The Lord is my Shepherd

I lay away in the wee hours of the morning on Sunday, unable to sleep and stressed about a situation. Psalm 23 began to run through my head and as I recited it to myself I walked through the verses and what they mean. 

The Lord is my shepherd;

there is nothing I lack.

He gives me everything I need. He watches over me. He is my protector and provider. He is my defender.

He lets me lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside quiet waters.

I find this verse interesting since the pastures of the Old Testament wouldn't look like pastures here in the states. They weren't green and lucious. They were just intermittent tufts of grass near where moisture collected by the rocks. So the sheep had to keep moving to find nourishment.

That's true of our lives. As we follow the shepherd we will have moments of nourishment and rest, but we need to keep moving to grow. 

Shepherds didn't drive the sheep, they led them. God isn't pushing us forward, but He leads us and it's our choice to follow or not. But if we follow Him we will be assured of finding rest, nourishment and rejuvenation. 

He renews my life;

He leads me along the right paths

for His name’s sake.

The Shepherd knows exactly what we need and when we follow Him, His plan for us brings renewal and righteousness. But it's for His glory and not ours.

Even when I go through the darkest valley,

I fear no danger,

for You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff—they comfort me.

We all experience hard times - grief and loss, trials and hardship - but the Lord is with us in them. His rod and staff are symbols of guidance. I don't like walking through the dark valleys, but just as the rod and staff were used to guide the sheep and also used to protect them, God does the same for me.

He gently guides me. He protects me. He watches over me in the valley.

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

We will all face people who oppose us, persecute us or mistreat us and malign us. But the Lord promises to provide nourishment as we face them. He gives us His provision. He  gives us fellowship and relationship with Himself.

And just as shepherds would use oil to sooth the scratches and wounds of the sheep, God soothes our wounds. He annoints us with oil when we are hurt by others. He provides a healing balm for our soul. 

And His blessing will overflow into our lives. He doesn't give us "just enough." His blessings overflow. 

Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord

as long as I live.

When we trust the leading of the Shepherd He will provide goodness, faithfulness and His peace. He will protect us and look out for us. He loves us and cares for us. He walks in relationship with us. 

As I quoted this Psalm in my head and reflected on it, I drifted off to sleep and woke up refreshed.