“Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” Psalm 23:4
The great value of the twenty-third psalm is found in the matter of accessability to God. Here we have in a very short space and time all that is needed to come to God, our Maker, Redeemer in Christ, our King, and specifically our Shepherd. The great theme of the Psalm, though it deals with a variety of subjects, is primarily that of communion with God, with Christ. This is the great objective, to know, love, and serve God, all in the context and reality of a true and profound fellowship with Him. How does God through David bring us to this most blessed of experiences? He begins with what a sheep is with regard to a Shepherd.
In the gospel of John, the Lord Jesus reveals to us something of Himself in speaking of the shepherd. He says that He is actually the Shepherd of the sheep, that He speaks to the sheep, calls them by name, and leads them forth. These are wonderful acts of the Great Shepherd, possessing all power and authority to do this. However, all that He does is enveloped by the fact that He is the GOOD Shepherd. There is no blemish in Him, no fault, no sin or selfishness. He is all that John declares Him to be when he writes: “God is love.” This means that there is nothing, no thought nor manner of dealing with His sheep that is not that of love, perfect love and wisdom. He does not make mistakes. He is the Shepherd who alone possesses immortality, all power and authority, and thus, He is sovereign in dealing with His sheep. He alone is able and willing to BE the perfect, gracious and loving Shepherd that He declares and reveals Himself to be. From the compassion of seeking the one lost sheep on the mountains, though the ninety and nine are safe in the fold, to providing for every need, primarily those which are spiritual and eternal, Christ deals with His sheep in His perfect righteousness and trustworthiness. It is for this reason, the fact of WHO He is in His goodness, that He calls upon His sheep to follow Him implicitely.
As to the sheep, what greater example of helplessness, weakness, and need. Were it not that the Great Shepherd has set His love on the sheep, and given to the sheep a worth that merits the suffering and death on a cross, how could we begin to understand just how how deep the Shepherd desires to take his sheep in fellowship with Him. The very simple key for the sheep to know the Shepherd is to obediently trust Him, and this by first deferring to all other voices, or “shepherds,” in order to have ears for Christ alone. It was the Lord Jesus who said, “…the sheep hear His voice, and He calleth HIs own sheep by name, and leadeth them out.” (Ps. 23:3) Psalm 23 is the call of the Shepherd to the sheep, whether those who have been found, or those still lost, not of this fold. It is a call to know Christ, and this by first hearing His voice, then following according to the truth of His words.
But what of knowing Him? How can a sheep, so below the Shepherd in capacity and need, respond to the Shepherd’s voice, first in hearing it, and then, with the strength and resolve, to follow Him whereever He goes? It all begins with the word “My,” that revelation that he belongs to Christ. The Great Shepherd is perpetually the same, ever present, never diminishing or changing. In the discovery of belonging to Christ, and Christ belonging to him, the basis is laid for the sheep to know the Shepherd. In the trusting surrender of his existance to Christ, to save, guide, keep, provide for, and securely and effectively protect from evil, even through the “valley of the shadow of death,” the sheep now rests upon the Faithful One.
Dear Father, Commune with us today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.