PSALM 23 – A PSALM OF DAVID. “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
THEME OF THE DAY: PASTORED BY THE GOOD SHEPHERD. There are so many wonderful titles and roles the Lord Jesus assumes in His relationship with His people. Meditate on this list . . . Savior, Prophet, High Priest, King, Brother, Friend, Advocate, Prince of Peace, Counselor, Wonderful God, Everlasting Father, Companion, Redeemer, Intercessor, and I am sure many more we may add.
The one increasingly dear to us is tied into the scripture of today – Shepherd. In the Gospel of John, Jesus Himself declares this wonderful role He performs for His people.
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me” (John 10:11-14).
In returning to the scripture of the day, we should not let our familiarity with Psalm 23 cause us to lose the wonder of Jesus being our Shepherd. And to intensify or rekindle the flame of love for our Shepherd, meditate on how our Good Shepherd pastors us.
First, He is personal, not some detached deity, but a close and intimate shepherd – “The Lord is my shepherd”.
Next, the Lord Jesus satisfies every longing of our hearts – “I shall not want”.
The third pastoral trait of the Lord Jesus is the ministry of peace and inward contentment – “He makes me lie down in green pastures. He restores my soul”.
A fourth great truth of the pastoring care of our Good Shepherd is His leadership. We don’t walk through life alone. We are led through life by the Greatest of Guides – “He leads me beside still waters. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake”.
A final comforting truth from the pastoral heart of the Lord Jesus is His constant companionship. He will never leave us throughout all of life, and that with a promise for all of life – “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
God so loved us that He gave us His Son, the Lord Jesus, to redeem us to be His people and to be the sheep of His pasture. As His sheep, He is the best of Shepherds. Be in awe of His personal, pastoral care for us!
PRAYER: Father, I praise You for giving Your Son to be both my Redeemer and Shepherd of my soul.
REFLECTION: As our Shepherd, Jesus promises care, protection, provision, and the best of Companion possible.