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Weds 16 September - Psalm 23

Psalm 23

1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

- - -

Meditation on Psalm 23

There are a number of shepherds referred to the Scriptures.
Here are some of them:

  • Abel
  • Rachel
  • David
  • The shepherds in Bethlehem
  • Jesus
  • Church leaders

 

Shepherds have great responsibilities – for example:

  • they find pasture John 10:9       
  • they find water Genesis 29:3
  • they protect the flock 1 Samuel 17:34-35
  • they seek for the lost sheep Ezekiel 34:16
  • they care for the injured sheep Ezekiel 34:16
  • they know their sheep John 10:2-5

 

The leaders of God’s people are known as shepherds – for example:

  • Joshua
  • David
  • Cyrus

 

Where does their example come from?

God is THE Shepherd.

  • He was a shepherd during the exodus
  • He cares for His sheep.

 

Jesus is …

  • the GOOD Shepherd John 10:11;14
  • the GREAT Shepherd Hebrews 13:20
  • the CHIEF Shepherd 1 Peter 5:4

 

He has compassion for His sheep.      Matthew 9:36

He knows His sheep.               John 10:14

He searches for the wandering sheep.           Luke 15:3-7

He will judge His sheep as a true Shepherd would.    Matthew 25:32

He was the fulfilment of OT prophecies.        Ezekiel 34:23 and Micah 5:2-4

He IS MY Shepherd – this is the opening line of our Psalm. He shows all the characteristics of the shepherd noted above.

He gives me rest‘He makes me lie down in green pastures’

  1. He gives me time for reflection‘He leads me beside quiet waters’
  2. He brings restoration‘He refreshes my soul’
  3. He leads me in the right paths‘He guides me along the right paths’ or ‘the paths of righteousness.’
  4. He takes away fear, even in the darkest valley‘I will fear no evil’
    1. because of His presence
    2. because of His authority – ‘your rod…’
    3. because of His support - ‘your staff…’
  5. He treats me as His royal guest‘He provides a banquet in an unlikely place’
  6. He recognises me as an honoured guest‘He anoints my head with oil’
  7. He provides for my future through His goodness, His mercy and His forgiveness‘surely good ness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life’
  8. He provides a future that will never end‘I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever’

What a great Shepherd and, by faith, HE IS MINE and I AM HIS – forever and forever.

What an encouragement this is for us as we journey towards our heavenly home because, as verse 1 tells us – ‘I lack nothing.’

(Roger Purdom)

Daily Readings

Thursday 17 September - Psalm 24

Friday 18 September - Psalm 25

Saturday 19 September - Psalm 26

Sunday 20 September - Psalm 27

Monday 21 September - Psalm 28

Tuesday 22 September - Psalm 29

 

New International Version - UK (NIVUK)
Holy Bible, New International Version® Anglicized, NIV® Copyright © 1979, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.