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Day 178

Psalm 23:1 "The LORD is my shepherd"

Day 178 – Psalm 23

“The LORD is my shepherd” Psalm 23:1

SUPERSCRIPTION

This psalm has a simple and straightforward title that identifies David as the author.

THE SHEPHERD’S PSALM

David knew much about shepherding from his own personal experience as a shepherd. He tended his father’s flock at a young age (1 Samuel 16:11). But his description of the Lord as his Shepherd would have gone way beyond his personal experience of being a shepherd. Thus from both sets of experience David found appropriate words to write what is known as “The Shepherd’s Psalm”.

“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.”
Psalm 23:1-2

1. A Happy Declaration

a) Of personal faith
b) Of personal experience with the LORD as a wonderful Shepherd
c) No one could ask for more! (“I shall not want… for anything”)

2. A Grateful Meditation on God as Shepherd

a) A highly knowledgeable shepherd
i) He knows His sheep.
ii) He knows when and how to make the restless sheep lie down in green pastures.
b) A highly experienced shepherd
i) He knows the terrain well for He knows where to find green pastures.
ii) He knows what is best for His sheep.

3. Drawing from personal experience

As he reflected on the Lord’s hand in his life, he could not but write tenderly about the gentle and faithful care he had received all his life!