Israel’s King David knew good times and bad. David really knew what it was like to live as royalty in the palace enjoying all the trapping of wealth and riches and the temptations that go along with it. In fact, as the Scripture records, he succumbed to some of those temptations.

David also knew what it is like to be running for his life, hiding in caves, living with hunger, and being betrayed by your own king and even worse by your own son. David knew what it was like to struggle spiritually as he waited for deliverance from his enemies, and from his own sin and its consequences.

As we come to Psalm 23 we find it speaks from David’s experience of life with his LORD and also to his future. It speaks the same way to us in the present day, even though David penned it around 3,000 years ago.

Psalm 23 is not a funeral psalm looking backward but is a declaration of our LORD’s comfort and care for us now, with an eye toward our ultimate destiny with him in glory. It is also a prayer, that many Old and New Testament believers alike have cherished and memorized through the centuries.

We will look briefly today at Psalm 23 focusing on two key truths from which the rest of Psalm 23 flows. Truths that provide comfort, strength, and guidance for us in times of need.

The LORD Is My Shepherd

The Psalm begins with this simple and powerful truth, “The LORD is my shepherd.” David, being himself a shepherd for years, knew the ever-watchful care and alert oversight that this comparison brings to our understanding of the care and comfort God has for us as his children.

Like the shepherd who keeps the wolves at bay even before the sheep see them coming, do we give any thought to the temptations and trials we aren’t even aware of that our God protects us from? Do we comprehend and thank God regularly for his care and comfort for us?

Also, in identifying the LORD as shepherd we also see how far God will lower himself, yes humble himself, or condescend in order to care for his children. Our God is not depicted here as a wealthy businessman or mighty king, but as a humble shepherd who stoops down low to show his tender love for the sheep.

Another implication of this statement is David shows us how he sees himself before God. David sees himself as a poor sheep in need of protection! Do we see ourselves as a sheep? David understands how miserable his life; how vulnerable he would be without his shepherd’s protection.

We ought to keep in mind that no matter how desperate our situation is, or how wonderfully rich and blessed our life is, if we do not humble ourselves and put ourselves under the protection of our divine shepherd we are truly lost and adrift spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. We cannot be truly happy unless we are resting in the LORD’s flock.

Remember as well that this side of the cross we know who this shepherd really is. Jesus said in John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” So we know from our New Testament perspective that Jesus is my shepherd.

Jesus Christ is where care, comfort, and protection is found and nowhere else for us as Christians. Yet we as modern people often are deceived into thinking it is found someplace else or in someone else.

You Are With Me

Right smack in the middle of Psalm 23 is the statement “you are with me”. And notice the immediate context this statement follows, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil - for you are with me.”  

As believers, even though we have the care, comfort, and protection of our shepherd, we will be exposed to many troubles in this life that are common to all mankind. The Puritans of old called them “dark providences”.  Psalm 23 does not promise us continual pleasure in this life, but when trials come, David, just like us, can fortify ourselves to endure calamity and hardship by turning to the LORD for he is with us.

How long will our Good Shepherd be with David and with us? The last line of Psalm 23 answers, “I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” The last line shows us David’s thoughts are not just focused on earthly concerns, but also eternal ones. The direction our lives are headed, through all the trials, tribulations, and blessings is a heavenly destination.

As Jesus, our Lord promised his disciples, so his promise is for us, “I am with you always” (Matthew 28:20). So our Good Shepherd, Jesus has us by the hand and will not let us go in this life or the life to come. There is great comfort in that during good times and bad.