The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
Just a few thoughts after reading Psalm 23 this morning.
The deep meaning of resting by God’s still waters.
The Lord is my shepherd. That means He goes before us. And that means we must truly let Him lead the way. We must not rush ahead ourselves, because then we’ll be corrected. Following the Lord is a learning process; it means staying close behind Him out of obedience and discipline. That also means we lack nothing, because the Lord leads us on that path to the green pastures.
The Shepherd’s Voice
In John 10, we read that the shepherd comes to gather his sheep. He leads them out of the sheepfold before heading out to pasture. It says that once he has led his own sheep out, he goes ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they know his voice. It is therefore vitally important that we recognize the Shepherd’s voice and do not follow the voice of a stranger.
These days, there is so much shouting and screaming, so much said and written. But do we still hear the deepest tone of the Shepherd’s voice? Do we even want to listen to that voice? Do we dare to close our ears to the enormous amount of information that comes at us every day? Can we still tell the difference? That is why it remains our ongoing task: to learn to recognize the Shepherd’s voice amid all the other sounds, and to truly obey the inner voice that the Holy Spirit speaks in our hearts.
This also means, as stated in John 10:8, that we know we have been delivered from thieves and robbers. Thieves and robbers can break in at night, when you are vulnerable and asleep. But they can also strike during the day, as you cross a mountain pass. They especially try to steal the sheep at the back of the flock, especially if they have strayed from the herd. Those who lag behind are vulnerable—not only to robbers, but also to wild animals and—as the Bible calls them—the evil spirits in the heavenly realms. They are determined to seize you when you’re on your own and vulnerable.
A Moment of Pasture
But if you stay close to the Lord, you will experience how He protects you. That doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to be spared from every illness or ailment. It does mean, however, that He always has the oil to anoint, to heal, and to restore every wound. He doesn’t simply lead us from pasture to pasture, but rather guides us along the paths that lead there. These are sometimes narrow, dangerous mountain passes—places where danger lurks: a deep abyss or a boulder in the path. The Lord wants to lead us precisely there and keep us with the flock so that we do not stray. We must walk that path—that high and dangerous pass—together. Make sure you don’t fall behind. He keeps a close watch to see if we are following Him and not straying from the flock.
He wants us to stay together as a flock to brave this narrow pass, so that we can reach that grassy meadow. And there we may then lie down. That is a typical “Lazarus moment”: think of Jesus visiting Martha, Mary, and Lazarus in Bethany, with Lazarus lying comfortably at Jesus’ feet (John 12:2). That’s exactly the kind of lush-pasture moment.
Still Waters
Next, He gently leads us to the water. These can be deep waters, still waters. And still waters run deep. That means not only quenching your thirst, but also reflecting on your current situation. You allow yourself to be refreshed by the presence of God and the Holy Spirit, and from there you experience how God wants to speak to you. Deep foundations and still waters also mean that deep within your heart there are thoughts that need to be corrected. Deep within your heart there are sometimes thoughts that you need to clear away, both in relation to others and about yourself.
The intention is for you to allow the Holy Spirit to correct your self-image. When you stand by the water, you see your own reflection in it. Then you can do two things. You can say, “I’m just so amazing,” and start preening yourself. Or you can say, “Here stands a humble, loving child of God, who is allowed to drink from the water that God provides.” After all, it also says: “He refreshes my soul.” But how does He do that?
God’s Glory
The refreshment of our soul happens first and foremost because we have a clear picture of God. The moment you look down into that still water, you see not only yourself but also heaven. You see the blue of the sky, and that reminds you of heavenly glory. So when we allow ourselves to be refreshed, it happens first and foremost because we catch a glimpse of God’s glory.
By seeing God’s glory, we are strengthened in our hearts: He is always there. That sky is always there; the blue is always there. Sometimes a cloud hangs in front of it, but certainly in the Middle East, that clear, blue sky was almost always there—a sky in which you saw God’s presence reflected in the refreshing water. That leads to gratitude. The tangible presence of God in your life leads to a great, deep gratitude.
Trusted Father
Just as there is depth in still water, so too may there be a depth of gratitude. Gratitude for everything God has done and continues to do in your life. For this is how He guides us, as the psalm says: He guides me in the path of righteousness, for His name’s sake. That name of God is holy. So holy, in fact, that the Jews do not even pronounce it. And yet we know that God is, first and foremost, a trusted Father.
We do not need to look at Him from a distance, for He does not look at us from a distance either. What does play a role, however, is righteousness. That means everything is in balance: purified, set right, acquitted, and set free. You are a free person who knows you are dependent on God, but who at the same time bears your own responsibility. Righteousness also means acquittal: freed from everything that burdens you, so that you can do what God asks of you.
In this way, as a human being, you may be an example to others and live to the glory of God the Father. Out of gratitude to Jesus Christ, who became our Redeemer. We may thank Him for all His redemptive, liberating, and healing work in our lives, guided by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit who wants to show us the way every day, just as the Lord leads us, as so beautifully expressed in this psalm.
It is He who wants to lead us today, on this specific day, through His Spirit. Perhaps you are now on a difficult mountain trail, on your way to a new pasture. Perhaps you are lying in the pasture right now, resting, grazing, and taking in what God is offering you. Or maybe you are drinking from a spring, that still water where the Holy Spirit wants to refresh you. Either way, may we know today: The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
@wimvanputten