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Reflections: Daily Devotions in Disability Ministry

The Lord is My Shepherd

July 29, 2010

Psalm 23:1-3a
The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. (NIV)

This psalm is very comforting to all believers in Christ. Even though it’s in the Old Testament part of the Bible, it speaks of Jesus, the Messiah. Jesus Himself said that He is the Good Shepherd. King David, who wrote this psalm, compares himself to a sheep. A sheep needs his shepherd to do everything for him. David had tended sheep, so he knew this very well. David knew how to take care of the sheep in his flock, and he compared that to God doing the same for him.

Just imagine the picture these words portray. The sheep are resting in a green pasture. They have plenty to eat and a nice place to rest. The shepherd also makes sure that the sheep have plenty of water to drink. Sheep will only drink from water that is not moving. They would not like a little brook where the water is rushing by. The shepherd makes sure that the waters are quiet and still for the sheep to drink.

The last words of the verse talk about the shepherd restoring the sheep’s soul. Now David is talking about the spiritual part of himself. He means that God is the One who restores the relationship between man and God. The spiritual food and water that David needed, and the forgiveness of sins that he also needed, comes from God alone.

This psalm is comforting because we can think of ourselves as the sheep and Jesus as the Shepherd. Jesus takes care of our physical needs every day. We may not have a lot of “things,” but we have what we need. Jesus is the Savior who restores our relationship with God the Father. His death on the cross and His rising from the dead defeat the sin and bring us to the Father. We go to church for the Lord’s Supper, and we receive spiritual refreshment.

Whenever we are stressed and things are going wrong in our lives, these words from King David can comfort us. We do not have to feel anxious, because our God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – is taking care of us.

Dear Jesus, Shepherd of all of us, grant us Your peace when times are difficult. Help us to rest in the green pastures of the blessings You give us. Bless us with Your Holy Supper, that we may be spiritually refreshed. Amen

Lois Diebel, Ministry Consultant – FL & GA
http://bethesdalutherancommunities.org/resources/spiritualResources/pmc.asp

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