The Lord God As Our Shepherd

Psalm 23:1-6

‎The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;He leads me beside the still waters. 3 He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. 4 Yea, 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. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.

The word "shepherd" means many things. It means 'protector'. A shepherd protects the sheep from wild animals, thieves and other dangers.

It means a 'provider', as a shepherd ensures there is enough for the sheep to eat and get satisfied even when there are no rains. It is the responsibility of the shepherd to go looking for green pastures. A shepherd is the ‎one who takes care of the sheep's needs. For example, when the sheep is hurt, sick etc., the shepherd will carry it on the back, and when they deliver newborns in the wilderness the shepherd takes care of them and brings them back home.

David, being a shepherd from childhood, knew still that He was a sheep, and had a Shepherd.  Being a shepherd, he sits back and thinks about himself and his relationship with his Shepherd. He realizes that there is another power that shepherds him as he takes care of his father's flock. And that is when he comes out with a song of testifying who the Lord is in his life. We should also sit and think about God, as a Shepherd, in our lives.

• He says in verse 1, "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want." He remembers how he goes out and comes back with the flock safely. When the lion and the bear come, he doesn't spare them because he knows that there is a Shepherd protecting him.
  
  In 1 Samuel 19:9 an evil spirit entered into Saul and he threw a spear at David, little did he know that David had a Shepherd who did not allow him to die before He prepares for him a table in the presence of his enemies.
  
  Do you sit down and recount all that you have gone through, and say like David that "the Lord is my Shepherd?" We have gone through so many things, but because we have a Shepherd, we have been taken care of, by Him. This is why we are here today.
  
  Though David as a shepherd did not have a sword, he knew he had One who is greater than a lion and bear, and this is how he killed the lion and bear. David did not run to his father when he saw the lion and bear, but turned to and depended to His Shepherd, Who was greater than even his earthly father, and Who delivered him from the lion and bear. ‎This is what we should be doing. When trouble shows up, turn to your Shepherd, who is always with you. Face the problem with the assurance that the Shepherd will not let it overwhelm you, depending on Him to help you overcome. 

• David says: "I shall not want." What does that mean? He may be in physical want of this or that, but that is not his business; the business belongs to the Shepherd. We therefore ought to speak like David and mean it, that the Lord is our Shepherd. Yes, I know that I have not paid rent, and I have school fees to pay too, but that shall not cause me insomnia because I have a Shepherd who takes care of me and will come through for me.
  

• Verse 2 states that the Shepherd makes us lie down in green pastures. This means that He has taken care of our needs; we are satisfied, not hungry, not in worries, at peace, not anxious for anything. Have you ever seen a hungry cow lying in green pastures? No! Not at all! It will always be in a hurry to eat in order to be satisfied. The same applies to those whom the Lord has satisfied; they are always relaxing, even in the green pastures. Even when we hear that there is money being given out for youth, women and other groups, we shall not rush there for the Lord our Shepherd will take care of our needs.

• Verse 2 (b) says that He leads us beside the quiet waters. This means that David did not go alone when he went through the troubled waters, as he was with God. He could not however realize that troubled waters are shallow and for this reason he could not have had time to acknowledge God's presence; but when he got to the point where the water was quiet - meaning a very dangerous zone, a place of life or death, solitude, where people have neglected and left you for yourself, where friends, relatives are scarce and non-responsive - that's the point where one realizes that Jehovah is closer to you as your Shepherd. Still waters run deep. ‎David knew that even when here, God was still with him.

• He restores our souls. He now restores David's soul, He now restores your soul. You know that while going through the quiet and deep waters, your soul was bruised, heavy and injured, but the Lord restored it back and you continue with the journey.

• He guides us in  the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. He now guides to do the right things only. He makes sure that you do not stumble and fall. The Lord will guide you to do the right things so that the glory returns back to Him.

• Verse 4. Even though we walk through the valleys of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil, for You are with us. Because the Lord God is your Shepherd, He has taken care of all your needs and burdens, caused you to sleep in the green pastures and led you besides the quiet waters, where your soul went through challenges, then He restored your soul and guided you into the paths of righteousness. Even now as you go through the valley of the shadow of death, He is still with you. Valleys are different from the quiet waters; interestingly, here you only find the 'shadow of death', not death itself. Shall you soul fear anything? He is there with you and therefore there is no cause for fear, whatsoever.

• Your rod and Your staff comforts us. The rod stands for His Word, and the staff for the Holy Spirit. The word of the Lord will comfort you, it will help you to forgive those who persecuted you, those who spoke evil when you needed them, it will help you forgive and love your enemies. The Holy Spirit will speak to you kindly and nicely until you are comforted. Even through or during the passing through the valley of the shadow of death, it is God's Word that comforts our souls, as it penetrates our heart‎s.

• Lastly, when the Lord God is your Shepherd, He makes sure that He prepares a table in the presence of your enemies. He has blessed you, placed you on a high rank like David, where everybody must witness His own doing. He will not leave you where you are today. He has established you, and will not leave you, but will always bring to manifestation this establishment, blessings and uplifting, in your life, for His glory.
  
  When a table has been prepared before you, fear not for the Shepherd will always be there to ensure that your status is protected. Will you eat in a table in the presence of your enemies, comfortably? David did not fear anything; do not fear anything, as God causes things to happen in your favour, as His blessings in your life manifest. He does it all for His glory, so do not be tempted to boast. He does it for His glory. Fear not of what people would think, when they see God's blessing manifest in your life. Walk confidently and humbly in God's blessings‎.

• He anoints your head with oil and the cup overflows unto others. Goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life and you shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. ‎You will not follow goodness and mercy, but they will follow you. 

Walk in acknowledgement of the Shepherd's presence, which is always with you, and be intimate with Him. God is our Shepherd. 

Blessings.

-- Beverline Andati.

(9/11/14 Sunday Service Morning Exhortation, Teaching Transformation Ministry.)

Sister Beverline is a member of the praise and worship team, at Teaching Transformation Ministry. We are located along the Thika-Ruai Flyover Junction (at the Thika Rd./Bypass Intersection), next to Eastgate Restaurant.