“The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack. He makes me lie down in [fresh tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters. He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him–not for my earning it, but] for His name’s sake. Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my [brimming] cup runs over. Surely or only goodness, mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.” (Psalm 23)
This is probably the most often quoted Psalm in the Bible. This Psalm shows just how deep David’s confidence was in God. This Psalm is a statement of faith of the highest order. It shows the place that God held in David’s priorities. Let’s break it down:
— “The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack.” A shepherd is responsible for taking care of his sheep. He has to ensure they have good pasture to graze on and he has to lead the way because he knows the area and he has to be prepared to protect the sheep from predators. Jesus is the Good Shepherd and He takes His responsibilities seriously towards us. If we truly believe we are the sheep of His pasture, we can be confident that we won’t lack any good thing.
—“He makes me lie down in [fresh tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters. He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.” The Lord Jesus knows exactly what we need to be strengthened and His timing of our rest periods is perfect. Life is seasonal if you notice, there are times of hardships and times of rest and refreshing–if you are following the Lord. He knows the best path for each one of us to take on our journey with Him. The sheep doesn’t question whether or not the shepherd knows what he is doing. They just trust and follow.
–“Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.” We are never promised a rose garden when we accept Jesus as our Savior. We are promised that He won’t ever leave us or forsake us. We are given all the tools necessary to overcome everything the enemy would throw at us. When we TRUST Him, He is there to protect and guide us through the toughest of times.
—“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my [brimming] cup runs over. Surely or only goodness, mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.” This is my favorite part of this Psalm. In the middle of our trials and troubles, He prepares a table for us. A table laden with peace and protection in the middle of it all. There is nothing more satisfying than to get blessed in front of someone who doesn’t want you to have it! He provides more than enough. He gives us, through the Blood of Jesus, access right into His very presence all the days of our life and then He brings us home to remain forever in His presence. What an awesome God!
This Psalm is the most quoted Psalm because it is so powerful. It is so faith-building. If your faith is waning today, take out your Bible and read Psalm 23 out loud every day and just watch God begin to build your faith back up. The Word of God is more powerful than anything and it can make something out of nothing–and restore order out of chaos. Try it…
Blessings everyone…
From the Heart of God... 