I don't think that there is a Psalm more quoted than Psalm 23. Whispered by the bedside of the dying, confessed in the prayers of the seeking, it has brought comfort to many in times of need. I'm sure that David had no idea that his little song would be cherished by so many throughout the ages and yet, I'm sure that this Psalm held just as much meaning, if not more, for David. As a shepherd, he had insight into pasturing that most of us in the modern day world do not have short of Wikipedia and google. Still, this ancient song sweeps over our souls as we picture Jesus, our great Shepherd, leading the way.
In the next few weeks, I'm going to share my thoughts on this Psalm, verse by verse, as well as journal entries that the Lord has spoken to me. I know that this Psalm is bringing me comfort in this season of life, just as it has many times before and as I'm certain it will many more times in the future. To anyone who reads this blog, I pray you will find comfort in the One who leads you along.
Psalm 23:1 - The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
This first line can be pondered over and over. Putting the emphasis on different words makes it come alive in different ways.
The LORD is my Shepherd - It is you, Lord...You are the One who leads me. I have no other.The Living God is mine. I'm not leading myself; I'm not being led by feelings, by circumstances, or by mere men. No, the all-knowing, all-sufficient, Almighty God - the One who sees all, who knows all, who creates all - it is HE who leads me. He is my Shepherd. The one who sits above the circle of the earth, the one who holds the span of the universe between his thumb and pinkie, the one who literally breaths out and life is formed...HE is my shepherd. The one who fashioned me together in my mother's womb, the One who knows my words before they are on my tongue, the one who sees the end from the beginning...HE is my shepherd. The One who did not spare his very own Son for me, the One who willingly laid down his life for me, the One who poured out his blood for me...HE is my shepherd.
The Lord is MY Shepherd - This is personal. Intimate. The Living God has come to me, to lead me, to dwell with me. I am known by God, my shepherd. He knows my name. The Shepherd lives with his sheep, sleeps next to his sheep, eats with his sheep, spends his very life with the sheep...and I am his. Lord, you declare over me that I am yours. This is not a blanket statement - this is heart to heart connection. As a Father says to his son, as a Groom says to his bride - you are MINE...You are declaring over me that I am yours. This is how I am to you...your most precious possession, your treasure, your pearl of great price. The Lord has forever united his heart to mine. He has not merely purchased me, but he has united in fellowship with me. Oh, God, cause my heart to see that I need not fear when I belong to the Living God!
The Lord is my SHEPHERD - God, you do not separate yourself from me. Though you are holy and high and lifted up, you come down to where I am for the purpose of leading my life. You who are holy come close to my weak state, you put your hands in to my rough, dirty wool and gently lead me along. Though you are GOD you are in the details of my small human life. You do not simply set yourself up as the untouchable One; no, you come to guide me in day to day activity. How can such wonderful things be? As the shepherd knows each sheep individually and is loved individually, God, you know me and love me. You feed, guard, and lead me. You protect, tend, and clean me. Though I am nothing like you, you give yourself fully to me.
I shall not want - What would a sheep with a shepherd ever lack? Oh, God, this is truly a carefree place of provision and rest. How your cross has brought to me both provision and rest! I am personally provided for by the Living God. What could I ever lack? You who own it all because you created it all - YOU are the one who says to me, "I AM your provider! I AM your guide! I AM your shepherd!" If there is famine? You lead me to green pastures. If there is drought? You lead me to still waters. If there is threat? You lead me to safety. If there is fear? You lead me to peace. Why should I not fear lack? Because YOU are my shepherd.
Lord, I pray that today you would settle in my heart the truth that You, the living God, lead my little life. Settle in my heart that I belong to YOU and that you don't merely 'put up with me'...you care for me because you love me and you desire rest for my life. Help me, God, to look up to you when I'm feeling overwhelmed and in that moment to find that YOU are my shepherd. In Jesus name. So be it, God!
In the next few weeks, I'm going to share my thoughts on this Psalm, verse by verse, as well as journal entries that the Lord has spoken to me. I know that this Psalm is bringing me comfort in this season of life, just as it has many times before and as I'm certain it will many more times in the future. To anyone who reads this blog, I pray you will find comfort in the One who leads you along.
Psalm 23:1 - The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
This first line can be pondered over and over. Putting the emphasis on different words makes it come alive in different ways.
The LORD is my Shepherd - It is you, Lord...You are the One who leads me. I have no other.The Living God is mine. I'm not leading myself; I'm not being led by feelings, by circumstances, or by mere men. No, the all-knowing, all-sufficient, Almighty God - the One who sees all, who knows all, who creates all - it is HE who leads me. He is my Shepherd. The one who sits above the circle of the earth, the one who holds the span of the universe between his thumb and pinkie, the one who literally breaths out and life is formed...HE is my shepherd. The one who fashioned me together in my mother's womb, the One who knows my words before they are on my tongue, the one who sees the end from the beginning...HE is my shepherd. The One who did not spare his very own Son for me, the One who willingly laid down his life for me, the One who poured out his blood for me...HE is my shepherd.
The Lord is MY Shepherd - This is personal. Intimate. The Living God has come to me, to lead me, to dwell with me. I am known by God, my shepherd. He knows my name. The Shepherd lives with his sheep, sleeps next to his sheep, eats with his sheep, spends his very life with the sheep...and I am his. Lord, you declare over me that I am yours. This is not a blanket statement - this is heart to heart connection. As a Father says to his son, as a Groom says to his bride - you are MINE...You are declaring over me that I am yours. This is how I am to you...your most precious possession, your treasure, your pearl of great price. The Lord has forever united his heart to mine. He has not merely purchased me, but he has united in fellowship with me. Oh, God, cause my heart to see that I need not fear when I belong to the Living God!
The Lord is my SHEPHERD - God, you do not separate yourself from me. Though you are holy and high and lifted up, you come down to where I am for the purpose of leading my life. You who are holy come close to my weak state, you put your hands in to my rough, dirty wool and gently lead me along. Though you are GOD you are in the details of my small human life. You do not simply set yourself up as the untouchable One; no, you come to guide me in day to day activity. How can such wonderful things be? As the shepherd knows each sheep individually and is loved individually, God, you know me and love me. You feed, guard, and lead me. You protect, tend, and clean me. Though I am nothing like you, you give yourself fully to me.
I shall not want - What would a sheep with a shepherd ever lack? Oh, God, this is truly a carefree place of provision and rest. How your cross has brought to me both provision and rest! I am personally provided for by the Living God. What could I ever lack? You who own it all because you created it all - YOU are the one who says to me, "I AM your provider! I AM your guide! I AM your shepherd!" If there is famine? You lead me to green pastures. If there is drought? You lead me to still waters. If there is threat? You lead me to safety. If there is fear? You lead me to peace. Why should I not fear lack? Because YOU are my shepherd.
Lord, I pray that today you would settle in my heart the truth that You, the living God, lead my little life. Settle in my heart that I belong to YOU and that you don't merely 'put up with me'...you care for me because you love me and you desire rest for my life. Help me, God, to look up to you when I'm feeling overwhelmed and in that moment to find that YOU are my shepherd. In Jesus name. So be it, God!
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