Psalm 23

In Genesis, God’s people were primarily shepherds. They guided their flocks to the mountain pastures for grazing and returned them to the sheep pens for safety. They understood the shepherd’s role in ensuring success in this livelihood. When Jacob was close to death, he praised God, “who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day” (Gen. 48:15).

Genesis concludes with Israel settling in Egypt, where their population grew into a commanding nation. Eventually, their size and strength posed a threat to Egypt, leading to their enslavement. Moses led Israel to freedom from captivity, and Joshua guided them as they conquered the promised land. God appointed a king for the nation after a time when judges ruled over them. The first king, Saul, failed. Thus, God “chose David his servant and took him from the sheepfolds; from following the nursing ewes, he brought him to shepherd Jacob his people, Israel his inheritance. With upright heart, he shepherded them and guided them with his skillful hand” (Ps. 78:70-72). David was an exceptional shepherd because he depended on the Shepherd.

Psalm 23, written by David, is a song that extols the Good Shepherd. Last time, we explored the meaning of Psalm 23:1-2a. Today, we’ll begin with the final part of Psalm 23:2.

Psalm 23:1-2
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

Thirsty sheep are not disciplined sheep. They will drink from polluted water infested with parasites. So, the attentive shepherd finds fresh streams with deep, pure water pools.

In a spiritual sense, humanity is also thirsty. All the world’s religions reflect our attempts to quench that thirst. If left to our own devices, we will drink from the polluted waters of the world. Yet only Jesus can satisfy, and he invites all who are thirsty to “come to [him] and drink” (John 7:37). One day, Jesus, weary from his travels, stopped by a well that Jacob had dug in a field he gave to his son Joseph. A woman came to the well to draw water, and Jesus struck up a conversation with her. The woman was attempting to fill her heart with the tainted waters of immorality. Jesus, the Good Shepherd, offered her “living water” and transformed her life. Jesus continues to extend that offer for living water today.

Psalm 23:1-3a
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.

Sometimes, sheep lie down in a soft spot, making it difficult for them to get up when weighed down by their heavy wool. Sheep in this predicament are known as cast sheep or cast-down sheep. A cast-down sheep begins to panic. It rolls onto its back and kicks frantically, causing gas to accumulate in the rumen—the first chamber of its stomach. The swollen stomach restricts blood flow to its legs. In hot weather, sheep can die within a few hours. Additionally, they are easy targets for predators in this vulnerable condition. When a shepherd finds a cast sheep, he rolls it onto its side to let the gases escape. He then rubs the sheep’s legs until circulation is restored.

A Christian living a self-focused, self-indulgent life resembles a cast-down sheep. We become easy prey for Satan, but the Good Shepherd gently lifts us back onto our feet. When the Good Shepherd sets us upright, he places us on the right path and restores our souls.

Psalm 23:3b
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Sheep are creatures of habit. When left to themselves, they will travel the same path to the point of wearing ruts in the ground. They graze in the same spot until there is nothing left to eat. This can lead to pollution of the area until it becomes infested with parasites. When a piece of land becomes worn down, it is called “sheeped to death.”

The wise shepherd keeps the flock on the move. He determines a rotation plan from one grazing area to another. The shepherd’s reputation depends on how effectively he moves his sheep and protects the land. Here’s how one shepherd described this part of his job.

…No other single aspect of the ranch operation commanded more of my careful attention than the moving of the sheep. It literally dominated all my decisions. Not a day went by but what I would walk over the pasture in which the sheep were feeding to observe the balance between its growth and the grazing pressure upon it. As soon as the point was reached where I felt the maximum benefit for both sheep and land were not being met, the sheep were moved to a fresh field. On the average this meant they were put onto new ground almost every week.[1]

Like sheep, we can become creatures of habit, wearing a rut into our souls. Proverbs 14:12 suggests that the path that seems right may ultimately lead us to death. However, the Good Shepherd remains vigilant, keeping us from grazing in the same worn-out areas. He is writing our story, and we can trust him to guide us down the right path to new chapters that challenge us and keep us dependent on him.

The question now is: will we follow his lead?

Teens—will you follow the Good Shepherd by remaining sexually pure?
Singles—will you follow the Good Shepherd in sexual purity and wait for what God has for you?
Married couples—Will you follow the Good Shepherd as he leads you to develop your marriage?
Fathers—Will you follow the Good Shepherd in leading your home?
Parents—Will you follow the Good Shepherd in raising your children and being godly examples?

Are you willing to take the time to read and study God’s Word and follow its instructions instead of doing things your way? When we follow the Good Shepherd, we bring honor to his name. Believers are “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Cor. 5:20). I’ll end with one final question: Are you representing him well?

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD
Read Psalm 23. Focus on the end of Psalm 23:3. What does honoring the Good Shepherd’s name mean?

Talking to God
Ask God to shine a light on your heart. Ask him for the strength and determination to represent Jesus well in all aspects of your life.

Have Questions?
If you have any questions about today’s reading or teaching, please submit them below. Our team is here to assist you as you explore God’s Word.

LIFE MAP
Go to ronmoore.org/lifemap for an exercise that will help you discover how God is writing his story in you. I have included a life map of Joseph that will serve as an example.

JOB: GOD’S STORY IN OUR SUFFERING—Starting March 3
Ready to discover the wisdom of the Book of Job? Invite a friend to join us for an insightful study of this timeless story.

[1] Phillip Keller, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1970),

73.