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The words penned by King David, “The Lord is my shepherd” harken back to his own humble roots as a shepherd. Though he’s now a powerful ruler, David intimately characterizes the Lord as “his shepherd” and shows that he still relies on God like a lowly sheep being tended to by his shepherd. This shepherd metaphor becomes especially rich when we note that sheep, though valuable, are helpless, stupid animals who cannot find food or water, who wander away from the flock, and cannot defend themselves from pests, parasites, or predators. The shepherd must provide everything for his sheep so they will survive.
Throughout Psalm 23 David paints a beautiful picture of God the loving shepherd, providing for his every need.
As it was for David, it is for us too. God provides for all of our temporal needs.
This does not mean that he will give us everything we want, rather God gives us everything he deems good for us. By leading us to the green pastures of his scripture God feeds our souls. Then he makes us lie down and chew or meditate on his Word, which leads to spiritual renewal. God leads us beside quiet waters to refresh us (in scripture water symbolizes the work and the ministry of the Holy Spirit). In the same way a good shepherd goes after sheep who have wandered away from the flock, God restores backsliders then brings them back into the fold through repentance. God guides us in paths of righteous that will bring blessing to us and glory and honor to God. Glorifying his name is the reason for our existence. God takes all people through trials that seem like the valley of death, and in the end we all will confront death.
But God’s presence goes with us through this dark valley, comforting and protecting us with a rod (to club the wild animals) and a staff (to walk with and to round up the flock). Eventually God leads us out of our trials, or the dark valley is our entrance into glory. Then God prepares a bountiful table for us, which indicates mutual loyalty. This feast can be the culminating token of a covenant or a celebration of a victory in war, while the captive enemies look on. Our Lord anoints our heads with oil and our cups overflow. In scripture to anoint a man’s head with oil expressed honor and esteem, and an overflowing cup indicated God’s overflow of blessings. God, who is both goodness and love, follows us, believers, all the days of our lives. Then he leads us into his house (or church) and eventually brings us to our final destination, eternity with God.
The Old Testament writers depicted God as their shepherd, and this picture finds its fulfillment in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus is their shepherd, but he is also the Lamb of God. The son of God, who came to earth as a man, dwelled among us and died as the sacrificial lamb for sinners.
Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:14). As the good shepherd provides his sheep with rest, rich pastures, and quiet waters, so the Lord takes care of his people in the most plentiful way. Jesus, himself, is the embodiment of God’s temporal and spiritual provision. Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty” (John 6:35). How can we want when we’re united to Christ? We have the right to use all of his riches.
The nature of the shepherd’s care also lies in guidance. The shepherd is constantly with his sheep to protect, guide, and comfort them. Jesus who is all powerful allover all creation is more than able to protect us. Even the winds and the sea obey him (Mark 4:41). Jesus guides and comforts his sheep, saying that his sheep know his voice and they follow him. He tells us that the hired hand will abandon the sheep when he sees a wolf coming. But Jesus, the Good Shepherd, lays down his life for his sheep. He will even leave the other ninety-nine sheep to go in search of one lost sheep, restoring him back into the fold. Jesus leads sinners to conversion or to repentance.
Jesus, the sacrificial lamb, walked alone through the valley of the shadow of death, as a lamb lead to the slaughter, while God, the shepherd, looked the other way. He was cut off from the land of the living, dying on the cross for sinners so that we will never have to walk through the valley of the shadow of death again, and God will never look the other way. Now, “Neither life or “Neither life or death will be able to separate us from the love of God who is in Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 8:38, 39)
The table God prepares for us foreshadows the Last Supper, where Jesus announced, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood” (Luke 7:22:20). In the New Testament, at his baptism, Jesus was anointed not with oil but with the Holy Spirit. In this same way Jesus anoints us with honor and privilege, through the Holy Spirit (Peter 2:9-10). Now our enemies must just stand back and look on as we enjoy Jesus’ bountiful feast, knowing that they have been vanquished and will one day be thrown into the lake of fire.
Jesus is the goodness and mercy of God incarnate that enables us to dwell in the house of the Lord forever. In Revelation 7:16, 17 Jesus said, “Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; “he will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” One day we will spend eternity with Jesus, praising him forever.
