THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

The LORD IS MY SHEPHERD… – Psalm 23:1a

Psalm 23 addresses virtually every aspect of our lives. It affirms God as our caring and loving Shepherd – the Shepherd of our souls. It shows how deeply practical, powerful, present-tense, and personal the Ministry of our Shepherd is.

The LORD is my SHEPHERD; my PRACTICAL Shepherd. David of all people would be intimately familiar with the role of a shepherd: one who tends and cares for all the basic needs of his sheep; one who is responsible for their welfare and growth; and feeds, leads, and protects his sheep. Sheep are helpless without a shepherd. They easily wander off and can even destroy pasture land. What a fitting analogy of human behaviour, that is, sheep in the absence of a shepherd!

The LORD is…my POWERFUL Shepherd. David rejoiced in the fact that his Shepherd was none other than the LORD, the Eternal God – omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent! Our Shepherd-God is none other than YAHWEH Himself. Where you turn for comfort, provision, and protection makes a difference. Our Shepherd is AWARE, ABLE, and AVAILABLE. David recognized the magnificence of the Shepherd of his soul.

The LORD IS…my PRESENT Shepherd; not WAS or WILL BE, but the LORD IS right now my Shepherd! He IS “a very present help in trouble” (Ps.46:1b). David realised God’s continual and ever-present shepherding. Our Shepherd is not part-time, freelancing or far-away. He never goes on leave. The Keeper of Israel never slumbers nor sleeps (Ps.121:4).

The LORD is MY…PERSONAL Shepherd; not just the shepherd of Israel as a people, but MY Shepherd. David understood this personal nature of his relationship with God. He was deeply aware of the intimate relationship between him (the sheep) and the Shepherd. Typically, the Middle Eastern shepherd cultivated a close relationship with each of the sheep of his flock, evidenced in the consistent and daily talk and touch between shepherd and sheep. God continually cultivates a personal relationship with each of us. He knows us intimately. He knows what we need more than we do.

What’s the state of your relationship with the LORD? Are you submitting to the full expression of His Lordship and Shepherding? Are you available for His talk and touch every day of your life? It’s high time for a thorough check-up.