Pastor's Corner: A Psalm for Us Sheep

By Paul Hathcoat

Psalm 23 is such an inspirational chapter of the Bible. Traditionally it serves pastors well when performing a funeral or offering respite when someone is struggling. What I have found though, is that Psalm 23 can breathe life into every difficult day and can deliver a refreshed spirit to those who have little to no margin to recover in their lives. If that sounds like you out there, then come with me as we take a look at Psalm 23 from a pastor’s perspective.

Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. 2 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. 3 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. 4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley,[a] I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. 5 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. 6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.” NLT

“The Lord is my Shepherd; I have all that I need.” God is good to us. He provides what we need to know Him and to know His son. Anything else can be considered secondary in life.

“He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.” We do not have to be afraid. The Lord will battle for us and will go ahead of us to make our struggles mean something and make our time account for His good.

“He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.” God calls each of us to a journey through life. The good news is, He walks with us and holds us up when things are too heavy and shows us which next step to take.

“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.” His protection cannot keep our loved ones and ourselves safe from everything in this world. But He can show us how to be brave and trust in Him. He does bring comfort into our current lives by preparing a plan for our next one in heaven. We need only join Him in that plan by refocusing daily on His will.

“You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.” Nothing on earth can truly prosper over us. Can we humble ourselves and get rid of earthly desires so that God can be the blessing that we look to alone?

“Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.” Knowing our Lord, means looking forward to being with Him. It means trusting that He has a room waiting for each of us, and our loved ones, in His house.

Many of you readers out there are struggling in one way or another through life. I have no shortage of things to lament about and worry over myself. But can we take our focus off our earthly circumstances long enough to get a clear picture of what God is trying to tell us here in Psalm 23? We are the sheep, and God is the loving shepherd. He will lead us onto the right path. Helping us to find water and food, keeping us safe from the dangers we cannot even see ourselves. Without trusting and following Him, we will starve to death spiritually as we elect to stay behind and roam in an empty pasture that has already been picked over. Without our shepherd, we are as helpless as sheep. Give in today and decide to follow our shepherd. God bless you all!

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