The Comfort Of Our Shepherd In The Darkest Of Trials (Psalm 23)
Psalm 23 is one of those passages of Scripture that is so very loved by God’s people. It is precious to them. And I believe that this happens to particular passages of Scripture for good reason. God has used these texts over and over to bring incredible comfort to God’s people.
One of my favorite critical commentaries, Keil and Delitzch, made a pretty strong argument for the context of this being when David was run out of town by Absalom. And the reason they get here is that other psalms from that time period have echoes to this one. Psalm 27 and Psalm 63 seem to have a few similarities with Psalm 23. Is it enough to say definitively that this happened while on the run from Absalom? I’m not so sure. But it does make me stop and think that this was likely written in that very difficult and painful period of David’s life.
This beautiful and comforting psalm was likely written after David’s son had plotted an insurrection and had David on the run in the wilderness. David was there in fear for his life.
These words of deep comfort came out of deep pain and fear. And ever since that time believers have turned to this psalm when they are in periods of deep pain and fear.
The Lord Is My Shepherd And Cares For Me (Psalm 23:1-3)
We sing this song as a family. And this beginning phrase runs through my mind and it just brings happiness and joy to my thoughts. I picture my kids singing this song with Amanda and myself and it is just good. But that is not likely the setting for the writing of this psalm.
While David was on the run in the wilderness and in mortal danger he calls to mind this truth. The Lord is his shepherd and takes care of him. He fears for his life in that moment and he recalls, the Lord is my shepherd. And while in danger he recalls the wonderous benefits of having the Lord as his shepherd.
He remembers that the Lord provides for him. He will not lack anything that he needs. Now, David is on the run, in danger, and definitely not living within the comforts of the palace right now. But David remembers that the Lord is his shepherd and will provide for him.
This is difficult. If you are in a situation that seems desperate, then it is difficult to remember that the Lord provides. And I image that was the case for David in this moment, but this is wonderful instruction for us. In those deep and dark times we must remember that the Lord is our shepherd and that He cares for us.
The provision here is given in a very beautiful and peaceful picture. David is wandering the wilderness and it is amazing that he thinks of His Lord’s provision in that moment as giving him restoration, safety, and guidance.
When a shepherd moves his flock to lie down in green pastures there is provision and safety there. This is a place where the sheep are enabled to feed. There they find their provision. There they find their needs met.
And the image is furthered by the quiet waters. It is in the quiet waters of the stream that the sheep is able to drink. Sheep would not be able to drink well in the troubled waters. I’m sure that David felt as if he were dwelling in troubled waters as he was far from home, but he remembers the provision of his shepherd and realizes that the Lord provides for him and gives him restoration.
When parched there is only one thing that seems to restore and that is water. If you’ve ever been really hot and tired, then you know what I am talking about. I was younger when I played football, but I remember two-a-day practices that weren’t really two-a-days. We basically got an hour break for lunch. It was August in Arkansas with plenty of running, bear crawls, pushing the sled, tackling drills, and running plays. And, of course, we ended with more running and bear crawls. I remember feeling as if I was going to just fall over and we would get a break for water. It was a water hose connected to some metal pipes, but even that felt like it restored me and made me able to go back and do more of it. I’ve felt similarly working outside, or on the roof of a house in a hot day. And water brings that restoration.
Here, the Lord gives restoration to David’s soul. And in the middle of difficult days it is necessary for us to find restoration in the Lord. Sorrow filled nights and fears that seem to surround us cause us to be depleted. And in that time, we must remember that the Lord gives us our restoration. He is our shepherd, and He gives to us restoration.
And all the while, within this picture, we see the guidance of the shepherd. He is the one who has guided the sheep to safety and security, to provision and restoration. And now the Lord guides His people to the paths of righteousness for His glory.
