A BEAUTIFUL MEDITATION FROM PSALM 23

SHEPHERD OF MY SOUL
Psalm 23.

Introduction:
Aside from his writings, we really don’t know much about King David. We know that when he was young, he was described as having “fine features and that he was good looking (1 Sam 16:12)”.

We also know that when he was younger, he grew up tending his father’s sheep on the upland of Judah. The limited record in the Bible tells us also that he was a musician, a powerful musician. He may have been good with the flute for that would a common instrument for the shepherds. But, he was certainly a powerful player of the harp.

As a shepherd, David had to bring the animals to the place where grass would be found. He was responsible for seeing to it that the animals under his care would have the best pasture, a steady and sufficient supply of water and that each one would be protected to the best of his ability. He grew up with the work of shepherding as his primary task in life.

Although he was not trained by his father to be soldier and to be a leader in Israel, God called him to be the leader of the nation of Israel. He defeated Goliath, who at one time, was the greatest threat to the nation of Israel because there was no one in the army of Israel who was strong enough nor courageous enough to face Goliath. The young Shepherd boy David killed the feared giant with a properly placed stone on the forehead, courtesy of his ever-dependable sling.

I am introducing the message today this way because I want to be sure that we all have the same understanding about David’s early life as a shepherd of his father’s sheep. Then, later, by God’s appointment, he became the shepherd of the nation of Israel. From a literal shepherding of his human father’s flock, he became the political and spiritual shepherd of his heavenly father’s flock. All his life he was a shepherd.

Now, he is about to interpret his entire life in the light of God’s love. Having been a shepherd all his life and having experienced the greatness of God’s love, he opted to write about the story of his life in relation to God’s presence. He tells his entire story with these words: “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want.” Psalm 23 is David’s interpretation of the story of his life. In Psalm 23, he writes out of the background of having both good and difficult memories. So, he writes about God as his shepherd. What can we learn from this?

I THE TROUBLES OF A SHEPHERD-LESS LIFE.
Please remember again that David is telling the story of life including the beautiful experiences as well as the difficult experience as he writes Psalm 23.

By implication, David cites the most common troubles and uncertainties of life. These are:

1. THE LACK OF RESOURCES OF EVERYDAY LIFE. Green pastures and quiet waters are the daily provisions required for all grazing animals. The green pastures provide sufficient grass and the quiet waters allow the animals to drink for they cannot drink from rough and noisy waters.

Green Pastures and quiet waters are basic necessities of life. These are the money for the children’s transportation everyday. The cost of daily living in this world.

It is surprising how many things in life cause us to be worried on a daily basis. Will the water come today? Will I be able to finish all my work today? Will I be able to give enough money for the children’s monthly school expenses? Some people just cannot have enough assurance for tomorrow’s green pastures and quiet waters.

2. THE AIMLESSNESS OF LIFE. For many people, they carry out the demands of life without a definite and meaningful direction. They don’t walk on the established and proven path. They walk towards all kinds of direction. David talks about being guided.

3. THE TIREDNESS OF LIFE. “We are living in a day of extreme weariness. Our minds are tired. Our bodies are tired. Our hearts are tired. Our nerves are tired. Everything about us is tired and exhausted.” Source: Robert T. Ketcham, “I Shall Not Want”.

David speaks about Green pastures and quiet waters not only as daily needs of life. He mentions green pastures and quiet waters in the context of restoring his soul. To have one’s soul restored is to say that although I go through tired days in my life, tired physically, mentally, emotionally, even spiritually, you help in such a way that my soul is restored. And so, I get up from my tiredness and face life again with confidence. Do you find you soul restored or do you find that today is worse than yesterday and that everyday seems to be deteriorating very badly.

4. THE FEARFUL MOMENTS OF LIFE. David cites two fearful moments of life:

4.1. Valley of the shadow of death. It can be translated as the valley of Deep darkness. For the sheep, the afternoon walk back following the shepherd from the pastureland to the house, many times, would be a journey through fear.

