Out of the 150 Psalms, none is more quoted, recited or memorised than Psalm 23. 

The early Church Father Augustine called it the “martyr’s hymn”, as many Christian martyrs recited it while being tortured and martyred for their faith. 

American president Abraham Lincoln often referred to this Psalm during the deep days of depression throughout the Civil War. Likewise, President George W Bush recited it to America after the September 11, 2001.

For over 3,000 years since the book of Psalms was written, Psalm 23 has comforted millions of people, dried countless tears, and healed many hearts. It is a psalm that even a child can understand due to its simplicity, yet it holds such depth that theologians can explore it for a lifetime.

Psalm 23 is often preached in funerals because verse 4 says, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil.” 

There are only six verses in Psalm 23, and within them, David painted two pictures of God. In verses 1-4, he paints God as a Shepherd who protects and guides His sheep. In verses 5-6, God is pictured as a Host who provides and cares for His guests at a palace banquet. 

There is so much to learn from these six verses. First, let us look at the first five words in verse 1.

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

When God says: “I AM WHO I AM”, the implication is: “I AM whoever I want to be.” Whatever follows His name is what He makes a covenant.

If Abraham needed provision, God would be Jehovah Jireh for him. If Gideon needed peace, God would be Jehovah Shalom for him. If Moses needed deliverance, God would be Jehovah Nissi, his deliverer and banner. God makes a covenant with His people that He will be who they need Him to be for them. 

When David wrote “The LORD is my shepherd”, he was saying that “Shepherd” is God’s covenant name. God made a covenant to be David’s Shepherd and would not break that covenant. 

Just as David was committed to his sheep when he was a shepherd boy, he knew that God was dedicated to him as his Shepherd too. 

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

The word “my” suggests that David had a deep personal relationship with God. He experienced this relationship intimately, having been a shepherd himself.

Like the Psalmist David, we can take comfort in knowing that our Shepherd is always with us to protect and guide us.

For David, even if God were a Shepherd to no one else, He was a Shepherd to him. God cared for David, watched over him and preserved him. David found comfort and security in thinking God cared for him like a shepherd cares for his sheep. 

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

A shepherd’s job is to direct and guide the sheep. In this Psalm, God reveals Himself as our Guide. 

Over the years as a Pastor, I have often been asked, “How do I know God’s will for my life? How can I get direction for my life?” Many expect to hear from me an “ABC” formula for determining God’s will: “If you memorise this Scripture, pray and fast for seven days, take these seven steps, you will find God’s will.” 

Sometimes, we get so wrapped up in the idea of guidance that we forget we have the Guide living in us. We want direction, but the Director of our lives is already living in us: He is the Holy Spirit. 

John 16:13 (NKJV) says, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth…”

I know sometimes we still wonder, “How is that going to work? Is God going to give me an impression in my heart? Will I see a vision? Do I need to memorise some Scriptures? Do I need to go through some counselling? Do I need to fast and pray?”

Well, the answer is yes to all of the above. But as sheep, we can be at peace, knowing we can cast all these concerns to our Guide. 

He will lead us and guide us. The sheep may not know where the green pastures or the still waters are; they only need to see where the Shepherd is. If you seek green pastures, follow Him, and He will lead you there. If you seek still waters, trust Him, and He will bring you to a place of rest and refreshment.

Drawing from Psalm 23, here are three things we need in order to follow Jesus, our Shepherd:

1. Hear His Voice 

Sheep are not known for their intelligence. They often wander astray. Newborn sheep instinctively follow the flock around them, going wherever the others go.

A report in The Guardian in July 2005 told of 1,500 sheep that were gathered together in one spot in Eastern Turkey. The shepherds were having breakfast and had taken their eyes off their flocks. Suddenly, one little sheep decided to jump off the cliff. The rest decided to follow. As a result, 450 of them fell off the cliff and died. 

The Bible describes us as sheep. Isaiah 53:6 reads: “All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.” 

Who is your Shepherd? Whose voice are you hearing today? Are we hearing the voice of the world, or are we hearing the voice of God? The sheep know the shepherd’s voice because they spend much time with him. Are we spending intimate time with God regularly? We need to train our ears to hear His voice. We need to spend more time praying, seeking, and listening to His voice to recognise His voice when He speaks to us. 

2. Give up control 

Psalm 23:2 reads: “He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters.” 

When David says that God makes him lie down in a green pasture, he recognises that he lacks the wisdom and ability to find the right pasture. He is declaring his total dependency on God. 

Giving up control is difficult, but it is necessary. The truth is, control is an illusion. We might think we have control, but in reality, we don’t.

His sheep know His voice (John 10:27). The way to know God’s voice is to spent time regularly in intimate communion with Him.

We can contribute to and influence situations, but we cannot determine the outcomes. Proverbs 16:33 says, “The lot is cast into the lap, but every decision is from the Lord.” That is why some of you are so tired: You are trying too hard to control the outcome. 

Only God’s shoulders are broad enough to handle the burden of controlling outcomes. If we try to carry those burdens, it will crush us. We are responsible for our actions, but God is responsible for the outcome. Give up control; let God be your Shepherd.

3. Trust His leading 

Jeremiah 29:11 and Isaiah 55:8-9 remind us that God’s perspective of things is very different from ours. Where you sit determines what you see, and what you see determines what you do. 

I see today, but God sees tomorrow. God may not be not doing something today because He knows what will happen tomorrow. When we do not clinch that business deal, it could be because God already knows what negative impact it might bring us. 

What we perceive as a restriction may actually be God’s protection. From our perspective, an opportunity might seem like a blessing, but from God’s perspective, it could be a trap. We must trust our Shepherd’s leading. 

Psalm 34:10 says: “The young lions do lack and suffer hunger, but those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing.” God’s people have no shortage of good things. He will provide us with whatever is good and beneficial. 

“I shall not want” also means I only want what God intends for me to have. I don’t want it if it’s not God’s plan for me. He is my Shepherd; I only want what He wants me to have. I only go where He wants me to go. 

Some people go through life with discontentment. They always think that the greener pasture is on the other side. “If only I could get a promotion, then I would be happy”. “I will only be fulfilled once I get my degree and get a high-paying job.” “If I could travel more, I could be happier in life.” “My life would be perfect if I am married and have a family.” 

But we need to understand that if we are not content with what God has given us today, we will not be content in the future.

From our perspective, our life may look messy and ugly. But from God’s perspective, it is a beautiful and glorious crown. We cannot see what God sees, but He always works for our good and His glory. 

We must trust God. He leads us entirely on His terms but always for our benefit.

This devotion is excerpted with edits from My Shepherd And I, a new devotional book by Pastor Wu Yuzhuang.

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