
He restoreth my soul—That’s Healing!
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness—That’s Guidance!
For His name sake—That’s Purpose!
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death—That’s Testing!
I will fear no evil—That’s Protection!
For Thou art with me—That’s Faithfulness!
Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me—That’s Discipline!
Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies—That’s Hope!
Thou anointest my head with oil—That’s Consecration!
My cup runneth over—That’s Abundance!
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life—That’s Blessing!
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord—That’s Security!
Forever—That’s Eternity!
If you are experiencing major upheaval in your life—a home in turmoil, a relationship on the rocks, a job not working out, a personal humiliation, an inconsolable sorrow, the cumulative effect of heartache and disappointment has shaken your confidence and filled you with doubt, fear and despair—then trying reading and absorbing Psalm 23. David wrote it just for you. Just grasping his first line will transform your life:
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.”
Robert Ketchum told of a Sunday School teacher who asked her class if any of them could quote the entire Twenty-Third Psalm. A little girl came forward, made a little bow, and said: “The Lord is my shepherd, that’s all I want.” She then curtsied and sat down. Now she may have overlooked a few verses, but I think she captured the key to enjoying the benefits of this psalm. Psalm 23 is a pattern of thinking, and if it saturates your mind, it will lead you to new way of living which will counterbalance the raw reality of life with hope, faith and trust, causing you to be utterly content in the Shepherd’s care.
Yeah, the Lord is my shepherd—and that’s all I want. I believe that about covers it!
“All who call on God in true faith, earnestly from the heart, will certainly be heard, and will receive what they have asked and desired.” ~Martin Luther
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