My Shepherd

by John Drain, Belfast | Category: General | May 1973

The words of Psalm 23 have been read and quoted and sung in most countries on the earth, and they have brought joy, comfort and encouragement to many hearts.

When the Lord called David He "took him from the sheepfolds: from following the ewes that give suck He brought him "(Psa. 78:70,71). In his early days David learned many valuable lessons as he cared for his father's sheep. He saw the dangers to which the sheep were exposed. He saw the undesirable habits they could cultivate. He discerned the diseases which could befall them. He knew the food which was best suited to their needs. Thinking of himself in life's experience David was aware that he too had to face many dangers and that he had many needs to be met. He saw himself as a sheep that needed a shepherd to care for him. Then he thought of the eternal, almighty Lord of the universe, and with amazing boldness which only divine enlightenment could have prompted he said, "The LORD is my Shepherd". This assured claim to such a relationship with the sovereign Lord could lead to only one conclusion as to results. This David states in clear and unequivocal words, "I shall not want".

The Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, said when He was on the earth, "I am the good Shepherd". Here we see David's Shepherd, the incarnate Lord of the universe. He wanted men and women to know that He is the Shepherd and that He will be to those who accept Him all that the human shepherd is to his sheep. But He will be more. He will give life to the sheep and He will guard them with infinite love and power and care. Happy indeed is the person who can say in truth, "The LORD is my Shepherd". It is intensely personal. Do we with a confidence like David's accept "I shall not want"? Perhaps never before in the history of the world were there greater dangers than there are today - dangers physical and dangers spiritual. We are moving into a future of increasing menace. Have we in our hearts the peace of quiet confidence, "I shall not want"? Our eternity we leave with complete assurance in the hands of our Shepherd and we exult in the knowledge, "They shall never perish". But perhaps we hesitate to accept for the temporary experiences of this life, "I shall not want".

Sheep require pasture. Many times must David have brought his sheep to attractive pasturage. They needed food to nourish, to give strength and to promote growth. In spiritual experience David had enjoyed the goodness of the Lord in supplying spiritual pasture. In the Sacred Writings, the Scriptures of truth, God has provided good and rich pasturage for His people. The Shepherd will bring us to these pastures. In Ezekiel 34 the Lord has much to say about shepherds and sheep, and we read, "I will feed them with good pasture... there shall they lie down in a good fold, and on fat pasture shall they feed ... I Myself will feed My sheep, and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord GOD". It is clearly seen in the Word of God that there are those on whom is placed the very solemn and important responsibility of feeding His sheep. Therefore gatherings of God's children for the ministry of His Word may be occasions on which they are made to lie down in green pastures. It is also clear that the sheep have a responsibility to feed themselves in the green pastures of God's Word. Life today is very full for most people. There are many claims on time and energy. And for several reasons there is great activity and there is much movement. The adversary may exploit such circumstances to deprive God's people of the necessary times of lying down in green pastures to be strengthened by nourishment.

In His care for David the Lord his Shepherd led him at times to waters of rest, to a place where he could rest and be refreshed. The One who said, "Come unto Me... and I will give you rest", said also, "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls". Here is a paradox. Under the yoke of Christ there is rest for the soul. But there is something more revealed in the Scriptures. God speaks of His house as His resting place (Psa. 132:14) and He calls His people to enjoy His rest and experience refreshment. David said, "They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of Thy house; and Thou shalt make them drink of the river of Thy pleasures" (Psa. 36:8). In the rest of God there is fatness for the soul.

When David was looking after his sheep he would frequently be occupied in restoring sheep which had wandered and in restoring sheep which had been invaded by disease or weakness. In his life David often needed the services of his divine Shepherd to give him restoration. In spiritual experience disciples of the Lord Jesus can often know the trial of weakness and weariness, of frustration and failure. We sing, "Prone to wander, Lord, I know it, prone to leave the God I love". The trials of illness: of crippling pain, of crushing sorrow, of corroding loneliness may bring a feeling of detachment. The attractions of affluence and material advancement may draw away from the Lord. Restoration is needed. "He restoreth my soul". How? David wrote, "The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul". Here we see another important benefit of the Word of God. It can restore.

There are times when sheep must be on the move. And they must be guided. Said David, "For Thy name's sake lead me and guide me" (Psa. 31:3). David by his early experience would be fully aware of the tendency of sheep to get astray and therefore of the need for guidance. As he went through life David realized that if the Lord did not guide him he would quickly go astray. The present days are days of increasing spiritual darkness and perplexity. There is increasing need for divine guidance. We shall greatly blunder if we think that our own wisdom is sufficient to carry us through. To be guided by the Lord we must be subject to Him. We should observe, "He guideth me in the paths of righteousness". We can be sure that the Lord will not lead us in paths of wrong-doing. Some have glibly claimed that they have had divine guidance in what they have done when it is obvious that what they have done is contrary to the claims of righteousness. Sentimentality can be dangerous. The words of Psalm 43 are instructive, "0 send out Thy light and Thy truth; let them lead (or, guide) me: let them bring me to Thy holy hill, and to Thy tabernacles". The Lord Jesus told His disciples, "When He, the Spirit of truth, is come, He shall guide you into all the truth". It is wondrously possible today to go forward under the guidance of the Lord but this will mean subjection to the Spirit of truth. The way of the Lord is "the way of the truth ... the right way ... the way of righteousness" (see Pet. 2:2,15,21). Along this way the Shepherd guides.

When David was minding his sheep he showed great prowess in protecting them. His sharp eye would detect strong lurking animals which were waiting to attack. For these animals the sheep would be no match. So he warded off the foe. He did not abandon his flock. He remained with them and came between them and the foe. As David went through life it was to him the valley of the shadow of death. Danger and peril were ever close. But David enjoyed remarkable peace through confidence in his Shepherd. "Thou are with me". David knew that the Lord would never leave him. Disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ are exposed to many perils in the experiences of life. There are dangers spiritual and physical. The adversary like a roaring lion walketh about seeking whom he may devour. He will spare neither sheep nor lamb. He is on the track of all. How thankful we should be that we have a Shepherd who will never desert us! At times we may feel afraid as we think of the attacks of the enemy. He is so powerful. We are so weak. But 4he Lord has given the assurance, "I will in no wise fail thee, neither will I in any wise forsake thee". With the assurance "I am with thee" come comfort and peace. "So that with good courage we say, The Lord is my helper; I will not fear: what shall man do unto me?" When Paul was near the end of his life and service on earth he wrote some very sad words. "Demas forsook me... Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil. At my first defence no one took my part, but all forsook me .... We see a lonely man passing through heavy trial. But let us catch the triumph of his other words, "But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me... and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion". Disciples of the Lord Jesus may find themselves at times in the thickness of severe and perplexing trial. The adversary is close, ready to pounce. Nearest friends seem unable to share the struggle. Some may show complete indifference. It is the valley of the shadow of death. It is important then to hear the voice, "Fear not... When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee" (Isa. 43:1,2). His presence brings comfort, His power deliverance.

While protecting his sheep in the wilderness David must have learned that the hungry preying animals which lurked waiting to attack were not easily driven away. They might retreat but they were always near. David had a dual responsibility. He must be on the alert for attack, but at the same time he must make continual provision for the sheep. No doubt the hungry eyes of the attackers must often have seen the gracious preparation which David made. In his own life David had many enemies, but he writes, "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies". The table speaks of food and it also speaks of communion. In the midst of his enemies David was sustained by the Lord. Sheep of the Lord's flock are surrounded by dangerous, hostile forces. Protection is important and necessary but it is important also that followers of the Lord Jesus Christ in the midst of perils should be sustained by the strength which communion gives.

As David reviews the many valuable consequences of knowing the Lord as his Shepherd he had the assurance that, in the faithful Shepherd's care, goodness and mercy would accompany him right through life. This remarkable assurance should be the portion of God's people today. Let us not miss the impressive words "all the days of my life".

It is instructive to note that the crowning blessing in David's catalogue in Psalm 23 is "I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever (or, for length of days)". All the days of his life, as he enjoyed the goodness and mercy of God, David had the intense desire and purpose to dwell in the house of the Lord. The intensity of his desire is seen in his words, "One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in His temple" (Psa. 27:4). The sheep of God's flock today have the wonderful privilege of expressing to God their appreciation of His goodness and mercy. Viewed as living stones God's people "are built up a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ".

John Drain, Belfast | May 1973
General