The valley of the shadow of death is not to be associated with the coming to the end of one’s life, but all the days that are in between birth and death.
-It is the days of hardship filled with the desire to want.
-It is the days of not knowing what to do next.
-It is the days of when anxiety has entered the heart and home.
-It is the days of loss filled with the pain of loneliness.

From the valley amidst the darkness rises the question, “Do we trust the Shepherd, or fear the moment?” Fear can seize the heart causing us to take off running aimlessly. Fear stems from a life of “want”. We become fearful and afraid of not getting what we want.

David said he feared no evil. To acknowledge “The Lord is my Shepherd,” drives fear from us. Allowing us to rest in the “I shall not want” provisions of the Shepherd. The valley of the shadow of death is not the experience just before we die. It refers to threatening situations during our ordinary course of life. Threats are all around. It seems like death is just waiting around the corner. It seems like there really is no certainty of a beautiful tomorrow.

4.2. Presence of My enemies. The enemies are mentioned in this verse not so much as a threat to life but as threat to a peaceful, abundant and stable life. He keeps me from death when attacked by my enemies. You provide a table for me in the presence of my enemies. When surrounded by enemies, the preparation of a banquet is not possible. The simple yet important task of taking care of our hair will not be possible. There will be no time to sit down and share a drink. There will not be a sufficient supply for my cup.

II THE TREASURES OF A SHEPHERD-GUIDED LIFE

Over and against the troubles of life such as the insufficiency of daily provisions, the aimlessness of life, the tiredness of life and the fearful moments of life, one can have beautiful and meaningful blessings in his life. This is David’s testimony in Psalm 23. David speaks of the beauty, the certainty, the confidence in life through the following:

Because he is my Shepherd, I have the following:
1. THE PERSON OF THE LORD.
(My – in the sense of being related and in the sense of being present and in the sense of being in his side). This comes through the born-again experience and obedient life.

2. THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD.
2.1. Constant. In the Green Pasture. Beside quiet waters. Through the valley of the shadow of death. In the presence of my enemies.
2.2. Comforting. Restores my soul. “God knows we need restoration. In the face of common temptation we fall -- voluntarily and repeatedly. The same old flaws and failures pursue us all through life.” Rescues me from the enemy. If God is for us, who can be against us?
2.3. Cleansing. His presence provides paths of righteousness.

3. THE PROVISIONS OF THE LORD.
3.1 Daily Needs. Green Pastures. Quiet waters. When there is no quiet water, the shepherd places rocks on the water to form a quiet pool to enable the sheep to drink.
3.2 Daily sense of being secure.
3.2.1 Daily security in the area of provisions. Green Pastures (lying down). Quiet waters (led beside it). Not only to feed but to lie down. To know that there will be enough and to lie down on that knowledge. Nakahiga sa katiyakan.
3.2.2 Daily security in the area of protection. Rod – To hit at the wild animals, but also to “palo” the stubbornly disobedient animal. Staff – To push animals away but also to pull in the straying animals. Sometimes, the sharp point of the bottom part of the staff is used to prick the stubborn animals to keep it going. You cannot afford imprecision during the passage through the valley of the shadow of death.
3.3 Daily guidance. He guides me. “Divine guidance is not some sentimental theory. Divine guidance is a blessed reality.”
3.4 Daily expression of concern. Prepares a table for me in the presence of my enemies.

4. THE PROGRAM OF THE LORD.
The Lord provides a program for the entire life of the believer. He has appointed two companions who will just follow us in the sense of attending to our needs. Follow in the sense of being servants ready to whatever is necessary for the master. What are these two companions?


4.1 Goodness.
4.2 Love or mercy. Here’s a stanza from an old hym:
“O to grace how great a debtor,
Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let Thy grace, Lord like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here’s my heart, Lord, take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.

THE DECISION: INVITE JESUS TO BE YOUR SHEPHERD (OWNER, LEADER, PLAN-MAKER, MORAL STANDARDS GIVER). Say, Jesus is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want.