The Book of Psalms includes songs, prayers, and poetry that express the deepest passion of worship, praise, and petition toward God. The Psalmists poured out their souls in heart-felt expressions brought on by the greatest battles, difficulties and challenges of human experiences. Over the next three weeks we will be looking at one of the most familiar Psalms. Psalms 23, reveals the Lord as the Shepherd of His people.
- Verses 1-3 show us the Lord’s promise to provide.
- In verses 4-5, the Lord our Shepherd promises to never abandon us and shows us His protection.
- The last verse lets us know that we can trust God’s goodness and mercy both now and throughout eternity.
The Psalm was written by King David who had been a shepherd. From a shepherd’s perspective, we are shown the Lord’s watchful care, supply for all our needs and protection.
Psalm 23:1 NKJV The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
Since David had been a shepherd, he knew exactly what it meant to watch over sheep. The shepherd has a definite challenge in watching over the sheep. Some say sheep are stupid animals that require constant guarding and protection. A shepherd once said, “Sheep are stubborn, hardheaded, dirty, and stupid animals.” That is a picture of the human race.
Isaiah 53:6 NKJV All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
Each of us have had those moments in life when we needed to be rescued by the Lord our Shepherd. Thank God for His tender care. In John 10:14, Jesus identified Himself as the good Shepherd. Hebrews 13:20 calls Him the “Great Shepherd.” 1 Peter 5:4 says the Lord is the “Chief Shepherd.”
David knew by experience the care a shepherd has over his sheep.
Isaiah 40:11 NKJV 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.
Because we are under His care, we have confidence in His promises to provide. He feeds and cares for His flock like a shepherd. Psalms 23 provides this confidence and assurance in the Lord’s continual care.
Psalm 23:1 NKJV The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
We need a Savior and Redeemer for our souls. We need One to rescue us, give tender care and protect us from our enemies.
Since the Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want.
Jehovah-Rohi, the Lord my Shepherd is Jehovah-Jireh, the Lord Who will provide.
You can make this personal. It refers to the saving and redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is a testimony of God’s provision for all our need. You can trust in His care over you.
The Hebrew word for “want” means “have need, diminish, decrease, or cause to lack.”
All my needs He has supplied. This is both spiritual and physical, temporal and eternal. We have a Shepherd Who is able and willing to provide. Psalms 34:9 says, “There is no want to them that fear Him.”
Have you wanted something that you knew you did not need?
The Lord is not going to give you everything that you want, but He always supplies all our needs according to His own riches in glory. This is the fundamental idea behind this Psalm. Since the Lord is our Shepherd, all our needs for body and soul for now and eternity are provided. If we were left to our own devices and goings astray, we would experience great need. The Lord our Shepherd is watching over us and has come to our aid, therefore all our needs He supplies.
Psalm 23:2 NKJV He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.
Jehovah-Shalom, the Lord our Peace makes me lie down in places of peace and safety.
The Lord knows how to satisfy and nourish our souls. If we will follow Him, we will not lack. Look at the words, “makes” and “leads.” Sheep are easily frightened and run away at the slightest sign of trouble. Notice the relationship between “He and me.” My Shepherd knows how to care for me. Since our need is supplied and our soul is satisfied, we can rest and trust in His care, promise, and protection. His provision is sufficient.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
Since sheep are fearful animals, they will not lie down unless they feel totally secure. Before we can experience the bounty of His supply, we must come to trust in His care for us.
The Lord is My Shepherd and He cares for me.
You can trust that the Lord knows exactly what you need, so, He makes you lie down in green pastures. Pastures are places of calmness, safety and peace. Lying down in green pastures suggests being fully fed and satisfied, our needs completely supplied. When our soul is satisfied with His goodness, there is rest, quietness and peace. Green pastures refer to being surrounded with the blessings He provides for us.
Psalm 103:2-3 NKJV Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases,
He forgives all your iniquities and heals all your diseases. The Lord our Shepherd is the great Reconciler and great Physician.
Psalm 103:4 NKJV Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
He redeems from destruction and crowns you with His lovingkindness and tender mercies. Think about the numbers of times that He has brought you out of destruction and troubles. One of the amazing things about His care is His grace and mercy.
Psalm 103:5 NKJV Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
He satisfies and renews. This is the goal of His care.
Psalms 23:2 “He leads me beside the still waters.”
The still waters are the places of refreshment where the soul is at peace with God.
Since I can wholly trust Him, I shall not lack refreshment because He leads me to still waters. He leads me to still waters, not troubled waters. The Shepherd of your soul brings you to places of tranquility and peace. This is a place where the turmoil and strife of this world falls off of us. He removes the weariness, restlessness, and burden. Amid all of the temptations and troubles of this world, He causes us to come to safety and taste the water of life that refreshes and strengthens our soul. In Matthew 11:28 Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” There is a place by Him of safety and refreshing for your soul.
Psalm 23:3 NKJV He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
Jehovah—Rapha, the Lord our Healer restores our soul.
When we learn to rest in His presence and leading, the Lord restores and refreshes the soul. There is sufficient restoration to convert and transform our soul and bring new life. He never fails or overlooks anything that we need. He sustains His sheep with His own power, and strengthens and feeds them while keeping them from all harm. “He restores” refers to the Lords ability to bring us back from our errors and wandering, to quicken and bring back life. What we have lost due to our sins and transgressions can be restored. He is able to give double for all of our troubles. Our exhausted, wearied, troubled, anxious, and worn down with care soul is restored and given new joy.
When the Lord does this work of restoration, “He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”
This work of His grace and mercy is not due to our merit. He leads us in “right paths” or “straight paths” that are without risk to the goal that He has provided and planned. The path the Lord leads us in is easy and plain. In doing so, the Lord liberally supplies for all the needs of our lives. Every promise that He makes and satisfies is because of His own justice, faithfulness, and goodness.
The work He is doing in you is because of His own righteousness and for His Own name’s sake.
He is revealing Himself as the Lord our Shepherd to show and prove Himself. The Lord our God is a Good Shepherd. We do not deserve His favor and goodness. By doing what He does for you, the Lord is magnifying His righteousness and gracious goodness. Take a close look at all of the things the Lord has done for you. You are a testimony of His lovingkindness and tender mercy. Psalms 124 starts with the words, “If the Lord had not been on our side…” This is the strength of our lives. God’s promises to provide have been manifest in the bounty of His blessings.
Psalm 103:1-5 NKJV Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
