I’m still thinking about sheep. Not sheep in mittens and stocking caps, but what it means to be a sheep with the Lord for my shepherd.

Please grab some paper and a pen, or open up a document on your computer. I’d love to have you spend a few minutes with me thinking about this wonderful passage.

As you probably know, Psalm 23 was written by King David, who had spent his youth as a shepherd. So his is the voice of authority.

This beautiful song gives us insight into the life of a sheep. Though it was composed about 3000 years ago, not much has changed in the  life of sheep and the shepherd. Sheep still need to be cared for, to be led to water and grass, to have a place to sleep. They are still vulnerable to predators, parasites, brackish water, and so many other situations.

Please read slowly and thoughtfully through Psalm 23 two or three times.

PSALM 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
    He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
    he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake. 
Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.

Let’s talk about it

The psalm is in two stanzas. In the first stanza, the speaker (the sheep) is talking to the reader about the Lord. But in the second stanza the speaker is talking directly to the Lord, calling God “You.”

Questions concerning Stanza 1

  1. Based on this stanza, list all the needs that the sheep has.
  2. Who meets the needs—the shepherd or the sheep?
  3. Why does the sheep not fear?
  4. What does it mean that the sheep lacks nothing?

Questions concerning Stanza 2

  1. How does the shepherd honor the sheep?
  2. What is the future for this sheep?

Applications Questions

  1. What does this psalm say about our relationship with God?
  2. If God meets all our needs, what is our part in our relationship with him?
  3. Can you rest in the reality that, with God, your shepherd, all your needs will be met?
  4. How has the Lord spoken to you today through Psalm 23?

A Good Resource

I recently reread Phillip W. Keller’s book, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23. Keller grow up in East Africa, paying close attention to the life of native shepherds. He also made his living as a sheep owner and sheep rancher for eight years when he was a young man. It is with a great deal of understanding that Keller shares insight into the lives of sheep and their desperate need for a faithful shepherd. I was blessed, challenged, and delighted by reading it. I encourage you to get it through your public library or purchase a copy of it. Let the Lord speak to your heart through it. Then share it with a friend who may be struggling to rest in the goodness of our amazing shepherd.

You may remember Keith Green’s musical rendition of Psalm 23. Click the link to listen.

Remember, if the Lord is you shepherd, you lack nothing.

Ginger