The Lord Is My Shepherd!

When I was a small child attending Sunday School, our teacher set us a challenge. He said if we learned to recite Psalm 23 by heart, he’d give us a small Bible that contained the New Testament and Psalms.

I knew I wouldn’t be able to read that Bible, but I was strangely compelled to take up his challenge, and can clearly remember standing in the pulpit proudly proclaiming the words in my biggest little voice, and from the King James, no less!

I can still quote Psalm 23, an can only do so accurately from the KJV, because that’s how I learned it, but over the years, the message of these beautiful words became dulled by over-familiarity. Knowing something by heart is no good if we don’t grasp the meaning, and I’m pretty sure I didn’t know what half of it meant at the age of 6 or 7. A few years ago, I felt led to preach on this passage, but found upon closer study that there was so much to say that I had to limit myself to one aspect – that of Jesus as our good shepherd, leaving many of its other rich lessons for another time.

Shepherds are a familiar sight in middle-eastern countries, and of course King David himself who wrote Psalm 23 was a shepherd. He knew firsthand the responsibilities and regulations for taking care of sheep.

By nature, sheep are rather stupid animals, who get themselves into trouble at the slightest opportunity. Sounds a bit like us, doesn’t it? Thankfully, we have our good shepherd, who will provide everything we need. The KJV, of course, says “I shall not want”, but this translation isn’t always helpful. I’m sure we all want lots of things, but our good shepherd knows those things that are good for us, as opposed to those that aren’t, and we have to trust that he knows best. When I think about Psalm 23 verse 1, I prefer to translate it as: “Because the Lord is my shepherd, I will have everything I need.” This idea is supported by Paul in Philippians 4: 19, when he says: ‘And my God shall supply all your needs, according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” It is only in and through Jesus that our true needs can be met.

So clearly, the main roll of the shepherd is to provide for the sheep, making sure they have food, water, and anything else necessary for their wellbeing. David would have known this firsthand, because as his father’s youngest son, he was the family’s shepherd until God rose him up to become Israel’s king.

In a more wonderful way, our good shepherd also provides us with everything necessary for our wellbeing. Our food is his word, and it’s so important that we feast daily from our Bibles. Water is often a symbol of the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus sent after he returned to heaven to be our comforter, councillor, and the one who empowers and strengthens us to do the things that bring our Father glory.

There is a beautiful image in Psalm 23 verse 2 of how the shepherd makes the sheep lie down in green pastures, and leads them beside still waters. In very hot countries, it isn’t good for the sheep to be moving around during the hottest part of the day, so the shepherd is responsible for taking them to the shady green pastures and the still waters, and literally making them lie down. The Lord sometimes has to do the same with us when things become hot and uncomfortable in our lives, especially during times of attack or struggle. Why is it though that we often chafe against our shepherd’s care? WE struggle on, our strength lessening from exhaustion moment by moment, instead of allowing him to lead us to a place of peace and rest. Why are we afraid to “Be still and know that he is God”? (Psalm 46: 10) It is so comforting to know there is always rest to be found in Jesus. When the prophet Elijah’s strength was spent, and he was weary and depressed because of continued battles against those who opposed him, the Lord sent an angel with food, and just allowed the weary prophet to eat and sleep until his strength was renewed. (1Kings 19) Prior to that, Elijah had been frantically running from his enemies in fear and mental torment, but the Lord showed him he was still in control, and all Elijah had to do was rest in him until further instructions were given.

There is a place at the centre of a storm called the eye, where I’m told everything is peaceful and calm. All around the storm is raging, but there in the middle there is an uncanny peace. I believe that’s the place where God wants to take us during the storms of our lives – right there into the calm centre where we are comforted and kept by his love.

Since we have already said sheep are stubborn animals, we should therefore understand that there are times when a good shepherd needs to get tough. Likewise, a good father knows there are seasons when he will have to discipline his children for their own good. It is so important we don’t run away from or despise the discipline of the Lord, because the act of discipline is proof that we aren’t illegitimate children. (Hebrews 12: 8) Psalm 23 tells us that his rod and his staff comfort us. The principles of comfort and discipline may seem to be opposed, but having grown up in a home where discipline and love were doled out in equal measures, I can look back and see that they both came from the same heart. My parents disciplined because they loved me, and because they wanted the best for me. They set boundaries for my safety, and in actual fact, this made me feel more secure in their love. If I’d been permitted to do anything I wanted despite the consequences, I think I would have felt very insecure and unloved. I see God’s rod of correction in the same way I saw my parents’ love-motivated discipline, and I know ultimately, it’s for my good.

Psalm 23 also talks about the staff, which was another important part of the shepherd’s equipment. We read a lot about staffs in the Bible. Moses had one, and so did Jacob. In fact, most of the old Testament characters seemed to. Traditionally, every time God did something important in their lives, these men would carve a notch in their staff, which they could then point out to later generations. So Jacob’s staff would have had a notch for the time God appeared to him at Bethel, and another for the time he wrestled with God, and many more. Perhaps he carved a notch at the birth of each of his 12 sons, and years later, for each of his many grandchildren. How encouraging it must have been to look back at the notches on the staff, and think about God’s blessings, answers to prayer, and miracles. This is why many of us keep journals, so we can pull them out during tough times and remind ourselves that God has been faithful before, and he will be faithful again.

Finally, we have to address the question of what our good shepherd does when one of his sheep goes astray. I think Jesus best answers this in a parable, where he talks about a man who had 100 sheep. Being stubborn and stupid creatures, one of the sheep got lost, as sheep are often prone to do, but rather than thinking he had 99 others, and didn’t really need the stubborn lost sheep, the shepherd goes in search of it, and doesn’t give up until he finds it. Such is his love and care for the lost sheep and his joy at finding it that he picks it up, puts it on his shoulders, and carries it lovingly all the way home. (Matthew 18: 12:14, and Luke 15: 3-7.)If you ever doubt how important you are to god, then this story should bring you comfort. If you are one of his lost sheep, then he won’t give up until he finds you and returns you to his safe pastures.

Jesus, our good shepherd, laid down his life for his sheep. He did everything he possibly could to ensure we’re a part of his sheepfold. So, when we hear the wolf howling or our enemy the lion roaring, we can run to Jesus for help and protection. When I think about who my good shepherd is, I don’t think I mind being likened to a stubborn sheep, because the main thing that matters is that I am safe in his sheepfold, and I need to be pursuing my relationship with the shepherd, listening for his voice, and ready to receive his guidance and correction when I’m about to make mistakes, or go into areas where he doesn’t want me to go. I need to be tuned into his voice at all times, and not let it be crowded out by the loud clamouring of the world.