WW: The Lord is your Shepherd (Ps 23:1)

Psalm 23:1 (NLT)
The Lord is my shepherd, I have all that I need.

Teaching

Many people today, especially those from the city, do not know anymore what a shepherd is. Meat is imported from New Zealand and elsewhere und only seldom do we see a herd of sheep under the supervision of a shepherd. But in biblical times this was not so; the opposite, rather: in biblical times there were numerous shepherds, for owning sheep (and other animals) meant great wealth. Like the Indians had their buffalos to survive and used everything a buffalo provided (not only its meat for food, but also its skin etc), so animal herds in biblical times were necessary to sustain families or tribes.

A shepherd was someone who too care of a herd of animals, provided for it, and, if need arose, protected it. Little David, who later became the greatest king of Israel, was the shepherd of his father's herd. Before David was anointed to be king the first time by the prophet Samuel (1 Sam 16), he was a shepherd; his "hobby" was music, or more accurately, worship and praise of God. Whoever has to tend sheep the whole day, has a lot of time to do other things, too. Nowadays one would read books or go on Facebook...! Of the 150 psalms in the Bible, over 70 were written by David. He was both a shepherd and a Psalmist.

When Goliath - some of you know the story from Sunday School - the giant intimidated and scorned the army of Israel, it was this unseeming dwarf called David who was the only one who dared to face Goliath. All the other "great warriors" p... their pants... Whatever the case, what is important, is David's preparation - where did this shepherd learn to fight? Probably not from his sheep! No, but in connection with his "job" as shephered: when ever a bear or a lion took a lamb, David went out after it to save it - and while doing that he happened to kill a bear or a lion! (see 1 Sam 17:34-37) WOW, you might say, this seem amazing. Well, a true shepherd will hold back nothing to protect his sheep - David gave everything for his sheep. One may think, "Well, one sheep more or less, who cares?" But not David; no, he gave everything for his sheep! He was a true shepherd.

Once we understand this background from his life, does Psalm 23 make more sense? We don't know when David wrote this psalm, yet his experience as a shepherd of sheep gave him understanding of God as shepherd. God will give everything for His people; He protects "His sheep" from evil, destructive influences. For David, God was a shepherd who cared for him. The images David uses in this psalm (river, pastures etc) come from his life as shepherd, and he used them to illustrate God's provision, guidance and faithfulness. God is revealing Himself as a faithful Shepherd wh leads and feeds, or guides and provides.


Application

Timeless Truth: God is a Shepherd for you in the same way as He was one for David!

In other words, the Lord is your Shepherd! This means that God wants to care for you, protect you, and lead you. When you read the whole psalm, please note that there is something called "valley." This is an image for dificult times, in which not all things work out well. Perhaps you are in such a "dark valley" at the moment. David knew these circumstances only too well - he too had several years of difficulties (see 1 Sam 16--31). But, and this is important, despite all difficulties, he knew that God was with him and he trusted God through it all.

We can see that this reflects a relationship: God was faithful, David trusted. This application is relevant for you today: God is faithful to you, and you can - and you should - trust Him. Always remember, God can form and train us in difficulties. David didn't learn to fight in the "Karate Club of Bethelhem," but in his everyday life as a shepherd. See your situation as a place of training for what God has planned in the future, ok? See the positive in the difficulties (Phil 4:4-9).

Take time this week to meditate on this psalm; read it several times, best several times a day. Think abut situations in your life in which you experienced God's faithfulness. Think about the fact that God wants to give you everything you need (but not always everything you want). Hold fast to God's faithfulness - He will never let you down!


Discussion

(1) How and where can we experience God as a shepherd?

(2) How can one trust God in difficulties?

(3) Do you want to live the rest of your life in this relationship with God and trust Him always?