psalm2004.com

Psalm 23 is everyone’s favourite passage in the Bible. It is appropriate at every stage in life.  It seems especially meaningful when we are facing death.  I find it more precious with the passing of the years as I draw closer to my own appointment with death. 

The Lord is my shepherd. God is portrayed in many ways.  He is our Father.  He is a King. He is the Creator.  But one of the most tender pictures is that of the Shepherd holding a lamb in His arms. 

Jesus Himself said, “I am the good Shepherd.”  Isaiah 40:11 says, “He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those who are with young.”  What a tender picture. 

We all need to have a shepherd.  We cannot successfully order our lives by ourselves.  We need someone greater and wiser to lead and guide us.  We get lost, left to ourselves. 

The Bible says, “All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way.”  Left to ourselves we become lost.  But the good news is that there is Someone available to care for us. 

So the Psalmist personalized it and said, “The Lord is my shepherd.”  We can have a personal relationship with God.  He can be my shepherd.  Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice.”  He said, “I am the good Shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.”  You can know Him. 

This Shepherd cares for us.  As the Psalm says, He leads us and guides us.  He protects us and feeds us. He watches over all our ways.  Jesus also said, “I am the Good Shepherd, the Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” 

Two thousand years ago He laid down His life for us.  He dealt with our greatest need when He died for our sins and made forgiveness possible.  By receiving Him He can become our Shepherd. 

This Shepherd is not only with us in our journey through life but has promised to be with us in the hour of our death.  That’s important because we all must face death. The Psalmist was able to say, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with ; Your rod and Your staff they comfort me.” 

The old hymn writer wrote: 

“When I come to the river at the ending of the day

When the last winds of sorrow have blown;

There’ll be Somebody waiting to show me the way,

I won’t have to cross Jordan alone.” 

The Psalmist concludes by reflecting on the past and anticipating the future.  As he reflects on his life he concludes that God’s goodness and His mercy has been with him day after day. 

And he looks forward to the future.  He knows that when this life is over he will transition to the house of the Lord where he will live forever.  Jesus called that place heaven or the Father’s house.  And He told His disciples that faith in Him leads one to the Father’s house. 

So the question is – is He your Shepherd?  He can be.  He wants to be.  He awaits your invitation.  Acknowledge that you are a lost sheep and invite Him to be your Shepherd and all the promises of Psalm 23 will be yours.