Psalm 23 Part One – 21 September 2021, Anno Domini

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HE 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 for ever.  (Psalm 23:1-6)

 

Introduction

            Having paid the price of our sins and redemption, the Lord has emerged from the Garden Tomb victorious. He is now our Shepherd King and Savior.

 

Though the sheep know not where the shepherd may lead, they follow on in faith and trust. The trail is winding and they know not the Way except to understand that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

 

I wrote the following devotion on the 23^rd Psalm a few years ago; and Hap Arnold posted it to our blog in March of 2011. I feel that it is appropriate to share this devotion again following those of the 22^nd Psalm.

 

The Twenty-Third Psalm – being a Messianic Psalm:

I feel a great reluctance in preparing this devotion on the 23^rd Psalm. Its beauty, majesty, and high spiritual character render it above any human capacity to expand upon. So please regard my commentary thereon as a simple statement of what the Psalm means to me.

 

The LORD is my shepherd - This is the beginning point of every Christian walk – to know and acknowledge Christ as our Shepherd.  He made us, sustains us, and calls us to Him. No other cares for us as He does. All others simply desire to use us and to ruin us in the process; but Christ loves His sheep. He eats, sleeps, and keeps watch with them day and night. He has given His very Life-Blood for them. This, a stranger will not do. He is always conscious of our needs and feeds us.  The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. (John 10:10-14)

 

I shall not want - All of our needs will be provided by the Shepherd. Those desires we have that will not benefit, but harm us, He will withhold. But our wants (those needs we have to sustain us in our journey and being) He will see to. We are mere sheep and cannot know where the pastures of feeding will be found for the morrow, but He knows and makes provision for our being led to them.

 

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures - Sheep are fickle creatures. They are reluctant to lie down just any place. They will shy away from lying down where they do not feel secure (it is difficult for them to arise due to the structure of their legs). They will not lie down unless they are first fed. They will not lie down where pests will annoy them. They only lie down where they are secure, well-fed, and serene.

 

He leadeth me beside the still waters. - To those who love the Shepherd, all waters are still waters to them. They have peace in spite of the external havoc that may exist around them. The waters of the Lord are still and deep! His provision of the waters of life is boundless and pure. Though we wander in the wilderness of the world, to our eyes and thirst will always be visible the Still Waters of the Lord.