Through all the struggles and hardships David understands that the Lord is guiding him to walk in paths of righteousness for God’s glory. That is another thing that is not very easily seen while in the middle of struggles and hardships. It is not easy to see how this thing happening to us is helping us to walk in righteousness. It’s not always easy to see how these many difficulties are conforming us to the image of Christ. But as Christians, we have faith in Christ.
Jesus said of Himself,
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11 ESV)
Jesus is Himself “the Good Shepherd”. And He has provided abundantly for us. He provided for us restoration through the salvation He accomplished on our behalf through His perfect life, death, and resurrection. He has restored to us fellowship with God and provided for us, eternal life. And He guides us in this life, through His Word, the Holy Spirit, the Church, and His ministers.
The Lord is my Shepherd is so beautiful to us. And it should be. We can undergo serious and massive hardships. But the Lord provides for us, restores us, gives us safety, and guides us.
We don’t rest in what we can do. We don’t rest in the next thing we can do to make things better. We rest in the comfort of the Good Shepherd.
It is in the care of the Good Shepherd that we now live. And we can trust that He will see us through even the deepest and darkest of nights in the wilderness. Christ has provided for us eternal life. So, even if I were to lose my life, He will have brought me safely to be at home with Him.
The Lord Is My Shepherd And Comforts Me In The Most Difficult Days (Psalm 23:4)
This verse is incredible.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4 ESV)
Where is David when he writes these words? He is in fear for his life for very good reason. And even though he is there, with death a very strong likelihood, he will fear no evil. But why?
Why is it that David can walk through this with no fear?
He knows that God is with Him.
Facing persecution, Paul would say this to those reading his letter to the Romans.
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died–more than that, who was raised–who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:31-39 ESV)
God was with David, so he could walk through this severe trial unshaken.
God is with us, His people, therefore we can walk through the most severe trials knowing that God is with us through the finished work of Christ.
David now returns to the shepherd imagery. The rod and staff of the Lord give him comfort. The rod was a short bat for warding off enemies. It’s for protection. The staff was the crooked staff you often see in pictures. And it could be used for protection, but was oftentimes used for guidance.
Christ is with us and has brought us to the Lord. In the darkest of times God is with us. Even when death is knocking at our door, the Lord is with us.
In the most difficult of circumstances, I can rest in the Savior who protects and guides my way. I can rest in the Savior who brought me to Himself and gave me eternal life. Sometimes that doesn’t make sense. I can imagine, because of the intelligence of sheep that the way doesn’t often make sense to them, but the shepherd takes care of them.
God is far wiser than I and He loves and cares for me. Therefore, I entrust myself to His care even when life does not make sense. And oftentimes it will not.
The Lord Is My Shepherd And Cares For Me In The Deepest Of Pain (Psalm 23:5-6)
Even in the deepest pain and darkest times God provides tremendously. Here David is on the run from his insurrectionist son and is having a banquet in the wilderness. As the grim prospect of death lingers over him, he is having a banquet in the wilderness. Beloved and distinguished guests would have their heads anointed with oil. And it is here in the wilderness that David proclaims that his cup is overflowing.
Hard times have a way of drawing you closer to the Lord. I don’t know how to describe it other than that. And here, because of God’s faithfulness to him, David is assured of God’s future faithfulness.
David is having a banquet in the wilderness because he has been run out of town. And there will be times that you feel like this in your own life. And we need to be a people who trust the Lord and see that He is working for our good.
Conclusion
This song oftentimes recited with pure childlike joy is one that was written in the middle of intense pain. And it is good and right for us to turn to this psalm in the middle of those dark times in our lives.
I have oftentimes sung this psalm when things are hard. Sometimes it has been before I began praying to the Lord. This one and Psalm 121 are ones that I have used in that manner. And I believe them to be very helpful at that time because it is in the Lord that we find our Good Shepherd providing for us and restoring us. It is in the Lord that we find safety and security. And it is in the Lord that we find eternal life. Let us turn to Him in those days.
R. Dwain Minor