Who’s Your Shepherd
One of the most recognized and recited passages of the Bible is Psalm 23. Most can quote its opening by heart and easily lean into David’s cadence and imagery. Today, let’s take another stroll through its verses, this time in the New Living Translation.
The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.
How about taking a moment to read it again, slowly, in this new version. Ponder the phrases David uses to showcase an intimate and protective relationship with God. Notice how he changes from third person to first person halfway through. Wonder why? Look at the verbs—rest, leads, renews, guides—and ponder what those look like in your world. How might you describe your blessings cup?
The beauty of the song can hide some of the so very practical aspects he talks about. The first verse sets the stage for all that follows.
The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.
If you think about it, that really is the place God wants to bring us: To live our lives both independently and at the same time fully dependent upon him. We make our choices and walk our walk, but this verse calls on us to do that with the Good Shepherd as our leader.
Ray Stedman has a provocative thought about this.
It struck me as I was studying this psalm that there are really only two options in life. If the Lord is my shepherd, then I shall not want; but if I am in want, then it seems obvious that the Lord is not my shepherd.
Our nature, the scriptures repeatedly say, resembles that of sheep. And sheep, as you either have experienced or heard of, are not too smart and can be timid and defenseless and often helpless. Prone to getting lost, wandering aimlessly, and not bright enough to avoid danger or even get out of the rain, they need a guide, a shepherd, a voice they can follow.
Isaiah picks up on the whole sheep idea when he says,
We all, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
I am all too aware of how I wander, how I choose to be my own shepherd or choose a faulty one to follow. So many times I wake up in a ditch and wonder how I drove off the road. And you are just like me.
God says, “Follow me.” But besides him, there are other “shepherds” who can promise much but ultimately lead sheep astray.
A career can become a cruel shepherd, bringing restlessness to a person
Political parties herd folks along, promising much but often just manipulating the crowd for their goals
An education promises enlightenment but often delivers less than advertised
Another person, even a mate, will ultimately disappoint since they are as flawed as you
But when we choose, over and over, to have the Lord be our shepherd, we are led in the direction of having all we need to face whatever is on our agenda on any day. Now, that’s a promise worth hanging onto. And every time I wander, the Shepherd calls me back. In simple terms, that call abides as the invitation at the heart of every story in the Book.
“My sheep hear my voice”
Jesus, the good shepherd, calls his own. That’s us. Hearing all the other calls but responding to our shepherd is the believer’s challenge. As we go about life, keep one ear turned toward God as he guides, warns, encourages, nourishes, calms, protects, leads his own to the place that we have all we need. Why would I want to attach myself to another?
So, friend, a worthy question to chase around for a time today is, "Who is my shepherd?" Living freely under his care sets us up for the best life, and following any other voice will never be as quietly satisfying. If you discover you have once again wandered, come on home. You will be welcomed with open arms.
Stedman finishes his study of this passage with a prayer fitting for us, as well.
Lord, though I am a sheep who is prone to wander, come and be my shepherd today. Bring me to that place where I can say, “The Lord is my shepherd I shall not be in want.”
Music is good most any time
And a funny for the road...
Earl and Bob, both obsessed with baseball, never missed their favorite team's game.
They promised whoever died first, and went to heaven, would come back to earth and tell the other if there was baseball in heaven.
One day, Earl died. Bob waited for him to come back. Finally Earl did.
He said to Bob, "I have good news and bad news. I'll tell you the good news first. There IS baseball in heaven."
Bob said, "That's the best news!"
Then Earl said, "Time for the bad news...you're pitching tomorrow night."