Keeper of the Flock

Read Psalms 21:1–24:10

1. The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.
2. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.
3. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.
4. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
5. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.
6. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:1-6

Ask children about their favorite pets and you’re likely to get a short list: dogs, cats, hamsters, fish, gerbils, and rabbits.

The parallels between our relationship to God and that of a child to his or her pet hold many lessons for us. Psalm 23, while not about pets in particular, portrays our relationship with God as that of sheep to their shepherd. Although being compared to sheep isn’t necessarily flattering, God’s love for us becomes more concrete and real as we see how he cares for us.

The other psalms in this reading contain prayers about experiencing victory in battle (Psalm 21); finding joy in suffering (Psalm 22); and being a good owner (Psalm 24).

In portraying the Lord as a shepherd (Psalm 23:1), David wrote from his own experience because he had spent his early years caring for sheep (see 1 Samuel 16:10-11). Sheep depend completely on their shepherd—good shepherds make sure that their sheep get plenty of green pasture as well as shelter from the elements and wild animals. When David wrote, “The Lord is my shepherd,” he showed us that God, like a shepherd, cares and provides for us much the way that human shepherds care and provide for their sheep.

In the New Testament, Jesus is called the good shepherd (see John 10:11); the great Shepherd (see Hebrews 13:20); and the head Shepherd (see 1 Peter 5:4). What a great truth that God cares for us like this!

Whenever you doubt God’s love and care for you, reread Psalm 23 and remember how God, your Shepherd, cares for you.