November 26, 2006 | Author: Dan Barrington  

Follow the Shepherd

“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.”

Psalm 23:1

Study Overview

In our lifetime, there will be storms to wait out, hardships to bear, and grief to experience.  Perhaps the most popular psalm and familiar biblical selection among believers, this passage of scripture has brought comfort and assurance during the adverse experiences of living and dying.  David provides the reader a marvelous insight of the relationship with the Lord by describing the intensity of joy and reassurance of the relationship he had with Him.  He is our keeper, our Shepherd.  He provides everything we need, even when we don’t know what we need.  Though David was a shepherd from an early age, the content of the psalm might have well been written when he was more advanced in age.  The reflection on God’s guidance and providence is clearly identified through the metaphorical language used.  David’s life provides a backdrop for the faith required to understand how God relates to His own.  That faith in the One who leads, protects, restores, and provides is played out in this chapter.

Background

Though widely accepted that David is the author of Psalm 23, the time of his life when it was composed is uncertain.  Using the analogy of a shepherd recalls days of his youth in that role, but the discernment by David in the passage seems to be that of one who is older and more reflective due to life’s experiences.

Whether it was in a moment of calmness for his kingdom – after the revolt had been eliminated, when war had ceased, after reminiscing about his youthful conquest against Goliath with nothing more than a sling and five stones or possibly his mortal danger with a bear – David was inspired to write this psalm acknowledging that the providence of God had protected his life through these events among others.

With God described as Shepherd in verse one and again as Divine Host of a banquet in verse five, the underlying theme throughout the chapter appears to be found in the latter part of the first verse, “I shall lack nothing.” (NIV) 

Why a shepherd? The sheep are led where there is food and an undisturbed watering place.  The shepherd finds the lost sheep and brings them back to be led once again.  His leading may mean going through parts of the valley that might be dangerous where lions and other predators lurk, but they are safe because of the shepherd’s presence.  In the same way, God shepherds our path as we choose to be led by Him.

The change in metaphors in verse five is more challenging to discern.  David describes a Divine Host who provides a banquet for His guest.  The table is a prepared one, presumably loaded with the finest of choice food and wine.  He honors his guest with the ceremonial anointing of oil with enemies witnessing this event.  David knows he will be blessed and will be with Him without an end in sight. 

The faithful Christian should take solace in what David has described in this Psalm.  We have the same assurance of His shepherding care throughout our journey.  The apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 8:31-39 of the same care and deliverance given to us by God through Christ.  “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? (Romans 8:35)

Read Psalm 23

Have two class members orally read Psalm 23 contrasting the two descriptions of a protective and gracious God that David writes about.

First Reader:            verses one through four

Second Reader:        verses five through six

Discussion Questions:

1. How is God like a shepherd?  How are we like sheep?
2. How does God care for you?
3. As with David’ journey through hardship, danger, and even death, what attitude should you have toward hardship and pain?
4. To what kind of future do Christians look forward?  Besides Psalm 23 and Romans 8:31-39, where else in scripture does God give us similar assurance?
5. Sheep will not lie down when they are hungry. Verse two provides an imagery of green pastures where the sheep have eaten their fill and are shown a place to lie down. Christ also promises us rest in Matthew 11:28.  How is Jesus’ offer of rest relevant in 2006?
6. In what ways have you already experienced God’s rest?
7. It is assumed that the rod and staff described in verse four were literally a short club for defense and a longer pole for climbing or leaning upon.  How can the “rod and staff” translate to comfort for the Christian?

Assignment:

Sometimes passages are challenging to discern and personalize because of the analogies used within the culture of that time period.  In order to personalize Psalm 23, rewrite/paraphrase the passage this week using your life as the backdrop of experiencing God’s care and protection.  Share in class next Sunday.

Class Wrap-Up

End the class study and discussion by having someone lead in the singing of one of the following hymns:

*Gentle Shepherd  p. 845

*I Am a Sheep       p. 533