Psalm 23, the wonderful testimony of God by David who knew what it was like to shepherd sheep who relied on him for food and water, has become one of the most quoted psalms of the Bible. It is read at funerals most often as a testimony of God in the believer who has gone to live with the Shepherd forever. Knowing all that however, I wonder if this shouldn’t be read as our “daily manna” of food for the soul until we truly internalize the fact that God/Jesus/Holy Spirit is indeed our personal Shepherd who leads each one of us and collectively as His “church of sheep” to all that is Good and right for us? For example;
Do we really believe our Shepherd is all we need and nothing else matters? Then why worry over things that will not matter in a few days, weeks, or years?
Do we really believe that our Shepherd will indeed show us all the good places to lay our heads, eat our fill, with refreshing clear water to drink? These are basics to building our faith in our Shepherd who never fails to provide for us as He guides us!
Do we really believe that when we stray from following our noses as we eat, instead of keeping our eyes on the Shepherd as He leads, that He will come find us and bring us back to safety? Because He does! His Holy Spirit sends a warning signal to our hearts to look up and see the Shepherd so we can run to meet Him!
De we really believe that when we are attacked in the pasturelands by predators, that our Shepherd will fight for us and stand between us and the Enemy who wants to devour our souls? He will!
Do we really believe that when the things of this world cause unrest and confusion and fear overcomes us with worry that our Shepherd leaves our side? He does not.
Do we really believe that the Shepherd’s love of us and His care for us is so great that He would lay down His life for ours? Because He did!
Will our Shepherd really invite us to sit at His Table, brimming with Goodness and Blessings—more than we could think or imagine—in full view of the Enemy who wants to destroy us? Yes, He does and He will continue!
Let us not wait for a funeral or even a wedding to feed on the precious words of David who sought the heart of God—His Shepherd.
Sing and shout it out loud—The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing!
Psalm 23, The Message
1-3 God, my shepherd!
I don’t need a thing.
You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
you find me quiet pools to drink from.
True to your word,
you let me catch my breath
and send me in the right direction.
4 Even when the way goes through
Death Valley,
I’m not afraid
when you walk at my side.
Your trusty shepherd’s crook
makes me feel secure.
5 You serve me a six-course dinner
right in front of my enemies.
You revive my drooping head;
my cup brims with blessing.
6 Your beauty and love chase after me
every day of my life.
I’m back home in the house of God
for the rest of my life.
WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?
“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father’s hand. The Father and I are one.”—Jesus, John 10:27-30, NLT
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way…
Lord,
Thank for prompting David to write songs, inspired by Your Spirit, in the pasturelands of his entire life. He was not perfect either; but He knew the One who was. Thank you for loving us so much that you sacrificed your life for us to pay our sin debt in full. And if that wasn’t enough, you forgave us, removing our sins so that we may live forever with you—The Great and Good Shepherd of our souls. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
In Jesus Name, Amen
Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus) 