The Good Shepherd

Psalm 23.

Psalm 23 is often one of the first passages in Scripture that Christian children learn in Sunday school and is a common choice for special presentations. In fact, it’s so popular that if you ask someone to recite a portion of scripture, many will default to the psalm (or John 3:16).

However, despite the commonality of the psalm, how many of us can truly say we understand its meaning?

If you’re reading this in the 21st century, you may or may not have shepherded sheep. If you have, kudos to you. You might understand David’s psalm a little better than some of us. However, if you’ve never even worked with sheep before (like me), how can we understand what David meant?

The first step in comprehending this psalm is understanding what David meant when he said, “The Lord is my Shepherd.” He wasn’t a sheep, but as a former shepherd, he probably drew parallels between a shepherd’s duties and his relationship with the Lord. Since I lack experience with sheep, I did some research and stumbled on a book that has greatly helped me. The book “A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23” by Phillip Keller, has been an amazing resource in my study. Phillip was a former shepherd in East Africa, so he offered valuable insights into the themes and concepts David was trying to convey. Through this book, I gained a deeper appreciation for the psalm and my relationship with the Lord.

To start, we must comprehend sheep and their relationship with a shepherd. Sheep are creatures that require a great deal of care and attention. They are entirely dependent on a shepherd for food, safety, comfort, and all their other needs. They rely on their shepherd for everything.

So, when you say that the Lord is your Shepherd, it signifies that you are entirely reliant on the Lord for everything. Therefore, that means that without the Lord, you are helpless.

And, as many of us are aware, this is a recurring theme in scripture. Numerous passages emphasize the necessity for complete dependence on the Lord, and while many of us may intellectually agree with the idea of “total surrender” or “full trust” in the Lord, agreeing on an intellectual level doesn’t necessarily translate to genuine belief. In fact, it is possible to agree with something and yet not fully trust it. In reality, our actions reveal where our true trust lies, often revealing a reliance on ourselves. And why wouldn’t it be so? We inhabit a world that pressures us to be self-reliant.

In a culture that exalts self-sufficiency and self-reliance, relying entirely on anything can be a challenging concept to accept. Our individualistic culture has taught us that our strength is measured by our level of independence and autonomy. Consequently, we can unconsciously frown upon seeking help or assistance. In addition to this, the raves of “hyperfeminism” and “toxic masculinity” dictate that we should depend solely on ourselves. Therefore, in a world that worships independence, depending on anyone or anything, even the Lord, can be a difficult pill to swallow. Nevertheless, it is crucial to humble ourselves and recognize our need for a shepherd, because we will never be able to efficiently lead ourselves.

This humility is crucial because our desire to lead ourselves is rooted in pride. We have elevated our discernment to the point where we believe we do not need God, viewing ourselves as capable of self-leadership, self-preservation, and self-provision. This pride is at the core of all sins because it implies that we are better at guiding ourselves than God Himself.

Fear can also be behind our resistance to submission. We may fear that surrendering control means insecurity or uncertainty, but a closer look reveals the opposite. Self-leadership and self-reliance actually lead to insecurity and uncertainty, as we lack control over many aspects of life. The inherent unpredictability of life is evident in factors beyond our control, such as the weather, natural disasters, and illness.

Who could have foreseen the arrival of COVID-19? Who could have predicted the thousands of deaths in 2020? Who knew that Kobe Bryant wouldn’t live to see 2023? We could not control these events, and neither can we control our lives. Even if we try, we must acknowledge our inability to sustain ourselves. Our efforts to control the course of our lives will always result in frustration because we can’t even dictate the day we will die. So, why place trust in yourself when you lack the power to determine whether you will live or die? Instead, by surrendering to the One who governs everything, we can find assurance in our life’s journey. Therefore, our trust doesn’t rest in our endeavors; it rests in His hands.

Trust the Good Shepherd. You don’t have to navigate life alone. There is a Shepherd is ready to lead you.

“Siri, play Good Shepherd by BCF Psalms”