Psalm 23: The Good Shepherd I

Their mindset or focus is not on what they don't have, but the incredible sense of assurance, peace and comfort they find in their faith and in God. In other words, the needs may be there, but they don't seem to be 'in want', instead, they often seem happier and more at peace than people who have fewer practical needs, but no faith. 
 

Introduction

(Read once to be introduced to the series. After that skip this to go right to the good stuff!) 

Welcome to my Devotions Series. This series features devotions based on the Scriptures of the Common Lectionary. The series is being prepared for eventual and hopeful print publication.

By going to my Main Article List you can also find the complete collection posted on Gather, including the additional readings not posted to any groups. New Scriptures selections will be posted every Monday through Thursday to my main page and to my groups.

The series is also posted and regularly updated on my official blog every Monday, with the entire selections for the following Sunday: http://www.cedwardsellner.blogspot.com/

You can find a host of additional information, online resources and links to my other work there. This includes a cross-referenced Archive that lists the various Sundays, but then also lists all currently published Devotions by their sequence in Scripture as well as a Topical Index.

You can go directly to the Devotions: Archive by clicking here.

Each Scripture is also hyperlinked to the online Bible at Bible Gateway in the NIV version I used in preparing the series.

As I mentioned this series is being prepared for print publication, so I of course would welcome any and all feedback, either through Gather, or directly to cedwardsellner@aol.com

Lectionary Series Year A: Fourth Sunday of Easter
Psalm 23 (Read it on Bible Gateway)
The Good Shepherd I
In the selections for this week, we come to the best known Psalm in the entire collection, and one that most likely many of us can quote from perhaps more than any other passage in scripture. Psalm 23 is a powerful message of God's loving care for us his errant flock. It also does a wonderful job at showing us some of the many ways that God's care translates into our lives. Let's take a look at these.

First, it's important to note that in the time period the Psalms were composed, Kings and Shepherds were often used in comparison as metaphor. There are a number of very obvious similarities between the two roles, just on a different scale. Both have primary responsibility for a certain group of living beings. They are responsible to guide them, ensure they are provided for, protected and nurtured. So, here the role of Good Shepherd could just as easily be the role of the Good King, and at points, the images jump a little back and forth between the two.

I shall not be in want (or I shall not want)...
This is a promise of provision, but one that has some levels of depth maybe not always seen. On one level it seems to be a promise that God will provide all we need. But it doesn't really say that. What it says is that we shall not want, or in other words, not feel the lack of what is needed. I think it's fairly easy to point out that there are plenty of people of faith who are in, or have, great need. Whether these are people of faith who are facing illness, loss, poverty, or even threats against their lives, there are needs which from our perspective could be seen as, at the least challenging, at the worst life-threatening.

However, one of the amazing things I've often encountered in people of faith is that even when faced with the reality of these 'needs' they seem unfazed by them. Their mindset or focus is not on what they don't have, but the incredible sense of assurance, peace and comfort they find in their faith and in God. In other words, the needs may be there, but they don't seem to be 'in want', instead, they often seem happier and more at peace than people who have fewer practical needs, but no faith.

Makes me lie down in green pastures...
To a shepherd, a green pasture means two things. First, it meant food for the sheep. Second, it also meant a safe place. Pastures, or well tended land were places where the threat of attack from wild animals was greatly reduced. So, in this promise we find a metaphor that affirms in God we can find safety, and in that safety we can find true rest, where we can be at peace, something we know is of concern to our Lord (see Devotions: John 20:19-31).

Leads me beside quiet waters (or still waters)...
This is where I always like to share a somewhat funny insight into Sheep: they are not the brightest of God's creations (truth be told, humanity may not be either). Sheep have been known to graze along, eating contentedly and walk right off a cliff because they aren't paying attention. Sheep also have to be watched when drinking. They will tend to walk into water in order to drink. Sheep who walk into a river, or running stream face the threat of drowning, because as their wool coat soaks in water, it sags, becomes heavier and can then lead to them being swept downstream, thus the best place to take sheep to drink are still or quiet waters.

We humans often have the same problem, we often seek things we want, even in places or in ways that ultimately can be harmful. We certainly also can have the tendency to get swept away in specific things, forgetting all else. Thus here, we have an affirmation that God not only will provide for us, slake the various thirsts we might feel, but will bring us to means and ways where we can do so safely, without risk of being harmed in the process.

Restores my soul...
God brings healing, brings renewal.

Leads me in paths of righteousness...
Part of the shepherd's job is to lead the sheep on the path needed. Those paths are ones of safety and ones that lead to the promise of rest, sustenance or other benefits. God leads us on similar paths. These paths are ones that provide for us, keep us safe. They become in and of themselves righteous and sacred, but also lead us more and more to righteousness, to a closer connection and relationship with God.

For his name's sake...
Our living in righteousness, our finding our place in God where we are cared for, protected and loved, all give glory and honor to God, our benefactor. Just as a flock of healthy, well cared for sheep are the best testimony of a Good Shepherd, we are a testimony of a great God.

The valley of the shadow of death...
What greater threat can we face than death itself? However, especially we as Christians, we know that even death is a mere shadow that cannot overcome our Lord.

I will fear no evil...
As we've mentioned before, God shelters us from evil, brings us a sense of security and peace that enables us to stand strong. Note, its doesn't promise us we will not face evils, just that we will not need to fear them.

Your rod and your staff, they comfort me...
For kings, their scepters were often symbolic of the authority they carried. For shepherds, their rods and staffs were far more practical affirmations of their authority. They used them to defend the sheep against wild animals or thieves. They also used them to help guide or to rescue the sheep when needed. With God, we can find comfort and assurance in knowing that God's role is also to do the same for us.

Prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies...
This is another place where we hear the promise that while God may not remove all challenges, God does still provide for us even in the midst of those challenges and provides us safety and security in the face of immediate threat. Sharing a meal was often used as a way of sealing a covenant or treaty between kings, warring factions, or even simple personal enemies. The meal became symbolic of the new connection or friendship forged and an end to hostilities. God does more than call us to end such, God prepares the way for us.

You anoint my head with oil...
While this was traditional for honored guests in the time when the Psalm was composed, it's also a way of signifying one being entrusted with their own authority or calling. Kings, priests, other high officials or people of power were anointed as part of their induction. This can mean we are God's honored guest, or it may also point to God choosing each of us and entrusting us with our own calling and sacred purpose.

My cup overflows...
God's bounty is never just enough, its doesn't even fill the cup, but instead, God's blessings overflow in all arenas of our lives.

Surely goodness and love (or mercy) will follow me all the days of my life...
Yet again, a reminder that God's provision for us, God's blessings on us and God's guidance in our lives will provide for us on many levels and from that, we will know love, mercy, goodness and peace.

Dwell in the house of the Lord forever...
Perhaps an allusion to Heaven, but also a definite allusion to God's love of us being so great that we are invited to dwell in God's house, in God's heart and spirit as a member of the family.

The biggest challenge with us is the same challenge shepherds face with sheep: a deep rooted stubbornness to not always follow where the Shepherd guides. Of course, I'm sure that doesn't apply to any of us reading this...right?

For the complete listing of our Devotions, see our Devotions Archive