Can I be honest? The first thing I think about when I see Psalm 23 is funerals. (Aside: I also think a little bit of “Gangsta’s Paradise” by Coolio just because he uses the one line from this psalm in his famous song.) I mean, it’s always on the back of the funeral program or recited at funerals. Always. Plus, everyone knows Psalm 23 right? I bet most of us even have it memorized.
But more than funerals or memorization or being a “popular” psalm, when I read this psalm it brings me great comfort. (Which is why it’s usually recited at funerals, right?) Great comfort in that I am His. The Lord really IS my shepherd.
To many of us, being a shepherd doesn’t translate. Do you know a shepherd in 2021? However, back then it made perfect sense. To understand the metaphor you have to know what a shepherd is and does. Shepherds graze the animals, herding them to areas of good forage and keeping a watchful eye out for poisonous plants. Many shepherds are expected to be on call for their animals around the the clock. Shepherds also protect their animals from predators and care for their injuries.
I’m sure you know where I’m going with this and I know it’s a bit of low hanging fruit, but’s it so true. Christ exemplifies all of the qualities of a good shepherd and so much more. He “herds” me to straight paths and greener pastures (“makes me lie down in green pastures”, “leads me besides still waters”, “leads in paths of righteousness”) and watches over me and is with me. HE DOES WATCH OVER ME AROUND THE CLOCK! He protects me and cares for me. (“I will fear no evil for you are with me”, “prepares a table”, anoints my head with oil.”)
Charles Spurgeon put it this way: “A sheep is an object of property, not a wild animal; its owner sets great store by it, and frequently it is bought with a great price. It is well to know, as certainly as David did, that we belong to the Lord. There is a noble tone of confidence about this sentence. There is no ‘if’ nor ‘but,’ nor even ‘I hope so;’ but he says, ‘The Lord is my shepherd.’”
I like knowing I belong to the Lord. That I was bought with a great price. Like I said, it brings me great comfort. I hope it brings you great comfort too.
- Rori S.