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.”
Most people know this psalm from hearing it at funerals, though David of course intended it to be read at other times. Being a shepherd himself, David knew well the loving care one put into watching over the flock. The picture of a shepherd shown in this psalm is one who: takes care of the needs of the sheep, calms the sheep and gives them rest, lifts them upon his shoulders whenever they are injured until they become well again, leads them in the paths best for them making sure they do not go near rugged territory or cliffs, comforts them with the gentle rubbing of his staff on their bodies, prepares areas where they can lie down safely removing all harmful insects and vermin, and anoints them with oil to calm them and bring soothing relief. It is because the Lord is David’s shepherd that he has all his needs met. It ought to bring great relief to all believers knowing that the Lord is a shepherd over our souls to guide us and lovingly care for us. We do not have a shepherd who leaves the flock when the wolves come or when danger is upon us, but we have a shepherd who guides us through the suffering into brighter glories. When we meet affliction in this life as all believers do, our God lifts us up and bears us upon his shoulders. We can say with confidence like David that we will not fear evil because we know our God is with us. The early church was able to stand up so boldly for Christ in the face of such persecution because they knew their shepherd Jesus so well and trusted that he would never leave them nor forsake them. All the promises God has made for us in Scripture that bring relief to our tempted and tried souls are meant to comfort us a reassure our faith in him. The last part of David’s psalm reflects on God’s constant grace to be given to all believers until the day they die and the enduring hope all believers have of being with the Lord forever in glory. Jesus said, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”(Joh 14:3)
“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.”
Most people know this psalm from hearing it at funerals, though David of course intended it to be read at other times. Being a shepherd himself, David knew well the loving care one put into watching over the flock. The picture of a shepherd shown in this psalm is one who: takes care of the needs of the sheep, calms the sheep and gives them rest, lifts them upon his shoulders whenever they are injured until they become well again, leads them in the paths best for them making sure they do not go near rugged territory or cliffs, comforts them with the gentle rubbing of his staff on their bodies, prepares areas where they can lie down safely removing all harmful insects and vermin, and anoints them with oil to calm them and bring soothing relief. It is because the Lord is David’s shepherd that he has all his needs met. It ought to bring great relief to all believers knowing that the Lord is a shepherd over our souls to guide us and lovingly care for us. We do not have a shepherd who leaves the flock when the wolves come or when danger is upon us, but we have a shepherd who guides us through the suffering into brighter glories. When we meet affliction in this life as all believers do, our God lifts us up and bears us upon his shoulders. We can say with confidence like David that we will not fear evil because we know our God is with us. The early church was able to stand up so boldly for Christ in the face of such persecution because they knew their shepherd Jesus so well and trusted that he would never leave them nor forsake them. All the promises God has made for us in Scripture that bring relief to our tempted and tried souls are meant to comfort us a reassure our faith in him. The last part of David’s psalm reflects on God’s constant grace to be given to all believers until the day they die and the enduring hope all believers have of being with the Lord forever in glory. Jesus said, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”(Joh 14:3)
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