The Good Shepherd

The twenty-third psalm is an ancient poem beloved by Jews and Christians alike. Critics of the psalm praise it as a literary masterpiece that should be deemed as a classic in its own right. Surprisingly, though, the psalm's popularity is found primarily among us common folk. Who for the most part do not read poetry nor understand the nuances of its verses.

According to Haddon W. Robinson, former interim President at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, “The twenty third psalm is not a simple poem, nor is it easy to understand. Its imagery conceals and well as reveals, not every commentator interprets its the same way.”[1]

For some, the psalm is about a shepherd and his sheep. While others insist that it is a depiction of a host with his dinner guests. Even more so, others claim that there are three images being described in the poem: "a shepherd with his sheep, a guide and a traveler, and a host entertaining his guest."[2]

For those of us living in the 21st century, the shepherd's psalm can be difficult for us to relate to, considering that 56% of the world's population reside in cities.[3] The images of humans and animals roaming in sweeping landscapes can feel alien to us. For example, the opening verse "the Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want," is portraying God as a "weather driven shepherd."[4] If we were to modernize verse one it would read "the Lord is my mechanic and keeps me in repair."[5] However, such a translation would be ridiculous. To fully recognize the meaning of the poem's metaphors, it requires saying goodbye to our air-conditioned spaces and pitching our tents under Israel's scorching sun.

In America, we like to envision Psalm 23 as a lush green meadow with a sparkling brook running through it. When in reality, the poem depicts a harsh wasteland with only sparse vegetation for the sheep to graze on.

In my devotion, I will focus on verse three, "He restores my soul."

So unlike cats and dogs, who can find their way back home if they get lost. Sheep have no sense of direction.[6] It is common for sheep to be led astray by following the patches of wild grasses scattered among the rocky terrain. By nightfall, the sheep are vulnerable to injury, or worse, ravaged by hungry predators. The good news is that every evening the shepherd will count his flock and call each one by name. If one should be missing, he will leave the rest of the sheep in a hold and retrace his steps. The shepherd will call out to his sheep in the hopes that he will hear its bleating.[7] He knows his sheep is scared and is worried that it could die. Once the shepherd finds his sheep, he will have to carry it because when sheep are scared they go into shock.

In reading the psalm's backstory, does it remind you of when you were lost? There are many characters in the bible, who are similar to this sheep, for example, Jacob. He was the youngest son of Isaac. He was an intelligent and ambitious man, so much so that he convinced Esau to sell his birthright for a bowl of stew. Jacob later deceived his father and took Esau's blessing. As the story unfolds, Jacob flees for his life because Esau is going to kill him. Jacob finds refuge in the home of his Uncle Laban but is later outsmarted by his father-in-law. Jacob once again flees for his life only to receive news that Esau is coming with 400 men to kill him and his family.

In Jacob's most desperate hour, he wrestles all night with God and prevails. God blesses Jacob with a new name and a dislocated hip. Jacob carries the pain of this dislocation for the rest of his life. Jacob has been humbled.

Just as God humbled Jacob, the shepherds of Israel would humble their sheep as well.

If a shepherd had a sheep that kept wandering away at night. The shepherd would break its leg and bind it with a splint to help heal it. The sheep, at this point, would be utterly helpless.

To the limping animal, the smallest stream would appear like a gigantic river. The tinniest hill a mountain. The sheep was completely dependent on the shepherd to carry it across the harsh terrain. In this time of discipline, the shepherd would carry the "sheep close to his heart"[8] and lay it down by his side. After its leg had healed, the sheep would have learned to stay close to its shepherd.

Some of you may be thinking how cruel of the shepherd to break the leg of a poor defenseless animal. So while the act may appear to be inhumane, it was the sign of the shepherd's love. The shepherd loved his sheep so much that he couldn't bear the thought of it being in danger and dying a gruesome death. The shepherd broke its leg not to hurt it but to protect it.

King David experienced first-hand the Great Shepherd's chastening. When David was firmly established in his kingdom, he slept with another man's wife and in their sin, a child was conceived. David, like all of us, hurried to cover his sin and murdered Bathsheba's husband, Uriah. Who by the way was one of David's mighty men (2 Samuel 23:39). Which makes David's murder even more personal.

After the time of mourning for Bathsheba's husband had ended, King David took Bathsheba as his wife and closed the matter. But what was done in secret God brought to light and sent Nathan the prophet to confront David.[9] Upon Nathan's rebuking of the King's sin, David repented. In Psalm 51:8 David says "Let the bones that you have broken rejoice."

How many of you have experienced God breaking your life because of your sin? In your brokenness, did you rejoice that God broke you so that you would be saved?

In God breaking David, he in a sense, "walked with a limp for the rest of his life."[10] The child conceived in adultery died. His sons rebelled against him and one almost succeeded in killing him. His family was ruined because of his one-night stand. God had forgiven him but that didn't wipe away the consequences of his sin.

God, the Good Shepherd, is merciful in that he often withholds the full punishment for our sins and treats us better than we properly deserve. God disciplines us for restoration, not destruction. Hebrews 12:5-6 says, "Do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him. For whom the Lord loves, He chastens."[11]

Jacob and David experienced God's chastening, and if you are one of God's sheep, you too will experience this. This is the mark of the Great Shepherd and His Great love for you.

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Footnotes:

[1] Haddon W. Robinson, Trusting the Shepherd: Insights from Psalm 23 (Grand Rapids: Discovery House Publishers, 1968), 10.

[2] Robinson, Trusting the Shepherd, 10.

[3] Statistics Times, "World Urban Population," last modified September 27, 2021, https://statisticstimes.com/demographics/world-urban-population.php.

[4] Robinson, Trusting the Shepherd, 11.

[5] Robinson, Trusting the Shepherd, 11.

[6] Robinson, Trusting the Shepherd, 52.

[7] Robinson, Trusting the Shepherd, 52.

[8] Robinson, Trusting the Shepherd, 53.

[9] Robinson, Trusting the Shepherd, 54.

[10] Robinson, Trusting the Shepherd, 55.

[11] Robinson, Trusting the Shepherd, 55.

Sources:

Robinson, Haddon W. Trusting the Shepherd: Insights from Psalm 23. Grand Rapids: Discovery House Publishers, 1968.

Statistics Times. "World Urban Population." Last modified September 27, 2021. https://statisticstimes.com/demographics/world-urban-population.php.

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Bao Vang is a wife and mom of two amazing daughters. When Bao's not serving her local church, she likes to write and spend time with her family. Bao received her MA in Theological Studies from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and she is currently working on a PhD in Bible Exposition at John W. Rawlings School of Divinity at Liberty University. Bao is also a member of the Evangelical Theological Society and the Society of Biblical Literature.