Day 1

The Lord Is My Shepherd

from the Psalms of Rest reading plan


Psalm 23:1-6

BY She Reads Truth

Psalm 23 speaks to my heart—green pastures, quiet waters, right paths. I am an outdoorsy person by nature. I’d much rather get lost in the woods, alone with my thoughts, the trees, and the breeze, than be in any city. So, as I read these familiar verses, I want to go outside, to be witness to the goodness and beauty of the natural world. It also occurs to me that I have something in common with sheep—we can both get lost without hardly trying.

Some years ago, I read about a Merino sheep in New Zealand named Shrek. He had wandered away from his flock and his shepherd and gotten lost. For six years, he lived in nearby caves, eating what he could find and avoiding the shearer’s blade. When Shrek was finally found, his wool weighed sixty pounds, and the raw weight of twenty men’s suits on his back was threatening his life. He had trouble walking, and his breathing was labored. He needed his shepherd. So do we.

Shepherds take care of sheep—plural—but in this psalm, the relationship is between one sheep and his Shepherd. It’s personal, much more intimate. “The LORD is my shepherd” (v.1, emphasis mine). These words are from David, but I can’t help but read them as my own. I think we were meant to, each one of us. The Lord is my Shepherd. He guides me, provides for me, protects me from my enemies.

I don’t need to worry. “I have what I need” (v.1). I don’t need to struggle or strive. “He lets me lie down in green pastures” (v.2). Weariness does not have the final say. “He renews my life.” And I won’t ever get lost. (Not really, anyway.) “He leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake” (v.3). It is only because the Shepherd is so good that I can be still and rest, that I can have true peace.

I could be happy for eternity being a beloved lamb of the Good Shepherd, but Psalm 23 doesn’t leave us as sheep. A shift occurs in verse 5. David begins to address God directly—the song becomes a prayer of thanksgiving. Not only that, but the pastoral imagery is replaced by a banquet scene. You and I have become honored guests of the King.

The table is set, and though my enemies might rage just outside, none of that matters (v.5). I am in the house of my Maker, the One who knows me and loves me better than anyone else. But the best part? I’m not just a guest. I get to stay in His presence forever—”as long as I live” (v.6), though the Hebrew phrase that’s been translated doesn’t limit this time to my natural lifespan. It has all come full circle—”I have what I need,” because I have the One I was created to know and love.

Post Comments (1001)

1,001 thoughts on "The Lord Is My Shepherd"

  1. Candi Frost says:

    Great analogy!

  2. Leanna Van Vleet says:

    I imagine myself wandering through the green pastures and beside the still waters and peace overtakes me from within. I remind myself that is what it feels like to have God as my shepherd.

  3. Rachel Mathoslah says:

    ❤️

  4. Brenda LocsinNaska says:

    I am reading this booklet about a shepherds view of psalms 23 and it is really interesting the different perspective he has about “I shall not want” for a long time I thought this just means He will provide for me materially all the time. But life as we know it this statement is not always true. But this author said it means being content in knowing that He ( God) is a good shepherd. He knows what His sheep needs. Content that when life is hard He is there already taking care of the details.

  5. Madi Hester says:

    “i don’t need to worry i have what i need” i love that and it’s so important right now !!

  6. Katie CarrierMorgan says:

    He restores my soul. ❤️

  7. Amanda Grant says:

    2He makes me lie down in green pastures.
    He leads me beside still waters.
    3He restores my soul.
    He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name’s sake.

  8. Jennifer Spiers says:

    When we wander off alone we begin collecting things. Some good some not. This weight becomes heavy and we get used to it. For a while. But we were created in the image of God. Our souls know our Father is calling us home. And the beautiful thing is, no matter how far away we get, no matter how heavy the weight of what we carry, one simple act of turning back to God brings the merciful Helper to our side. He takes the yoke and we begin to walk freely and lightly on the grace lined path back to the Kingdom.

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