"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." (Psalms 23:1-6)

          Psalm 23 is the best know Scripture in the Old Testament. Many feel that this is the most beautiful of David's psalms. Likely, in our part of the world, this passage has been read at funerals more than any other Bible text. David had prayed for God's protection and help and now he says, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want." It is interesting that this great psalm of peace and praise follows the great Messianic twenty-second psalm where there are so many prophecies of the crucifixion. The order is first the cross and then the peace. The still waters and green pastures are on the cross side of the twenty-second psalm. We first read, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" Then we read, "The Lord is my Shepherd." The Lord is our great and good Shepherd.

          "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want" -- Psalm 23:1: These beautiful words picture the acceptance and confidence that we must have in the Savior. If the Lord is to be our Shepherd we must be willing to lovingly follow and obey His voice. Our Shepherd is available and that Shepherd is the Lord Himself. Jesus has the tenderness, love and concern of the most faithful Shepherd. With Jesus as our Shepherd there is no need for fear and there will be no want.

          "He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters" -- Psalm 23:2: God feeds and nurtures His children with eternal food or green pastures. God provides for and satisfies our soul. This same peaceful picture is given in John 10:9. "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture." (John 10:9) The Lord offers peace to troubled souls. "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." (Revelation 22:17)

          "He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake" -- Psalm 23:3: The good Shepherd rescues souls that had been torn by sin and restores them to a relationship with God. He brings them from error, sin and rebellion back to the path of truth and righteousness. "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all." (Isaiah 53:6) Salvation is in the precious name of Jesus, by the precious name of Jesus and for the precious name of Jesus.

          "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" -- Psalms 23:4: The Shepherd has to power to preserve us from the last enemy, death. "The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." (1 Corinthians 15:26) This verse is appreciated more if we can view the Christian on earth, followed by the valley of death and then the Christian in heaven. It is necessary to pass through that valley to reach heaven but as we die we do not have to fear any evil. God brought Jesus from the dead and He will bring us from the dead. "Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant" (Hebrews 13:20)

          "Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over" -- Psalms 23:5: God's loving kindness is seen as He provides for and protects His children through their earthly journey. We are just strangers and pilgrims as we live on earth and therefore we need God! Surrounded by enemies God's people are feasting at His banquet table. The cup of joy runs over for those who are saved. My Shepherd has both the bounty to feed me and the power to protect me. Grace, glory and all other good things come from the hand of God.

          "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" -- Psalms 23:6: David had experienced God's "goodness and mercy." He had confidence that this loving kindness would continue through the troubles of this life and into the glories of eternity. Paul wrote, "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31) The Lord, our Shepherd, will provide for us on earth and then take us to heaven where we can be with Him in eternity. David had confidence in God's grace and he was thankful for the hope he had in Him.