Welcome to the next part of our series, "The Good Shepherd."

Text: Psalm 23

(A psalm of David.)
The Lord is my shepherd;
    I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
    he leads me beside peaceful streams.
    He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
    bringing honor to his name.
Even when I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
    for you are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
    protect and comfort me.
You prepare a feast for me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
    My cup overflows with blessings.
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
    all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
    forever.

The LORD is our Shepherd. WE CAN FOLLOW HIM.

Overall Commentary: 🌎

One of the most significant issues we have when reading the Old Testament is ethnocentrism. The definition of ethnocentrism is:

Evaluation of other cultures according to preconceptions originating in the standards and customs of one's own culture.

This series aims to show the fantastic explanation David gave in this Psalm for the close and authentic relationship God desires to have in our lives. As Theists, we believe that God not only created the Universe but wants to have an active role in our lives. Psalm 23 is a prime example of His involvement.

Because the LORD is our Shepherd, we can have a comforting ASSURANCE that HE IS WITH US.

What is ASSURANCE?

While there are many definitions for this word, the best I have ever heard relating to God is:

Assurance is a confident trust in God's promises based on His character.

This is helpful because it helps us realize that, no matter what we are going through, we know our King is close by and is working in more ways than we can see.

Sheep Get Scared... A lot.

Because sheep have no natural defenses, they are easily scared. Because they are not known to have adequate eyesight, they are also easily frightened by sounds. This means they constantly need to look to the shepherd to ensure everything is okay. Knowing the shepherd is nearby and has everything under control comforts the sheep. This is the same with us when it comes to the Lord. We can take comfort in knowing God is always near and doing more than we realize.

Commentary

Verse 4b. "Your rod... protects me."

"What is a rod?"- A rod is a small club about 3 feet long. Shepherds were never seen without their rod. It was the equivalent of a Swiss Army Knife, serving several functions. They would even have contests to see who was the most skillful with their rod.

"Why is a rod significant for a sheep?"— The Shepherd primarily used their rod for protection, discipline, and care.

Protection—If a wolf or thief came toward the flock, the shepherd used the rod to protect it.
Discipline—If a sheep was wandering off, a shepherd could throw the rod close to it as a warning to come back close again.
Care—At the end of the day, the shepherd would use the rod to part the wool and look at the sheep. This was how they cared for us and checked the sheep to be sure it was healthy.

Verse 4b. "Your staff... comforts me."

"What is a staff?" The staff was a longer stick with a hook, usually at least 6 feet long. This was so that the sheep could see it and reach places where the shepherd could not.

"Why is a staff significant for a sheep?" The staff served a big purpose of providing comfort and help. It was said that the sheep would eventually recognize that the person holding the staff was a good guy and could be trusted. It was also comforting because the staff could reach a sheep in ways the shepherd could not always reach.

Bottom Line.

The bottom line is that God is active in our lives. He's fighting off wolves. He is providing needed discipline. He is caring for our needs. He is guiding us. He is reaching us when we need rescue. God is with us in more ways than we realize.

God's Promise:

(Micah 7:14-15) O Lord, protect your people with your shepherd’s staff; lead your flock, your special possession. Though they live alone in a thicket on the heights of Mount Carmel, let them graze in the fertile pastures of Bashan and Gilead as they did long ago. “Yes,” says the Lord, “I will do MIGHTY MIRACLES for you, like those I did when I rescued you from slavery in Egypt.”