Psalm 23--The LORD Is My Shepherd

Psalm 23
English Standard Version

The LORD Is My Shepherd
A Psalm of David.
23 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3     He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name's sake.

4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    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 goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
    forever.

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This is probably the most well-known psalm out of the book of Psalms  IT is prayed (and sometimes sung) by many who are experiencing trouble, anxiety, depression, grief, and so on (though that's not the only type of person this psalm is meant minister to).  The LORD is the one who goes out in front of us and leads us, all we are to do as sheep is follow Him wherever He leads and we can trust the path that has been laid out for us, even when it looks scary, because we trust the one who is leading is to always lead us in the best path, to the places where we can be refreshed and He will protect us from every enemy along the way.

He deals with us at our worst (sheep are not that smart and are smelly and are kind of high-maintenance as you have to sheer them and put oil on their heads to keep the insects out of their eyes and nose, and all sorts of other things that this psalm describes--they basically can't do anything for themselves, no even go to a river to get a drink, because the moving water is too scary to them--the Shepherd has to dig out a place for the water to come off the river and pool up for the sheep to drink from so that He will "lead them beside the quiet waters"--waters which He had to work to provide.

Even His discipline and correction are comforting to us because we know He is there watching over us and not letting us wander away.  He keeps us on the right path when we start to stray.  We have no need to to fear anyone or anything because He is with us all the way.

Of course, like most of David's psalms, it's the ending we like the most.  "Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."  How exactly is David sure of that and how is that accomplished?  Certainly David does not mean that everyone who says these words will all go to heaven (the house of the LORD).  He also most certainly doesn't mean that we'll never experience any trouble or affliction will come our way in this life if we are followers of God.  No!  David is looking forward to something better in the future that belongs to those who belong to God--that are bought by the blood of Jesus and have been saved by the LORD.  For these, known as the LORD's Remnant or The Elect, then there is certainty that we will only ever experience the blessings of the LORD always all the time for all eternity in the end.

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