The Divine Shepherd
A Psalm of David.
1 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 right paths
for his name’s sake.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.
The first four verses of this shepherd psalm reflect on life “out in the fields”. (The following verses focus on a table and the house of the Lord. )
What can we glean from the guidance of the Divine Shepherd?
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
There is a personal claim in that verse. The Lord is “MY” shepherd. And because I trust God to lead me in this way “I” shall not want or lack what I really need.
Faith is a personal thing. When we think and talk about our faith it really is “I” and “My”.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters;
3 he restores my soul.He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.
As we personally follow the lead of our loving Shepherd/Lord down the right paths, we will be directed to places where our souls are nourished
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil; for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.
When do we feel the need to trust God? When do we find comfort in the personal relationship we have with God? When life is difficult, and when we come face to face with realities like death and evil, God’s presence is a source of personal comfort.
What are the things that are casting dark shadows in your life? Fear not, there is a beacon of hope. God has got this.
Prayer
Great God, I turn to you today and every day trusting that you know and love me, and I can know and love you more deeply. Thank you for calling and claiming me as one of your beloved sheep. Help me to take the next step in discipleship trusting that I am walking with my Lord and Savior, Jesus, in whose name I pray. Amen.