The Lord is my Shepherd
by: ProIsrael
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Word Count: 756
Jevohah Rohi “The Lord Our Shepherd” Psalm 23
1) The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
‘I shall not want’ means I shall not lack anything that God thinks I need.
2) He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Sheep are fearful, skittish creatures. They won’t lie down easily. Before they do, everything has to be just right. They have to be at peace with the other sheep; they need to have their bellies full and their thirst quenched; they need to be clean of insects and pests, and most of all, they need to be free from fear. Fear keeps timid sheep from lying down. Fear keeps them from drinking at noisy, rushing streams. They need quiet waters. And so, the good shepherd, who is sensitive to the fears of the sheep, leads them into green pastures and beside still waters so that their souls can be nourished.
3) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
In verses 4-5, David takes us into Death Valley. In the imagery of the psalm, it’s the picture of a summer time drive. In Israel, the rains end in February and don’t begin again until November or December. During the long dry season, the shepherd takes his sheep up into the mountains, to higher ground called ‘tableland.’ Often the shepherd would go ahead of the sheep in the spring, before the summer drive, to prepare the tableland. He begins to clear out rocks, to pull up weeds, to uncover springs, and to dig water holes for the sheep. But in order to reach tableland, he has to take the sheep through some deep valleys where they’re exposed to attacks by wolves and lions along the way.
Sometimes the sheep had to pass through crevices one at a time, frightening places where they’re totally dependent on the touch of the shepherd’s staff and the protection of his rod. It was a risky journey. David knows that life isn’t lived on a golf course. Life is a journey full of risks. He knows how tough life can be. He wants us to see that we can still trust the shepherd in the midst of our two worst fears -- the fear of death and the fear of our enemies.
There is a story told of a group of well-known writers, musicians and actors who gathered in London for a night mutual entertainment. They each put some money up as a prize for the one who could best entertain the group that night. The evening oozed with talent. They sang, they played, they recited, they gave monologues. And last of all a prominent British actor stood up before the group of hundred or so celebrities and recited the words of the 23rd Psalm. His enunciation and intonation was perfect. They were spellbound, and when he finished they all agreed that he deserved the prize.
Just then, someone in the back of the room said, “Wait a minute. There’s one more who hasn’t done anything yet.” And he pointed to a little old man standing in the corner. The man said, “No way. I’m not an entertainer. I’m just a friend of the host.” “Come on, do something,” they said and pushed him to the front of the room.“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.” He went through the whole thing about the shepherd’s love and care and a holy hush came over the room. When he finished with, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever,” his face lit up. Everyone was moved; some to tears. The British actor, who had just won the prize, took out the money and gave it to the old man and said, “Sir, that was moving. I know the psalm, but you know the Shepherd!” You may know the Psalm, but do YOU know the Shepherd?
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