The Shepherd Psalm 23

 

                                                               The Shepherd

                                                                         Psalm 23

 

As the orange sunset cast its parting glow over the brow of the hill, the shepherd counted his flock on the hillside. He cupped his hands and called each sheep by name. They raised their woolly heads and followed him down the hill to greener pastures. To his right, a glistening waterfall cascaded over steely gray rocks into a chain of valley pools. He led them down the hill to a peaceful lake far from the roaring falls.

 

As the sun rose the next morning, the shepherd searched the mountain range for fresh pastures. His eye lit upon a crevice, and he pictured a distant green valley beyond the rugged peaks. Could his flock climb the shadowy, winding trail and pass along the stony path between sheer cliffs? If a sheep lost its footing, death was certain. Yes, he would guide them.

 

After the sheep had drunk their fill, he circled the flock and cajoled a stray with his staff. He lifted a bleating lamb and wrapped her around his shoulders as they began the steep climb to the ravine. The air cooled with every rocky step as shadows danced on the hillside. An ewe stumbled close to the edge of the cliff, and he hooked her by the neck and dragged her to safety. They entered the narrow gap, and the shepherd stood aside to let his flock pass, keeping a keen eye on their progress. All was well, and he relaxed, catching a sliver of blue sky above the distant green of the new pasture. He worked his way through his flock and led them out into the open field.

 

 An echoing roar, the flash of a tawny mane! The lion snatched his precious lamb, scattering the terrified flock in every direction. The shepherd’s heart pounded, but he yelled and faced his menacing foe. It would not destroy his flock, the lambs he’d raised from birth. He seized the lion’s mane, slammed his rod on the lion’s skull, and whacked him down blow by blow. The lion reared up and dropped the lamb. He plunged his rod deep into its neck. The proud beast slumped to the ground, writhing until it heaved its last.  

 

 Blood trickled over the lamb’s soft fleece. The shepherd cradled her in his arms and carried her to a nearby cave, where he opened a vial and applied oil over the wound, settling her to rest on a bed of soft grass. While the little one slept, he gathered his flock and prepared his midday meal.

 

In the distance, he heard a shrill call of an eagle. He scanned the sky, watching it circle overhead. To his relief, it landed on a precipice high above the cave, a haven for its young.

 

The shepherd raised his hands to heaven and prayed. Since the Lord was his shepherd, he thanked God for his abundant love and goodness.

 

                                  “I will live in the Lord’s house forever. Praise the Lord.”

 

 As a young child, my auntie showed me how to memorize the opening line of this famous psalm. She held out her hand and pointed to each finger.

 

“The Lord is MY shepherd.” When she arrived at her fourth digit, she clasped it firmly, giving it a gentle shake.

“See? Remember the Lord is MY shepherd. He belongs to you, and you belong to him.”

This moment is vivid after sixty years. When I was seven, my religious instruction teacher encouraged the entire class to memorize Psalm 23, and in a few days, I could quote it verbatim. My heritage is Scottish, and my family used to sing the famous  Crimond melody with the descant to the Psalter. We sang it again at my mother’s funeral, knowing it was among her favorite hymns.

 

Why is this Psalm so famous? Jesus called himself the Good Shepherd, and he cares for his flock. He suffered beyond risking his life to the point of death. Just as the lion scattered the sheep, so his disciples fled in the face of danger, but he gathered them again after his resurrection, apart from Judas. If we read Psalm 23 with Jesus in mind, we’ll sense his leading beside ‘still waters,’ and his restoration of our souls. We all seek peace and security. Psalm 23 provides comfort amid our most heartfelt yearnings and directs our thoughts to heaven, the home of perfect love and peace.

 
 “Surely goodness and mercy will always follow me, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

 

Will you and I meet in the Good Shepherd’s home? Have you accepted his gift of eternal life? If you sense he is searching for you, will you answer him? Trust in the Good Shepherd before it’s too late. He won't let you down, and you'll always be glad you listened to him.