Psalms

A Psalm of David.

 ¹ The LORD is my shepherd;
         I shall not want.
David was a King who had once been a shepherd.  He was one who watched over the sheep.  In his younger years, that was his life.  His sheep knew him and he knew his sheep.  Sheep are completely dependent on the shepherd for provision, protection, and guidance.  The shepherd makes sure the sheep are cared for properly so they will not be in want.  For David it was a natural thought. As he had shepherded his sheep so the Lord had been his shepherd.  See John 10:11; Hebrews 13:20; and 1 Peter 5:4.  Jesus is prophesied as a shepherd in Isaiah 40:11.

Isn't it provocative the Lord can be the shepherd and the Lamb that takes away the sin of the world?  He is all in all.  Weirsbe noted that in the old covenant the sheep died for the shepherd.  However in the New Covenant the shepherd died for the sheep.

 ² He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
         He leads me beside the still waters.
Our shepherd takes care of us by meeting our physical needs.  Like this shepherd leads the sheep to green pastures for grazing and still waters for the thirst of the sheep, the Lord meets our physical needs.  

 ³ He restores my soul;
         He leads me in the paths of righteousness
         For His name's sake.
After our physical needs are met, He takes care of our spiritual needs.  He restores a soul that needs restoration.  He leads me to righteousness and He does it for His name's sake.  God brings glory to his name through us.

In verses 2 &3 we are led to contentment in life.  Resisting the shepherd goes against our best interest. 

 ⁴ Yea, 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.
The rod that corrects the sheep is also the one that protects them.  The shepherd never leaves the sheep when they are threatened.  Even though, as sheep, we walk in dark times and dark places, we know that our shepherd is with us.  He is guiding us, protecting us and watching over our way.  We have no reason to fear evil because He is with us.

We don't know how long our days are.  We don't know when or how death will come.  But with God we don't have to fear it, Jesus has overcome death.  We are bought, redeemed, so we don't have to fear the evil. 

         
 ⁵ You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
         You anoint my head with oil;
         My cup runs over.
 ⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
         All the days of my life;
         And I will dwell in the house of the LORD
         Forever.

In verse 5 we see the customary treatment of a dinner guest.  The host anointed us with oil, protected us at all cost, even in the presence of enemies and in filling our cup became our provision.  Right in the presence of our enemies, the Lord takes care of us.  When our natural reaction is to be threatened and feel fear, God anoints us and shows us that he is our provision.

Goodness and mercy will follow us all our days.  The Lord is always with us and we rely on that.  Then after our days are ended we will dwell in the house of the Lord………. Forever.