Resting Under the Care of the Good Shepherd

I was browsing through the Psalms the other day, and as I read the 23rd Psalm for the zillionth time in my life, I was reminded why this one is such an iconic set of verses. Being under the care of a truly Good Shepherd is the very best, safest, and most peaceful place to be. Just for fun, let’s review.

The Good Shepherd guides, protects, and provides for His flock. We have everything and exactly what we need. He knows His sheep well, and He makes us rest when He knows we’ve been pushing ourselves too far for too long. He protects our bodies from physical danger and our hearts from fear. He sustains our sense of peace.

He restores our souls – removing from us every vestige of weariness, fatigue, and heaviness. He keeps His flock on the right path for His Name’s sake, leading us along the way to obedience and intimacy with Him.

The Good Shepherd removes our fear of death as He accompanies us across the darkest valley. His rod and staff keep us from harm so that we arrive safely on the other side. When we’re surrounded by enemies, He becomes our barrier against their assaults and attacks while simultaneously lavishing us with His abundance and fellowship.

He bestows His honor onto us and protects our minds from evil intrusions. Grace upon grace, blessing upon blessing, He fills our cups to overflowing with His faithful lovingkindness. God is good. God is merciful. He pursues us all the days of our lives and will one day welcome His precious sheep into His presence forevermore.

It’s a beautiful thing to be counted among the Shepherd’s flock.

So why would a sheep walk away from all that He offers? The “whys” that we conjure up are numerous, but the results are disastrous. When we choose to sin, we choose to abandon the safety of God’s protection. We expose ourselves to danger. How foolish to blame God when we find ourselves living out the consequences of our own poor decisions.

But thanks be to Him, our Good Shepherd relentlessly tracks us down and gives us the opportunity to return to the fold. He carries our injured, muddied, exhausted selves in His mighty but tender arms back to a place of healing and help – near green meadows and peaceful streams. When we’re tempted to go our own way, may we remember that disobedience to God ultimately goes against our own preservation and flourishingand dishonors the Father we say we love.

Finally, friends, here’s an assignment for you. Ask God to bring to mind someone you know who is struggling. If possible, go to that person, and ask permission to read Psalm 23 over them. Ask them to close their eyes. Read slowly so that the blessing of Psalm 23 soaks into their soul. If you can’t manage an in-person reading, send a voice message. And if that someone who is struggling is you, give yourself the gift of reading and meditating on these rich word pictures of God’s devotion and sacrificial love for you. However and with whomever you choose to share, let the iconic message of this iconic Psalm do the healing work of the Good Shepherd.