A FAVOURITE PSALMThe job of a shepherd was a humble one, however important the safety of the sheep, so it is a quite remarkable thing to say 'The Lord Is My Shepherd'It was natural but novel for the young David to sing of the Lord as his shepherd, partly since the care of sheep was his job in the family, but is it part of your life to feel sure of the care and strength and protection of the Lord for you? There are reasons why Psalm 23 is so familiar, not least because it is so often sung. But there are reasons behind this in turn, which are to do with the beauty and simplicity of the poetry, the comfort it offers, and the spiritual blessing it describes
And is not the reason behind all this, and why we enjoy the song in many versions still, because it is fulfilled for us today through the Lord Jesus Christ? Here is how the Bible theme of God as shepherd is fulfilled, and how people can belong to God, and know him. The care and protection of the shepherd is for those who are his We can know all the promise of this favourite Psalm fulfilled in our own experience, when we trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for ourselves It is a pleasure just to read these attractive and unaffected, lyrical lines. Even the words themselves are soothing, there is music in them. Yet as we may find a piece of music brings us a peaceful feeling, the emotion will pass The peace and strength of soul which David discovered, and which is possible for us through the Lord Jesus, is a lasting, growing blessing, enough for the darkest times The life we have in Jesus is possible because Jesus died and was raised again for us all, and we discover this when we trust in him and obey him for ourselves There is a very great deal promised in this prayer, but do not forget it was tried and tested, it was proved in the face of danger, not just in the sunshine on a hillside Here is the song of someone who has been touched by the Spirit of God, just as we may be today, through personal trust in the Lord Jesus Christ Jesus himself is our shepherd, and the words of Jesus in the Gospel of John, are there so we know the truth of the message that Jesus is real, and we can trust our shepherd Remember the Shepherd reaches out to save and rescue, and you can still say 'The Lord Is My Shepherd' Why not turn to the psalm again, and with trust in him, ask the Lord Jesus Christ to help you make it your own? |