Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.[1]
David was a shepherd and worked with sheep for a livelihood. Most of us aren’t familiar with shepherd or sheep and so the analogy of Psalm 23 doesn’t always click with us. A shepherd lived with the flock and was guide, provider, and protector to the sheep.
If God is David’s shepherd, that implies that David sees himself as a sheep. This isn’t a positive comparison. Sheep are stupid, distracted, and constantly in trouble. But Psalm 23 brags about what a good shepherd God is, even if we are stupid sheep.
David sees God as his manager and owner; this gives us insight into David’s relationship with God. It also shows us the nature of God. Many today think God is a tyrant who wants to control us. David doesn’t see this as a characteristic of God at all. David sees God as giving everything he needs.
Now, this doesn’t say everything that David wants, but needs. We can be materialistically rich but bankrupt spirituality. Rev. 3: 17 You say, ‘I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing!’ And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.[1] These are the words of Jesus to John is a vision. Jesus is speaking about the church of Laodicea. This city was a prosperous financial center, but Jesus’ appraisal of them was that they were spiritually poor. We become spiritually rich only through Christ who came to give life abundantly.
This statement is the basis for David’s heart after God and will provide a solid foundation for David in the future. How about you? Can you honestly say Psalm 23:1 about yourself? If you can’t God allows and helps us change. To hear more about David and Psalm 23, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/series/david-and-his-songs-the-early-years/the-lord-is-my-shepherd
[1] Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188.