Good Morning Friends,
I think sometimes we read Psalm 23 like it’s a sweet poem to hang on a wall. But David didn’t write this from a cozy coffee shop. He wrote it as a man who had been hunted, betrayed, exhausted, and pushed to the edge. And right there, in the middle of fear and uncertainty, he says something almost shocking: “The Lord is my shepherd.” Not a shepherd. Not our shepherd. My shepherd. This is personal. This is intimate. This is David saying, “I trust God with everything. I trust Him more than I trust myself.” And that’s where the whole Psalm begins, with surrender. So, Is The Lord Your Shepherd?
Scripture: The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever
Psalm 23 (KJV)
Message: “I shall not want” is about having the freedom of having enough. Francis Chan often says that one of the greatest miracles God can do in your life is to make you content. To make you believe that God is enough. David isn’t saying he never feels desire. He’s saying he doesn’t live in lack. Why? Because when God is your shepherd, you stop chasing everything else. You stop needing the approval of people. You stop needing control. You stop needing the next thing to make you happy. You have Him. And He is enough.
“He makes me lie down in green pastures.” This is about our God who knows what each of us needs. Sheep don’t lie down unless they feel safe. They don’t rest unless the shepherd has handled the danger. And God knows how to make you rest, even when you don’t know how to stop. Some of us are running so fast we don’t even realize we’re spiritually dehydrated. But the Shepherd sees it. He leads us to still waters. He restores our souls. Not because we earned it. But because He loves us.
“Even though I walk through the valley…” This is about our God who walks with us. Notice David doesn’t say if I walk through the valley. He says when. Following God doesn’t mean avoiding pain. It means never facing it alone. God doesn’t promise safety, He promises presence. And presence is better than safety. Because the Shepherd doesn’t shout instructions from a distance. He walks beside you. He carries you. He protects you. He comforts you. Your fear doesn’t get the final word. Your Shepherd does.
“You prepare a table before me…” This is about our God who turns battles into feasts. This is wild. David says God sets a table, not after the enemies are gone, but right in front of them. God doesn’t wait for your life to calm down before He blesses you. He blesses you in the chaos. He anoints your head with oil. Your cup overflows. Not because the circumstances are good but because God is good.
“Surely goodness and mercy will follow me…” This is about our God who won’t let go. David ends with confidence, not in himself, but in God’s relentless love. Goodness follows you. Mercy follows you. The Shepherd follows you. You’re not being chased by failure, you’re being chased by grace. And grace always wins.
And So, Psalm 23 isn’t just a comforting passage, it’s a call to surrender. A call to trust. A call to intimacy with the Shepherd who knows your name. Don’t just read Psalm 23. Live it. Let the Shepherd lead you… completely.
Pray our LORD the Shepherd of our souls, teach us to trust the way David did. Pray You make us lie down when we resist rest. Pray You lead us beside still waters when our hearts are chaotic. Pray You walk with us through every valley. Pray You prepare a table for us in the middle of our battles. Pray You let Your goodness and mercy chase us all our days. Pray You make us people who truly believe You are enough. Amen.
Blessings,
John Lawson
