It is hard to think of Jesus saying he is “the good shepherd” in the gospel of John without thinking of Psalm 23 written by King David. It is so familiar to many that the words roll off the tongue and perhaps our mind races to God’s promise to be with us as we walk through the valley of death or perhaps to the final banquet in the presence of our enemies. I’d like to tackle the psalm again this week. I am stepping into widowhood and you are stepping into your challenge but that must not change the meaning of the psalm. Let’s not treat it as a panacea to make us feel good but see if we can apply it to our situation today.
The first three verses seem to me to speak to my context. I am his sheep and one of a universal believers in a huge herd. The shepherd is opening the gate of today and calling me out to life.
Psalm 23. A psalm of David.
1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he refreshes my soul.
The first challenge for me is to remember that God is my shepherd — not my husband, not my finances, not my health and not my friends. The Lord is the “good” shepherd as we looked at yesterday and it is only as I look at him that this makes sense. Widowhood is not a punishment nor any other challenge I face. Life is a blessing the Lord is leading me into today. I am not alone and I am not abandoned no matter how much my emotions try to convince I am. The Lord is there leading me.
We lived with pastoralists in Kenya and sheep were a constant reality. We joke about them being stupid but I noted that as the sheep walked along, their heads were often looking down for grass, blindly following the heels of the guy in front. A group of three walked right in front of a speeding minibus I was riding to town one day. I heard the clunk, clunk, clunk as we rolled over them and smelled their death the rest of the way. They followed the wrong leader, didn’t keep their heads up and never saw what hit them. I must remember to keep my eyes on the Lord and remember only he is good.
In the middle of the desert those sheep thrived and grew great big bulbous tails with fat that was used to heal wounds. Our friend said he fell out of a tree, cracking his skull and the elders took a sheep and took part of his tail to pad the wound and heal my friend. Perhaps it is true. Wherever I am, there is green or nutritious pasture. The Lord does lead me to green pastures but I am in green pastures right now and he is here to feed my soul. Contentment is not just something for heaven or tomorrow but is available today. I can find peace today and lay down, rest knowing the Lord is leading me. That is the truth of my context.
Often my life looks like a raging storm at sea. How will I make it through taxes this year? When will survivor benefits kick in? I love the picture of the young man standing at the helm of a boat obviously tossed by the waves but Jesus is standing over his shoulder and pointing the way. Psalm 23 says that the Lord leads me beside still waters. I need to remember that he only need say, “Be still,” and the storm that scares me so much will calm to still waters. It’s a promise I can cling to when the skies are dark.
I love the end of these first three verses that informs my context. Not only is the Lord my good shepherd, providing what I need for now, nourishing me in my situation, and calming my storms, the Lord is also “restoring my soul.” I need not just exist and stay alive but there is something about today that is meant by the Lord to be restoration.
I am challenged to look at the pastures the Lord is leading me into today and to ask him to open my eyes to see the gift of restoration he is providing. Lord help me to keep my eyes on you and not be so occupied with finding food or following the herd. Restore my souls today as you shepherd me. Thank you.
On the Way to Wonder 