Psalm 23
When David was young, he took care of his father’s sheep on the hills near Bethlehem and led them to streams or springs for water and to grassy spots for their food and rest. There were woods and wild rocky places near, from which wild animals would come to carry away a lamb or even a sheep, for sheep are more gentle than most animals and do not cry out or try to fight off an enemy: Sometimes a sheep wanders away from the flock, and does not find its way back, and is lost or hurt.
So David knew how watchful a good shepherd must he And when he was older and thought of how the Lord had kept him safe when he had been in danger, and had sent someone to him with food when in need, he spoke of the Lord as his Shepherd, the One who had watched and kept him, and he wrote this beautiful psalm:
“The Lord is my Shepherd; I. shall not want.
He maketh me to be down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.
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.”
Perhaps David sometimes led his sheep along a wrong path which would take them to a poor past use, or near a steep cliff, but he knew the Lord always led him in a right way David had found that a dark valley with hills on each side, where an enemy could watch, was not a safe place, but with the Lord to keep him, he feared no evil even there. And the last verse is:
“Surely goodness and mercy (or loving kindness) shall follow me all the days my life; And I will dwell in the house the Lord forever:”
When the Lord Jesus was on earth He said He was a Shepherd, but He did not mean for sheep, although you may have seen Him pictured as a shepherd holding a lamb. He meant He watched over and cared for people, not sheep. He was so, good a Shepherd that he gave His life to save His “sheep” A prophet after David, spoke of a time when they would “smite the Shepherd” (See Zechariah 13:7).
But Christ was raised from death and is now in Heaven, yet He know and watches over those who trust in Him, and by His Spirit leads them only in right paths. If we are in wrong ways it because we are not following our Shepherd. Because of sin all around, this world is like a dark valley, yet the Lord can keep His people from evil, and it is indeed good to have such a Shepherd. Can you say as David did, “The Lord is my Shepherd?”
From what wild animals did David save his lambs? (Ans. 1 Samuel 17:34.).
“I am the good Shepherd: the good Shepherd giveth His life for the, sheep, Jesus said, also.
“My sheep hear My voice and I know them, and they follow Me; And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of My hand.” John 10:11,28,29.
ML 07/28/1940