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: š
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 David's fantastic explanation 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 live out a God-honoring LEGACY.
What does it mean to live out a God-honoring Legacy?
There are many ways to define the term "legacy."
A God-honoring legacy is not focused on how high you climb (the ladder of success), but how you walk daily with the Lord.
This is a great way to end our study through Psalm 23. Until now, David has filled this song with what God does for us... and we need all we can get. The final stanza shows how a sheep can respond to the Shepherd's care. The bottom line is that we respond by focusing on the shepherd and going where He leads.
The Marks of a Healthy Sheep.
There are many ways to identify a distressed or troubled sheep. The marks of a good sheep are:
- They are healthy. This means they have had an ample supply of everything they need and have enjoyed it.
- They are close by. A good sheep wants to be near their shepherd. Therefore, you can tell the relationship between the sheep and the shepherd by the proximity of the sheep to the shepherd.
Commentary
Verse 6b. "I will live..."
This phrase is often interchangeable with the words "I will dwell." Both are fine, but the most literal Hebrew translation is "I will return." The translators convey that the King's House is always available to us. However, there is another facet we do not want to forget. Not only is the King's House available, but we make the effort to return.
In response to the kindness of our Shepherd and King, we make an effort to return over and over again to His House. We never stop pursuing Him.
Verse 6b. "in the House of the Lord..."
This phrase has given translators a little trouble over the centuries. This is not because the wording is tricky but because they often go back and forth between what David meant. One on hand, David couldn't have meant the actual temple because it had not been built yet. Also, David was not a priest. How could he commit to being in the house of the Lord? We must be careful not to forget that David is not trying to be literal. He has just spent the whole song telling us a metaphor. The point of this song is to remind us that we have access to the presence of God and to keep Him as the main focus of our lives.
Verse 6b. "Forever."
This word is used in many English translations. However, the most literal translation is "all the days of my life." This is not to say that David did not believe in Heaven or an afterlife. It symbolizes that David was not waiting until then to "live in the House of the Lord." He was going to begin his pursuit now.
Bottom Line.
It has been a joy to walk through the 23rd Psalm together. My hope is we have learned more about the relationship God wants with us. He could have conveyed this relationship in any way. However, He chose the terms Shepherd and Sheep. It is fitting because we will always need Him, and He is always willing to lead us. It is an honor to be led by such a Good Shepherd.
God's Promise:
(Revelation 7:16-17) They will never again be hungry or thirsty; they will never be scorched by the heat of the sun. For the Lamb on the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of life-giving water. And God will wipe every tear from their eyes.
Julie Plagens
David Guzik
