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This week, we will be focusing on Psalm 23, a Hebrew song written by King David and one of the most famous texts in the Bible. As a Shepherd and a son of a Shepherd, David convincingly moves our focus from the sheep to the provision of the Shepherd. We must embrace the fact that all blessings come from the sovereign gifts of the Shepherd, and all sheep are dependent on the love and leading of the Shepherd.
"The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. 4 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. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (Psalm 23)
The whole Psalm illustrates the working relationship between humanity and Creator God; today, we will focus on the phrase, "The Lord is my Shepherd." With this statement, David reveals sheep's desperate and total ownership. The Hebrew word "Lord" is "Yahweh" in the oldest text; He is both Creator and King of all. The Shepherd has complete ownership of His sheep as "Lord," Creator God, and the Covenant God of Abraham.
Unlike modern times, the original audience was very familiar with farming and the relationship between Shepherds and their sheep. Experts say that sheep are among the dumbest animals in all of creation. While drinking, some sheep have forgotten to raise their snout and drowned in inches of water. A farmer observed hundreds of his sheep walk off a cliff and fall to their death; they simply followed the sheep in front of them. Sheep are also entirely defenseless, and they cannot bark or roar; their "baa" at best sounds adorable. Sheep are terrible and clumsy runners. They have little sense of direction and are prone to wander, get lost, and consume the wrong things. I also read that sheep are the only domesticated animal that cannot survive in the wild; without the Shepherd, sheep are doomed to extinction. Sheep do just one thing well – they congregate!
Notice the pronoun "my," which indicates personal possession. The Lord is not "a" Shepherd or "the" Shepherd, but He is David's Shepherd. If the Lord is David's Shepherd, this makes David His sheep and the property of the Shepherd. If the Lord is "my" Shepherd, all of the claims of this Psalm are mine. If He is not "my" Shepherd, then the pendulum swings the other way, and I cannot claim any of the promises herein. The noteworthy fact is, with God as David's Shepherd, David is fully managed by Him.
Every benefit in my life stems from my relationship with the Shepherd, my owner, and my provider. Jesus identified Himself as the "Good Shepherd," and Peter called Him the "Chief Shepherd" (1 Peter 5:4; John 10:14). As His sheep, we forsake the fickle fortunes of life and flee the whimsical ways of the world in exchange for a life of dedication to the cause of Christ. Is Jesus "your" Shepherd, or is He simply "a" Shepherd? Christ purchased all sheep with a great price, and He longs to be your Shepherd (John 3:16, 1 Corinthians 6:20). Jesus said, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me" (John 10:27). Will you make Him your Shepherd, place your faith in Him, and surrender your life to His fold?
(Some reflections are noted from W. Phillip Keller's book: A Shepherd's Look at Psalm 23.)
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