Today’s devotion is based on the Message: Trust Revealed (Watch Here)
My car.
My house.
My spouse.
My child.
Versus
A car
A house
A spouse
A child.
One is personal. One is impersonal.
One you have connection with. One you don’t.
What makes Psalm 23 so endearing to so many is how it starts:
Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd,…
The LORD is not just a generic shepherd to someone…he is MY shepherd.
The LORD is not just a general person, but my SHEPHERD!
But then think of this.
Of all the things or persons in the universe to be a shepherd of you, who would you want?
The LORD? Might be a long shot in a normal reality.
We don’t deserve the Lord to be our shepherd.
We haven’t earned the right for the Lord to be our shepherd.
But he is.
These opening verses are a clear expression of the grace of God that took black, wandering, lost sheep into his fold and claimed them as his own. The LORD wanted US to be his sheep. So HE called us by name and compelled us to follow him.
He is now my shepherd.
But what does that mean?
David writes, “I shall not be in want.” Or in the Evangelical Heritage Version, “I lack nothing.”
The psalm could end here giving the reader great personal comfort.
The Lord as my shepherd is really all I need. Everything else is icing on the cake.
One could say, “I lack a good relationship.” The Lord is the one who loves you most.
One could say, “I lack financial means.” The Lord is the one who owns the universe.
One could say, “I lack strength or ability.” The Lord is the all powerful.
The list could go on.
While not a promise that everything will be, in my opinion, always great, we know with peace in our hearts that we have what is most needed and most important.
The LORD is MY shepherd!
Apply: What does it mean to you that the Lord is YOUR shepherd.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for including me in your flock so that I can in a very personal and real way call you MY shepherd! AMEN.