The Shepherd’s Care

Psalm 23:1–3, “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake.”

Few passages of Scripture are more familiar than Psalm 23. We hear it at funerals, read it during difficult seasons, and often turn to it when we need comfort. But before David ever speaks about the valley in verse 4, he reminds us who is leading him.

“The LORD is my shepherd.”

David understood shepherding. A sheep depends upon its shepherd for direction, protection, food, and rest. The sheep does not have to know where every pasture is or where the next source of water will be. It simply has to follow the shepherd.

That is the picture David gives us of our relationship with the LORD.

He provides.
He leads.
He restores.

Sometimes we want God to show us the entire road ahead. We want to know what will happen tomorrow, next month, or next year. But the Shepherd does not promise the sheep a map. He promises His presence and His leadership.

And notice where He leads: “in the paths of righteousness.” The Good Shepherd will never lead us somewhere contrary to His Word. His way is always right, even when we do not understand where He is taking us.

We may not know what lies around the next bend, but we know the Shepherd.
And that is enough.

Act Today: Ask yourself where you have been trying to lead instead of follow. Give that area to the LORD today and trust your Shepherd to guide you one step at a time.