Introduction
Psalms 23 is a psalm of trust and confidence. It expresses confidence in God's goodness – in this life and in the life to come. The personal way in which the psalmist speaks of God, the imagery of God's soothing guidance, and the ensuing confidence in God have all been factors in making this one of the most charming and beloved of the Psalms. The Psalmist identified himself as sheep and God as his shepherd. Why God is my Shepherd?
Related Bible verses: Psalms 23
1. For I shall not be in need v. 1
David was the youngest in his family. Probably he was ignored. He was used to live away from home, in the wilderness and look after his father's flock. He experienced the dull nature of human life. He had no one to talk. He was surrounded only by an innocent yet a dumb flock. He had many needs, and his hope was in God only. We should trust in the Lord for our daily needs. David does not say that the Lord provide what David wants, but rather what he needs. Likewise God shall not sustain our greedy desires. But He will meet our genuine needs.
2. For He makes me to lie down v. 2
a. In green pastures
Every Shepherd knows the importance of letting the flock to lie down and relax. One Sunday morning I was seated in the church drowning in a sea of frustration and the preacher was preaching from this passage. The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart "My son, unless you lie down I cannot restore your broken soul".
I listened to each and every word I heard the preacher spoke. And gradually I felt the burden of my heart being lifted away. As Pastors every day we reach out to someone in need of help. We drain out ourselves each time we counsel a victim. Office workers could feel stressed out at the end of a busy day. I want to ask you to lie down before God and meditate upon His word and enjoy His love.
b. He leads me beside still waters
Sheep are an interesting kind of animals. Animals like cows, oxen, goats can drink from moving streams of water. But sheep can't do it as they can fall into the stream. Therefore the Shepherd must draw water from a well and let his sheep to drink.
Isn't it wonderful that God is a good shepherd who leads us by still waters. He never allows us to walk in to danger or compromise our walk with Him (unless we fall into trouble intentionally) to meet our needs. But he ensures that his obedient children receives the best.
3. For he restores my soul v. 3
a. When I fail
I did not know the exact meaning of this phrase until Pastor Greg explained it one day. Some times a lamb or a Sheep can fall on it's back. A sheep fallen on it's back cannot stand on it's feet again unless the Shepherd comes and lift it up. The fate of a fallen sheep is decided by 3 factors.
The heat
The Vultures
The Wolves and Wild Dogs
So the Shepherd keeps a close eye on his flock. If the flock is too big he watches the sky for vultures.
Just like the Sheep sometimes we also give into temptation. We cannot restore our fallen selves. Therefore God comes and restores us if we repent and call upon Him.
b. For he guides me v. 3b
If you set loose an Ox somewhere faraway from it's home it finds it's way back. You can leave your Horse anywhere and it comes back to your stable. But lost sheep cannot find it's way and eventually becomes a prey.
Humans make fatal mistakes. It could be a wrong business decision, choosing the wrong life partner. But God guides us in every vital decision we make in our life, if we have allowed Him to be the master.
4. For he is with me v. 4
David knew what is fear, death and the danger hidden behind the shadows in the wilderness? He had to protect his sheep from ruthless wild animals like Lions (who hunts during darkness), Bears and Wolves. He must have fought demonic spirits who wonder in such lonely places. But he was not scared of anything, for the Lord was with him wherever he went. Later on David said,
David replied to Saul, “Your servant has been a shepherd for his father’s flock. Whenever a lion or bear would come and carry off a sheep from the flock, I would go out after it, strike it down, and rescue the sheep from its mouth. If it rose up against me, I would grab it by its jaw, strike it, and kill it. Your servant has struck down both the lion and the bear… 1 Samuel 17:34-36
I assure you , in times of danger, difficulty and even death, I fear no evil for God is with me. His protection is sufficient against all evil.
5. For his rod and the staff comforts me v. 4b
It speaks about discipline here. Every Shepherd carry two things. They are,
A short club (a weapon to defense and discipline sheep)
A staff (a long slender stick with a hook on the end used to draw a sheep close to the shepherd guide it in the right way or rescue it from trouble)
David used the rod or the short club do protect himself and his Sheep from furious wild animals. How did he do it?
"Shepherds use the rod for guiding their sheep in the right direction and gently prodding them along, getting them back on track when they stray. They also use the rod to comfort, to warn the sheep, to fend off predators, to hook their sheep back to safety, to check for disease. The rod is not used to hit the sheep-if it were, they would run from it when the shepherd lifted it in an effort to protect them. It would be useless as a tool for guidance." Phillip Keller – A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23
Now the staff with its top shaped like a hook was used to draw the Sheep back to the right track. God discipline us sometimes, so that we wont head towards destruction forgetting Him and enjoy life in our own way. God disciplines us only with love and tenderness.
6. For he prepares a table for me v. 5
a. It is not sure if David wrote this while he was running away from king Saul or the other enemies. But let me explain how this verse relates to us.
We spend in every day of our life confronted by Satan and surrounded by an ungodly society. But Jesus is there to provide my spiritual needs in the midst of the evil forces that attempt to destroy my life and soul (Romans 8:31-39). I am victorious for I am provided with sufficient grace to live and rejoice in Jesus' presence (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
b. He anoints my head with oil: Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit, the divine comforter. I am blessed in my body, mind and spirit because of God's comforter.
C. My cup overflows: This literally means "My cup is an abundant drink". It refers to a shepherds cup, which was a large, hollowed-out stone that could hold forty or fifty gallons and from which the sheep drank. Let me assure you, God will provide you abundantly (physically, emotionally and spiritually) if you walk with Him. You will be full of life in every day that dawns upon you.
7. For goodness and love will follow me v.6
a. David as a shepherd knew how much he should love his flock. He cared for them. He protected them. He knew his flock has nothing to worry or fear about as long as they are under his protection.
Like so if we let God to be our good shepherd we receive kindness, help, and self confidence in this life of pilgrimage.
b. For I can dwell in the house of the Lord forever
David is speaking about the eternal comfort those who walk with Jesus would enjoy. If we let Jesus to be our shepherd while we are still living on this earth, He will be our comforter in the world to come as well. If we follow someone else we will suffer it in eternity.
Conclusion
All of us are Sheep in the sight of God. He is our Shepherd. Jesus said the Sheep knows the voice of their Shepherd. Therefore let us keep our ears tuned to hear God's voice. We will find that God is our good shepherd indeed, in every day of our life.
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