IS THE LORD YOUR SHEPHERD?
If you took time to look back on a season of life that was good, or mustered the courage to look back at a difficult season in your life, how would you describe your experience with God? Did you go without? Were you afraid? Were you at peace? Did you feel alone? Did God feel close? Did you make it through? How did God show up? Did you praise God for the blessing? Did you still glorify God as you stood in the rubble? Give this task to the poet, songwriter, and shepherd-king David, and you get one of the most uplifting Psalms in the Bible. Psalm 23 captures King David’s song of confident trust in God and what it looks like to be a sheep in God’s pasture.
Theologian and author Derek Kidner wrote, “Depth and strength underlie the simplicity of this psalm. Its peace is not escape; its contentment is not complacency: there is readiness to face deep darkness and imminent attack, and the climax reveals a love which homes towards no material goal but to the Lord himself.” -Derek Kidner Kidner, D. (1973). Psalms 1–72: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 15, p. 127). InterVarsity Press.
Psalm 23:1-6 ESV
Context
Specific circumstances surrounding the writing of Psalm 23 are uncertain. David’s life was full of difficult trials and battles. The two most popular theories are that David wrote this after running for his life from Saul or running from his own son, Absalom. The psalm speaks of a possible landscape that would fit his flight from Absalom, but there are no historical sites or timelines mentioned. David could have written this psalm as he experienced it, but like most trials, it’s after we get through them that we reflect and write about the faithfulness and goodness of God.
The imagery of sheep and shepherds is very popular in the Bible. Sheep and shepherds are used often as metaphors to describe the relationship of God and His people, the leadership God appointed over his people, and it was used literally for those whose occupations were shepherds. Abel was a shepherd (Gen 4:2). Rachel was a shepherd over her father’s flocks (Gen 29:9). Jacob was an exceptional shepherd (Gen 30:31-36). Joseph and his brothers were shepherds (Gen 37). Moses became a shepherd for his father-in-law's flocks, the priest of Midian, who also had seven daughters who were shepherds too. Moses is viewed as a shepherd while leading the Israelites through the wilderness.
David was a shepherd when he was called and anointed to be king. He uses his intimate, hands-on experience to poetically describe his personal experience and relationship with God. David doesn’t go into vivid detail explaining his metaphor in Psalm 23, but he wrote this psalm for an audience that would recognize what he means more than us. Thankfully, we have modern-day shepherds who have written on this psalm, providing first-hand perspective to help us understand.
What is a Shepherd and what is their role?
A shepherd is a person who herds sheep. Shepherds are caretakers of sheep. To be a shepherd is a great undertaking because sheep are gentle, defenseless, cannot get back up on their own, cannot heal themselves, and have no camouflage from predators. Sheep are completely dependent upon their shepherd.
Shepherds are fully invested and dwell among sheep. It’s a full-time job.
Shepherds lead and guide.
Shepherds lead to sources of food and water.
Shepherds lead to places of comfort and rest.
Shepherds keep watch over the health of sheep.
Shepherds search for sheep when they wander.
Shepherds protect sheep from predators.
Shepherds scout and prepare new pastures for sheep to graze.
Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
“The Lord”
The first word of the psalm, “The Lord” (Yahweh), reminds us of God’s promise in Exodus 34:6-7 to care for his people and revealed to them that He is full of love, compassion, patience, devotion, and forgiveness.
So take the position and role of a shepherd who is personal, selfless, invested, committed, capable, provider, and watchful protector, and then add Yahweh, the Lord, and God in front of it!
Yahweh, Lord, God is…
Eternal and Infinite
Immutable - unchanging
Omnipotent - all-powerful
Omniscient - all-knowing
Omnipresent - everywhere
Good, merciful, just, devoted, undefeated, unfailing, and love
The maker of all things and owner of all things in heaven and on earth.
God is the supreme and sufficient shepherd.
“...is my shepherd”
David places an emphasis on “my.”
In the word shepherd, David uses the most comprehensive and intimate metaphor yet encountered in the Psalms, preferring usually the more distant ‘king’ or ‘deliverer’, or the impersonal ‘rock’, ‘shield’, etc.; whereas the shepherd lives with his flock and is everything to it: guide, physician and protector. -Kidner, D. (1973). Psalms 1–72: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 15, p. 127). InterVarsity Press.
For this reason Psalm 23 is such a popular psalm, because it permits each believer to take its words on his lips and express in gratitude and confidence that all the demonstrations of God’s covenant love are his, too. -VanGemeren, W. A. (1991). Psalms. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (Vol. 5, p. 215). Zondervan Publishing House.
“I shall not want.” “I have all that I need.” Or “I lack nothing.”
