The Lord Is My Shepherd

This book reflects on the author’s personal relationship with the Lord God in term of God being her Shepherd.

Let us takes a panoramic view of Psalm 23. First, it is a Psalm of trust. When we look at these six little verses, we see a single theme which is one of complete trust. From the very first verse, David, expresses no fear or concerns for his life because he has completely entrusted his life to this Lord God as his Shepherd.

This Psalm presents David in two perspectives. One is that it gives a vivid illustration of David as the sheep and the Lord as the shepherd; the shepherd who cares for his sheep, who is David, and all who trust completely in the Lord for all of his needs. When we think of who the Lord is, then how can we not trust Him completely? He is the creator of everything that was created?

When we look at the word, Lord or God, this conveys more than just a designation of the Supreme Being or Sovereign of the universe. Nathan Stone (1994) Names of God states that “The name God or Lord tells a little about His character and His ways.” However, it does not say all of the mysteries of the word God means to us until we get to know more about Him (God). I am in total agreement with Mr. Stone.

In our King James Bibles, we find the Hebrew word “Jehovah” which is the translation of “LORD” in all capitals to distinguish it from another Hebrew word Adonai which is also translated to mean Lord.

I took this long dissertation to explain why the Lord is my Shepherd, and King David’s, as we should realize the Sovereignty of God.

I will show how King David was portrayed as the earthly good shepherd shepherding the flock of Israel. This Psalm is looked upon as a Royal Psalm.

This Psalm prophetically speaks of Jesus Christ because He is the Good Shepherd as spoken of in Hebrews 13:20b, who brought us from the dead through His blood of the everlasting covenant. Revelation 17:14 states that “Jesus is Lord of Lord, King of Kings, and they that are with Him are called and chosen and faithful.”

Finally, this Psalm conveys two themes or movement, which are (1) a description of the Lord as Shepherd caring for His sheep. The psalmist needs and those of mankind’s are met who trust in the Lord as their Shepherd. (2) The other theme shows the Lord as Shepherd extending His grace and mercy to all.

When we define grace, we see it as God’s unmerited gift, which means giving us something that we do not deserve and His mercy as His love for all of mankind.

In my humble opinion, anyone would be foolish not to trust a God like our Lord.