Cyber-Discipleship

Psalm 23 is perhaps one of the best known passages in the whole Bible; at least it was when I was growing up. I don’t know if it was because it was easy to memorize or because of what the passage says to the person. What a wonderful passage it is. David is believed to be the writer of this passage. David was a shepherd. It was from shepherding that David was anointed to be king of Israel. As a shepherd, David knew what made for a good shepherd, and in this passage you can see his heart; the heart of one shepherd for Another.

            The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. In the very first verse, David says that God is his shepherd; therefore, he will lack nothing. When I first read this verse, I thought it was saying the Lord was his shepherd which he didn’t want. No, it was saying just the opposite. He was glad the Lord was his shepherd. It is because the Lord was his shepherd that he will not be in want for any good thing. He will have no unmet wants, no unmet needs. He goes on to tell how God meets his needs. Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you (Matthew 6:33).

            He makes me to lie down in green pastures. One of the first duties of a shepherd is to lead the sheep. Sheep are not smart animals. They need to be led. David says the Lord leads him into green pastures and causes him to lie down there in peace and safety. He leads him besides the still waters. Still waters reaffirm the idea of peace, calm, and tranquility. God brings peace and tranquility to His people.

            He restores my soul. He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. God restores, or refreshes, the soul of His people. When we are weary from the world or from fighting off evil, the Lord sends His refreshing upon us and we are revived. He also leads His people in the path of righteousness for His name’s sake. Proverbs 3: 5-6 tells us that if we trust in the Lord that He will direct our paths, literally, make our paths straight. God will never misdirect us. Psalms 37:23 says that the steps of the righteous are ordered (directed) by the Lord. Why does He do this? It is so that His name will be exalted. God wants our lives to be a glory to His name.

            Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. Another responsibility of a shepherd is to protect the flock. David says that God protects him when he goes through the valley of the shadow of death. What is the valley of the shadow of death? There are likely as many answers to this question as there are people asked. The best interpretation of this phrase is likely a deep, dark time in a person’s life. It may or may not actually involve physical danger. Regardless, the truth is the same. When God’s people go through this time we will not fear because God is with us, much like He was with Daniel in the lion’s den or with the three Hebrew boys were in the fiery furnace. No harm comes to God’s people without God’s permission and when it happens, it becomes an occasion for God to be glorified.

            For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. David says that not only does God’s presence give him comfort, but so do His rod and His staff. With his rod, also known as the shepherd’s crook, he gently guides the sheep and keeps them from harm. With his staff, a shepherd beats away any wild animal that tries to attack the flock. What are the Shepherd’s rod and staff? Matthew Henry says that they refer to the Word of God (Christ) and the Holy Spirit. Could it be that the Word guides and the Spirit protects us from that which would harm us?

            You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. The third duty of the shepherd is to provide for the sheep. David says his Shepherd provides for him by preparing a table for him, even in the presence (or face) of his enemies. This alludes both to God’s protection and His provision. When a person can eat in front of his enemies without fear, he does so knowing that he is protected. Where did this food come from? It came from the Shepherd.

            Matthew Henry adds that not only is the provision physical but also spiritual. God has provided all things pertaining to both life and godliness… all things requisite both for body and soul, for time and eternity.” God provided His Son Jesus to be the payment for our sin. Because of His sacrifice, the enemy, the devil, has no power over us. We belong to Him and we are protected by Him. Though the devil tries to come against us and steal from us, God is abundant in His provisions, both physical and spiritual.

            You anoint my head with oil. In the Bible, anointing with oil has two meanings. The first is the consecration of a person for God’s service. David himself was anointed by Samuel to be the next king of Israel. The second meaning is to become refreshed. In Matthew 6, during Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, He told the people not to fast like the hypocrites who do it to be seen of men. He told them, “But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” David acknowledges that God has set him apart for His purpose. The anointing he is referring to could either be literal or symbolic.

            My cup runs over. As David looks back over the blessings of the Lord, he realizes that he is so blessed that he cannot contain them all. When Nathan the prophet confronted David about his affair with Bathsheba and his murder of Uriah, he told David of the blessings of the Lord: “I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. ⁸I gave you your master’s house and your master’s wives into your keeping, and gave you the house of Israel and Judah. And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more!” What a statement!

When Solomon became king after his father David, God asked him what would he like for God to give him. Solomon requested wisdom so he could better rule God’s people. In response, God said to Solomon, “Because you have asked this thing, and have not asked long life for yourself, nor have asked riches for yourself, nor have asked the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding…¹³ And I have also given you what you have not asked: both riches and honor, so that there shall not be anyone like you among the kings all your days. ¹⁴ So if you walk in My ways, to keep My statutes and My commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.” God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly more than we can ask or think.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. If God has been good to Him in the past, He will be good to him in the future. David has this confidence because he knows the character of the Shepherd and because God’s Word confirms it. He also knows that when it is all said and done, and life comes to an end, he will be welcomed into His Father’s house where he will dwell forever.

David recognized what a good Shepherd God is. He provides. He protects. He leads. He comforts. He anoints. He restores. He saves. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, demonstrated the goodness and mercy and care He had for His sheep by laying down his life to protect His sheep from death and to provide them eternal rest. Is He your Shepherd? If not, ask Him to let you join His flock. If you do, you will be like David who said, “Because the Lord is my Shepherd, all may needs are taken care of.”