Psalm 23 is quite possibly the best-known chapter in the entire Bible. John 3:16 takes the gold for individual verses but this single psalm is known by Christians and non-Christians alike. We’ve all walked through the valley of the shadow of death. Most of us have cried out for mercy during trying circumstances.
Psalm 23 is the psalm the majority of people embrace when life becomes unbearable. The psalmist paints a picture of a shepherd caring for his sheep. The sheep are fully dependent upon him. We’re fully dependent upon the Good Shepherd.
David spent countless days tending sheep. His insight into the relationship between sheep and shepherds is brilliant.
Allow Psalm 23 to wash over your soul, heal your wounds, restore your soul and amplify hope.
The Lord Is My Shepherd
Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd, I will not be in need.
Do you confess Jesus as Lord? Is He the Lord of every area of your life? Are you totally dependent upon Him for salvation?
Attempting to earn salvation is dangerous. God’s divine power has provided everything that we need. We are saved by grace through faith. Earning salvation is impossible.
A lamb cannot fight off a lion or a bear. Lambs and sheep are totally dependent upon their shepherd. It’s imperative that we remain dependent up Jesus.
He Leads Me Beside Quiet Waters
Psalm 23:2 He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.
Life is chaotic. I often feel as though I am being tossed around like a small canoe on the Colorado River. Getting closer and closer to rock formations and barely escaping hazards.
The Good Shepherd leads me beside quiet waters. I picture a fresh brook that I can safely cross. My thirst is quenched by it without fear of being swept away by the current.
I can lie down in the green pastures without fear of predators.
The Good Shepherd is watching over me.
He Restores My Soul
Psalm 23:3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name.
Our souls are easily overwhelmed. Humans are confronted with thousands of pieces of data each day. Social media bogs our brains. Bad news is constantly being spewed. Our brains are overloaded with information.
We’re in need of soul restoration.
Paul encouraged us to be renewed in the Spirit of our mind. He also warned that we would either be conformed to the world or transformed by the renewal of our minds.
Anxiety runs rampant in the United States. Jesus offers restoration of the soul.
He guides us towards righteousness for His name’s sake.
When I was a kid my mom would often say, “Make sure you put on clean underwear before you leave this house! If you get into an accident I don’t want to be embarrassed.”
God does many things for His name’s sake.
In Psalm 103 the benefits mentioned are His benefits, not ours.
The Valley of the Shadow of Death
Psalm 23:4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Walking through the valley of the shadow of death is required. Suffering is a normal part of Christianity. This is where the prosperity gospel crowd really gets off course. Jesus learned obedience from the things He suffered. Are we better or more advanced than Him?
Don’t resist walking through the valley of the shadow of death.
Why?
God is with us. He will never leave us nor forsake us.
He is our protector. The shepherd used a rod and a staff. The Good Shepherd has all of Heaven at His disposal. The shepherd had a couple of tools. God is unlimited in power.
The Holy Spirit is our comforter. Embrace Him as your comforter.
My Cup Overflows
Psalm 23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows.
How is your enemy list? Does the devil or his minions know who you are? In the book of Acts, a person thought that he could talk smack to a demon. He adjured the demon in the name of the Jesus that Paul preached.
The demon actually said:
Acts 19:15 And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”
Ouch!
Our enemies should be in the realm of the spirit.
David was anointed king at a young age. His life didn’t change after that anointing. He still had to tend the sheep. David learned many life lessons as a shepherd.
Rabbi Daniel Lapin tells a great story Psalm 23:5 in his book Thou Shall Prosper. He explains how the pouring of the wine into the cup runs over into the saucer beneath the cup. Extravagant giving comes later.
Our families come first (I Timothy 5:8). Only then can we practice radical generosity.
Is your cup running over? Or are you just scraping by living day to day? Radical generosity only happens when our family’s needs, not their wants, are fully met.
Goodness and Mercy Follow Me
Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
It’s comforting to know that God’s goodness and mercy are following me.
God is omnipresent. He’s with me in the darkest places of my life.
God is omniscient. He knows what I need before I even have a clue.
God has perfectly arranged my life. Even when life is challenging I know that His goodness and mercy are with me. His grace is sufficient for me. The love of God never fails.
The Valley of the Shadow of Death — Goliath
David faced many difficult situations. Goliath was the situation that elevated him.
Goliath defied the armies of Israel. Saul cowered in fear. David’s brothers played it safe. He arrived and appeared cocky to the fearful and afraid soldiers.
David used only his training as a shepherd to win the battle.
Our Good Shepherd doesn’t lose battles either. We simply need to remain close to Him and He will escort us through the valley of the shadow of death. Then we can live in the house of the Lord forever!