David is content with his shepherd. David has found that his shepherd is sufficient, so what else could he want, and who else does he need? David has confident trust in God. David knows the Lord will lead and guide; He will provide, and He is by David’s side. David doesn’t stand awake worried; he can rest knowing the Lord Shepherds his whole life, physical and spiritual, earthly and heavenly.
Gospel Connection
John 10:1-16 NLT
Jesus is the gate into the kingdom of God. He is the way, the door; this is why he invites all those who are weary and heavy laden; he will give them rest. This is why he invites everyone to believe (John 3:16).
Jesus is the good shepherd, not the hired hand who runs when danger comes. Rather, Jesus lays down his life for His sheep. Jesus gave his life so that whosoever believes in him will have eternal life.
Application
Psalm 23 is one of the most familiar and most quoted psalms in the Bible, and that’s the danger. Familiarity can make us overlook the profound implications of these words. This psalm immediately confronts us in application. David says, “The Lord is MY shepherd…” The truth is, we all are being shepherded by something… Something is guiding your decisions. Something is shaping what you value. Something is telling you where the good life is found. Something is defining success for you. Something is calming your fears. Something is determining what you pursue. Something has your trust. So the question isn’t whether you have a shepherd. The question is: Who is shepherding you?
Is the Lord your shepherd?
More specifically, is the Lord the shepherd of your soul?
1 Peter 2:25 For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Unfortunately, eternal life is ignored, neglected, or eclipsed by the immediate and present life we inhabit now. While your current focus may be on what career path to take, or who to marry, your soul’s eternal inheritance and destination is more important.
The saved are like sheep who went astray but have now been found and dwell in God’s pasture.
Are you in God’s pasture or astray?
Isaiah 53:6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
The pasture is for all because all have fallen short of the glory of God.
Jesus’s heart is full of compassion for the people of this world. He sees them as harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd (Matthew 9:36).
Jesus leaves the 99 for the one. Jesus also welcomes home the ones who realize and return (Luke 15).
Do you see your need for the good shepherd, the Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?
John 10:16 I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They will listen to my voice, and there will be one flock with one shepherd.
Do you hear the voice of the Good Shepherd calling you?
John 10:9-10 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
We enter the kingdom through Jesus. The book of John clearly teaches that this is done by putting our faith and trust in Christ, specifically in what He has done for us through His sacrifice for our sins on the cross. Faith calls us to not trust in ourselves nor anything else. This means faith requires repentance, a turning away from dependence on self, thinking for ourselves, and worldly thinking; turning from sinful and worldly passions, turning from making lives of our own and being lords over our own destiny. Repentance sees the futile end of self and this world. Repentance realizes we have all we need back home with Jesus. Repentance realizes true, abundant life is found not on this earth but in the kingdom of God, under the loving, sacrificial, and fierce love of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ.
Church, is the Lord still your shepherd?
Consider your heart and soul…What does it long for the most? Who do you trust in the most? Do you look to the Lord for what your heart and soul needs? Or do you look everywhere else? Are you at the fence, staring at the world? Have you even wandered into the world? Have you wandered from the flock? Do you think the grass is greener on the other side where there are no boundaries or fences?
Simply put, is God your leader and guide in this life, or has the Bible been getting dusty…Does God get the first and final say for your life? Does the shepherd guide your decisions about college, occupation, a girlfriend, or a boyfriend? Does God get to lead you into helping others? Does God guide you to help others follow Jesus?
Or are you being the shepherd of your life and soul? If you are, what are you doing? Stop it. Don’t be silly. That’s never worked out for anyone! Remember, you’re not just building a life on earth, but you’re storing up a life for eternity. And you’re not just building a life that will affect you alone, but those around you and those who come after you.
Isn’t God your creator? So why wouldn’t he be the shepherd of your life and soul? Didn’t Jesus lay down his life for you? So why wouldn’t we be eternally grateful and remain in Him and follow His ways?
Let’s keep the Lord the shepherd of your life!
Discussion
When you look back at a difficult season of your life, how did God lead you through that season?
Can you think of a time when God provided something you needed, even though He didn't provide it in the way you expected?
What is the difference between knowing about God as your Shepherd and actually trusting Him as your Shepherd?
What did David mean when he said, “I shall not want”?
What are some things we tend to believe we need in order to be content?
What questions, concerns, or uncertainty do you need to surrender and trust to the Shepherd right now?
What additional notes did you make during the sermon?
How can we pray together for you today?
If Jesus isn’t the shepherd of your soul, the Savior and Lord of your life, are you ready to make that decision today?
The most important decision you will ever make!
If you’re ready to trust in Jesus for salvation and eternal life, we encourage you to process this decision with a strong believer and, when you’re ready, say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways, and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, Amen!
We would love to know if you decided to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hope you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!