Psalm 23

Psalm 23: 1

The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.

Who is the Lord to you? Do you believe He is as you say He is to and for you? Establishing the relationship and defining that relationship with God is the first step to knowing how you get closer to God- the access. It is the level of the relationship that determines the level of revelation. For David, the Lord was the shepherd. David simply says I can only live in the presence of God. It is in the power of the keeper for the livestock to thrive or to perish.

A little different from other animal caregiving, sheep usually rely on the shepherds, learn to focus on their caregiver and learn to differentiate their voice from others. Like an unborn child, depending on everything from a mother, sheep depend on their guidance for pastures, protection and survival, thus they lack nothing when they have a shepherd. And as much as a sheep relies on the shepherd, the Word also means there is total surrender for the sheep to the shepherd.

For David, the Lord God is the shepherd, a good shepherd as Jesus says in the Gospel of John 10:11-18. David knows he can count on God for safety, he believes God and depends on him for everything just like a sheep with a total surrender to the most hight. David teaches us how important defining a relationship, any relationship is. This will determine the level of closeness, intimacy and surrender two of you will have.

If you believe God is a father, friend, saviour, word of life, the bread of life, living water, life, and creator, you will go to Him as you believe He is.

Psalm 23: 2

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.

David describes the peaceful surroundings that God has provided for him. The green pastures and still waters represent a place of rest and refreshment. It also represents the timely fulfilment and provision that God has for him. They are green pastures not dry, not brown but green. The blessings in peace, health, and strength, joy, contentment. The still waters, peace, calmness, and quietness even when everything is chaos is what God makes and creates for David.

What can we learn from David? Is this how God IS for us? Do we feel confident enough to say the same when people around us ask? In the middle of all this, is God still making us peaceful and still when chaos is the normal of today’s world and life? This verse teaches us to seek out rest and peace in God’s presence, even in the midst of life’s struggles.

David simply holds this truth that, as much as God will give him rest and seasons of contentment and fulfilment, He also shall give him peace and joy. He knows this and acknowledges that He, God will always do this – continuously and for as long as he, David lives.

Psalm 23: 3

He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

David acknowledges that it is God who restores his soul and leads him on the path of righteousness. It is not and does not mean David had it all in his life. David was the second king of the Israelites. Anointed at a young age, went through everything there is to learn what surrender to God, honesty, faithfulness, fall, temptation of man and goodness of God are when man chooses to believe and trust in God.

David through it all, the oil poured on his head, crowned king, for the first and second time. He is then chased by Saul. David is on the run, then favoured then chased away, yet he still holds on to the testimony that God was faithful through it all. For each and every new day, He restores life in his soul. Through it all, God is still the breath of life, life flowing in and through him.

God has the power to heal and restore our souls and following God’s way will lead us to a righteous and fulfilling life. We can trust in God’s guidance to lead us towards a meaningful purpose in life.

Is God life to you? Can you live without Him? Does surrender to God mean anything to you? Do you think it is important? What is the Spirit of God saying to you about surrender? Can you choose that? Just like a shepherd, it is only through surrender God can restore us because, in the end, He does everything for our good and for His Own sake.

Psalm 23:4

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

David begins with Yea in this line. David acknowledges that the Lord is the shepherd, He is the provider, the director, and yes there will be a green pasture and walk beside still water yet, there will be days. Days where the shadows of death, talk of weakness, poor health, days of war will come but I will fear no evil, for You are with me. Even when things are not going as believed they would, with God, I am safe, protected and cared for.

This is a reminder that even in the darkest and most difficult times in our lives, we can trust that God is with us and will never abandon us. We can take comfort in the fact that we are not alone and that we have the support and guidance of a loving God.
And just like in livestock communities, a shepherd would use a rod and staff to guide and protect his sheep. God as a shepherd will never let harm, come our way as long as we learn to hear his voice when he calls us and obey. We can trust that God will always be there to guide us and protect us from harm.

Psalm 23:5

You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.

David encourages us and reminds us that life is lived in GOD. It is not like our battles will ever come to an end when we live. As a Christian, and a believer, fights will continue against the enemy and darkness, but holding on to Him as God, the good shepherd, the healer and provider, we will have full days and live the best in his care.

You will be a Christian and yet battle disease, poverty, illness, community issues, and environmental and climate issues. Of course, they are not all your portion BUT what if God lets you go through them? Will you stop believing He is God? Will you still hold on to his promises? Or will you give up on faith?

As you think over many reasons and excuses to question, comment and criticize that a believer is a free man. I agree with you. In His word, he spoke of health and well-being. But Job, a faithful man of God, went through all that was in store to make a man question where God was. But God was with Him through it all and proved so at the end of the book of Job.

Just like in the life of Job, even in the face of adversity or opposition, God can provide for us and bless us abundantly.

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.

The verse “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” conveys a message of hope and comfort to its readers. Here are three lessons that can be learned from this verse:

God’s blessings are abundant: The words “goodness” and “mercy” in the verse illustrate the abundance of God’s blessings. As His children, we can trust that His goodness and mercy will be with us throughout our lives. This can give us the strength to face difficult situations with the knowledge that God is always with us.

We are never alone: The verse speaks of the constant presence of God’s goodness and mercy in our lives. We can take comfort in the fact that we are never alone, even in our darkest moments. No matter what we face, God is always with us, guiding us and providing for us.

Eternal life is promised: The final phrase of the verse, “I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever,” speaks of the promise of eternal life. As believers, we ought to hope and be knowledgeable that our time on earth is just a small part of our journey with God. We can look forward to dwelling in His house forever, surrounded by His love and mercy.

A good reminder to the soul!

Psalm 23 is a beautiful expression of faith and trust in God. These verses remind us that even in the midst of difficulty and opposition, God provides for us abundantly. He prepares a feast for us and anoints us with oil, symbols of his love and care for us. And as we walk through life, we can trust that his goodness and mercy will follow us always, leading us to dwell in his presence forever

Psalm 23 is a reminder for us to trust in God’s guidance, protection, provision, and abundance in our lives. No matter what challenges we may face, we can find comfort and hope in the knowledge that God is always with us and that His blessings are overflowing. And with the focus on WHO God is to us, personally and individually, is choosing to see that God is mighty and loving and that as long as we live; as long as we wake up the next morning, we are surely going to see his mercies and goodness in the land of the living.

And a Daily Prayer

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love (mercy) will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

Psalm 23

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