Based on a series of sermons preached in PCC Prayer Meetings in 2023-2024
The LORD is my shepherd
Ps 23:1a
Psalm 23 is beautiful. It is comforting to read, assuring to sing, and inspiring to meditate on.
King David composed it more than three thousand years ago. He was a shepherd; thus, he was familiar with the special bond between the shepherd and his sheep. It would not be surprising if David’s mind had drifted to the peace and calm of the Judean hills when he found himself troubled by many vexing thoughts as a king. I wonder if, in a moment of perplexity, he found himself thinking of how good it would be if he were a sheep with a shepherd to look after him. Then, the truth must have struck him. He has a shepherd! Jehovah is his shepherd. And the words of this Psalm begin to flow in his heart as the Holy Spirit reminds him of Jehovah’s constant care for him, even in the darkest days.
“Jehovah is my shepherd; I shall not want,” he begins.
Understood correctly, these opening words alone can provide tremendous comfort if you are in Christ.
Consider three thoughts from it.
1. He Who Cares for You Is Jehovah
All believers who sing or read this Psalm naturally think of the Shepherd as the Lord Jesus Christ. This is because the Lord Jesus Christ speaks of himself as the good shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep. And Peter calls Him the “chief Shepherd” (1 Pet 5:4), while the apostle to the Hebrews calls Him “the great shepherd of the sheep” (Heb 13:20).
But we must remember that the word “LORD” that opens this Psalm translates the Hebrew for Jehovah or Yahweh. This is the personal name of God. It means “HE IS.” It speaks of God as the “I AM.” Remember how when Moses asked Him His name, He said, “I AM THAT I AM … Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you” (Ex 3:14). The name speaks of Him as the alone living and true, self-existent, unchanging, covenant-making and covenant-keeping God.
The Lord Jesus is not merely a man. He is the perfect man, but He is also God. He is the creator and sustainer of the whole universe. He made everything. All power belongs to Him. He can surely take care of you. And He makes no mistakes as He does so.
2. He Is Your Shepherd
“Jehovah is my shepherd.” The Lord Jesus is your shepherd.
Unlike David, who was looking after his father’s sheep, your Lord owns you. He laid down His life for you to purchase you. “Ye were… redeemed [not] with corruptible things as silver and gold,” says the apostle Peter, “but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1 Pet 1:19). You were a wicked and hateful sinner in the sight of God because of sin. Yet Christ Jesus, your Shepherd, took on your nature, became a lamb so that He might wash you, and make your robes white as snow in His blood (Rev 7:14).
Not only so, but He continues to serve you as your Shepherd.
What does a shepherd do for his sheep? The rest of this Psalm reminds us that the shepherd provides his sheep safety and protection, food and water, and guidance and healing. The sheep depends on her shepherd for everything she needs. The shepherd looks after his sheep with unfailing diligence.
The sheep that keeps listening to, obeying, and following her shepherd will be safe, satisfied, and sound.
With Jehovah Christ as your shepherd, you can be assured that you are in good hands, come what may. He will never leave you nor forsake you. He will provide all you need physically and spiritually. He will not allow any harm to come upon you, even when you have to walk through dark valleys of shadow.
Therefore, you can confidently say, “I shall not want.”
3. You will not Lack Anything
If you believe in the Lord Jesus and trust Him to be your shepherd, you will not lack anything. When you sing, “I shall not want,” you will do so with experience, sincerity and confidence.
You will know by experience that you have lacked nothing since you started following Christ as your Shepherd. All that you needed, whether material, emotional or spiritual, He has provided you. But He did not grant all those things you lusted after sinfully except when He would chastise you. Nothing you truly need has He withheld from you.
You can say, “I shall not want,” sincerely because of your experience and because the Spirit of Christ has made your soul meek and contented. Like the apostle Paul, you can testify wholeheartedly, “I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me” (Phil 4:12-13).
Therefore, you can say in your heart of hearts, “I shall not want.” You have heard him say, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Heb 13:5) and “Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world” (Mt 28:20), and you believed.
Conclusion
Dearly beloved sheep of Christ, I don’t know what turmoil, fears and dark clouds are rolling over your soul. But I know that if you have Christ as your Shepherd and hear His voice and follow Him closely, all is well. You can sing Psalm 23 with genuine affection and confidence in your heart.
He is not unaware of your trials. He cares. And He is making sure that no harm will come upon you. Trust Him! Soon, the last of the valley of shadows will be behind you, and you will be found with Him in His house of many mansions, which He is today preparing for you, even you. Amen.
—JJ Lim