Psalm 23
Today’s Passage: Psalm 23
This chapter is probably the best known passage in all of the Old Testament. James Montgomery Boice said of this psalm, “Millions of people have memorized this psalm, even those who have learned few other Scripture portions. Ministers have used it to comfort people who are going through severe personal trials, suffering illness, or dying. For some, the words of this psalm have been the last they have ever uttered in life.”
In this passage, David is sharing about the Lord’s faithfulness as a Shepherd throughout his eventful life. It is believed that David was ruling Israel as king when he wrote this, but remembered his time as a shepherd when he was young. Being a shepherd was not a glamorous job, and it was generally given to the youngest son, as was the case with David. It was dirty, lonely, unpleasant, and costly, yet very necessary for the livelihood of the family.
To take care of sheep meant guiding them to safe spaces, overseeing and being alert to danger, ministering to the sheep who were hurt or delivering lambs, and many other tasks that required attention to each individual in the flock. Is it not a comfort to know that God is this to us? Jesus even calls Himself the Good Shepherd in John 10:14-15, “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.”
Hebrews 13:20 calls Jesus the great shepherd of the sheep, and 1 Peter 2:24-25 states, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
What a comfort it is to know that God is the Shepherd of our souls. He guides, cares for, protects, provides, and has given us this psalm in Scripture to remind us of those truths. I would encourage you today to pray this out loud and reflect on what it means to be in His flock!
Written By: Kaitlin White
This chapter is probably the best known passage in all of the Old Testament. James Montgomery Boice said of this psalm, “Millions of people have memorized this psalm, even those who have learned few other Scripture portions. Ministers have used it to comfort people who are going through severe personal trials, suffering illness, or dying. For some, the words of this psalm have been the last they have ever uttered in life.”
In this passage, David is sharing about the Lord’s faithfulness as a Shepherd throughout his eventful life. It is believed that David was ruling Israel as king when he wrote this, but remembered his time as a shepherd when he was young. Being a shepherd was not a glamorous job, and it was generally given to the youngest son, as was the case with David. It was dirty, lonely, unpleasant, and costly, yet very necessary for the livelihood of the family.
To take care of sheep meant guiding them to safe spaces, overseeing and being alert to danger, ministering to the sheep who were hurt or delivering lambs, and many other tasks that required attention to each individual in the flock. Is it not a comfort to know that God is this to us? Jesus even calls Himself the Good Shepherd in John 10:14-15, “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.”
Hebrews 13:20 calls Jesus the great shepherd of the sheep, and 1 Peter 2:24-25 states, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.”
What a comfort it is to know that God is the Shepherd of our souls. He guides, cares for, protects, provides, and has given us this psalm in Scripture to remind us of those truths. I would encourage you today to pray this out loud and reflect on what it means to be in His flock!
Written By: Kaitlin White
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Jesus, you bore my sins in your body on the tree, that I might die to sin and live to righteousness. By your wounds I am healed. For I stray like sheep, but I have now returned to the you, Shepherd and Overseer of my soul. Amen
For me, there is something peaceful and calming about Psalm 23. This has always been a good scripture to recite when things gets stressful.