Free Grace Women

Thousands upon thousands of books and articles have been written about the Lord as our Shepherd.  Psalm 23 is quoted at memorial services and special occasions. Perhaps it is so familiar to us that we have ceased to truly contemplate the beauty of it. Read Psalm 23 with fresh eyes and take time to reflect on the way David describes his Shepherd.

“The LORD is my Shepherd; I shall not want.  He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.  Yea, 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23 NKJV

Before he was the King of Israel, David spent his days tending to sheep and is credited with the authorship of Psalm 23.  David understood the heart of a Shepherd Who would faithfully protect, nourish, guide, comfort, and bind up wounds. David’s description would be used several times in the Bible. The Lord later described Himself as a Shepherd to Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. 

“Behold, the Lord GOD shall come with a strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him; behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him. 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.” Isaiah 40:10-11 NKJV

“Hear the word of the LORD, O nations, and declare it in the isles afar off, and say, ‘He who scattered Israel will gather him, and keep him as a shepherd does his flock.’” Jeremiah 31:10 NKJV

“As a shepherd seeks out his flock on the day he is among his scattered sheep, so will I seek out My sheep and deliver them from all the places where they were scattered on a cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them to their own land; I will feed them on the mountains of Israel, in the valleys and in all the inhabited places of the country. I will feed them in good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie down in a good fold and feed in rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. I will feed My flock, and I will make them lie down,” says the Lord GOD. Ezekiel 34:12-15 NKJV

In each of these passages, we see the reality of the future Kingdom in which the Shepherd will tenderly care for His people. He will seek them out and gather them to Himself so that He can be their Leader and Protector. He will feed them, nourish them, and give them rest.

We see this imagery in the New Testament as well. In the book of John, Jesus calls Himself the Good Shepherd Who would lay down His life for His sheep (John 10:11). The author of Hebrews names Jesus as the great Shepherd of the sheep (Hebrews 13:20) and Peter calls Him the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4). The Lord has many names, and many of them reflect His power and glory. How incredible that He also chooses to identify Himself as a keeper of sheep.  

I hope that none of us ever allow this beautiful truth about the Lord to be dimmed by familiarity. Get to know the Lord as your Shepherd. Take rest in His steadfast love and tender care. Go to Him for nourishment and protection. Trust in His leading, and remember that He walks with you even through the darkest of valleys. Draw close to the Good Shepherd and allow Him to restore your soul. 

Click the following link to listen to a beautiful song based on Psalm 23: Leanna Crawford – Still Waters (Psalm 23) (Music Video)

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