Psalm 23

“The Lord is my Shepherd” (vs. 1-6)—This is probably the most well-known of all of the 150 psalms and there is no way a human commentator can do it justice. David, of course, was a shepherd in his youth and uses that knowledge to write this great song. The shepherd had total responsibility for the well-being of the sheep. A human shepherd is frail and subject to fiasco, but the Lord is the perfect shepherd and will unfailingly perform His duties: thus, “I shall not want” (v. 1). He leads us to the richest of sustenance—“green pastures”—and there is nothing to fear—“still waters,” not rushing streams where a sheep might be swept away. There is also spiritual protection: “He restoreth my soul”—mercy when we need it. “He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness”—if we follow Him, as the sheep is supposed to do, we will be protected from the consequences of evil. And notice, He does it “for his name’s sake” (v. 3)—for His glory and honor, which is our purpose on this earth. Man can find his highest fulfillment and rationale for life in serving God. Pursuing our own selfish desires will only lead to disappointment, for we shall never find true satisfaction in the vanity of this world; there will always be something beyond that we will want. God simply did not constitute man so that material things will satisfy us. We are created in His image—our spiritual nature is the true reality, for it will last long after this flesh has returned to the earth. And thus, living “for His name’s sake” is where true contentment and purpose for our existence is found.

With the Lord as our Shepherd, there is no fear in death: “though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.” He will meet us when we cross over the Jordan into the heavenly Promised Land. We are comforted by His rod and staff (v. 4). If we get a little out of line, a touch of His staff brings us back into harmony with Him—we can be sure that He constantly watches over us to make sure we do not stray. He prepares us a spiritual feast (v. 5), such to make our enemies jealous. He pours rich blessings upon us, yea, so many that “my cup runneth over” (v. 5). All we need to do is trust Him: “’Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,’ says the LORD of hosts, ‘If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it’” (Malachi 3:10). Following our Shepherd will lead to “goodness and mercy” following us “all the days of [our] lives.” And in the end, eternal life: “And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (v. 6).

What more could we want? Gentle reader, “trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). Following the True Shepherd will provide us a straight, contented path in this life, one that leads directly to eternal life with Him.