SEEK DEVOTIONAL

I can guarantee that you’ve read Psalm 23 before. It’s so deeply ingrained not only in Christianity and the church, but in culture itself. I think I know the reason why. God is an eternal, holy, uncreated, infinitely good, and all-powerful being. We humans, on the other hand, are finite, feeble, limited, and most of us are grumpy until we’ve had a good cup of coffee in the morning. So how do we relate to the Almighty? The gap between Him and us seems insurmountable!

I think this is why Psalm 23 is so powerful: it describes how we can relate to God. He is the Good Shepherd, and we are the sheep(one of the more simple-minded and defenseless creatures in the animal kingdom). Notice the action words ascribed to the Shepherd compared to those of the sheep:

The Shepherd:
Makes, Leads, Restores, Leads (again), Protects, Comforts, Prepares, Anoints

The Sheep:
Lie down, Walk, Dwell

Our actions, compared to His, are insignificant. There’s nothing impressive about lying down, walking, or dwelling. However, within the context of what God reveals Himself to be doing in this psalm, there is eternal significance in our actions. To lie down in green pastures is to rest in the leadership and provision of our Good Shepherd, to quiet that restless rebellious tendency that resides in our bones to carve our own paths through life and instead receive His peace. To walk through the valley of the shadow of death without fear is impossible without trusting in the protection and presence of the One who overcame death itself. And to dwell in His house is to recognize that being with the Lord is the best place to be. As Moses said in Exodus 33:15, “If your presence will not go with me, do not bring us up from here.”

The beautiful thing is, we were not created to impress God with feats of human accomplishment. Instead, we were created to yield to Him; to trust Him and respond to His leadership and Lordship in our lives.

Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke, who, over the span of his ministry, led more than 75 million people to Christ, once said, “While people of other religions spread the table for their gods, the Christian God does it the other way around by spreading the table for His children.”

In John 10, Jesus pulls back the curtain to reveal the ultimate fulfillment of Psalm 23. He declares that He is the Good Shepherd and that He will lay down His life, of His own accord, for the sheep. In this we see the table of communion spread in the presence of our enemies: sin, the ancient accuser the devil, and death itself. Who would bring a banquet to a battle and still win the day? Only our victorious, conquering King and Good Shepherd. Jesus.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You that Jesus is my Good Shepherd. Today, I want to trust Your leading, your provision, and your protection in my life. In my family, my career, and my calling, I don’t want to live to be impressive, but to follow You and respond to Your voice and guidance. That is the only way that my life will have eternal significance. Thank You that You never leave me, even in the valley, and that You have overcome death itself. I trust in You. In Jesus’ name, amen.