Considered by many to be the most surpassing and comforting psalm, "The Lord's my Shepherd," (Psalms 23) gives us much encouragement and revelation into the protection that God provides for His sheep. Many can recite from memory this beautiful psalm, and it is not unusual to see plaques and pictures hanging on the walls of our homes to remind us of that special protection the sheep of God enjoy. It is not, however, until we see its position in the collection of Psalms that we can truly appreciate what the psalm tells us.

Before we can read this psalm of protection, we must first read the psalm of sacrifice in the 22nd Psalm. Before we can read, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want," (Ps 23:1) we must hear the echo of sacrifice with the ringing of nails in the words, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" (Ps 22:1) Before we can read how that God "makes me lie down in green pastures," (Ps 23:2) we must hear the agonizing words of despair and loneliness from the mouth of the Lamb when he says, "Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?" (Ps 22:1) After the 23rd Psalm, we come to the psalm of "The King of Glory" in the 24th Psalm, which sings about the triumphant victory of the Messiah of God, and his appearance into Heaven. "Lift up your heads, 0 gates! And be lifted up, 0 ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle!" (Ps 24:78) After the agonizing sacrifice, there is the triumph of success and victory. And in between these two context is nestled this wonder psalm of protection and endurance!

It is in this context that we can truly understand the good care given by the Good Shepherd. Jesus tells us, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand and not a shepherd, who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep." (John 10; 1115) Let us consider the goodness of this Shepherd. First, Psalms 23 tells us, "I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters." (vs 12) There are always two ways to consider any Scripture - physically and spiritually. Physically, God has promised to provide His sheep the necessities of life, food, clothes, and shelter, etc. (Matt 6:2534) For the child of God, there is no want. Again, the psalm tells us the extent of God's physical provisions when it says; "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." (vs 5) The extent of our provisions is not measured in monetary value but in the freedom from want. There are many people wealthier than the sheep of God but are in more want because the sheep are always content! Not only physical freedom from want, but God has also promised to care for our spiritual needs. And so, the psalm continues by saying, "He restores my soul." (vs 3) God has given you a way to escape the poverty of sin. He has given you a way to have your past and future sins taken care of. This way is found in the gospel in Christ. (Rom 1:1617) You too can have your soul restored to health and freedom from sin by trusting in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and being obedient to His commands. He wants you to be washed from your sins and buried with Him in baptism and rise up to walk in a new life and a new way. (Rom 6:34) Only then, can you claim this great promise and provision from the Good Shepherd.

Eric