Looking at Psalm 23 through the lens of suffering (1a)

v.1a The Lord is my shepherd

When someone is plunged into the depths of suffering they must cling onto what they know.

For 32 years I have known the Lord through thick and thin. 2 years ago that ‘knowing’ was put to the ultimate test. I knew The Lord and knew He was my shepherd but when faced with the trial that was put before us, there were times when My Lord and My shepherd felt far from close.

Having said that we must always come back to the Word of God and declare that the Lord is truly my shepherd. Let’s take a moment and to look at exactly what this means and looks like in real life.

Who is this Lord that David declared to be his shepherd? This is none other that Yahweh, the God of Israel. Jesus, God incarnate declared that He was the Good Shepherd. John 10v11

Through suffering, I need to remind myself that this isn’t just any shepherd that I know, but it is the Lord Himself. He is the one that is deeply concerned about our well being. Shepherds look after sheep and we are likened to sheep in the Bible. Sheep require constant care. A good shepherd gives the proper care. In fact a good shepherd will lay down his life for the sheep.

God gives us both His attention and affection. He loves us deeply no matter what we are going through in life.

He delights in caring for us and watches over us. He makes us His own and calls us by name. He has chosen us and us bought us with a price.

The shepherd puts a distinctive mark which he cuts into one of the ears of the sheep. Even at a distance it is easy to determine whom the sheep belongs to.

I have to remind myself again that in deepest suffering that I still belong to Him. He is mine and I am His.

v.1b I shall not want

When we truly know the shepherd there is no want. This is a tough one. Most days I have wants. I want my son to be restored. I want things the way they used to be. I want us to be happy and content. I want life so much easier and on and on I can go.

The idea here is that because the Lord is my shepherd I should not be lacking anything, I should be utterly contented. Because it’s not about my circumstances, but about the Lord who is the Good Shepherd. Because of that I should not be desiring or craving anything more.

I have to confess and as I stated earlier that my ‘knowing’ was put to the ultimate test. because it was put to the test and still is at times that I do have moments of craving and desiring what I want.

Contentment should be the hallmark of every sheep and so often I have to ask the Lord to forgive me of being anything but.

I’m not saying that all desire is bad. Desiring my son to be able to walk and talk again is a good thing. The issue comes when it takes my focus off of the Good shepherd and then I enter into discontentment and want.

Let’s be reminded that this Shepherd is always on the look out for us. “I know that He who watches over me neither slumbers nor sleeps” Psalm 121v4

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You that you are constant in Your love and care for us. Our feelings sometimes get in the way of this fact. Help us to think more about that love and care in the coming days, especially when we are feeling alone and hopeless. Amen

I am grateful to Phillip Keller for the insight I have gleaned from his book ‘A shepherd looks at Psalm 23’.