By Dr Agnes Tan
“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want”— this simple confession describes David’s relationship with the Lord and the secret behind his confidence. David grew up taking care of sheep. He knows that the quality of life for the sheep is dependent on the characteristics of the shepherd. By acknowledging the Lord as his shepherd, David puts into right perspective who God is and who he is.
To David, the best thing about being a sheep is having a shepherd. Charles Spurgeon echoes that truth by saying that the word “my” in verse 1 is the sweetest word in the entire 23rd Psalm. With pride, David lists the benefits of being in God’s shepherding care— He makes me lie down… He leads me beside still waters… He refreshes my soul… He guides me in the right path… He is with me… He comforts me… He prepares for me… He anoints me… He makes my cup overflow…. These testimonies shows not only the benefits received but more importantly, they highlight the faithfulness of the Shepherd.
Nothing is too big or too small for the Lord as long as we are willing to cast our cares on Him. Do you feel the nearness of the Lord right now? Or are you struggling to believe that God loves you? David’s Shepherd is also yours. You are a sheep under His care. There is no need for fear because your Guide, Defender and Provider is with you at all times.
Psalm 23 is a story of a journey of faith and also a journey to our eternal home where we will be seated at the feast table that God has prepared for us. But before we get to enjoy that, we have to pass through the valley of the shadow of death. When that time comes, will you trust Him? Will you commit your life to him as you remember His love for you? “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (v. 6).