I Need a Shepherd – Psalm 23

A text – Psalm 23

23:1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
23:2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;
23:3 he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.
23:4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff– they comfort me.
23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD my whole life long.

A reflection:

Some of you know that I wrote a series of children’s novels, in which Psalm 23 shows up at pivotal moments. The kids in the stories are from a couple of different countries, yet they all know this psalm. It is famous. Why? It’s short, for one thing, so you can really get to know it. It’s extremely visual, for another, so you can really see it. And it’s about being looked after by someone trustworthy. We all could use that.

Someone said that sheep are referred to throughout the Bible more than 500 times, more than any other animal. When people are compared to sheep, people are often insulted. Sheep need to be led, they blindly follow, they are pretty helpless when any predator gets near the flock…they are surely not rugged individualists who carve out their own destiny.

But there have been and still are times in my life when I really have needed a shepherd. I have felt vulnerable to my surroundings, to negative people, to lies and uncertainties, and I have needed someone to look after me. I have also walked alongside other people who have needed a shepherd. The author of this psalm, David, grew up a shepherd and knew when he needed a shepherd, too.

If you have ever received goodness and mercy or really need to receive some now, recite this psalm aloud for a few days in a row. You will begin to know the comfort that the Lord, our shepherd, brings.

A prayer:

Lord God, Thank you for loving us. Thank you for being our shepherd.  Thank you for putting up with us when we think we don’t need a shepherd. Help us to consider following you as a shepherd, especially when we don’t want to. And please help us to see the goodness and mercy that you always bring us.  Amen.