The Twenty Third Psalm (As I Enjoy It)

I imagine if you were to ask everyone who was familiar with the Bible, “What is your favorite Psalm” the large majority would say the 23rd Psalm. Whenever I stop to meditate on it, it thrills my heart to drink in the love of the Good Shepherd for those of us who love Him. It says to me: First verse: “Because the Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want or lack anything.” The Good shepherd provides perfectly everything His sheep would need (and I am one of His sheep). As one of His sheep, I need to know all of my needs will eternally be met. Because He is eternal, and He will never change, He will eternally meet my needs, if I trust Him. Love is something all of us want and need. As one of His sheep, God, the Father, loves us with an everlasting love (Ps.100:5), and John 15:13 tells us, “No one has greater love than to lay down His own life for His friends.” And John 3:16 tells us, “For God so dearly loved and prized the world that He even gave up His only begotten (unique) Son that whoever believes and trusts in, clings to, and relies on His shall not perish and be lost but have eternal life.” No matter what we do, nor how far away from Him we may run, His unconditional love will follow us – always wooing and drawing us back. If we are one of His sheep we cannot withstand His patient and pursuing love, but must fall at His feet for forgiveness, cleansing & complete restoration (I Jn.1:9) The Good Shepherd is our protector (spirit, soul and body), because we have made Him our refuge (Ps.91). He brings us into the fold and becomes the “door” so nothing that would hurt or destroy could come in or touch us. Jesus tells us in John 10:9, “I am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live). He will come in and he will go out freely, and will find pasture.” He is our Sustainer (Ps.3:5), we can “lean on” Him, and when we are down He will “lift us up.” We all desire, and are looking for peace. The Psalmist tells us in Psalm 119:165, “Great peace have they who love your law; nothing shall offend them or make them stumble,” and in Psalm 3:1&2 David is instructing his son, “My Son, forget not my law or teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments; for length of days and years of a life worth living and tranquility (inward and outward and continuing to old age till death), these shall they add to you.” Peace is one of the fruits of the Spirit (Gal.5:22-23). When we become one of his sheep, the Holy Spirit comes to live within us, with all of His fruit: love, joy, peace, an even temper, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness (humility), and self-control). How do we as His sheep keep peace of mind and heart? Isaiah 26:3 has the answer: “You will guard him and keep him in perfect peace whose mind (both its inclination and its character) is stayed on You.” “Whatever is true, whatever is worthy reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and fix your mind on them” (Phil.4:8). When we become so harried with life that our mind and body demands rest, the Good Shepherd makes us “lie down in fresh, tender, green pastures; He leads us beside the still and restful waters, He refreshes and restores our souls” (Ps.23:2-3a). At the end when time shall be no more, “the Lamb Who is in the midst of the throne will be their Shepherd, and he will guide them to the springs of the waters of life; and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes” (Rev.7:17). God gives us a promise of rest in Isaiah 30:15, “For thus says the Lord, the Holy One of Israel; ‘In returning to Me and resting in Me you shall be saved; in quietness and in trusting confidence shall be your strength.’” God gave another promise in Jeremiah 6:16, Thus says the Lord: Stand by the roads and look; and ask for the eternal paths, where the good, old way is; then walk in it and you will find rest for your souls.” We all need and want a comforter to come along-side and bring comfort to our minds and heart through His promises from His Word The Good Shepherd is the Wonderful Comforter to those who are “discomforted,” and seek His face. Second Corinthians 1:3-4 tells us that the Lord Jesus Christ and the Father of pity and mercy and the God Who is the Source of every comfort and encouragement, Who comforts us in every trouble (calamity or affliction), so that we may also be able to comfort those who are in any kind of trouble or distress, with the comfort with which we ourselves are consoled and encouraged by God. Before Jesus went back to heaven He promised believers another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf. He will teach you all things.” He is now ready for you to pour out your heart to Him with all your grief, pain, or anything causing discomfort. When we trust Him, He will bring