My Shepherd (Psalm 23)

¹ The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
²     He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
³     he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,^[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

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What is striking in this very familiar psalm is the contrast to the beginning of the previous psalm.  The ordering of the psalms in the Bible is not random.  There is evidence of careful planning.  It is no accident that the psalm that depicts the greatest sense of loss (Psalm 22) is back-to-back with the psalm offering nothing but pure comfort.  The contrast could not be more extreme.

As I said several days ago when reflecting on Psalm 22, we are thankful that Jesus endured the forsakenness for us so that we would never have to say those awful opening words in truth.  Instead, our relationship with God is perfectly described in this psalm, psalm 23.

What are the blessings?  We lack nothing. He provides for our needs, both materially and spiritually.  He shows the way of wisdom and truth.  Nothing in this world can overcome the Lord who is with us, so we have no fear.  He blesses us even when surrounded by enemies.  Even among our enemies we are as at a feast, anointed and blessed.  And these blessings will continue in the Lord’s presence forever.

No wonder this Psalm has been a go-to psalm for the people of God for 3000 years.  So much is said in so few words about so great a comfort and peace.

My prayer today is one of thanksgiving for my Shepherd.  I’m also praying for those who may be living in Psalm 22, that the Lord would bless them and fill their hearts with the truth of Psalm 23.

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