June 15, 2023​

Psalm 23

1 The Lord Is My Shepherd. A Psalm of David.
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.

Dear Readers,

I admire the strong man with the calve on his arms, as shown on the stamp from Nigeria. A strong and skillful man! I already have problems to take even a cat in my arms. Being a cattle herder is a hard job in many countries. The Italian shepherd who grazes his flock on the island of Sardinia, on the other hand, seems to have a quiet job. 

Shepherds in the ancient world had to be strong and brave, like David. They had dangerous works. David reports (1.Sam. 17, 34+35):

“Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from their mouth. When the animal turned against me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear.”

David knew that his flock will not survive without his protection. They will become victims of predators or thieves. They need a brave and strong protector, just like us humans. Humans on the other hand can also be so defenseless and become victims of evil people. Therefore, David compares himself to a defenseless sheep that will not survive without God's protection. The Lord is his protector. God Himself is his good shepherd.

Jesus Christ says in the Gospel of John (chapter 10 verse 11): “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”

Jesus Christ is the faithful human guardian who goes ahead of us in life and who protects us. He has fought for us. He fought against the power of sin and against the power of death. Against these powers we have no chance. But our good shepherd Jesus won the victory over the devil and the power of sin on the cross of Calvary. The good shepherd Jesus rose from the dead on the Easter morning and finally took away the power of death (2 Timothy 1:10). “Our Savior, the Lord Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”

Just like David, we may entrust ourselves to the good shepherd. Whoever entrusts his life to the good shepherd Jesus has no lack of security, of love, or care. Jesus Christ accompanies his beloved people through all crises. He stands by them in all difficulties. He means well with you and me! Every day I can trust that Jesus Christ protects and cares for me. For him I am valuable. He gave his life for me! You are the same: A valuable person. Therefore, HIS invitation: entrust your life to the Lord Jesus Christ. He means well with you.