THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

The Lord is my Shepherd, I have what I need. — Psalm 23:1 (CSB)

Psalm 23 is a familiar psalm to many; in fact, it may be the most well-known of the 150 psalms. I have been reflecting on this psalm quite a bit this last week. 

The first verse of Psalm 23 is simple yet contains deep truth. The Lord is my Shepherd. David was a shepherd, a great one in fact. David may have been the greatest human shepherd of all time. He knew the value of a good shepherd; he protected his sheep from lions and bears. 

As David reflected on his life, he realized that just as he cared for and led his sheep, the Lord did the same for him. Sometimes we read this first part of the verse so quickly that we forget to meditate on the personal relationship David describes. “The Lord is my Shepherd.” He cares personally for us. He is not just a Shepherd; He is my Shepherd. Jesus is the Good Shepherd (John 10:11, 14). The Lord can personally watch over each of His sheep; this is why I can refer to Him as my Shepherd. The Lord of the universe is willing and able to be my Shepherd. We should be in awe of this fact. This is why Paul writes this in Galatians: 

But now, having known God, or rather having been known by God, how is it that you turn back again to the weak and worthless elemental things, to which you want to be enslaved all over again?— Galatians 4:9

God humbles Himself to know us personally. Not only does He know us, but He is also willing to be our Shepherd. Even though I do not deserve it, I can say with humble confidence, “The Lord is my Shepherd.”

If you are like me, you may have memorized this psalm in the King James Version, which says, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” I like how the CSB phrases it and says that because the Lord is my shepherd, I have what I need. Sometimes we like to try and mix these translations together and have it read, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall have what I want.” The Lord does not promise to give us what we want; however, He does promise to provide what we need. This verse has been one that I have been meditating on all week. By God’s grace, we have what we need. The Lord is my Shepherd, the Good Shepherd; He knows what I need. I need to trust that and follow Him. Take some time to read Psalm 23 and reflect on how God will use it in your life this week. 

seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the full knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.— 2 Peter 1:3-4