The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul.
Psalm 23:1-3
The very first Bible passage I ever memorized was Psalm 23, in the old King James version.
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
I’ll be honest. I wasn’t particularly interested in memorizing Bible verses at the time. I was ten and thought I had more important ten-year-old things to do, but because I wanted to spend time with my Dad, I cooperated. Every night before bed, we recited Psalm 23 together.
I didn’t really understand the significance of the words I was memorizing. Metaphors of sheep and pastures, staffs and rods? Tables with over-flowing cups set before enemies? I didn’t fully get it. But the words have stayed with me, and have become more meaningful the more life I’ve lived.
The words of Psalm 23 may not have resonated with the child I once was, but they are a lifeline to the adult I’ve become. This Psalm is a tether to grab hold of when the world seems to be spinning out of control. It is a full, deep breath when anxiety or grief sits heavy on your chest and a bright light during a dark night of the soul. When the walls of circumstance are closing in, it’s a cool breeze that comes through an open door.
As I’m writing this, the news is full of dire reporting. COVID-19 is threatening people’s health and even their lives. The measures being taken to lessen its impact are causing economic upheaval and millions of people are now out of work. To combat the virus’s spread, people are staying home and distancing from others, causing many people to feel lonelier and more isolated than ever before. We are facing an uncertain future and no one knows for sure how long this crisis will last. We all need the lifeline that Psalm 23 offers us.
For the next four weeks, we’re going to move slowly through this Psalm, taking it line by line. We’re going to rest in its truth and allow the Holy Spirit to use its words to give us endurance and hope. So, join us each day as we meditate on Psalm 23 and share its message with those around you. Memorize these verses with your family or roommate. If you live alone, recite them on the phone with a friend. May the Lord through his Word refresh our souls, and may we walk through the dark valley of this crisis with a deep and abiding confidence in the loving care of our good Shepherd.
Day One
The Lord is my shepherd… (Psalm 23:1a)
Reflect
David never expected to be a king. That role had already been given to Saul, a mighty warrior with a commanding presence. David was the youngest son and wasn’t heir to his father’s fortune or legacy. His job was to take care of his father’s flocks. Yet, God called him to be Israel’s King.
In fairy tales, becoming king is often where the story ends. It’s what happens right before the narrator proclaims, “and they all lived happily ever after.” Yet David’s road to the throne, as difficult as it had been, was only the beginning. As King, he experienced victory, but as a father, he faced crushing loss and devastating betrayal. Even though some of his trials were the result of his own sin, David’s suffering might have made another man bitter and angry at God. Yet, David saw God as his shepherd.
Many scholars believe that David wrote Psalm 23 near the end of his life. We can imagine that as he looked back across the years, he recognized all the ways he’d experienced God’s goodness and provision, even in the midst of sin and suffering. Even as the most powerful man in Israel, David knew that he was a more like a sheep, grateful for his Shepherd.
Over the course of his life, David had come to know God. The word translated “Lord” in Psalm 23, is God’s personal name, Yahweh. It means “I am” or “I am that I am.” God is self-sufficient and self-defined. His name reveals God as eternal — as the one who was and is and forever will be. Yet this powerful, eternal Creator cares deeply and personally for every person. Like a shepherd who protects, provides, and cares for his sheep, Yahweh cares for us.
Ask any shepherd and they will tell you that sheep cannot live without a shepherd. They are prone to wander and will try to find ways to get outside of the fences that keep them in safe pastures. They will blissfully follow one another off into danger where they can be attacked by predators. And because they are stubborn and slow to learn, they will get stuck in the same bogs and brambles over and over. Without a shepherd to care for them, a flock will die.
Even mighty King David recognized that he needed a shepherd, and so do we all. We need the loving provision of a shepherd who will guide and protect us because we are as prone to stubbornly wander into danger as sheep are. And when the danger comes from the outside – from violence, disaster, or disease, our Shepherd never leaves us. He is always with us.
What does it mean to you that the Lord is your Shepherd? How should his role as Shepherd affect your thoughts, emotions, and actions during this crisis?
Pray
Sit quietly before the Lord and remember that he is your Good Shepherd. How do you need his guidance and protection right now? Take all your cares and concerns to him today.