wonderful comfort as He refreshes and restores our lives (our very selves); He leads us in the paths of righteousness (uprightness and right standing with Him - not for my earning it, but) for His name’s Sake (Ps.23:3). Sheep are very helpless creatures, just as we are (although we think we are very self-sufficient). We need help, and at times want help. When a sheep accidentally gets on his back he cannot right itself because of the rather square shape of his body if his fleece is thick. We can become affluent, strong, healthy and think we have need of nothing, when all the time we are spiritually neither cold or hot, we are wretched, poor, pitiable, blind and naked Therefore I counsel you to purchase from Me gold refined and tested by fire, that you may be truly wealthy, and white clothes to clothe you and to keep the shame of your nudity from being seen, and salve to put on your eyes, that you may see. (Rev.3:15-18). Good Shepherd, Help us! Sheep need to know the truth about their shepherd, their enemy and where the fold is. We also need to know the Truth about the Good Shepherd – “He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no man comes to the Father but by Him” (John 14:6). The truth is there is no other way to be saved from our sins but by the blood of Jesus Christ. The Truth is He is our All in All – He is the Word (Jn.1:1); He is the Light of Life (Jn.1:4); He is the Living Bread of Life (Jn.6:51); He is the Living Water (Jn.4:37). The truth is that all the books in the world could not contain all the Truth about Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Savior of the world (Jn.21:25). We, as sheep, will all someday “walk through the valley of the shadow of death, but if we know Him we have nothing to fear for He will be with us; His rod and His staff will comfort us. We know if we are His sheep He will protect us and guide us. His rod is to protect us, for Shepherd’s would carry a long, heavy, club-like stick to ward off predators. Satan is our predator waiting and enticing us to follow him in paths we should not go, where he can steal, kill and destroy us - our peace, joy, reputation, etc. and fellowship with the Good Shepherd. Sometimes God has to use the rod of hard discipline to bring us back. Sometimes it is a debilitating illness; sometimes a loss of friendship; sometimes a loss of income; or sometimes even alienation from loved ones. We should be thankful for the rod of suffering that our Good Shepherd used to rescue us from Satan’s snares. Our Good Shepherd also uses a staff, which was a long stick, sometimes with a crook at the end used to pull the wandering into wrongful paths so Satan can’t take advantage of our vulnerability. Thank You, Jesus, for your staff! (Ps.23:4). The Good Shepherd prepares a table (food, drink, & plenty) before us in the presence of our enemies (Ps.23:5). What an unusual picture this verse paints. I see it as the Good Shepherd has led us into a safe haven where our enemy cannot come, because He is the “door” and stands ever ready to protect us, and has us seated at His banqueting table, filled with plenty of good food and drink to nourish, encourage and strengthen us against the hardships of life. Once again, I see this banquet as our feasting on God’s Word (the Bread of Life), and being encouraged and strengthened by His fellowship with us, all the while, our “enemy” has to stand outside and cannot come in. How rich and good to feast on God’s Word. It shows us the way we should go – It is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Ps.119:105). Proverbs 4:20-22 tells us to,“attend to My words; consent and submit to My ways, let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart. For they are life to those who find them and health to all their flesh.” Continuing in verse 5, “You anoint my head with oil.” My commentary tells me it was customary in hot climates (& without air conditioning) to anoint the body with oil to protect it from excessive perspiration and dehydration. When mixed with perfume, this oil imparted a delightfully refreshing and invigorating sensation. Athletes anointed their bodies as a manner of course before running a race. As the body, therefore, anointed with oil was refreshed, invigorated and better fitted for action, so the Lord would anoint His “sheep” with the Holy Spirit, Whom oil symbolizes, to fit them to engage more freely in his service and run in the way He directs – in heavenly fellowship with Him. Our “cup” runs over with joy and love for the Good Shepherd Who is so loving and attentive to our needs and wants. Only goodness, mercy and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and the length of my days the house of the Lord (His presence) shall be my dwelling place (Ps.23:6). If we have Jesus as our Good Shepherd what more could we want?