Psalm 23- The Good Shepherd

 Psalm 23- The Good Shepherd

Psalms 23:1-6 (NET)

1The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. 2 He takes me to lush pastures, he leads me to refreshing water. 3 He restores my strength. He leads me down the right paths for the sake of his reputation. 4 Even when I must walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me; your rod and your staff reassure me. 5 You prepare a feast before me in plain sight of my enemies. You refresh my head with oil; my cup is completely full. 6 Surely your goodness and faithfulness will pursue me all my days, and I will live in the LORD's house for the rest of my life.

Why do you think that the 23rd psalm is most people’s favorite? Perhaps it is because this psalm most closely reflects the New Testament image of God as the good shepherd. Consider how Jesus describes himself in the gospel of John.

John 10:11,14,27-30 (NET)

11 "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 14 "I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me - 27 My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish; no one will snatch them from my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one can snatch them from my Father's hand. 30 The Father and I are one."

Jesus said that he is the good shepherd and he will provide everything that we need.

Luke 12:22 (NET) 

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear.

Luke 12:30-32 (NET)

30 For all the nations of the world pursue these things, and your Father knows that you need them. 31 Instead, pursue his kingdom, and thesethings will be given to you as well. 32 "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is well pleased to give you the kingdom.

He not only provides us food and drink for this life, but he also gives us the living water of eternal life. 

Revelation 7:17 (NET)

17because the Lamb in the middle of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

Revelation 21:6 (NET)

6 He also said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the one who is thirsty I will give water free ofcharge from the spring of the water of life.

Revelation 22:1,17 (NET)

1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life - water as clear as crystal - pouring out from the throne of God and of the Lamb,17 And the Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let the one who hears say: "Come!" And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wants it take the water of life free of charge.

We see all these promises from Jesus and we’ve only covered the first two verses of the psalm!  In verses 3 and 4 the psalmist talks about leading us in the right path and having no fear, even in the face of the greatest evils of this age. There are many scriptures in the New Testament about this. Let us look at a couple. Perhaps Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, was thinking of this psalm when he prophesied about the things to come soon:

Luke 1:79 (NET)

79to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

And then the apostles confirmed this word by fearlessly confronting the opposition they faced as recorded in the book of Acts:

Acts 18:9,10 (NET)

9The Lord said to Paul by a vision in the night, "Do not be afraid, but speak and do not be silent, 10 because I am with you, and no one will assault you to harm you, because I have many people in this city."

Remember that Paul and Silas were actually rescued from the prison in the middle of the night. They were not afraid,  but were singing hymns and praying when the angel came to loose their bonds and set them free. (Acts 16:25) I would certainly categorize a Roman dungeon as a  “valley of the shadow of death”. If Paul and Silas were not afraid in that circumstance, certainly the Lord will be with you in whatever difficulty you find yourself. 

He prepares a table… there are several aspects of this verse,  let us just consider the literal interpretation of table. The Lord provides for us in many ways, but the most symbolic representation of this is the Lord’s Table, that we celebrate as Communion.

 

John 6:53-56 (NET)

53 Jesus said to them, "I tell you the solemn truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in yourselves. 54 The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. 55 For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. 56 The one who eats my flesh and drinks my blood resides in me, and I in him.

Every time we celebrate the Lord’s Supper, we remember that he is with us and in us at all times and through all circumstances. It is also a foretaste of the great wedding banquet at the end of the age when all the saints will celebrate with Jesus for all eternity.

Revelation 19:9 (NET)

Then the angel said to me, "Write the following: Blessed are those who are invited to the banquet at the wedding celebration of the Lamb!" Healso said to me, "These are the true words of God."

Revelation 19:17 (NET)

Then I saw one angel standing in the sun, and he shouted in a loud voice to all the birds flying high in the sky: "Come, gather around for the greatbanquet of God,

That is quite a lot of promises from the New Testament related to Psalm 23, and there are many more. The 23rd psalm is a compact treasure that contains many wonderful promises. We are thankful to the Good Shepherd for his love and care, and can say with the psalmist:

Psalms23:6 (NKJV) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever.