Read Psalm 23:1-6. 1The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. 3He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
This most beloved of psalms is both simple and profound. It demonstrates an understanding of life’s great complexity – both green pasture and dark valley – and life’s great reward – dwelling with the Lord forever. This may also be the most intimate of psalms so far, stressing the psalmist relationship with Yahweh as his personal shepherd guiding him in the right paths, and his loyal friend celebrating his victory at his table feast.
When we seek to find Christ in the Twenty-third Psalm we can do it in two ways. First, Jesus is Yahweh, the Lord, our divine Good Shepherd. Jesus is always with us each day, resting us, restoring us, leading us, comforting us. Jesus is with us forever celebrating our shared victory at his friendship table in his eternal home full of mercy and goodness.
But we can also put Psalm 23 on the lips of Jesus the man, and therefore on our own lips as well. Jesus’ personal experience of Yahweh the Shepherd led him from stilled waters to the darkest of valleys – the path to the cross. But Jesus’ Shepherd-God would not leave him in the dark valley of death. His accession feast awaited him. The presence of the Father would be his resting place forever.
In Christ, Psalm 23 is just as much ours to experience as it was David’s or even Jesus’. Yahweh is our shepherd too in every season. In every valley and every pasture. Are you regularly having a Psalm 23 experience like David did? Like Jesus did? Satisfied? Courageous? Feasting?
To live is Christ makes Jesus our shepherd and our friend. Our guide on the journey and our dwelling forever.
You: Are you experiencing Psalm 23 in your daily life?
You in Christ: In Christ you ARE being shepherded. How does this give you peace and assurance for each day?
Christ in you: Where do you need to listen to the voice of your Shepherd today?What has Jesus been asking you to do that you’ve been ignoring?
Pray: Father, with you I shall not want. Help me to feast on the green pastures and still waters of your love for me in Christ every day, and bring me home to live with you forever. Amen.
To Live is Christ 
Amen.
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